Demoine courier., 1856-09-18
The Horse Avalanche.
FROM THE "REMINISCENCES OF A DRAGON

1 tell the story as twas told!
IL any marvsls it unfold,
That in nature seem to be
Surprising probability;
Place on them your OWE valuation,
But still give heed to the Larration.
IL was on the march to Victoria q
think the Col. stated, and before orders
came TO reinforce Gen. Scott, tha, the
very remarkable and astonishing circum.
stance occurred, which l am about to
relate, and which will endesvor to give
as nearly as possible in his own words;
"Our route lay Immediately across
an extensive prairie, along which our
train of 600 wagons dragged IT. cu.n
brous length, like some monstrous ser.
pent gorged with prey, winding lazily to
its lair. Save The receptions Of the mi
rage which full often cheated our weary
troops into the hope Of dimpling and re-
fseshing waters soon to be reached. and
the consequen, disappointment. nothing
occurred for some time TO vary the mo-
no,ony Of the march. At length, about
midday, OF a little thereafter, a Sound
like muttering thunLer, or rather like tie
low rumbling OF an earthquake, drew all
eyes toward the right, from whence, in
the far distance, was seen rapidly ap-
preaching, a dark line, al il of clouds.
Faster and fas.ei it came, 10 the aston
ishment and delight Of all. with a rush
hat shook the very earth, 10000 Mus.
.aDgs sprang full in view.
GA mighty piebald led the way,
Fit leader to that mass of life"
s.Bounding forward in front of the now
m~otionless multitude, the wild chief Of.
The Pampas, bis stately head high lifted.
slowly approached our cavalcade, with
an air Of mingled wonder and suspicion.
Before any one could form the most
remote conjecture as to the cause of this
singular movement, at wild cry from
their leader the column was put in mo-
lion, and tEen
As tue winds come when forests are rended,
AS the waves rush when nayies are stranded,
full on the center of our devoted line they
broke like an avalanche. For some
moments, IRON out the clouds of dust,
came
ssMingled crash, and groan, curse and yell,
AS though within the realms Of hell,
All hands had broken loose.
"When the dusty canopy was lifted,
go wagons, with teame aud teamsters,
strewed the road, mingled in with ev-
erything, horse. foos and Dragons. tina.
came within the sweep Of that living
bosom OF destruction. with here and
there q crushed and mangled Mustang,
struggling wildly 10 follow its fellows.
"At the distance Of some $50 or 200
yards. the druve stopped just in the or.
Ger that il had passed Though with the
exception that the mighty Piebald now
broueh. up the rsar. Alter gazing a few
seconds: in apparen. exuInlion, a shriil
neigh OF defiance seemed TO give the sig
nal for retreat, and the whole swept
away like q vision. No dream, howev.
or. ever yet realized the ruin which riot
ed around.
Except those who were with me, none
! am sure ever Jaw such q sight, the like
of which, while life lasts, / neUer eIpect
to see again. JOHN OF OxFoRD1
NoTE.-The Coils recollection is re.
markably vivid as regards all tho circum-
stances, from the fact that he barely es.
caped himself, having been ver,- nearly
caught by one OF the corners of the base
Of the isosceles triangle. He was then
q Captain of dragons, ~sscorting the
train, and frequently speaks 10 terms Of
high admiration Of thai brilliant manu-.
ore Of the Horse Chief of the Prairie.