Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-04-08
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From the Peoples Journal.
ADVENTURE OF THREE nIDSHIP-
MEN In MEXICO.


EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LOG BOOK.
The little patch of burning hot sand and
desolation, called the Islsnd OF SACRIFICES, shall
not cause me to delay my story; although
would fam stop to say few words of the
squalid garrison at the dilapidated fort, and
| Of its Commandarte, who sat all day in his
shirt, smoking, and wearing no other clothes
except cloak of precisely the same length.
! However, will pass on, and even forego the
description Of some of the horrors OF yellow
! fever-of certain ruins supposed TO have been
ancient temples--and Of the wreck oil human
skeletons and other bones which strewed this
miserable sea shore. arm speaking OF the
period when the old Spaniards still held the
Castle Of San Juan Ulloa, just before their fl
nal expulsion.
| A very absurd misunderstanding, which
might have cost life or two, concluded this
INV first visit to SACRIFICES. Asst may serve
| for an illustration of the fanaticism, ignorance
and absence of all accurate war arrangements
among the Mexicans at this time, Go say
nothing ofthe foolish conduct of three Eng
lish midshipmen,) may as well relate it. :.
| From the vacant saloon of the unbreeched
ccmmandant we strolled away over the little
sandy desolation, and, soon finding the heat
quite unbearable, went down to the sea and
bathed. Binding silk handerchieis over our
heads, 10 protect them from the scorching
rays Of the sun, we remained swimming
about, and sometimes sitting close in shore with
only our heads out Of water, during an hour
an a half, or more. Aswe had discovered a
small spot of shadow under sand bank where
we could dress at leisure, the next thing we
did was 10 extend ourselves upon the sand,
with the usual tropical Incidence, and take a
i,uo in
tended, that when we awoke the sun was
down. We walked along the beach towards
the point where we expected to find our boat,
which had been ordered to return for us, and
on the way we picked up the skeleton of a
horses head, the bones being entire. teeth
aud all, and blanched as white as chalk. Mr.
A Ga MILDLY, of ,ixteen) persisted i'll carry
ing il with him, saying he should take it to
the doctor on board, as specimen Of the un-
natural productions of the island.
We had not gone far before we were hail
ed BY sentry on one of the outposts. No
doubt we presented an odd and suspicious APP
pearance enough to the eve Of this unusually
rigilant Mexican. Even If he had seen us
arrive and pay visit to the fort three or four
hours ago, he could never have supposed il
was the same party; because nobody 'in
their senses" ever remained five minutes lon
ger upon this sandy hot bed of pesillence than
he could possibly help. What must he have
thought We had each of us go, a blue jack
ct over our heads, with the arms dangling
down, as languidly as the sensation which
had induced US so to place them, the compress
SION round the arm having been unbearable;
and on the top Of this, one Of the party was
carrying the skeleton of horses head as
though it had been his own, his face being
hidden by the hanging Jacket The shades Of
evening were around US. No wonder, there
fore, that the poor sentry Ga pure Indian, moi
half caste) was astounded al the sudden APP
pearance OF such figure marching along the
margin Of the sea, with two attendants! Tc
the call Of the sentry we made some idle re-
ply or other; in fact, we did not know the pass.
word, and had never once thought of asking
for it, He challenged US a second time We
answered more fooshly. if possible, than a,
first, and with i'll suppressed meriment; Sc
down he came running with his musket and
fixed bayonet, and demanded who we were
how we came-what we came for-where
we were going--and what was that? The
figure at which he pointed stood still and
am oy no means sure thar the young geRue-
man underneath the skeleton skull did not
feel himself in most uncomfortable predica-
ment Thinking TO pass II off as Jest, and
al once relieve the soldiers mind from all fur
ther responsibility, answered pleasantly, us
| thought, that sit was only one of the gods
of Ancient Mexico, whom we had found "a
mong the ruins!" However ill-judged and
unbecomming such reply may have been,
it certainly was a compliment, rather than
otherwise, 10 most Of the hdeous gods in
question. But whether it was the purity OF
his aboriginal Indian blood, my bad Mexican
patois, some strange mis- conception OF per
sona insult, or ar unmixed furor Of ianatical
rage, | know not but, utteriDg the word
"Dios," as if in horror, he in an instant dis
charged his piece in the air as signal. We
were quite unarned, not having even the
little ornamental midshipman's dirk with us;
so away we bolted along the sands, 10 make
for the boat, the discontinued Mexican god
now carrying his huge head IN his arms, and
the sentry pursuingu us with his bayonet charg-
ed, and crying out In shrill voice, "ffoo- dee
os Gas tee -yda nos Hoo dee-os Cas- Tee yae-nos
Jews of CASTLE! Jews Of Castlle)
A signal musket answered from the tort
and lust as we came in sight Of our boat, the
eon,1aandante. still in his short cloak shirt,
with his drawn sword in his hand, and fol-
lowed by the whole of his squalid garrison,
appeared upon the top Of the nearest sand
bank. Our sailors. seeing there were some
thing "amiss;" instantly pulled away to NEE,
us-ran the boat ashore-and before the com
n.andanis and his ragamufiin guard could
make their way down 20 the waters edge, we
had scrambled in, and pushed of into deep
water. IIoo-dee-os Gas tee-yaa-nosl" scIemed
the sentry as he joined the guard. "Faeso' =
cried the communicate; and ''popl pop! pun y
went four or five of the rusty muskeis, the
rest only flashing in the pan, if they did that,
One bullet struck the boats stern, and bit OF
burning waddlng few into the neck of the
bow oar. We answered this ridiculous at
tempt at volley by loud shout of derision.
which was prolonged into SCREENING crow
BY the Mexican god, who lifted up his white
head in the air; but perceiving that the soldiers
were all busy reIoading, he suddenly put
down his head, and called to our men. "Pull
for your lives!" At this sudden change OF
tone. the old coxswain, who always went
with ''ihe young gentlemen's boat" laughed
so excessively that he almost rolled over the
boats side. They fred again, nt-nobody
wa, hurt. Elk MExIoAso.
QUARTERLY CoURr OF JEFFERsos--An
Act changing the time of holding the May
Quarterly Term Of the County Court OF Jet
- f~.s,.n,,, ,,ssad March 9th IS1T