Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-10-02


drew the fatal bean held it up between his fore-fn
ger and thumb, and with smile of contempt. said
Boys told you so | never failed IN my life to
draw prize ) and then he said to Judge Gibson,
We'll, Judge say to my friends that l died in grace
The Judge much affected at this last sad parting
showed it from his tears. The Major replied, They
only rob me of forty years., and then sat down and
wrote sensible and dignifed letter of renlonstrance
to Gen. Waddy Thompson, the United States Minis
ter in Mexico; and knowing that his remains would
be robbed of his clothes after his death, drew off his
pantaloons, handed them to his surviving comrades
and died in his under-clo.hes.
Poor Henry Whaling. one of Cameron's best fight
ers, as he drew his black bean, said with bright
look ever lighted mans countenance, We'll they
don't make much off me, any how. for know have
killed twenty-five of the yellow-bellies; then de-
handing his dinner in firm tone, and saying that
they shall not cheat me out of it, he ate heartily
smoked cigar, and in twery minutes after, was
launched into eternity The Mexicans said that this
had the biggest heart of any they saw. They
shot him fifteen times before he expired.
Poor Torrey, quite youth, but in spirit a giant,
said that 'he perfectly willing to meet his fate
that for the glory of bis country he had fought, and
for her glory he willing to de- and turning to
the officer, said, after the battle of San Jacnto my
family took one of your prisoner youths, raised and
educated him, and this is our requital.'
Edward Este spoke of his fate with the coolest in
difference, and said that he would rather be shot than
they murdered my brother with COL Fannin, and they
are about to murder me-
]. L. Jones said to the interpreter Tell the officer
to look upon men who not afraid to die for their
country
Captain Eastland behaved with the most patriotic
dignity he desired that his country should not par
cularly avenge his death, but for her honor he
implored her never to lay down her arms until the
ample reparation and her unconditional freedom
should be secured. He said, Il know that have
thought me timid but thank God death has no ter
for me- Major Robert Durham said he was
prepared to die, and would to God that he had
chance to do the same thing again and he glo-
ried in the demonstration they had made, which
showed Texans without arms to be more than equal
to Mexicans with Them James Ogden, with his
usual equanimty of temper, smiled at his fate, and
said, 4 am prepared
| Young Robert w. Harris behaved In the most un-
finching manner and called upon his companions to
avenge the murder, while their flowing tears and
bursting hearts, invoking heaven for their witness,
responded the call. have the utmost confidence
that this pledge, so solemnly pghted, will be re-
deemed.
They one ard all invoked their country to do both
them and herself Justice. Capt Cameron, In taking
his leave of these brave men, and particularly Of
Turnbull, brother Scotchman, with whom he had
been in many dangers wept bitterly, and mplored the
officers to execute him and spare his
Just previous to the firing they were bound toge-
ulSI COiUo, anu lISh uCtiiS
were set upon log near the wall, with their backs
to their executioners They all begged the officer
i shoot them in front, and at short distance tina
they were not afraid to look death in the face This
he refused and to make his cruelty refined al
possible fired at several PAGES, and continued thu
firing from ten to twelve minutes, lacerating ant
mangling these heroes in manner too horrible 70
description.
Our interpreter, who was permitted to remain witt
them TO the last, says that fifteen times they wound
ed that iron-nerved SOUL Henry Whaling; and
would seem that Providence had special care in pro
longing his existence, that he might demonstrate t
his enemies the national character they had to con
tend with for lie gritted his teeth and de6ed them
terms of whitening reproaeh until they placed gu
10 his head and blew his brains against the wall. Sue
was the effect of this horrible massacre upon thei
own soldiers, who stationed guard upon tn
wall above that Of them tainted, and came nea
falling over, but was caught by his comrades
During the martyrdom of these noble patriots, tn
main body of our men were separated from them b
stone wall of some fifteen feet high, and heard the
last agoniZed groans with feelings of which it woul
be mockery to attempt the description. The mex
morning, as they were marched on the road to Mex
CO. they passed the manged bodies of their dead CON
rades whose bones lie bleaching upon the plain
of Salado, perishng remembrance of exalted patr
osm, but lasting one of the infamy of their Pres
r dent, Sam Houston, who caused them to be falsel
5 executed robbers and marauders upon Mexico.
Thirty days had elapsed and the bloody appt
tites of the Mexicans increased. The gallant Cap
Cameron was doomed, even though he had passed til
ordeal of drawing white bean instead of 'blacl
one. Who can read the simple recital of the murdc
of Cameron and the nobility of his death and renal
, unmoyed!
Thirty days after the horrible murder of our sever
teen countrymen at Saiado the 25th of March, tn
main body of the survivors marched on the roa
! ~ 1f,s,on afr6r,
der suffering the most cruel, which killed several
and many others, being unable to tfaVel were left
u the hospitals of San Luis Potosi, Dolores, and Sa
u Juan del Rio, from which miserable sinks but fe
ever returned 1t would be swelling this journal b.
yond all reasonable bounds to detail the actual suffe
e ing of these men; indeed, language would give tt
}. reader but poor idea of these sad recollection
Thus, after thirty days march, they arrived at Ii
$ village Of Huehuetoca, leagues from the cit
u of Mexico, where they were crowded together in
room too small to permit of their lying down, and il
Is TO which not breath of air could enter when Il
IS door was closed In very little time the air BEGAN
/ so impure, from the exhaustion of the oxygen thu
the candles went out, and respiration became
ingy difficult. They in vain appealed to the guar
at the door TO let In fresh air, and when death
to most cruel stared them wholesale in the face as
last alternative they had to cutting holes
s. the door with their pocket knives, and alternate
2 breathing at these small orifces.
a This was, indeed, as the Mexican soldiers called
Ia noche trise, tbe sad night Their march of mar
N leagues the day BEFORE through an insuferable dus
s. burning sun, the want of food and water, and Tho
X at night not space sufficient Of the stone floor
y lie upon, and sufocating atmosphere to breath
D. was not their full of wo- About oclos
H. at night mental murderer, with pair of epaule
E. upon his shoulders. and guard of about one doz
to mounted men, under broad-brmmed hats, arriv
st with orders from the tyrant Santa Ana to shoot I
E. bold and beloved Captain Ewip Cameron.
I'd Capt Cameron was unclaimed from his partne