Southern Argus. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1834-1842, 1842-08-23


clet,we were escorted through the prin-
opal square or plaza and taken to lit
lie hole which was dignifed with the
name OF a room. A large crowd~folE
lowed US TO our prison doors, and con-
tInued 10 gaze at us until the last min
ute.
The AIcaLde, grum-looking, bad
countenanced man, sent US in a miser-
able meal Of tortilIas and SOUP, while
the priest, more liberal, furnished each
with bowl Of coffee. Our blankets
had all been taken from US, and here
we were in dark hole, with nothing
but hard earth floor, to spend our first
night IN prison. We sent word TO the
Afcatde OF our unfortunate plight. He
answered our petition by saying that he
could do nothing for us. A woman
living close by kindly sent US in buffa-
10 skin and blanket, however, man
belonging TO the town also sold me a
blanket, and with these we made bed
for five persons. The Governor had
not as yet arrived from Santa Fe, but
was expected early the ensuing day.
With lowering forebodings as 10 our
future lot we cast our wearied limbs
upon the cold earth that night. Had
we been prisoners in the hands of any
other people under the sun, our feel
ings would have been far different /; but
we were now in the power of men who
possessed all the vices OF savage life
without one of the the virtues that civ
ilization teaches, and with a dreadful
cloud of uncertainty hanging over us it
will at once be felt that our minds were
far from being at ease on that trying oc-
casion.
Orr Departure for Santa Fe-Un- .
pleasant <4nticipations-Kindness of.
q Woman-meeting 10Th merican
Troops-BrutaI conduct ofan Or
.fcer-An order TO hare 'us Tied
meeting Nth Gov. Armyo----Our
Reception-I The Traitor Louis
Inhuman Conduct of the GorernOr.
Early the next morning we were
informed by Don Jesus that he should
march US to Santa Fe Immediately, as
the Governor was then at that place.
We sent out and purchased sheep,
an oficious fellow named Thomas
Buslamente, and whose countenance
at least appeared TO indicate thathe had
some pretensions 10 honesty, acting
as our agent in the affair. A part of
this he had cooked for our breakfast,
the good-hearted priest again sending
US In. a generous drink of coffee.
About nine O'Clock we started on
our trip and with anything but pleas
ant anticipations as to our reception.
by the Governor. Our guard was now
increased to eight men, four addition
al members Of the country militia,
mounted on jackasses and two of them
on either side of US, having been de-
tailed by the old -ALcalde in order TO
render our escape impossible. Even
with this additional force however, all
felt certain that any time we could ian
upon and capture the whole of them
with ease, and should have done it had
there been the remotest probability of
our being able to reach the main BODY
Of our men.
We had not travelled more than
couple of miles before a tolerablv
we'll dressed woman came running to-
wards US from small house, bringing
US small bottle Of Pars whiskey.----
This we drank upon the spot, and as
we thanked the good-hearted creature
for her kindness she appeared to feel
deeply for US in our misfortune. Even
after we had been hurried off by our
inhuman guard the woman still remain
ed to gaze upon US, looking her last
pobreci:Os whom she really thought
the sun would not sun would not SET
upon alive. To contrast the almost
universal brutality and cold-hearted-
ness of the men Of New Mexico. with
the kind dispositions and tender SYM
phathies prevalent among all classes
ofthe women, forms a singular subject
for reflection.
/ Another mile brought US up with a
party of some two hundred Mexicans.
commanded by brutal and piraticaI
looking scoundrel. He cursed us as
we were brought up before hin, said we
should have been shot when first taken
and asked Don Jesus why we were
not tied ? The party then continued
on towards San Miguel, the rendez-
vous Of all the men acting against Col.
Cook and his men. We learned from,
them that the Governor had left Santa
Fe in the morning with several hun
dred troops, and that we should meet
him in the evening.
| The miscreant who had cb.,r. II
US now stated that his impeIative. d..
ty made it necessary to tie ns' Win
a mock senslbility he pretended that +
was against his wish to do this, but as
T superior officer had ordered him he
must comply. After little hesitation
on the part Of Van Ness and Fitzrer-
aid they finally consented to be led.
, an t0Taat was accordingly confined
; | r0und tboSr 1r,rsnt- IL - 2