Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-05-13
MISCELLANEOUS.
COL. NEIL's WONDERFUL ESCAPE.

I'm incident Of the Massacre of Colonel Funni,.
and his Men at Goliad during the Texan Req
olution.
1t was the morning of the 18th of March. 1886.
.4urorG, mother Of dews and mistress Of the man
sion of golden clouds, came, as she almost ever
comes to the living greenery of the plains of Goad
"a thing of beauty, queen Of the sky on throne
Of burning amber, robed in the crimson of fire.
with dadem of purple and slreamers Of painted
pink. OH 1t was glorious dawn for the poet
to sing OF earth, or the saint to pray heaven but
neither poets song nor saints prayer made the
mathis of the Ilace and hour. Alas no it was
different sort of music.
A century of hoarse drums reared the loud re-
ueilLe that awake four hundred Texan prisoners
and their guard-fuur times their number of Mex
lean soldeTs--lhe elite Of the Chief Butchers
grand army.
The prisoners We're Immediately summoned to
parade before the post, in the main street of the
village; and every eye sparked with joy, and
every tongue altered its shout-the involuntary
exclamation Of confidence and hope-"Ihanks,
noble Santa Anna! He is going to execute the
treaty. We shall be shipped back to our beloved
United States We shall see our dear friends
once more!" Such were the cheerful cries with
which the American volunteers, and the few Tex
ans greeted the order to form into line.
The line was formed and then broken into two
columns, when every instrument in the Mexican
host sounded merry march land they moved away
with quick step over the prairie towards the
west
Five minutes afterwards a singular dialogue
occurred betwixt the Two leaders u the front col
umn of prisoners
''What makes you walk so lame, Colonel Neil I?
Are you wounded 2" asked tall, handsome man.
with blue eyes, and bravery flashing forth in ali
their beams.
Colonel Fannin, walk lame to keep from
being wounded; do you comprehend % replied
the other, with laugh, and such laugh as no
words might descIibe--it was SO loud, SO luxurj-
Gus, like the roar of the breakers of sea of hn
NOR; il was, in short laugh of the nmost heart
81 do not comprehend you, for am no artist in
riddles" rejoined Fannin, smiling himself at the
ludicrous gaiety Of his companion, SO strangely
i'll timed.
"You discover that am lame in each leg.n
said Colonel Neil, glancing down at the members
indicated, and mmcking the movements Of con.
6rmed cripple, as he laughed louder than ever
"And yet" he added, in a low whisper, 81 have
neither the rheumatism in my knees, nor corns on
my toes, but have two big repolpers in my boots
''rhat is violation of the treaty BY which we
agreed to deliver up all our arms" Col. Fanniu
mournfully suggested.
Ou W III DUO, HOWcVci, ltldt Stldll neg q Ln0M
before the sun is an hour high" replied Neil
"Ah! Fannin, you do not know the treachery Of
these base Mexicans."
At the instant the sun arose in sky of extra
ordinary brlllancy, and million fowercups flung
their rich odors over the green prairie, as an offer
ing to the lord of light when the mandate to shalt'
given by one of Santa Annals aids, and the two
columns Of prisoners were broken up and scattered
over the plain, in small hollow squares, eneircled
on every side by Mexican infantry and troops of
horse with loaded muskets and naked swords -
And then came momentary pause, awful in its
stiffness, and disturbed only by occasional Shrek
realized the impending storm of FIRE and extinction
of life's last hope.
And then the iafarnal work of wholesale muir
der was begun, and scene ensued such as scarce
ly might be matched in the annals Of hell ITSELF
The roar of musquctry burst in successive peas
like appalling caps of thunder, but could not utter
y drown the prayers of the living, the screams Of
the wounded and more terrible groans Of the dying
Colonel Fannin fell among the FIRST Victims, but
not SO the giant Neil. With the order Of the
Mexican officer for his to fire, our hero stoop-
ed almost to the earth. so that the volley passed
entirely over him. He waited not for second ;
thrusng hand into the leg of each boot, he arose
with couple of sx-shootegs, the deadly revolver
of Aliens patent, and commenced discharging
them with the quick rapidity OF lightning, into
the thickest ranks of bis foes, his immense strength
enabling him to pull of both triggers together.
Panic-stricken with surprise and fear, the Mex
leans opened a pass thro' which Neil bounded,
with the spring of panther. and fled away as if
wings were tied to his heels, while half dozen
horsemen gave chase. For while it seemed
doubtful whether the gallant colonel would not
distance even these, 50 much had ihd rerils Of the