The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1851-10-02

" SO" az me foaTth 1TtaneTy 1Cho lOvdE and
true TO has cOlonrs! A novel and touching YER
sion OF that old story of her who bore to her
captive father the stream of life which had ema-
( mated from his own veins. Seventeen others
who had appeared before one court at San An
| gel, were doomed, and an early day fixed for
thelr execution. L went to see them after they
were sentenced, and more revolving sight
never met my eyes. They were all confined in
one room of the convent; filthy suualid un-
shaved, half-dressed, the hair tangled and tum-
I bhng over their eyes, they glared upon each
| other and their visiters like wild beasts rather
| than men. The inscription which Dante placed
! upon the gate of he'll was wonderfully appropri-
ate to their cell:-' Who enters here leaves
Hope behind"
One OF their number, diyesting himself unac-
countably OF his feet irons, succeeded, by great
agility IN escaping from the room, and, before
the sentinel saw him, had reached the top of the
wall which surrounds the convent One moment
and he would have been over; but the sentry
was good marksman-an unerring bullet
pierced his heart and saved his neck!
various and earnest attempts were made by
the citizens to have them pardoned; but such a
notion never entered into General Scott's head;
humanity, honour, soldiership, brothers blood
were crying aloud for their lives The time
! drew near; the last night had come and num-
Der OF officers were sitting in the piazza of Gene
raj Twlgg quarters, talking of the morning
execution. Upon the floor lay some knotted
ropes, where the men had been practising the
hanging moose, and the solennity of the time
was exerting its influence upon many heart
not case-hardened by war.
light came gEmmering in unsteady hand
across the square, and as it approached we
! recognised the aged prior of the convent, who
had come to make final effort. He carried in
his hand paper, signed by all the citizens of
San Angel, and addressed to the General-in-
Chief, praying for a communication of their SEN
tences, and, at the least, that they might be
shot instead Of hung. This paper he wished
/ General Twiggs to forward.
He was respectfully received, and, after he
had made his speech, the General asked its
meaning?
The interpreter explained.
''Ahemi Tell him." said the General, that
/ am a Christiano like himself; that | have a
great admiration and respect for the Church
and her servants, and that L would do anything
for him personally; but l will not send that pa
per, allow it TO be sent.''
He ended with a growl and an expletive.
which would have shaken stronger nerves than
those of the good old padre. The old man took
up his lantern, folded his paper, and, as he
moved away, CALCULATED as follows:
90 Va gtteda Otr0 recursO Silo rear para
las aInds de los seHteHciados, rogar Dios que
los GeHerGeLs 4Hericaaos les entee-cQ eE corazon!
QuedeHSe Dios, Seaores."
Nothing remains but to pray for the souls
of the condemned, and to beseech the Lord to
soften the hearts of the American Generals
Gentlemen, God be with you"
1t was a scene which Rubens would have
loved to paint; yes, Rubens, who delighted to
represent superintendent and supporting mas
ses of shade, with one dim light presenting the
outline of single figure, and faces and forms
dim as ghosts in the gloom The rays from the
lantern, lighting up the palld and attenuated
features of the monk, in his picturesque costume,
the huge beard and uncompromising face of the
General, and the fixed countenances of the sur
rounding officers: imagine it, reader.
The morning came. long scaffold of four
compartments had been erected, and if misery
loves company" she gratifed here. In
each division were four nooses. With mournful
and wavering steps they came FORTH with blood
less faces, to the finale of Lfes tragedy. for
bear details-saye that when most of them
chung to life with tenacious feet, 1.-THE figure,
! as the wagon moved, leaped high in air, to make
/ a summary end. 1t sayoured little of hero
| ism.
! 4 fortiori, as logicians say. decline to de-
| scribe the whippings.
For Gods sake, let an American whip me, ,
said Riley; but no, Mexican had been hired
for the work, and he did it we'll
''Have mercy" said another; 81 didn't mean
to desert. got lost, and then l was hungry,
| and they forced me-"
''Of course they did, was the ironical reply !;
"you never meant to desert; you are too good
a fellow Tie him up %
| All! War! War! thou exhaustest the vocabu-
larry of sorrow, pain, anguish and death. I'm
hallowed desires mark thy origin; iendish pas
sion thy career; safety and shame thy close.
1t was no false fancy of ancient dramitist,
that "War was a giant, bruising the nations of
the earth in a mortar, his pestle being the great
warriors and heroes of the age" nc.
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