Stories of Paraná - The beheaded 495

Stories of Paraná - The beheaded 495

The beheaded 495
Valêncio Xavier

The Federalist Revolution was the bloodiest that Brazil experienced, more people died in it than in any other country that has had so far.
Besides the deaths in combat, many died beheaded.
The maragatos of Gumercindo Saraiva made no prisoners, slew the vanquished.
When federal troops returned to Paraná also cut some necks, not as many as the Federalists, but cut.
The cutthroat maragato most skilled and famous was Nego Adam, I do not know how many heads to cut back.
In late 1893, the Federalists invaded Paraná. In January 1894, besieged the city of Lapa, the governor and General Vicente Machado Junior Pêgo, commander of the government troops, disbanded leaving the Paraná delivered to their own devices.
The maragatos entered in Curitiba without firing a single shot, General Gomes Carneiro was no help for his stubborn resistance in Lapa. The Paraná became no man's land, with the Federalists herding cattle, horse, food, weapons and "volunteers" to his troops.
In this climate of "God's will", happened in Ponta Grossa, a case worthy of film westerns, samurai or tape, involving Adam Nego.
Armed with the necessary safe-conduct, Colonel (honorary title) Souza Araújo left Ponta Grossa in a wagon to fetch groceries on his farm.
Was carrying quilts jerky when they reached twenty horsemen armed with muskets and swords.
Were maragatos. Colonel runs into the farmhouse and back with his Winchester.
Stop it man! Drop the weapon but dies shouts the commander of the bunch, advancing sword in hand. Colonel points and gives the trigger, but the neck is lacy and shooting in the air is lost.
Begins stealing beef jerky, while the colonel is disarmed and bound.
Done cleaning, the bunch gallop, pulling the colonel walk, chasing horses not to be hanged by the rope which has neck.
In the race, stumbles, falls and is dragged along the ground, but manages to hold the rope, preventing his hanging.
When there is more enduring, the band stops at the edge of a patch of woods to churrasquear.
While preparing the fire, Nego Adam asked: Commander, I charquear the beast? The answer is positive and Adam Nego orders: Dasatem not like to kill people tied.
Greasy pulls a notebook from his pocket and goes with his scrawl noting the number 495. The colonel will be beheaded 495. Take his clothes, his coat're all ripped, but the shirt still can use. And will sharpening the machete in his palm: fear, not Colonel, a good fagot're cutting.
Seeing himself lost, Colonel tries the last resort, when they are pulling his shirt over his head, holds it, the man is pulled tighter, he drops his shirt and the man falls to the ground. Colonel takes the confusion and jumps into the bushes and runs, ripping the thorns.
Reaches a stream, and some crosses.
When the gang arrives at the brook, the colonel was already far away.
High night, in the rain, half-naked, bruised body, torn by thorns, Colonel reaches Ponta Grossa, shivering, but with the head in place.

Valêncio Xavier, writer and historian


Source: Stories of Paraná, Brasil.