The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1848-12-01
A RIDE ACROSS MEXICO.

news which be brings Of the discovery
no" al last, at the western base Of the 81
ezra Nevad,, of the real DJ,ado-so Iona
searched tor all over our continent
already been noted IN your paper. A bre
account OF his ride, full Of hazard, and &C
comp'lihed with such extreme gallantry
and spirit, is due TO the service which thu.
brave, enterprislng young off cor adorus and
VIII a' the same time esenpilfy the deplor.
able condition Of government, and police
throughout Mexico.
MIdshipfnan Bcale left the port Of La
Pdz, near the foot of the peninsula Of Cali
lorna, on the Is, Of August; and on the
h arrived at Maz iilaD, on The west coast
OF Mexico. Theoce he took passage in a
small goleta, and after terrible coaslng
voyage OF five days, IN such weather as is
only knoSn off that coast, he made the har.
Dor OF San Bias. A. this place commenced
his land J journey, southeast one thousand
miles by way Of Gaudalsj.ra aud Mex CO
city, to Vera Cruz Il twas with much dlc
ficully tina, he got away, 50 certain was ii
held by The Mexican governor Of San Bias
and every body that, travelling thus unpro.
tec'ed, he would be way laid and murdered
by some OF the hume ous bands Of iadrones
(robbcrs) who at this time. more ,han'ever,
IN consequence OF the dispersion Of the
troops of Paroles, line all the public roads
10 Mexico. Having undertaken the duty,
ho"ever, no!hing could daunt or deiain our
gallant young officer; aud accordingly on
the 18th Of August he started.
lie travelled without sny other escor.
than a guide; his plan being to rids at full
speed, both day and ghr, and thus accom-.
plish his journey in The shortes, possible
space oil tune, aud also lessen The dangers
OF the road BY the rapidlty OF his transit
His wardrobe for the journey consisted
TO begin al the ,op-oi a Mexican glazed
son.brero ; below that, an ample red fla
mel shirt, followed BY leather breeches, and
terminating IN pair Of the de boots Of
the countrv. 10 this costume, and with his
young mous,ache and sun Drowned yisage,
and speaking Spanish, he was the counter.
part Of anative of the country; but his de.
iensive outfit was OF another sort, and emi.
neatly Anercan-four revolvers, six bar.
rels each, aud q knife, could only be packed
on the person Of genuine American, ex
peciing DANCE, and determined TO 60
through ii.
Thus ACQUIRED. young Bsale left San
Bias on the IL h Of August. BY bis rapid
travelling, and the formidable character of
his armament, he accomplished the first
sixty miles with out serious inlerrup,ion.-
Here, at a sudden turn of the road, per.
emptory call Of "Alto all halt, there
brought one Of his revolyers to bear upon
3 party Of three genie de canine "-peo
pie OF the road who had dawn up in his
front. To throw him off his guard, they
demanded his passport, under preteuce of
being road police. Yes" replied Beale,
answering IN their own tongue" yes, you
can see my passport one oil you come and
get 1t !" After some parley, the party ap.
Deared disposed to 90 eff; but Beale insis.
ed tina, it was their duty 10 examine bis
passport, and ii nigh, be unsafe for them
% turn their backs before they had done so.
Under this In,Imai,on, the leader Of the
party. with Bears revolver drawing bead
lpon HIM as caution against treachery,-
approached within arms length, and teceiv.
ID the passport, and at the same time the
normatlon that the revolver, with which /,
Seaor lddron" was already acquainted,
vas one Of four equally ready ios service.
The caballcro was Immediately proluse in
apologies for stopping an American officer;
md the whole party were ready at once TO
urn back, or to turn off by another road. |
}eale, however, knowing that his safety
vas in having them behind him, ntimated /
Us preference for that movement; and af
er some hesitation, they passed on in front
If him, under the muzzles of his revolver, |
lnil out OF pistol shot; when he put his
horse to speed. aud was soon hey ond reach
If pursuit.
AT Topic, the dangers Of the road bad |
'ecome so imminent, and he was so con,
family assured that he could not fail TO be
ssaulled on the way, aud probably loose
lis life, that he determined at least 10 Sc.
ure the transmission Of the contents Of his
important, dispatches TO the government.-
lie therefore. though not without fear Of
eproof from the department, in case he
hould get through, opened these papers,
copied them, and with note to the Amer.
can minister in Mexico, enclosed the cop
es, as ordinary letters, in the mail. These
would arrive, even should he be murdered
~ the way, and the originals thus be lost.
lie continued his journey, travelling both
Ugh, aud day, with no other res, than he
ould snatch by throwing himself on the
muddy ground, in the brief intervals Of ten
" twelve minutes occupied at each post in
ringing OIL, fresh horses and changing the
adde's. Two days journey the other side
# Guadalupe, ldada (sang) came out
# the woods in his rear, jus. at nigh,fall,
md, discovering him, gave chase. He
lad nothing to do thus time but show them
lis heels, lin case their eyesght was good
noueh to see them,) since The darkness
would prevent the judicious use Of his re.
on which he depended in the day.
10 accordingly increased his already rapid
ace, expecting speedily to distance his
N suers: but they were not so easily cha.