The southern press., 1851-11-07
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busters, ~ the more popular term ISIS nov in
our midst, receiving tho congratulations al his
numerous friends, and hob nobbiog with host
Of old acquaintances- The truth is, that those
who bsst knew the major, and were acqusintsd
with his many hair breadth escapes through life,
VINO knew, also, the ample resources Of his
thoroughly practical miad, on which 10 rslv iu
getting himself out Of a dilemma. shouId hs g.t
into one, had but little fear fos his Anal ssSr,v
and they now rejoice that they have not bsen
disappointed. -
OF course, they knew that the maior---ws
must still call him major--0ould not dcdcs
twelve or twenty four peundes, OF sysn :
Spanish musket ball. ii il took him II I vit.I
place; but they relied on the majors luck ana
trusted to chance for the contingencies The
result, As we have already stated, proves that
they did not reckon without their host.
But, how did The major escape from the Spau-
ish authorities-how did he shake off the gives
and manacles of Spsnish despotism, which fst.
tered his limbs! This, to most people, u a
mystery, and to none, we believe, 10 it 4 greater
one than to the major himself He went to
Cuba-he fought-he fought bravely, bat he
did not conquer. He was arrested. Msnv Of
his comrades died gloriously on the battlefield
his chief was garoted-others were shot, az a
mark OF ignomny, though no ign0miny rests
basely butchered, when found writhinQ under
the agony of their wounds-and Others again.
like the major, were arrested, and unlike him.
sent to exPiate their alleged offence in the
chain-gangs, and with the felons Of Spain. The
major passed through the dangers and vcissi.
tndes OF the whole campaign, and has returned
thanks to the star of his DESTINY without
wound, unscathed. But how is the enigma of
his release to be solved? 4Ah thereby hsncs a
tale" We have heard one solution for Il. but
Will not vouch for its authenticity. II ID this:
mat when the major, in company with his as
soclates In misfortune was brought to Havana.
and there imprisoned, an idea struck him-the
major was never stricken by anything else
which was, to assume airs, with the view Of en-
deavoring to impress on the minds of his Iberan
captors' TINT ne was some pumpkins in the
United States, and with the further view of
avaing himself of their use to affect his libera.
ton. The tOnsor Of the prison had no sooner
shaved Oft his hair, aud the tailor of the same
institution had no sooner stuffed him into
convict Ruit-for it was literally labor of
stufhng-than the major applied himself to
wiring letters. addressing them to imaginary
intimate friends, many Of them amongst the
most distinguished public men in the United
D. tes. The style Of these letters NAV be
gathered from the following, which, although
not literal copy, comes near enough to the
original, to give it jist and meaning. s17s
CASTILLO LA PUHTA,
HAVANA, August %, 1851.
His Excellency, DANIEL WEBSTER. ~
Secretary State, u. s. Washington.
Dan. Old Boy-You will be surprised, |
doubt not, on receiving letter from an old
friend and one whom you have 90 often be.
fnended, from this place; but, as the old lady
said when abe cracked her tea pct whats did is
did, and what is the use Of kicking M d-n
fuss generally about it. When, in September
Of last year, partook of your ehowder in
Marshheld, and cracked with you half.dozen
of thai old Madeih, little anticipated that
would be placed to-day in my present position.
But, It's all destiny Who can tell TO-DAY what
Is going to befall him tomorrow? Had taken
your advice, and accepted the mission to the
barbary States, things would have been better
i, ut least, would not be 90 barbarousIy treated.
as | am in this prison, where they have not left
the first sign on my head or face of hair or
whlsker Concha, am inclined to think, is, on
the whole, good fellow, and think II you
were to whisper word to the Spanish Minister
In Washington, Calderon de Ia Barca, in nv
favor there may be still hopes of my release.
temember me TO our mutual friend, the Hon.
e. M Conrad, Secretary of War-when sup
Fo~ h''i III sno ocCoilu congressional Ql6tr1ct
OF Louisiana, always called him Charley"
Yours, as ever, ]. "A. KELLY
Capt. of the late I.berating Army of Cuba
The major addressed letter 70 Henry CLAY
so our informant states--in which he advert
ed to the many pleasant days they spent to-
gether In Ashland and in Washington, when
he, the Major, represented the tenth district of
Tennessee in Congress-
The letters were delivered 10 the messenger
OF the prison, open, Of course, and in like man.
ner handed over to the captain-general, who, on
reading them, at once set the major down for
some one; and having done 90, ordered his inn
mediate pr,sence The major saw that the bait
took, and was determined 10 play with the fish.
But how was he to appear in the presence of
the representative Of royalty in his prison suit,
that fitted him so very badly! The fact was, =
more ludicrous sight was seldom presented, than
the major appeared in that Dress His measure,
OF course, was never taken for it it was made
for man of ordinary Spanish stature, and in
the conception of the man who made ii, a man
OF the majors stalwart proportions was a very
giant AS we have already said, the msjcr was
stuffed into IT, and when in, the cuffs did scarce
ly extend below the elbows, and the pants did
not cover the calf, while they fitted him a. tight
as straight waistcoat. sls-
i"o oaP'ai'-k keHerai h1meeiI, cOuId NOT sup
press smile on seeing him, for, with his
smoothly shaven face and cropped hcad, he
looked like monster boy, who, by the appi-
cation of some patent physical principle, had
outgrown his dress in one day. II must, he
thought, be a strange metamorphoss for the
particular friend and associate of Daniel Web
ster, Henry Clay, and the other great men of
the country, to have undergone. The major
observed the source Of bis excelency's humor,
and made proper apology for bis plight Having,
he said, to leave Bahia Honda somewhat in a
hurry, and not finding suitable conveyance, he
was compelled to travel without his wardrobe;
further, that the dress in which he stood vas
the gift OF some unknown friend, to whom he
felt under obligations. The captain general,
without much circumlocution, told him that he
was released provided him with suit that came
something nearer the Decomesn ft and coz and
paid his passage 10 New York. Hence. the
major got out Of tight fit and tight pfsSe, at
he same time; and no one rejoices IN Il more
han does the writer Of this hurried sket b.
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