New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-12-11
GEORGE DowNs.-We find in The Neu-

GEORGE DOWNS.-N tlnd III Inc NeU-
HdUen DAILY Register interesting account of two
brothers, Charles ana george Downs, cftizens of
Connections, one Of whom was murdered by the
Mexicans some months ago, and the other Of whom
died at CamaTgo in Mexico. The former left New.
Haven five years ago for Texas, the latter iii 1889 for
New.Orleans His history is one of deep interest,
teemng with incidents OF the most thrilling charac
ter He had been established ia Corpus Christi, in
Texas, when that town taken by the Mexicans
MISC Ills house was sacked and burned, and all
his fortune lost he himself escaping with great diff
6culty He after ward fell in with two Apache In
dams. who had been prisoners in Mexico, whom he
took to President Houston, who invested him with
authority to enter into any treaty with their tribe.
lie proceeded On this nj ssion with the two indians
Their first hating place the camp Of the Lpans,
friendly tribe, where they were to procure mules,
horses, guides, spies, &c While there they neard
that tie Mexicans had entered Texas and mastered
some thirty OF Downs friends. This Intelligence
changed his purpose and his mission lie Started
with some folOWerstO JON small fOlce OF lekalS
then mastering on the borders, his sole ooecs Oelng
to resenge the murder OF his friends. They joined
the Texan forces, and marched toward the Rio
Grande After some few unimportant skirn-
ishes General ). determined to return out 3OO O.
the men volunteered to try further the fortunes OF
war under command OF Col. Fisher. Ihey maIched
along the ryer until they came opposite the Town
of Mier, which they determined TO attack. 1hey
demaHced from the Alcade CONTRIBUTION Oh elsh,
DAVIS, prOyison otherwise they threatened 10 layt the
town in ruins. They were 300 Strong, the gafns)6
3000. They were refused and proceeded 10 tne as
sault. On Christmas day, 1872, TINS memorable as
suit commenced. The Deslegers aug their way I'M
der ana through the houses until they came within
rife range Of the plaza. They reached this point a.
daylight, after having dug aud forced their way from
eight O'Clock the previous evening. linen CON
menced the work OF death. From corner and ere
vice and broken wall and house top, sped the hefy
messengers of slaughter TINS lasted ron dayngh.
until three O'Clock, p NJ, and according to Downs
account though the MexcaIs kept up one stream 81
FIRE Downs and his rifles had cut down 500 men, wish
nearly as many more wounded. Atthree o'clOCkthe
FIRE OF the Mexlcdns ceased, ana sent a "hLe nag
The besiegers thought u an indlc anon OF desrs "
surrender, but In fact It was demand that they
should surrender After some short consultation,
and finding that they had exhausted their whole s,o,S
OF ammunition, they accepted the offer and lald
Gown their arms the blood OF the Mexlcals running
al the time IN streams frem the house tops. Eleven
dead and as many more wounded was the enrre loss
Of the besiegeTs They were then sent prisoners .
Mexico. Before they had gone half way, be,
ing treated so cruelty, they determined 10 haz ~
their lives N an attempt al rescue. Their guard
were two TO one. Yet they fell on them, and "ih
bricks and stones, and such other missiles as they
could snatch, completely routed them, took ther
horses ammunition and stores. The dead On Dol
sides were about 90 On the first cay after tnls ug
they made forced march OF 81 miles. On the tafl
day, hnolng themselves oeset, toey were lOlCs1 20
take 10 the Ouk
horses, they were forced 10 abandon them lley
killed the latest for food, ara each man supplying
himself with ten days raiions OF horse hesh elK
days journey ing without ore drink followed &'tae
end Of which most OF the being utterly dlsayiel
Ia their tongues hanging out, tnelr Ups BLACK IS
jet, their eyes sunk and glazed they Determined 70
come into the open country and surrender a. dlscIe
t0n. They did 50, and were conlemned 10 DC shot
The citizens and Governor demonstrated az uAts
this cruel decision, which so tar lnhsenced santa
Anna that he reduced the sentence % oecima'lon
There were ten beans put into nat. nine white ana
one black. lie who Drew the BLACK one Wds Sh't
down before his comrades eyes. Downs escaped
the black bean and he and the otter survivors were
sent to Mexico to break stones on the public roads,
whence after short time they were sent 70 the
Castle OF PeFote, and there KEEP. prisoners TIL el4