Year: 1873

pretty strongly fortifed strong bastion OF brick
and woodwork protected the front, while all the
arches and windows were walled up and furnished
with loopholes.


THE GARRISON


OF the place consisted Of 12o volunteers all armed
with Remingtons, Tor which they possessed a sup
ply OF 10000 cartridges. Apparently they had
heard nothing Of the intended attack, for they
were all sauntering about in gala costume until
about three P. NJ, when "a sudden change came
Oer the spirit OF the scene'' Some peasant other
had brought the news that the whole OF the
Carlist army was approaching, whereupon the
braying OF bugles and the sound Of the church
bells ringing the alarm set the whole town into q
wonderful commotion. But, with the exception OF
tew-among whom, OF course, were the volun-
teers-the commotion was Of q joyful kind, for the
great majority OF the Ohatese are stanch Carists.
Still Carlists well as liberals all thought 1t best
to retire inte their houses, while the volunteers
commenced to place themselves in battle array.
Taking advantage Of the confusion, 1 hurried
out of the town and planted myself in
q position whence l could observe the
impending operations. Very soon about fifty VOL
unteers ensconced themselves among the rocks
and trees along the road leading to the chapel and
at halfpast four precisely the vanguard OF the
Carlists made Its appearance on the crest The
volunteers at once opened spirited fire upon
their enemies who, however, were far beyond
range. Seeing this, three OF the volunteers ad-
vanced very bravey within 500 yards of the Carsts
and fired so well and so rapidly that they


KILLED ONE MAN


and severely wounded three others. The
order TO charge was then given by
the Carlists, who swept down the mountain
like an avalanche. and OF course, forced the handful
OF volunteers to retreat precipitately. Close on
their heels followed the Carlists (who never fired
shot, until they arrived at the gates OF the town.
when the volunteers hurried through the streets
and took refuge, with the rest Of their comrades
In the Town Hall. The whole thing was


LIKE sQUIB,


or like the sudden flight OF q boomerang, which
rushes impetuously to q certain point and then
rushes back again. If the volunteers had quietly
occupied the streets they might have inflicted con-
siderable loss on the enemy, and still always have
had the Town Hall to take refuge in. as II was,
the Carlists rapidly occupied the town and shut
PIP Its defenders in the Hail. 0hate being
the biggest town yet occupied by the Carlists,
and containing many good things wherewitnal to
cheer the heart Of man, including among other
luxuries divers bottles OF very good champagne.
we gradually grew exultant, and determined to
attack the volunteers In their stronghold. AT ten
p. M. three companies OF one hundred men each
were told on to execute this, from military point
of view, very praiseworthy intention. Four carts
were collected and filed with trusses OF straw and
mattresses, while another party


ARMrNG THEMSELVES WITH BOTTLES OF PETROLEUM
and o few extenporized grenades, took possession
Of the palace OF Carlos Guinto, whence they threw
their combustibles on TO the roof and through the
windows Of the Town Hall, OF which the part
where the archives were kept actually took fire.
The massive character Of the building. combined