Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-10-01
Senator Rusk, Of Texas.
Thrilling Incident of the Texan War.

Inc following artlcle, Wnlcn we nhu
going the rounds Of the press, describes in
a graphic style, thrilling incident of the
Texan war, in which the Hon. Thomas
]. Rusk, one of the present U. S. Sena-
tors from that State, figured very promi-
nently.
The tragedy of Nacogdoches, and the
romantic incidents which led to the Texan
war of independence, find their parallel
only in the Roman history of Lucretia and
the elder Brutus. Juan Costa was per-
son of great influence and bravery in the
wild forests; but he fell under the dis
pleasure of Santa Anna, and his minion,
Pedras, the commandant of Nacogdoches,
was sent TO arrest him. He arrested his
father at the supper table, attended by his
only daughter--a young girl of surprising
beauty and intelligence. He loaded him
with chains, and cast him into prison, not
withstanding her tears and entreaties. FL
nally lie proposed to free the father if the
daughter would consent to sacrifice her
innocence and honor. She rejected the
infamous proposition with blow in the
face; when the armed ruflian swore hor-
rible oath 10 execute his will on them both
and then.
With dark eyes, fearless, glass;, fixed
as those of corpse, yet flashing double
portion Of luminous fire, she mounted a
horse and hurried away wildly around the
country. She halted at ever" house, no
matter whether Mexican or American, and
rehearsed, in tones of thrilling horror, her
fathers wrongs and her own. All tmid
modesty, all weakness, had vanished from
her tongue, utterly consumed by the
scorching thirst of vengeance. She paint
ed in passions fiery language, and with
awful minuteness, the facts of the dlmning
deed she barred her virgin bosom and
showed the livid marks of the ravisher's
finger among the maZes Of those azure
veins along the surface of that eXpanse Of
snow, now so polluted and soiled, but be-
fore pure as the gleam Of an angels wings.
And still, wherever the beautiful maid
wandered, dea(ening yell Of wrath and
vengeance rose up against the tyrants.--
The people of both races and all classes
flew to arms, appointinga general rendez-
vous for the 2fth Of June, at the residence
of the absent and now imprisoned Juan
Costa.
1t was there debated by the people as 10
the mode of attack, and who should be
their leader, but nothing being 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 the States, came forward and address
ed the multitude as follows:
81 am stranger, but am also a man;
and | owe my life, soul, body, health, hap
piness-all-all to a woman--my mother!
And if | turn deaf ear TO the prayers OF
an innocent woman, asking ny aid against
a villain, may both my mother and my
God curse me 90 for one, and-should
YOU all stay behind--alone to fight Col.
Pedras, and his armed ravishers of your
wives and daughters" s."
The speech was received with three
tremendous cheers, and then general
shout, that seemed to shake the solid earth,
uttered the first peal of the revolution.
We will 90. Death ito the tyrants !!
Freedom for Texas and the giant shall be
our leader"
And then for the first time, was heard
in the land of the wild name destined TO
become an echo 10 the pulSaiIon OF all
hearts-the name of Thomas J. Rusk.
The next day he led his raw troops TO
the attack of Nacogdoches, and stormed
every position against immense odds, after
an assault of four hours, the charge being
dreadful on both sides and fortunately
among the slain was the dead body OF the
atrocious Ferdinand Pedras.
Such was the debut Of Rusk in Texas !;
and from that day his popularity has gone
on steadily increasing, without even a
lransitory eclipse, or so much as a cloud
to dim lis splendor. In vain' for three
wears Gen. Cos demanded his arrest. Mex
leo had not soltiers enough TO take him
and in 1866 lie assisted TO chase the last
of these opl of the country. Afterwards
he amassed fortune al the Texan bar,
asd was chosen one of the first Senators
of The new State annexed place which
hc NAV hold for life if he wills it.
Rusk is the only public man in Texas
that has never engaged in duel and Ior
this single reason, SO honorable to himself
he never had a personal enemy in the
world. TO conclude, he is Titan IN
physical force with The loving soul oil a
happy child. He is rot distinguished Oy
eloouence of speech, but his laugh Is
sometimes divin.-aI d heart sound 10
the very centre.