Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1847-09-03

AT first could not believe these men
TO be in earnest, ii subject on WHICH >oon
saw they entertained no doubt, fer, seeing
me draw my sword and plant my back a.
gainst the wall. they Disappointed, made 4
flourish with their carbines, repeating the
demand 10 surrender | advanced toward
them one or two PAGES TO get within
striking distance, when they all drew
their swords and made towards me-one
Of them. a Mexican captain, as sine"
learn. Jose Maria Prieto, made strong
blow at my head: Just as they drew and
advanced, my friend Barnes, not having
a single wea pom. turned back through the
gate and | saw no more of him. tortu-
nately broke the force of the blow by a
parry not, however. in season TO prevent
the captain 5 blade making such striking
impression on my skull as nea rly TO stun
i'me, but not sufficient, owing, as think,
to the duIness of his blade and my cloth
cap, to infict any cash.
OF course | recIprocated his attentions
| BY a strong cut at his neck. when he and
! the other two soldiers who had been kept
back by the swing of my sword, sprung
! back about five PAGES from me, threw
| their swords upon the ground and drew
up their carbines, which they had retained
IN their left hands, aimed deliberately al
my head. all cooked, and again demanded
a surrender. | then stood with my back
to the wall and the three men on. the O.
ther three sides all BEYOND my reach, and
so far from ca, b other as to give me no
chance to strike at them or their weapons.
| |! then asked them what they wanted, in
/ l.,
whether they wanted nv money or my
self. They soon seemed aware of my in
tent. and although from The be ginning IT
was obvious they wished TO AVOID discharg-
ing their pieces so near the CITY, saw
unmi>fakable Signs that the time of parey
was closed. Unable to reach my horse
or attack them. | surrendered t. the cap
tar, and the three bringing nv arms be-
hin d ne and taking the end of the rope
with which they had bound nv hands,
one of them mounted my horse. and put
ting me on a mustang. rode off at full
speed. Further particulars of my journey
shall write hereafter.
arrived within ten miles of this place
late al night = slept a short time in as
good lodgings as ANYBODY - on the prem
Ises ofsa few scattering rancherOs rose
and got here about seven in the morning.
From the time Of my capture | was hon
orabiv treated b the captain as priso-
ncr Of war. After crossing deep river
he ioo~ened my arms, and we went on
strange 70 say, with that pervcrsitv of
character which never fails me- rode on
through the deep forests. the >equestered
rtfh> ahoundirg in new and beautiful
low Rs and vines, AMI all that nv hear
Rad ever conceive Of loveiiness in ma.
'urp, 50 lost in admiration of The unsur-
Da>sa 1, glorics Of the way a. 10 fell a.
most forg tljIl that | was bound, and en-
iirely careless about the result Of my
novel situation Some faint description
OF this truly lovely route YOU shall nav,
her after.
Now for few words OF mv treatment
In mr. all that has been said of Al-xica-
cru lty has been wholly falsfied wa
placed in the house of the Signora An
gu>tina Fernando. She has treated m
with more than ho-pta itv. / have re
Ic,Iyed at her hand, the kindness and ten
Idcrness of a mother. To night canned
.evote tune 10 particulars. but | earnestly
des'r" al may know her kindness to an
American prisoner. But this is only
beginning. You will be astOnlshed to hear
That ali the inhabitants of this ytiiane
have extended toward me more than the
elegant ciylIties Of refined llfe-thc1
have received me cordially at their houses
they have given me assistance with II
dciicacy and proprIety winch no Amer.
can community can excel; for instance,
The Signora caused me TO be furnished
with clean linen shirt, and had all my
dirty clothes thanks 10 life in camp
washed.
The Catholic padre, Manuel de SiIvir.
furnished me every comfort. and crowned
all his attention TO me by communicating
in Latin that my friend Barnes had been
heard from and was alive. He walked
visiting the alcade. a most benevolent and
Ikind-hearted man, and all the principal
places in the town. and his church among
others, and gave me money and clothes 10
dress as a citizen, and save me the morti
ticauon of going to Cordova IN American
uniform, ali al MS own suggestion. H.
has done me the kindness to agree to carry
or cause this letter to be sent. to Vera
Cruz, and IN everything has been truly fn
nj example may be initiated BY all cer-
gymen. BY mems of the Latin, c ,ulI
! learn and communicate most that | could
! b made to understand, for no one under
stood Engli-h.
| Cs>to Fernando, a citizen here. he
{ 4 nm M y..rN orr md