Washington telegraph., 1850-05-22

! rom the remaining troopers DIS tlcy VIII
messed the fate of their comrade, and its
effect was Immediately evident in the
augmented caution of their pursuit; for
they galloped afterwards in one body,
thereby greatly retarding their progress,
so that Mel! reached the river before them.
! He paused not a moment, but plunged
| headong down the steep bank into the
current. and struck off for the shore. The
Dragons discharged their side arms inef-
| fectually and gave over the chase.
| In few minutes Neil landed. and as
soon as he felt satisfied that he was really
saved. burst into an insuppressibe con-
vulsion of laughter, exclaming, ''It will
kill me. Just to think how astonished
the yellow devils looked when I hauled
the revolvers out of my boots.
Sucn was Col. John Neil-possessing
fund Of humer that no misfortune could
ever exhaust, and a flow of animal spirits
which would have enabled him to dance
on the graves of all his dearest friends, or
to have sung Yankee Doodle at his own
execution.
AT much later period Of Texan histo-
ry, the writer had the happiness to make
the gallant ColonePs acquaintance The
first time | saw him was at the city of
Houston, in the summer of 1885. He
was standing on the ground step pf the
flight leading up to the door of the "Star
Hotel" Holding his sides with both
hands, and emitting through his enormous
mouth boisterons explosions, he seemed
literally dying with laughter; his face
turned purple, and the blue veins in his
forehead swelled out thick as a mans
thumb, while his eyes cleaning with saw
age mirth, remained fixed on form in the
porch above him. The latter was lawyer
Seth Allen, gentleman with the tall
figure of a BARRIERS pole, a huge maa1stdche,
and great profusion OF ruff1es. He had
fought a duel mortal to his antagonist the
previous day, and was just then relating
to circle of wonds ing loafers the histo-
ry of his prowess. The contrast between
his skeleton figure, foppish dress. and
narrated exploits, had struck Neil as
transcendentally ludicrous, and hence his
sudden and ungovelnable nierriment.
'.What are you laughing at fellow.
Allen demanded sternly, as he measured
our Falstaff with his eyes
"At you,' followed by another sonor-
Gus peal, was the answer.
.'I'l teach you how to make sport of
gentlemen. shouted Allen, phrenzied
with rage. as he flew down the steps and
aimed a furious kick full at the others
face.
Neil caught the foot i'll his right hand,
and then STOPPING suddenly, thrust his
head between Aliens legs, and fairly
=. 1 | Ia, hot III
| lous position he tfotted with the famous
| dueiist several times around the yard, as
! a strong man might trot with child,
| laughing noislly like an idiot, while Allen
| vociferated for his pistols! Neil then
| walked off eisurely some fifty PAGES, and
tossed his burden into a mud-hole, with
| roar that was re-echoed 10y the spectators.
An immediate challenge was the result.
Col. Neil accepted chose rifles of the
! largest size, and fixed the distance at
| hundred yards.
| II will only wing him." said the laugh
| ing hero, as he took his stand; "he's too
| poor to make good bacono' At the first
fire he broke the others arm, and so the
| affair ended.
| A mere running reference to the re-
|
| must close this sketch.
| Col Neil was born and brought up IN
pine tent on the banks Of the Cumber-
land river in Tennessee. At the age of
| fifteen he ran away from his father, and
made his way to the wilderness of Texas.
He there adopted the profession of arms
which he never more relnquished. He
has been captain of Rangers, colonel of
militia. ouardsman to Mexican traders,
and a general thef-catcher for the sheriffs
of many counties; and yet all his life has
been one long, merry laugh. And indeed
he may be said to have perfect right to
laugh, if ever nan had, for braver,
warmer, more generous heart never beat
| in human bosom. He deserves to real
| ize his favorlte wsl-"to die laughing
RAISING THE WIND-AND THE DUST.
o"Were out of funds" sighed Digges.
There was no denying this.
But a: this moment. very respectfully
clad parsonage, who was going down
Broadway at New York, speed, tipped
his hat, and said, "Good morning, Mr..
Digges." When he said this he was
gone, but his words made great impress
| sion ON the mind of Bob.
| "Who's that! he asked.
"Don't know his name; he belongs to
my Lodge; very clever fellow"
sYour Lodge?" he echoed-"You are
an Odd Fellow, them"
Yes"
"And Son Of Temperance"
"Yes"
"And Rechabite?'
sYes"
"And United American Mechanic?"
"Yes.'