Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-05-08
MISCELL A N Y.
THE LAUGHING HERO.
AN INCIDENT OF THE MASSACRE AT GoLIAD,


II was the morning of the 18th of March, 1886 Auro-
"a mother Of dews and mistress of the mansion OF golden
clouds came as she almost comes to the living green
ery of the plains of Goada thing OF beauty queen the
sky on throne Of burning amber, Obed IN the crimson OF
fire. with diadem Of purple, and seamers OF painted pink
OH it was glorious dawn for the poet sing OF EARTH or
the saint to pray heaven but neither poets song nor saints
prayer made the mathis of the place and the hour Alas
no ; it was very different sort Of music.
number of hoarse drums roared the loud rcreIe that
awoke four hundred Texan prisoners and their guard
fpr times their number Of Mexican sodershe elite oil the
Chief Butchers grand army.
The nrisopers were Immediately summoned to parade
before the post in the main street OF the village ana every
eve spakled with Joy, and every tongue uttered us shou
the involuntary exclamation of confidence and hope
Thanks. noble Santa Anna He is going to execute the
reay We shall be shipped back to our beloved United
Sa,est We shall see our dear friends once more ~ Such
were the cheerful cries with which the American Voun
teers and the few Texans among hem greeted the order
to form into line.
The line was formed and then broken into two columns,
when every instrument Of music the Mexican host sound
cd merry march, and they moved away with quick step
over the prairie towards the west
Five minutes afterwards, singular dialogue occurred
bstwix the two leaders of the front column OF prisoners =
..Wbat makes YOU walk so lame, Col. Neil? Are you
wounded asked tall handsome man, with blue eyes,
and bravery flashing forth in all their beams
"Col. Fannn, walk lame to keep from being wounded
do van compreheod 2" replied the other, with laugh, and
sucb laugh as no words might descrbeit was so loud
co uxulous like the roar of the breakers of sea Of hu
mo, {; it was in short a laugh Of the inmoSt heart.
al do not comprehend you for am no artist in riddles,
reoned Fannin smiling himself at the ludlcrouS gaey O'
his companion, strangely iltmed'
sYou discover that am lame in each leg" said Col.
Neil gancing down at the members indicated, and MINI
licking he movements of confirmed cripple, as he laugh
ed louder than ever "And yet" he added, in whisper,
al have neither the rheumatism in my knees, nor corns on
my toes but have two big rerOtrers IN my boots ~
"That is violation of the treaty, by which we agreed
to deliver up all our arms" COL Fanuin mournully sug-
gested
'You will see. however, that shall need them before
the sun is an hour high" replied Neil. ''Ah Fannu,
you do know the treachery of these base Mexcans
AT the instant the sun arose in sky Of extraordinary
brliancy and million Aower-cups flung their rich odos
abroad over the green prairie offering to the lord of
oht, when the mandate "to halt'' given by one OF
Santa Annals aids aud the two columns of prisoners were
broken M and scattered over the plain, in small hollow
squares encrced on every side by Mexican infantry and
troops of horse with loaded muskets and naked swords =
And then came momentay pause, awful In Its Stiffness
and disturbed only by occasional shrek OF terror as the
most md among the captives realized the impending storm
of fire and extinction of lile's last hope.
And then the internal work Of wholesale murder was be-
onn and scene ensued such scarcsy might oe mach
od IN be verv annals of hell itself The of musketry
ur = sccessve peals like appalling claps OF 'hunder ou
coul5 NOT Mt 'ey drown the prayers OF the living th
re,ms oP tho wounded and terrible groans oil t
dvipo Col Fau,iu fell among the first victims, but no
~ tho oiant Neil With the order of the Mexican oiilce
m b men 10 fire. our hero stopped almost to the ear'h Sc
t the yolley passed entirely over him. He waited no
escond ,hrusting hand h!o the leg Of each boot h'
$50 with couple of six shooters-the deadly revovers
~, r.,oD, and commenced discharglng them witt
tbe quick rap.dy Of lightning into the 'hlckeS' ranks
b;s Sosbis immense strength enabling MN to pull oil
both triggers together. no N1ox;o. -.
Panic stricken with surprise and fear 'ne NeN'cans re
co and openod passage, through whic" >e'' ooOueO
with the sp[inc Of panther aud fled aways as wing
were tied to his heels, while half dozen "oi'e0''"
chase For while it seemed doubtful whether 'he slan
colonel would not distance these, so much nau '
pers Of the occasion increased the natural elasticity o III
mighty muscles. But presently charger fleeter an "
esi mgbt be dscerued gaining his human rlval' an
approaching so that the dragoon raised his flashing 50
bre for the coup de grace Neil BECAME conscious Oh III