True American. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1835-18??, 1837-03-23
BROWN, THE TEXAN PRISONER.
(Cnncluded.)

Bk.zhRIA, (Trxa.,) Feb II, 1887.
To The Editor Of the True .4menenn:
He was takento Metamoras, and there, among
other hardships, he was ordered to sweep the
streets Of the city. When. Ire took the broom iuo
his hands, he had violent struggle with his own
feelings After long de'iheraton with himself,
he determined, with great reluctance, to submit to
the irdigniiy.
There were twelve or fifteen Texans, in all, n,
Matamoraa. With two Of these BY the mime of
Nenly, Mr. Brown concerted plan Of escape FL
sffeci their purpose, they employed 4 guide, an
Englishman, living in the city, to whom they paid
handsome sum This Englislman, at their ex.
pense, procured four good horses, and made all
other preparations; and, accompanied by Brown
and the McNealy's, each of the four being armed
with gun and pistols, safed from the etv while
their guards WINS asleep, on the night of the h of
December. Thus, Mr. Brown was, after c,pli.
witty OF nearly ten months, again out of their hah,Is,
though he was not yet without fearsof being again
taken.
To avoid the guards stationed along the beaten
track, they kept up the Rio Grande withou, crosy-
ing. AT "a town $50 miles from Ma,amoras. the
guide wished to call on one twotrusy acuunin,-
ances. They passedshis town in tue ni.h,, the
prisoners hurting on, and the guide overak king
them short distance beyond The town Thirty
miles 'eve this town, rfey determined to cross
the river. Here they were overtaken by rider,
who had been despatched by their friends at the
town they had passed ,hrSugh informing them
that NV" hundred Mexicans had arrived At the
town in pursuit Of them, and were making enou
rles respecting the EnnIishmnn. The poor tng-
tlvcs perceived the dreadful necessity of cros.no
without delay, but they almost dcs3nred of effect.
ing u. The current was strong the wind blowing
fresh, the waves high, and there was no bnat-
true, mere was canoe on the opposite bank, hui
i seemed like certain death to attempt TO swim 10
III for besides all other difficulties, it was exceed
lnely cold. below the freezing point. Mr. Brown
was the only one That could swim; and, though
good swimmer, lie said if he had had ten thousand
dollars, he would have given il all lift could have
relieved him from the necessity Of attempting the
stream. He did attempt it, however, und alter in.
credible struggles, reached the opposite shore two
miles below. Having gained the canoe, he found
n"'hing to propel it with but awk ward pole,
'nd as the water was TOO deep 10 use this any u-
ther way than MS paddle, he was carried dewn
two mites and a halfin crossing. HIS ompanions
together with the horses, had dropped down to the
place OF his andine hut, on reaching the shore,
could hold out no longer He was henumned,
so taiigucd, and suppose SO agiiatcd in mind
that he became deaf, turned black in the face and
pres ntly became wholly insensible, in which stu
atom he remained three hours. In the meantime
his com rides placed him in the canoe, an letting
the horses swim, attached TO the canoe, they ali
arrived IN safety on the eastern bank of the Rio
Grande, having been detained six hours in cffecl:np
this pcrous ferragc.
They were now 100 miles from Ma,amoras, but
"o Hc Iti AeAhs thah wnen they started. They
were, however, less apprehensve of being tax en-,
and ventured, aftera while, to kill beef, of which
presume they ate with considerable vorocty, for
they had tasted four days and four nights, having
ate nothing since their escape. They reached Vic.
taria, the first place where they met with any Tex.
ians, in seventeen days, rejoced, beyond measure,
,s grasp again the hands of freemen, who could
applaud the valiant, and sympathize with the dis.
tressed.
Mr.. Brown, during his captivity, was plundcrcd
OF every thing he had absu, him of any vnlus, con
sisting of considerable sum of m oney, splendid
gold watch, &c, none Of VIII oh returned to
him. He has indeed done and suffered m UGH for
Texas, aud he will doubtless he emcmbered with
some substantial urks Of gratitude.
When see young conference.-the son of
Southern plamcr-thus leaving the comforts Of
home; Drawing the mos, unequal. of contests; sub
hitting TO indianitcs from the minions ola lyrant ;
and riskng his life to his comrades in mum
herless instances; and when see him still ready
as he now is, to march al the frs, intelligence Of
an nvason-when see all this, and see it too
adorned with so much genuine n odcsty as NJ. B.
possesses, can only say tina, the strongest Fri ute
which my feeble pen is capable of bestnwing, can
but poorly express by admiration. NC ~