The Arkansas banner., 1850-05-21

snsiek ogietros as the most tmid amonr the eanises realized the impending stoFn of fire and extinction of life's last hope.
 And then the iEfernAs work of wholesale murder was begun, and scene ensssd such as scarcely might De matched ih the very annals of hell itself The roar oG musketry burst in successive peals like ssss!!A. s!ana ef thunder, hui en.1lA anl stae.ls drown the prayers cf the living, the seseams of the wounded, and more terrible gToans of the dying.
 Col. EaAnin fell among the hrst victims, but not 90 the giant Neil. With the order of the Mexican officer tor his mea tO fire, hero s1ooped aiiaaat to the earth so that the vOley passsd over hin He waited not for : second; thrasiing hand into the leg of each boot he srose Rith couple of six soot- ets the deadly revolveTs of AlIens parSt aud com menced dischArging then, win the qaiek fspidity of ghtaing into the thiekest ranks of his foes his immense strength enabling him to pull of bOth trig gers together.
 Panic stricken with surpsise and fear, the Mexi- csns reeOiied and opened passage. through which Neil bounded, with the spsing of panther, sad
 fled away, aS if wings were 10 his heess wfsiIe half asdozen hoTsemen gave chase. For while it seemed doubtful whether the g.ant colonel would nos dis tance even these, SO much had the pers of the oc. easioS increased the natural elasticity of his mighty muscles. But presently charger heeter than the rest might be dscerned gaining on h,s human rival and approaching near that the dtagoon raised hts flashing sabre for the coup de grace. Neil became conscious oi his danger, and hastily siacksned his speed, till the hot stream Of smoke from the horses nostrils appeared 10 mingle wifh his very har and then wheeling suddenly, he fired another round from revolver, and the rier tambed irom his sad- die. The victim then renewed his flight.
 mad yell of grief and rage broke from the msining troopers they witnessed inc fate ol their comrade. and its effect was immediately evident in the augmented caution of their pursuit; for they gslloped afterwards In one body, thereby greatly retarding their pIogress, SO that Neil reached the FivaF heks, Fla uNf nanf h.t plunged headlong down the steep bank into the rent, and struck of for the other shoie. The drs- goons discharged their side arms Intellectually aud gave over the chase!
 In few minutes Neil landed and as soon ss he felt saished that he was really saved. burst into lnsuppresllble convusion ot laughter. exclaiming, It will kiil me. Just to think how sstnuished the yellow devils looked when hauled the revolvers out of my boots.''
 Such was Col. John Neil--possessing fund of humor that misfortune could ever exhaust. and a flow of animal spirits which would have enabled him to dance the graves o alt his dearest friends, or 10 have sung Yankee Doodle at his own execu- tion!
 At much later period of Texan history, inc writer had the happiness to make the gallant eoioneI's acquaintance. The first time saw bim was at the city Of Houston, in the summer Of IS45. He was standing on the ground step ot the flight leading up to the door ofthe Star Hotel" Holding his sides
 
 mouth boisterous explosions, he seemed literally dying with laughter his face turned purple, and the blue veins in his forehead sweled out thick as mans thumb, while his eyes, geaming with savage mirth, remained fixed on forul in the porch above him. The latter was lawyer Seth Allen. a gentle man with the tail, ineagre figure of barber's pole, huge mEStache, and q eat pTotuslon of rfllss lie had fought duei mortal 10 his antagonist the pre- yIoss day, and just then relating to circle of wondering loafers the history of his pTowess. The contrast between his skeleton figure, forpish dress and narrated exploits had struck Neil as traneen- dentAily tudicTous; and hence his sudden and un- goyernable fDeTFiment.
 "What are you laughing at, feIlow7'' Allen de- manded sternty, as he measured our Fslstaf with his eye.
 At you" followed by another sonOrous peal, was the answer.
 "I'll teach you how 10 make sport of gentlemen." :" shouted Allen, iTsnzied with rage, as he Aew down the steps and aimed furious kick fuil at the others face.
 Neil caught the foot in his right hand, and then stopping suddenly. thrust his head between Allens legs, and fairly raised him his neck. In that ridiculous position he troted with the famous due- list several times around the yard, a strong man might trot with child, laughing no,sy like idiot. willie Allen vociterated for his pistols! Neil then walked of leisursy some fifty pac.s. and tossed his burden into mud-hole, with a roar that was re- echoed by the spectators.
 An immediate challenge was the result. Col. Neil accepted, chose rides of the largest size and fixed the distance at a hundred yards.
 "I will ohly wing him, ," sad the laughing hero, as he took his stand; " he's too poor to make good baeon' At the first fire he broke the others arin. and so the affair eided.
 mere running reference to the remaining facts of our singular biography must close this sketch.
 Col. fleil was born and brought up m pine tent on the banks of the Cumberland river in Tennessee.
 Al the age oi fifteen he ran away from hs father, and made his way to the wilderness of Texas. He there adopted he profession ol arms. which he neveI more relinqnished. He has been captain of rangers, colonel Of militia, guardsman to Mexican ira- ders, and general thie catcher for the sheriifs Of many countess and ye, all his life has been long merry laugh. And indeed he may be said to have perfect right to laugh, if ever man had. for a brayer, warmer. more generous heart a~vet besi in human bosom. He deserves to realise his favor iie wish" to die laughing ."-Sgaday Tiass.
 [FIom the Sunday Repabeean1