The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-10-12
from the National Intelligercer.
A RIDE ACROSS MEXICO.

Dorado-so long searched for all over our con- li'
tinent-has already been noted in your paper.
A brief account of his ride, full Of hazard, and
accomplished with such extreme gallantry and
spirit. is due TO the service which this brave,
enterprising young officer adorns, and will, at $
the same time, exemplify the deplorable con-
dition of government and police throughout
Mexico.
Midshipman BEALE left the port Of La Paz,
near the foot OF the Peninsula OF California,
on the the LIST of August; and on the 9Th arri-
we'd at Mazatlan, on the west coast OF Mexico.
Thence he took passage on small Mexican 60
leta, and after a terrible coasting voyage oil
| five days, in such weather as is only known of
that coast, he made the harbor of San Bias. AT
this place commenced his land journey, south
east one thousand miles, by way of Guadala-
lara and Mexico city, TO Vera Cruz. Ii was
with much difficulty that he got away, so GER
tain was il held by the Mexican Governor OF
San Bias and every body that, travelling thus
unprotected, he would be waylaid aud muir
Idered by some OF the numerous bands of Ia
ldrones (robbers) who at this time, more than |
lever in consequence of the dispersion OF the
troops of Paroles, line all the public roads in
Mexico Having undertaken the duty, how
lever, nothing!could count or detain our gal
liant young officer and accordingly on the 18th
lof August he started.
| He travelled withol any other escort than
la guide; his plan being TO ride at full speed,
both day and night, and thus accomplish his
Tourney i'm the shortest possible space of time,
land also lessen he dangers Of the road By the
Ira pidity of his transit His wardrobe for the
Tourney consisted-to begin at the the toP-of
!. la Mexican glazed som6rero; below that, an
ample red flannel shirt, followed BY leather
breaches, and terminating in pair OF hide
boots Of the CO.. Try. In this costume, and
with his yOrn moustaChe, and sun-brown
vissage, and speaking Spanish, he was the
i counterpart OF native OF the country; but his
defensive outfit was f another sort, and emf
j nently Americaii-four revolvers, six barrels
IS each, and kn..,, could only be packed on
e the person Of genine American, expecting
40 danger, aud determined TO 90 through il.
:, Thus accounted, young BEALE left San Bias
J" lon the 18th of August. By his rapid travel
m ling, and the formidable character OF his drma-
ment. he accomplished the first sixty miles
,e without serious Interruption. Here. at a sud.
lden turn of the road, a peremptory call oil
. 'alto, ahi"-hol there!-brought one of his
We revolvers 10 bear rpon party OF three gente d.
es caminO-people oil 4 e road--who had drawn
up in his front To throw him off his guard
'' they demanded his pas ,ort, Under pretence Of
being road police. "Yes," replied Beae, an
~ swering in their own tongue, ''yes, you car
NJ see my passport; oIe of you come and get L.!
After some parley, the party appeared dispos
Oh ed 10 go off; but Beale insisted that ii wa'
lig their duty 10 examine his passport, and il nigh
RI. he unsafe for them TO turn their backs befur,
e. they had done so. Under this intimation, tn
VI leader of the party, with Beale's revolver dfaw
et- ing bead upon him as caution against treach
lrry, approached with arms length. and re
os ceived the passport, an al the same time IN
"a information that the revolver, with which "St
eu ner ladrons" was ale dy acquainted. was on
" one of four, equally ready Tor service. Tn
cir |eaballero was Immediately profuse in apologize
;,s lfor stopping an American officer; and III
- whole party were ready al once 10 turn bach
NC or 10 turn off By another road. Beale, how
ich lever. knowing that his safety was in havin
& them behind him, inimated his preference f.
that movement; and, after some hesitation
they passed on in front of him. under the mul
the les of his revolver, until out OF pistol sho
ev' when he put his horse to speed, and was 500
ave bey ond reach of pursuit.
,odl At Topic. the dangers of the road had becom
~" so imminent, and he was constantly assn
ma ed that he could not fail 10 be assaulted on II
les way, and PROBABLY lose his life, that he dete
ace mined al least to secure the transmission OF Il
conten,s of his important dispatches TO Il
Government. He therefore though not wit
out fear of reproof from the Department
will case he should get through. opened these p
hat Pers, coP,ea tneih' anu WIN d ho'e W 'he
e TO .ns '1 ,rpi;rarx Is,,er. in the mail The
Tor would arrive, even should he be murdered {
the way and the originals thus be lost.
He continued his journey, travelling DO
night and day, with no other rest than he cou
ace. snatch by throwing himself on the nude
the lground i'm the brief intervals of ten or twel
o,rs minutes occupied at each post in bringing o
fresh horses and changing the saddles. Ty
&c days journey the other side of Guaaalajara
feet banditti came out of the woods in his rear,
des- at nighlfal, aud, discovering him, gave cha
will de nau notnis 70 10 ',i, n,e ~, SHOW .'i'
,orts nouoh 70 see them. ! since The darkness wor
prevent the 'judicious use of his revolvers,
which he depended in the day. He accordiI
made ly increased his already rapid pace, expecti
speedily TO distance his pursuers; but II
: III were not so easily shaken off. They cont
rmer ued the chase some hours, and frequently
the foremost ones gained upon him sufficient to
,h., their carbines at his back; but he at lem
made good his way to the next post.
'eau Having heard OF party Of eleven travell
this ahead of him, Beale maze speed to overt'
that them, for the greater security Of travelling
carry company. This party was attacked by la
band Of robbers before arriving at Gaadalajs
and on the day following his nigh, purs
Beale came up 10 the sctne Of the encoun
,turn The whole party of travellers had been xii
-. or wounded, and the blood was still fresh
'e'se the mire which il had formed, the bodies b
even ing only just been removed.
& nerl From Guadalaiara Beale departed at six