Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-08-25
KAH-RA-HAH-THE TRAPPER
4 ROMANCE OF CHIHUAHUA.
By one of" Doniphan'S Men, Written eapreSs-
fy for the st. Louis ReueiUe.
CHAPTER VIII.
The Prison.

1Ho 1TtSOH
In the eastern quarter Of the city of chihuahua
may be seen. a, this day, the ruins of an edfce
which the habitants will tell you, was once a
great cathedral. Its biackened walls built of
adobies, are now crumblIng in ruins, whilst nu-
merous wooden pillars and columns. decayed and
broken, lie scattered the space which was
once the interior of the building. A number of
small apa ariments attached to the northern portion
of the ruins, still remain, however, and, on ac-
count of the thickness and strength of the walls,
they frequently used by the government for
the salc-keeping of prisoners In Of these
dreary, old rooms, Frank Winfield was imprisoned.
Tho walls, once plastcred and whitewashed. were
now damp and bIuckened the pastering, in mary
places, had fallen from the ceiling and remained
in heaps upon the paved floor. A miserable shuck
mattress. fcw blankets, two earthen jars. and ono
old rickety chair, comprised the furniture of the
room. Through small square window. elevated
some ten feet from the floor few dull rays Of
light penetrated. rendering the darkness visible.
In the situation in which Winfield was placed
it may be supposed, that, yielding 10 the force of
circumstances, his mind was occupied solely with
bitter thoughts and melancholy forebodings. 1t
was not so however; for he had found from OF.
servation and intercourse with the world, that
happiness more frequently depends upon ourselves
than upon either adverse fortunate crcum.
stances. He had beheld men who, surrounded by
| every comfort and luxury, in possession of wealth
with which they might crafty every taste that
contributed to their own enjoyment, still discon-
tented, ever repining-matters which, to well
regulated and rightly balanced mind, were trihes
light as air, to them were grievous misfortune.
On the other hand, he had observed those who.
even in adversely, were cornpa rativeiy cheerful
and happy-who laughed al suffering-and though
yielding to sorrow, still never refused TO be com.
forted.
The days passed slowly and heavily by. For.
1 nod Il ,.Ga IL
was thus enabled TO obtain many articles which
he otherwise would have been denied. From his
servant, Winfield learned that Wells was still in
prison, and that the American traders in the city,
with great difficulty were enabled TO prevent their
property from being confiscated by the govern
ment, and their lives sacrificed to the brutal fury
Of the mobs who nightly paraded the streets.
Troops were pouring into the city from all quar-
ters the Durango cavalry had arrived, and volun-
teer corps were organizing rapidly; patriotic songs,
addresses 70 The hihuahuaenses valiente' were
composed by the better class of females, and sung
with enthusiasm by the soldiers and rancheros.
In answer to W,nfeds inquiry, as to what was
to be done with the Americans in prison, the
swarthy sentinel stationed at his prison door,
piled, that they would be 4" hung like dogs"
Some six or seven days after Winfeld's arrest,
a number Of persons entered his cherries room,
which they forthwith proceeded TO clean up with
all imaginable hustle and DESPATCH. The plaster
ing on the floor removed, the walls white-
washed, and the pavement secured until it shone
again. Articles of furniture, consisting of bed
bedstead, table, arm chair, writing desk, &C.,
were soon afterwards brought in and arranged.
The change their presence effected was miraculous.
the old room looked quite cheerful, and Catos
ccuntenance relaxed from its unworted soberness
whilst he busted himself, he said, in fixin' up"
"Where did these things come from, Cato ? -
inquired Winfield.
Lord knows, niassa Cato don't.".
"Who sent this furniture - asked Winfield Of
one Of the Mexcans.
"Quien sabe," was the reply. and this was all
the answer he could obtain to any interrogatories.
In one Of the drawers Of the writing desk, Win
field found pen, ink, &C., and small slip of paper,
on which was written" You have friends near
at hand never despairl" ...e F.
We know not whether it was the intimation,
that his situation was not altogether without hope,
/ or whether there something in the delicate
handwriting in which the words were traced, that
sen. a thrill through Winfeld's frame, and smile
/ to his lips. Certain it is, however, that for ful
1.-Two hours after its perusal. he sat lost in thought.
In the afternoon of the same day the door Of
Winfeds prison was unlocked and thrown open.
Surrounded by a number of the Mexican guard,
| Winfield beheld his friend Wolls the trodhr.