APPENDIX. 339 



without, thought it best to capitulate : — he pledged his word and honour to 

 the officers, that if they would permit him to go out, he would pacify the 

 tumult in the street, and bury in oblivion their mutual resentment. The 

 officers acceded to this proposition. Dupuy went out, and telling the mob 

 that he had escaped from the Godos who were in revolution against the town, 

 he caused the drums to beat, and trumpets to sound the " General," which, 

 seconded by the cries of " Down with the Godos," announced to the unfor- 

 tunate officers that the fatal hour of their massacre was come. 



The gallant Riberos, _who considered himself the cause of that general 

 misfortune, exhorted his companions to sell their existence at the dearest rate 

 possible, but they saw the inutility of seven officers opposing themselves to 

 the rage of an incensed rabble ; and expected, by offering no resistance, to 

 find mercy amongst their butchers. Riberos finding them unwilling to ac- 

 quiesce in his first proposal, insinuated that each Spaniard ought to fall by 

 his own hand, but his comrades shrunk from the idea of suicide. The as- 

 sassins began to fire, and advanced on the house : Riberos bid farewell to his 

 companions, and exclaiming, " Un Americano indecente jamas quitterd la vida 

 de Segundo Riberos," he finished his existence by discharging the contents 

 of his pistol in his head : the remaining six threw down their arms, and were 

 without resistance despatched by the ruffians, who immediately went all 

 through the town assassinating every Spaniard individually in their houses or 

 in the streets. 



This scene of barbarity commenced about seven o'clock in the streets on 

 the 8th of February, 18 17. Only two Spaniards escaped their search, the 

 one died insane from the terror of that day, the other still exists in the con- 

 vent of San Lorenzo, province of Santa Fe. 



Ordonez, whose body was covered with wounds received in the French 

 war in defence of his country with fifty officers, many of whom were Spanish 

 noblemen, perished on that day by the hands of the merciless assassins: the 

 number of residents of the town who died, is not known ; twenty-seven sol- 

 diers, prisoners of the Federal army, were also suffocated in a dungeon the 

 same day. 



Thus did Dupuy gain a memorable and signal victory over these brave 

 though unresisting officers and soldiers. Prodigies of valour and patriotism 

 were performed by his officers on this occasion. An official letter was des- 

 patched to Buenos Ayres, stating the imminent danger of the Patria from the 

 insurrection of fifty Godos, isolated from all intercourse with their friends 



