The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1856-09-17
THE LAUGHING HERO.
An incident of the Massacre of Goliad.

SC lttwas the morning of the 18th
~ March, 1886. Aurora, mother of de,
II ard distress of clouds, came, as she
- mostalways comes to the living seenel
a. of thsplains of Goliad-a thing of bea
d ty, alaabject to be admired, worshippe
-alusE. Oh it was a glorious daw
s for tbf poet to sing of earth, or t;
0 saint p pray of he wen, u me poet son
nor sibtss prayer made the mathis
the place and hour. Alas! no; it wa
verysdiffereut sort of music.
a Eandred hoarse drums roared th
loud rsvellle that awoke four hundre
TeXanprisoners and their guard-fo fou
times their number of Mexican soldiers
the el%e of the Chief Rutcher's grant
army.
The prisoners were Immediately sum
moned 10 parade before the post, in the
main Street of the village; and every
eye spqkled with joy and every tongue
utteredsehis involuntary exclamation oi
confdesce and hope, Thanks to Santa
Anna He is going to sign the eaty
We shah be shipped back to the United
States We shall see our friends once
more!" Such were the feelings with
which the Ar . an volunteers, and the
few Texans among them, greeted the
order to form into line. .-
The line was formed and then broken
into two columns, when every instru-
ment in the Mexican host sounled
merry march, and they moved away with
quick step er the prairie toward the
west.
Five minutes afterward, a singular
dialogue occurred between the two lead
ers of the front ranks of prisoners:
What makes you walk 50 lame, Col.
Neil ?" asked tall, handsome man, with
blue eyes, and bravely flashing forth in
all their beams.
"Coloncl Fannin, walk lame to keep
from being wounded-do you compre-
bend ?" replied the other-"itia laugh
as no worIs-rufgIt describe-it was so
loud, 50 luxurious, SO like the roar of
the breakers of sea of humor; it was
in short, 2 laugh of the inmost heart.
81 do not comprehend you, for am
no artist in riddles" rejoined Fannip,
smiling at the ludicrous gayety OF his
SO strangely illtimed.
You discover that I am famed in
each leg" said Colonel Neil, glancing
lown at the members Indicated, and
nimicking the movements of "A confirmed
cripple, AID laughed louder than ever
: Aud yct," he added in whisper, q
lave neither the rheumatism in the
,nees, nor corns on ny toes; but I've
,ot two big revolvers in my boots -
I" That is violation of the treaty by
;hich we agreed 10 deliver up our arms"
7aunin mourufullr suggested.
" You will see however, that shall
ecd them before the sun is an hour
igh," replied Neil. All! Fanuiu,
ou do not know the treachery of the
ase Mexicans"
At this instant the sun rose in sky
dazzling brilliaacy; and million of
overs fuug their rich odor abroad over
lie green prairie, as an offering to the I
'vely light, when command to halt
as given by one of Santa Annals aids,
ld the two columns of prisoners were
rCken up and scattered over the plain
small hollow squares, encircled on ev-
y side by Mexican infantry and caval-
with loaded muskets and drawn
7ords. And then came a momentary
,usc, awful in its stIllness, and only
oxen by an occasional shrek of terror
the most tim;d among the captives +
al;zcd the impending storm of fire,
d the extinction of lifc's last hopo. I
And then the Internal work of whole Il
le murder was begun and scene en- y
cd such scarcely might be matched q
the very annals of hell itself The N
ar Of musketIy burst in successive 8;
ais like thunderbolts, but could not +
,erly drown the prayers of the living h
, screams of the wounded, or the more 81
rible groans Of the dying. IL
Colonel Fannin fell among the first h,
Tins, but not so the gallant Neil pl
ith the order of the Mexican officer to m
), our hero stopped almost to the earth,
that the volley passed entirely over
n. He waited not for second da
usting hand into the leg of each of
1t, he rose with couple of six shoot ly
the dead y revolvers, and commenced H
charging them with the velocity of eli
htning into the thickest ranks of the M
Panic-stricken with surprise and fear, in
Mexicans recoiled and opened pas pr
,e through which Neil bounded with
spring of a panther, and fed away sh
if wings were tied to his heels, while wi
f dozen horsemen started in pursuit.
7 while it seemed doubtful whether
giant Colonel would not distance We
IN these, SO much had the perils of th
occasion increased the natural elas- fe
ity of his mighty muscles. But pres he
ly charger feeter than the rest s.
ght be discerned gaining on his human to
l.