Democratic banner., 1846-06-13
cents from the i;ps CT tie Mexican COM
lnaniCr,

no one stirred. Few Of us unicrstoo,
! tie order, a#d those who did, would net T.
| hey. Tie Mexican soldiers, who stocd a
about tree PAGES from us, ~lcvci!cd t;,ei
m&Skcts at cur breasts. Even t..yn, w
could hardly believe that they Meant t.
Shoot us; frrif we had, we should a&snrrdi,
have rus:rd f"rwerd in our desperation, art
wcaponless though VIC were, sol:c OF oul
murdcrcrS would have met their dealt. al
our lands. Only one of our number was
we'll acquainted with Spanish, and even lie
seemed as if he could not in any manner
comprehend tie order that had been given.
He stared at the commanding officer as if
wal ing It's repetition, end We stared at Linn.
ready, at the first word lie should utter, to
upon the soldiers. But he seemed to
be, as most of us were, impressed with the
belief that tlc demonstration was merely 4
acnacc, Used to induce us to entcrttc Mex
lean service. With thrcatning gesture and
drawn sword, the chief OF the asSassins a.
rain calculated the command to kncci down.
lie sound Of a second ~volleI, from a DIFF
tcrcnt direction FROM the first, Just then
reached our cars, anG was followed by a
confused, cry, as if those at whom it had
been aimed, had not all been Immediately
Killed. Cur comrade, the one who under
Stood Spanish, started from his momcntary
lctlarsy, and boldly addressed us
"Comrades," cried he, "you hear that re-
port, that cry. There is 10 hope for IS.
our last hour is. come! Therefore, COM
raGcs-'
A terrible explosion interrupted him.
and t|:cn ali was still. \ thick cloud OF
was wrcathing and curling towards
Tie San Antonio. The blood of our lieu
tenant on my clothes, and around nc lay
NY friends, ~convulsive with tLcir last ago
ly. | saw nothing more. UnhurI myself,
Sprang up, and. concealed by the Thick
lied along the side Of the ledge iii
&c direction If t..c Iivcr. the noise OF the
water for my guide. Suddenly a blow from
Ecavv sabre lc!!o NY head, and from out
f the smoke emerged the firm Of a little
lieutenant. He "iIEcd a second
low a;me which | parted with lay left
i lad nothing to risk. but every
hing 20 gain. 1t was life or death. Be
.in.l me a thousand b%ycncts, before me tie
!lost rowrrlcss sword Of a coward. | ,
.rs:.cd upon i'm, aid with true Mexican
,ylcr, lie hcd from an unarmcd man. Oni
:ent, tHc river rolling AZ INV feet. t.c Scot
ng and yeI,inG behind. ''TcNas ~for"vrr",'
.riod /, and, without a moments hesitation.
plunged into the water. The bullets WIS
led around me, as | swan slowly and veal
y to tie other side, but none wounded m".
)ur roordog, who had been with us t!.r"'
il tie campaign, and had Jumped into tie
with me, fell a last sacrifice TO AIcXi- {
can cruelty. He had reached t!,c ..;Id!" ;
f the stream, VIXEN a bail struck him, and I
re Disappeared" +,
Willie these horrible scenes were occur
ing in the p~rairieS, Colonel Tanning and t
is wounded companions were shot and hay-,'
at Goliad, only DR.. Shack!eford and
few hospital aids having their lives spar
d, in order that they might attend TO the
wounded Mexicans. Besides Mr.. Ehrcn- f
but three of tl:c prisoners at Goliah i
ultimately escaped the slaugatcr-[up-, {
Yards of thirty escaped. !
Having crossed tic San Antonio, &:r.
Gutenberg struck into tn high grass and
tickets, which concealed him from the
pursuit Of the Mcxicans, and wandering
the prairie, guiding himself as hest
ie might by sun and stars, and striving to
each the river BRACES. He lost his way
md went through 4 variety Of adventures,
which, with some characteristics Of Texan
ifc and habits of Gen. Sam Houston, and a,
Yiritted account of the battle of San ia
Into, At which, however, be himself w"s
MT p~r.sent. fill I'D the remainder {: his