A TRAGEDY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.

Waikato Argus, Volume VI, Issue 449, 17 June 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

A TRAGEDY OF THE PENINSULAR WAR.

Durino the war in Spain a French regiment had been sent out from Burgos against a guerilla party under the Marquis of Villa Campo, with orders to treat the Spaniards with the most rigorous reverity, especially the inhabitants of Arguano, a little village near the famous forest of Covelleda, whose deep shades, intersected only by narrow footpaths, were the resort of banditti and guerillas, A principal feature of the whole Spanish war was the celerity with which the French movements were notified to the native chiefs, and the difficulty experif need in procuring a spy or guide; while these, when found, proved almost uniformly treacherous. The battalion in question had to march through a frightful country, climbing ruggi d rocks and crossing frozen torreuts, always in dread of unforeseen and budden dangers. They reached the villiage, but perceived no movementsheard no none. Some soldiers advanced, but saw nothing—absolute solitude reigned. The officer iu command, suspecting an ambush, ordered the utmost circumspection. The troops enterei the street, and arrived at a small opening where some sheaves of wheat and Indian corn and a quantity of loaves were still smoking on the ground, but consumed to a cinder, and swimming in floods of wine, which had streMrmd from leathern skins that had evidently been purposely broached, as the provisions had been burnt, to prevent their falling into the handß of the French.

No sooner had the soldiers satisfied themselves that, after all their toils and dangers, no refreshment was to be obtained than they roared with rage—but no vengeanoe was within reach ! All the inhabitants had fled !—fled into the forest, where they might defy pursuit. Suddenly cries were heard issuing from one of the deserted cottages, amongst which the soldiers had dispersed themselves in hopes of discovering some food or booty ; they proceeded from a young woman holding a child a year old ia.her arms, whom the sold'ers were dragging before their lieutenant.

«Stay, lieutenant,' said one of them ; ' here ii a woman who we have found sitting beside an old one who is past speaking ; question her a little.' She was dressed in the peasant costume of the Soria and Rioja mountains, and was pale, but nob trembling. • Why are you alone here ?' asked the lieutenant in Spanish. • I stayed with my grandmother, who Is paralytic, »nd could not follow the rest to the forest,' replied she haughtily, and as if vexed at being obliged to drop a word in the presence of a Fienchman: ' I stayed to take care of her.' ' Wiiy have your neighbours left the village ?' The Spaniard's eyes flashed firo; she fixed on the lieutenant a look of strange import, and answered, ' You know very well. Were they not all to be massacred ?'

The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders. 1 But why did you burn the bread and wheat, and empty the wine-skins ?' ' That you might find nothing. As they could not carry them off, there was no alternative but burning them.' At this niomeut shouts of joy arose, and the soldiers appeared carrying a number of hams, some loaves, and pore welcome than all, several skins of wineall discovered in a vault, the entrance to which was concealed by the straw that the old woman was lying on. The young peasant darted on them a look of infernal vengeance, whiU the lieutenant who had pondered with anxiety the destitute and sinking condition of his troops, rejoiced for a moment in the unexpected supply. But the recent poisoning of several cisterns and other fearful examples putting him on his guard, he again interrogated the woman. ' Whence come the provisions ?' ' They are the same as those we burnt; we concealed them from our friends.' 4 Is your husband with the brigands yonder ?' 'My husband is in heaveu, said she, lifting up her eyes ; ' he died for the good cause—that of God and King Feniinand.' 'Have you any brother amongst them ?'

.* I have no longer & tie, except my poor child, and she pressed the infant to her heart. The poor little creature was thiu and sallow, but its largo black eyes glistened as they turned to its mother. ' Commander,' exclaimed one of the soldiers, • pray order division of the booty, for we are very hungry and thirsty.' ' One moment, my children. Listen, said he, eyeing the young with suspicious inquisition; 'these provisions are good. I hope?' • How should they be otherwise ?' replied the Spaniard contemptuously; they were not for you.' ' Well, here's to thy health then eaid a young sub-lieutenant opening one of the skins, and preparing for a draught; but his more prudent commander still restrained him. ' One motneDt. Since this wine is good you wi 1 not object to a glass ?' 1 Oh, dear, uo, as much as you please, and accepting the mess glass offered by the lieutenant she 'emptied it without hesitation. • ' Huzza! huzza !' shouted the soldiers delighted at the prospect of drinking without danger. ' And your child will drink some also, said the lieutenant; ' lie is eo pale, it will do him good.' The Spandard had herself drunk without hesitation, but in holding the oup to the infant's lips ber hand trembled ; the mother was, however, unperceived, and the chile 1 also emptied his glass Thereupon the provisions speedily disappeared, and all partook both of food and wine. Suddenly, however, the infant was observed to tarn livid; its featuics contracted, and its mouth, convulsed with agony, gave vent to piteous shrieks. The mother, too, though her fortitude surpressed til complaint, conld scarcely stand and her distorted features betrajed her sufferings. ' Wretch !' exclaimed the commandant, ' thou hast poisoned us !' ' Vts,' said she, with a ghastly smile falling to the ground beside her child, already struggling with the death-rattle. ' yes, I have poisoned jou. I knew you would fetch the skins from their hiding place ; was it likely you would leaTe a dying creature undisturbed on her litter. Ves, yes, you will die, and die iu perdition, while I shall go to heaven.' Her laxt words were f caicely audible and the soldiers at first did not comprehend the full horror of tbeh situation ; but as the poison operated the Spaniard's declaration waR legibly translated in her convulsed features." No power could longer restrain them; in vain their oomrnauder interposed but they repulsed him, and, dragging their expiring victim by the hair to the brink of the torrent, threw her into it after laoeraing her with more than a hundred sabre cuts. She uttered not a groan. As for the child, it was the first victim.

Twenty-two men were destroyed by the exploit, which cannot be called otherwise than heroic. The coromaudaut biniself escaped by a miracle,