Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-06-20
A MOBILE ACT.


known to the country, having particularly dsiin-
guished himself, several different occasions as
bearer Of important dispatches to and from Calor-
MIA, both through the heart of Mexico, during the
war, and across the prairies and Rocky Mountains,
forcing his way. with equal spirit, through civilized
and savage enemies. AS gallant naval officer and
intrepid traveller, with the courage to face and the
energy TO overcome every difficulty aud peril, we
can well believe he has no superior; butwe have
recently heard an anecdote told Of him, being the ac-
count OF circumstance which happened on The last
journey to California, from which he has only SO
lately returned which, while il illustrates the dan
gers Of the road, proves that there is another quail
ty in him higher than mere resolution and bravery,
"a humane and generous disposition, which gives
to those virtues the character Of herosm.
1t was. we believe, in the ella country, that
Lieut.. Beall, having encamped his party and plac-
ed it in safety, went out hunting. He set alone,
cua favorte saddle mare, which was generally
| kept up or spared for such occasions. About six
miles from the camp, he had the good for.nne to
kill deer; and he was on the grotnd dressing the
carcass, when on looking up he suddenly beheld'a
troop Of mounted Apaches, who had discovered him
and were dashing furousfy towards him. They
Rad doubtless, heard the report or seen the smoke
of his rifle, and SO were ON him before he was "a
ware; but he knew very well that to 30 overiaken
by them, single white man among those naked
hills, which they call their own, certain death;
and accordingly, leaving his quarry and mounting
III hot haste, ne relied upon the mettle of his mare
which he put to her full speed, to carry him back
in safety TO the camp. Away darted the young
Lieutenant, and on rushed tbs Savages. ihusdering
aud yelling IN the certain assurance Of their prey
But confident they We're, the fugitive was quite
as well satisfied of his ability TO escape although
their horses fresher than the mare, and it was
pretty certain they were gaining slightly upon her.
and would give her severe contest before reaching
| the camp.
| Thus assured of his safety, but not relaxing his
speed, Lieutenant b. had recovered half his distance
from the camp when, dashing over the crest of a
hill he was Mortified at the sight OF one of his own
men, foot, climbing the hill, and, in fact, follow
ing in his trail to assist him in his hunt. The sight
of the Lieutenant flying downthe hill at such ia
rous rate was, doubtless, enough perhaps the poor
fellow could hear the whoops of the Indians ascend
ing the hill from the opposite side; at all events,
he understood his fate, and spreading his arms be-
fore the horses head, he cried out with the accents
of despair, "Oh MIR. Beall, save me. / am hus-
band and the father of six HELPLESS children !''-
Never was prayer more quickly heard, OF more he
roicay answered.
| The lieutenant, though riding for his own lie,
| Immediately stopped his mare, dismounied and,
giving her to the man, said, ''You shall be saved.
Ride back to the camp, and send them out to give
my body decent burial" And SO they parted
the footman to escape, the officer, as he supposed
TO be slain for the hill utterly bare, without
single hiding place, and he thought of nothing but
selling his life as dearly as possible.
| For this purpose he drew revolver, and sitting
down on the ground, waited for the savages, who
in moment came rushing the brow of the
| hill, and then, TO the unspeakable Amusement of
Lieutenant Beall, dashed past him down the de-
scent like madmen, not soul of them paying the
least regard to him. not soul, in fact seeing him.
They saw in reality, nothing but the horse and
the horseman they had been pursuing for three
miles; they knew nothing of fooman and per-
haps the sitting figure of the lieutenant appeared, to
eyes only bent on one attractive object, as stone
huge cactus, such abound in those sterile hills
At all events, Lieutenant Beall by what SEEM
ed 10 himself almost direct Providental interpo-
sition in his behalf, remained wholly undiscovered
and in moment more the Apaches We're out OF
sight, still pursuing the horse and his rider to the
camp The latter barely succeeded in escaping
with his life, the Indians having overhauled him
closely just he reached the camp, as to be able
TO inf}ct one or two slight wounds Upon him with
bullets, or perhaps with arrows As for Lieutenant
| Beall, he was not slow TO take advantage of his
good fortune; and selecting round about course,
he succeeded in reaching the camp just about the
time the poor fellow whom he had saved, and the
other members of the party, were about sallying
out to obey his last request, and give his body de-
cent burial.
| Upon such an event as this ii were superhuous
to comment. 1t is act, however, which deserves
10 live in mems recOllecons like the story of great
battle and victory Philadelphia american.