Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-09-27
senator RISK, Of Tcxos-Thrtning Incident of the
Texan War.

senator RISK, OF Tcxns.Thrtning Incident of the
Texan War.
The following article which we find going the
rounds of the press, describes in graphic style
thrilling incident of the Texan war; in which the
Hon. Thomas J. Rusk, of the present u. S. SEN
ators from that State figured very prominently
The tragedy of Nacogdoches and the romantic
incidents which led to the Texan war of Indepen-
dence, find their parallel only in the history
of Lucretia and the elder Brutus. Juan Costa was
person of great influence and bravery in the wild
forests; but he fell under the dispieasure of Santa
Anna, and his minon Pedras, the commandant of
NacOgdoches, was sent to arrest him. He arrested
his father at the supper table, attended by his only
daughter young girl of surprising beauty and IN
teligence He loaded him with chains, and cast him
into prison, notwithstanding her tears and entrea-
ties Finally he proposed to free the father II the
daughter would consent to sacrifice her innocence
and honor She rejected the Infamous proposition
with blow in the face; when the armed ruthan
'swore horrible oath, to execute his will on them
both and then
With dark eyes. fearless, CLASSY, fixed those of
q corpse yet flashing double portion of luminous
fire. she mounted horse and hurried away wildly
around the country She halted at every house,
matter whether Mexican American and rehears-
ed in tones of thrilling horror, her fathers wrongs
and her own All timid mOdesty, all weakness, had
vanished from her tongue utterly consumed by the
scorching thirst of vengeance. She painted in pas
sion's fiery language, and with awful minuteness,
the facts of the damnng deed; she barred her virgin
BOSOM and showed the vid mark S OF the ravlSher S
finger among the mazes of those veins along
the surface of that expanse of snow now so polluted
and soiled but before pure the CLEAN of an angels
wings.
And still wherever the beautiful maid wandered,
deafening yell of wrath and vengeance up a.
gainst the tyrants The people of both and all
classes flew to arms, appointing general rendezvous
for the Oath of June at the residence of the absent
and now imprisoned Juan Costa.
was there debated nv the nPOnle TO 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 tall and powerfully
built stranger, who had Just entered Texas from the
follows:
q am a stranger but am also and owe
my life, soul, body, health, happiness to a
wOman-my mother And it | turn a deaf ear to
the prayers of an innocent woman asking my aid a.
gainst villain, may both my mother and my God
curse me go for one and-should you all stay
behind--alOne to fight Col Pedras and his armed
ravishers of your wives and daughters
The speech was received with three tremendous
cheers, and then general shout, that seemed to
shake the solid earh uttered the first peal Of the re-
volution. awe will go. Death to the tyrants !
Freedom for Texas and the giant shall be our lead
And then for the first time was heard in the land
of the wild destined to become an echo tc
the Pulsaton of all hearts-the name of Thomas J
Rusk.
of Nacogdoches, and stOrmed every position against
immense odds, after an assault Of four hours, the
charge being dreadful both sides; and fortunate
ly among the slain the dead body of the attro
cious Ferdinand Pedras
Such was the debut of Rusk in Texas and from
that day his popularity has gone steadily increas
ing without even transitory eclipse, so much a
cloud to dim its spcndor. In vain, for three year
Gen. Cos demanded his arrest. Mexico had not sol
ders enough to take him, and in 1856 he assisted
to chase the last of these out of the country After
wards he amasscd a fortune at the Texan bar, ant
was chosen of the first Senators of the Stat
annexed-a place which he may hold for life if h
wills it.
Rusk is the only public man in Texas that has ne
yer engaged in duel and for this single reason, s.
honorable to himself, he never had personal enc
my in the world To conclude he is Titan in ply
steal force with the loving soul of happy child IL
is not distinguished by eoquence of speech, but hi
laugh is sometimes divine-and heart sound to tn
very centre.