South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1836-08-13


Sphon, who was employed in helping
them cut, was accosted by wounded
Mexican soIdier,on whom he attended,
and told TO 90 and ask the comman-
edant for his life, as he mightsaye him.
as they were ell to be shot. About
this time Colonel flaming, who had q
room in the church for his use, came
out of the church for particular pur-
pose, when a Mexican Captain, Of the
battalion called Tres Villas, with SIX
soldiers, came up TO Sphon, and told
him 10 call Col. Tanning, at the same
time pointing to certain part OF the
ward, " here he wished him to De 'aKen'
Sphon asked him if he was gong TO
shoot him. and he cody replied, yes
--Whea Sphon approached Tanning.
.bs Col, asked swhat was that firing =
and when he told him the facts, he
made no observation, but appeared
sesolute and firm ; be told him he also
was 10 be shot, which made no visible
impression on Colonel Tanning, who
firmly walked to the place poioted out
by the Mexican Captain, placing his
arm upon the shoulder Of Sphon for
support, being wounded in the right
thigh, from which be was very lame.
All this while the soldiers were taking
abe wounded, two>at time, near the
gate and sitting them down on the
ground ,& bandagiug their eyes, would
shoot them off, with the same indiffer-
ence they would wild animal. There
were three soldiers to each two, SO that
If after the discharge Of two muske's,
death should not have been dealt forth,
the third soldier placed the muzzle Of
the musket near their head or breast,
and SO ended them. 10
HWhen Col. Tanning reached the
spot required, the northwest corner of
ahe fort, Sphon was ordered to interpret
the following sentence :--"Thal for
having come with an armed band TO
commit depredations and revolutionlze
Tsxas, the Mexican government we're
abou, 10 chas.ise him. AS soon as the
sentence was interpreted to Tanning,
he asked if be could not see the COM
mandant. The officer said he could
mol, and asked why he wished Il. Col.
flaming then pulled forth a valuable
gold watch, he said it belonged to his
wife, and he wished TO present 1t to the
commandment. The Captain then said
he could not see the commandant, but
If be would give him the watch he
would thank him-and he repeated in
broken English, "taak yow-me tank
you I" Colonel flaming told him he
might have the watch, if be would
have him buried after he was shot,
which the Captain said shouldbe done
-" contod as las fornialidades ne
cessarias"-at the same time smiling
asd bowling. Col. Tanning then han.
ded him the watch, and pulled out of
his right pocket small bead purse
containing doubloons, the clasp of
which was bent, he gave this 10 the OF.
t6cer, at the same time saying that it
had saved his life, as the ball that
wounded him had lost part Of its force
BY striking the clasp, which it bent, 81
carried with it into the wound part
of a silk handkerchief which be had in
his pocket, and which on drawing out
drew forth with it the ball. Out ofthe
left pocket Of his over-coas, (being cold
weather, he had on one of Indian Rub.
ber,) he drew piece of canvass
containing a double handful OF dol
lars, which he also gave to the off,
Ger. Sphon was then ordered to BAN
dage his eyes, and Tanning handed
him his pocket handkerchief. He pro-
ceeded to foldit, but being agitated be
done it clumsiIy, when the officer
snatched i. from his hand and folded ii
himself, and told Col. Tanning to sit
down on chair which was near, and
stepping behind him bandaged his
eyes, saying to Col. Tanning in En-
glish, 'good'-meaning If his eyes were
properly bonnd--to which Col. Fam
niog replied, yes, yes The captain
then came in front and ordered his
men TO unfx their bayonets and ap.
proacb Col. tanning; he hearing them
near him, told Sphon to tell them not
TO place their muskets SO near as TO
ssorSh his face with the powder
The officer standing behind them,
after seeing their muskets were brought
within two feet of his body, drew forth
his handkerchief as asignal, when they
flied and poor Tanning fell dead
on hia right side on the chair,an from
thence rolled into the dry ditch about
three feet deep, close by the wall.
They then led Sphon near the gate,
from which another officer took him
nnA nfaraA him. fh o.