The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-06-12
NEW SERIES.---VO 2, NO. A.


He boasted, aid doubtless, with entire truth
of having slain score of men on the Ri,
Grand, bes ides unknown numbers IN othe
parts of Mexico. He followed the profes
sion of gambler, therefore wandered from
the mouth of the river to Laredo, and in ev
cry neighborhood might be seen the graves
of his victims, until his name became ter
ror to the whole frontier.
1t may seem strange to persons unfamiliar
with the country, that he was not doomed T.
legal punishment for his deeds; but the sin
gular fact admits of easy explanation. Fo
two or three years after the war the court
were not organized, and, besides, he perpe
trated all his various homicides in fair fight
and according to the forms recognized by tht
code of honor; and, moreover, when probe
cutions at last assailed him, he obtained So
curity in the character Of the jurors called t.
try the issue.
1t must not be imagined, however, that hi!
countless quarrels originated at the gaming
table, or grew out Of the questions relating
to his fairness in dealing cards; the cause
was both more romantic and revolving
His wife Juana, one Of the most facinatine
women ever born in Mexico, accompanied
him as partner, and bewildered the adverse
players as much by her extraordinary beauty
as the husband did by his skill; while, or
every occasion, and wherever she went hei
charm inspired the beholders with sort oi
phrenzied passion, that in spite of reason,
prudence and peril, brought adventurous
lovers to her feet.
But Pedro PaIacious was jealous even to
madness, and the slightest attention to his
bewitching sirene aroused his murderous
wrath and vengence, and he never failed to
throw the onue of the challenge on his enc.
my, or to provoke the first assault, when one
blow of his Bowie-knife usually settled the
controversy, and slenced the wooing of his
rival forever.
In the month of September, 1852, the Dis
trict court was inaugurated in the town of
Laredo, and grand tandango was given on
the first night in honor Of the new Judge, and
and to the boundless delight of the lawyers
in attendance. The multitude assembled
in the public square and the full moon, in
cloudess splendor, rendered the air so lu-
minous as to require no lamps or torches
The entire Mexican population turning out,
besides the members of the bar, and all the
young officers of the army from the neigh.
boring fort.
A scene Of greater gayety or animation
could not we'll be pictured, as the merry
dancers foated like fairies in the moonlight,
and every face seemed radiant with smiles
Of love and happiness. But all did not en-
Joy themselves thus innocentIy. Near one
corner ofthe old stone church, which occu-
pied the square, gathered large circle o:
both sexes around the altar Of Mexican wor
ship--the monte-table.
Jnnna Palacios was dealer Of the cards,
while her husband raked down the money
won, or paid The lost bets And never did
stronger contrast present itself than that
which stoud revealed in the appearance of
the couple just mentioned. He was, man
of hcrcu!can mould, with dark, irowning,
teroci0us features, mostly concealed by
coarse masses of black hair, and long,
brushy beard; indeed little OF his visaee
could be seen, save pair of sinister fash
ing eyes, and nose resembling the beak
of hawk. His clothes were costly, and
adorned with glistening jewels, while the
silver handle of his enormous knife shone
spchously above the Snowy ruffles of
his shirt bosom.
The wife was fair, slender woman, of
exquisite skape-every limb and feature be-
ing alike full of grace-with shining ringlets
black as the ravens hue, face beamy and
beautiful as star. and eyes large, e,dafk, ,drea-
my and overaowing with fire, that they seem
ed every moment melting with the warmest
emotions of unutterable love. And this look
of tehderest passion constituted the magic
of her power-the indefinable and resist less
charm which encircled the gazers heart, and
fettered every thought to the foot-stool of
the mighty enchantress. .. ... |
Several officers wearing the Uniform of
the United States, and young attorney, es-.
teemed the most handsome man in Texas,
ora Elbert Wallace, approached the monte
table and uttered simultaneously exclama-
tions of surprise when they beheld the love-
ly vision presiding as dealer at the game.
How beautifully cried Captain Brewton.
she is an angel = added Lieutenant
Tucker. .l.a E
The black whiskers of the Jealous hus-
band, curled with ire; like those of an infu-
riate tiger, and such terrible CLEAN shot
from his diabolcal dark eyes. that a dozen
spectators grew pale with fright, and several
retreated from the circle in anticipation Of
an immediate explosion. -.0 ...-
But the young lawyer, Ebbert Wallace.
who was himself of most fierce and irras.
chile disposition, and who felt insulted by
the scornful glances of the gambler, precip-
itated the catastrophe by an act of reckless
atidaciy. Taking two steps forward, he
thrust his fingers pIayfully into the shower
Of raven ringlet and, addressing the beau.
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