101
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BUONAP;\RTE LAMAR
expulsion indispensible. Accordingly an order was given to captain· John Austin, to remove her house beyond the limits of the Fort - an order which threw Modello into a perfect paroxism of rage and desperation. Arming himself with a sabre and a musket, he vocif- orated death and destruction to General Long and to all who might attempt the execution of the order. His friend Coelho endeavored to appease his wrath; but failing in the kind attempt, he left him to abide whatever might betide. The house, however, was quietly removed, and Madella retired to his quarters, greatly mortified, yet vowing vengeance to the last. - 'rhe next scene in the drama is the purile attempt of this in• fatuated man to extricate himself from his difficulties ·by Il).eans of falsehood and forgery. He requested his friend Coehlo to inform General Long that he l\fodello had received instructions from the Commander in chief, directing him not to obey the orders of Long nor those of any other officer except Trespelacios himself. ·But when his friend reminded him that he had never seen such instructions, l\Iodella immediately produced various orders in relation to himself bearing the name of the Commander in Chief, and among the num- ber, one placing him in command of the Garrison. This, being the briefest of the forgeries, is inserted as a specimen. '' Head Quarters - Fort Bolivar - Genl. Order - Col. Santiago l\fodello is ap- pointed Commander of this Fort, and will talrn charge of all the arms, amunition, provisions and soldiers belonging to the Fort. (Signed) Jose Felix 'Trespalacios, General in Chief. 11 ~ The spuriousness of these papers were apparent at the first glance; and the attempt to pass them off as genuine, evinced as much the want of common sense as common honesty. Coelho, however, did not expose the crime and folly of his friend; but retiring to his quarters addressed a letter to the unhappy criminal urging upon him the necessity of a reforma- tion of conduct; to which l\fodellas replied, as usual, by protesta- tions of amendment, which he never redeemed. Modella requested permission '' to quit the Garrison and go to Mary's house, as he was sick and needed more attention than he could receive in his quarters' '-The Commander replied, that the request '' could by no means be gra,nted; but if required he would send one of his own servants to wait on the Colonel"-a favor neither accepted nor needed, since the sickness complained of, was more feigned than real. We quote from his friend Coelho, who further states that "on a cert&in day (date not recollected) Col. l\fodella in his wild and imprudent manner told me he was eat up with the ennui, at being so long confined to his quarters under arrest and was resolved to sub- .mit to it no longer, but would arm himself and go through the gar- rison to Mary's at a,ll hazards; and I disuaded him, and thought no more of it.''- In defiance, however, of his Commander's orders and the remonstrance of his friend, lie followed the bent of his own in- clinations. He went to Mary's house; and' it cost him his life.- In a few days after the death of of [sic] Modena, the officers of the Ga,rrison assembled at the request of General Long, for the purpose 'of inv"estigating th~ unfortunate affair. Major Milam and Capts.
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