Arkansas intelligencer., 1849-08-04
CHAPTER /.

Important Personages introduced TO The Reader
On the 18th day of January, in The year lS47,
three persons entered the city of Chihuahua, by
the Gale San Sebastian. The eldest of the party
was large porlly man, with a florid, dull coun.
tenance, only relieved from absolute stupidity by
the Keen and piercing grey eye that glanced from
beneath his bushy brows. He wore no bea I'd, and
his 1axen hair was short and thin. This ndvi-
dual was dressed in blue cottonade pants, and
checked linen shirt. His coat, of the same mate
rial as his pantaloons, ne had taken off and at
tached 10 the pomme Of his saddle by small
leathern strap. Upon his fee, he wore Indian
moccasfns, fancifully wrought with beads nd eor.
cupine duills and his face was protected from the
sun by low crowned straw sombfero, the broad
brim of which was turned down, after the Mexi-
can style. With one hand he grasped heavy
American rife, which rested upon the from, Of the
saddle, and in the other he carried q Il enormous
whip, with which he amused himself by Jogging
the memory of the lazy lit,le Mexican mule upon
which he mounted. Around his waist he
wore broad leathern belt from the left side of
which heavy bowie knife, with silver mounted
handle, hung suspended by small steel chain
The blade, at least foot in length, was protected
by sheath ornamented with silver, and also fur
nished with q button, by which the knife could bo
secured firmly to the belt. Attached to the POM
mel of the saddle were holsters from which pro.
ruded the shining butts of pair Of horse pistols.
Such was the appearance and equipment Of Mr..
rles Wells, or Don Carlos, as he was called by
the Mexicans. AT his side rode a young mar
who, from appearances, was about twenty five
years of age. A little over the medium height,
bis form was symmetrical and justly proportioned.
His hair of light auburn, whilst his ewes,
eyebrows and beard were black; the features
were regular and expressive, whilst his high fore
head was very white, forming a remarkable con.
trast TO the remainder of the face, which was
bronzed by continued exposure TO the weather. A
neat sort of blue cloth, fitting closely, displayed to
advantage his fine figure. Re wars armed in a
manner similar 10 his companion, excepting tha,
in his holsters were revoIvers, in place of single.
barr eiled pistols; mounted upon powerfully bull,
black horse, he was The beau ideal Of a handsome
cavalier. Some little distance behind the persons
we have described. followed negro, astride Of a
large mule, a man of Hercutean proportions and
great strength he was, moreover the best -na,ur r.
ed fellow in the world. He was the servant OF
Francis Winfield, the young man in advance OF
him, and had accompo nTed him in all his wander
lngs throughout the great West-=a faithful a nd
devoted servant 10 master who valued him hfgh-
ly. He answered TO the name of Cato, but called
himself Cato Sylyanus Epamnondas Winfield.
As the party moved along the narrow street
they were closely scrutinized by the inhabitants,
many OF whom regarded them with frowring
brows. Passing several large mansions, at the
windows of some of which might be seen the dark
features and darker eyes of Mexican senoritas,
they finally entered the grand Plaza of chihuahua.