The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-11-01
RISE OF SENATOR RUSK.

only in the Roman history of T.ucretia ani
the elder Brutus. Juan Costa was a per
son OF great influence and bravery in The
wild forests. but he fell under the displeas,
nre OF Santa Anna, and his mlnion Pedras
the commandant Of Nacogdoches. was sen
to arrest him, He arrested the father at his
supper table, attended by his only daughter
"A young girl of surpris' 'ng beauty and
intelligence. Tie loaded HIM with cheins
and cast him into prison, Notwithstanding
| her tears and antreatcs. Finally he pro.
| posed TO free the father, If the daughter
would consent 10 sacrifice her innocence
and honor. She rejected the infamous
proposition with blow in the face, when
the armed ruf1ian swora horrible oath tc
execute his will on them both, md then = :
With dark eyes, fearless, CLASSY, fixed as
those Of corpse, yet flashing a double
portion Of luminous fire, she mounted Il
horse and hurried away wildly around the
country. She halted at every house, NO
matter whether Mexican or A american, and
rehearsed. in tones Of thrilling horror, her
fathers wrongs and her own. All timil
modes'y, all weakness had vanished from
her tongue, utterly consumed by the scorch-
ing thirst Tor vengeance. She painted, IN
PASSIONS fiery language, and with awfu!
minueness, the facts Of the damninC deed;
she barred her virgin bosom, and showed
the lived marks of the ravisher's fingers
among the mazes, Of those azure veins,
along the surface Of that e%panse of snow,
now so polluted and coied, but before pure
as the gleam Of an angels wings.
And still, wherever the beautiful maid
wandered, desfenne yell of wrath and
vengeance rose up against the tyrants. The
people Of both races ard D! all classes flew
to arms, appointing a general rendezvous
for the Gath of June at the residence of the
absent and now imprisoned Juan Costa.
1t was there debated by the people. as TO
the mode Of attack and who should be heir
leader; but nothing beng agreed on the
whole assemblage bid fair to break up in
confusion, when a tall and powerfully built
stranger, who had just entered Texas from
he States, cane !orw;r,. an! addressed he
multitude as follows:
g! am stranger, but am also a man;
and | owe my life, soul, body, health. hap-
piness-.all-all 10 wonan-my mother /?
And If turn deaf ear to the prayers of an
innocent woman, asking my aid against a
villain, may both my mother and my God
curse me! 90 for one, and-should you all
stay bch,nd-alone TO fight Col. Pedras
and his armed ravishers Of your wives and
daughters !"
The speech was received with threee t.e-
mendous cheers, and ther a general shout
that seemed 10 ehal.4 the solid earth, utter.
cd the FIRST peal # the revolution. awe
will 20! Death to the tyranis! Freedom to
Texas, and the giant shall be our leader !"
And then for the first time was heard in
the land Of the wild oak name destined 10
become an echo to the pulsaton of all
hearts-the name of Thomas ]. Rusk.
The next day he led his raw troops 10 the
attack of Nacogdoches, and stormed every
position against immense odds, after an as
sauIt of four hours. the carnage being dread.
full on both sides: and fortunately, among
the slain, was the dead body Of the alrocious
Ferdinand Pedras.
Such was the debut Of Rusk in Texas;
and from that day his popularity has gone
on steadily increasing, without even tran
STORY eclipse, or so much as cloud TO
dim its splendor. In vain, for three years,
Gen. Cos demanded his arrest. Mexico
had not soldiers enough to take him, and
in 1886 he assisted TO chase the last of
these out Of the country. Afterwards, he
amassed fortune at the Texan bar, and
was chosen one of the first Senators of the
new State annexed-a place which he may
hold for life, if he wills it.
Rusk is the only public man in Texas
that has never engaged in duel; and for this
single reason. so honorable to himself-he
never had personal enemy in the world.
To conclude, he Is n Titan IN physical
force, with the loving soul of happy child.
He is no, distinguished by eloquence of
speech, but his laugh ls sometimes divine
the clear ring Of heart, sound 10 the very
centre.
VOLCANIC ERUPTIoNs.-An Oregon pa
per, dated the 2lst March. gives the follow
ing accout Of Volcanic erup,ions in Ore
gon:
awe are informed by gentlemen that
both tine mounts Isl. Helen and Baker) are
sending forth volumes Of smoke, giving
undoubtad evidence that their volcanic
fires are not yet extinguished. The craters
from which the smoke was issuing in ST.
Helen were two IN number, and low down
the north and northwest sides; while in
Moun, Baker, which is perfect cone, the
smoke was issuing in dense masses from
the centre oil the summit. Ii is probable
that these are the only living volcanoes in
Oregon"