The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-09-06

WINS darkness. nurncd with round shot on
tL, hrilIiuas where the rangers had taken
rrIu,,.. and continued to thunder for hours
bnl the deadly aim OF the American riff
picked the cNunonrcrs Oh one by ono, until
at last every gun wa, deserted, and the
enemy had recourse to the protecting para
pets of the ii't house tops in the n''s"Oor-
hood. ,..,.,
the officers nrS'n on ny a"'rmue s t "a T,,
an" promises, t"'''"a ~. t"'a'''l, ,,,.,
tremendous SUM- ~ s.i', 'oS Nv 'I, .rrs
"r, S''r Wv Tnx"n sl,'rmI.Gnnt.rs until the
A. M ,,rn Withdrew from the fatal range
Of the unrrlins rilI IS. leaving more than five
hundred dead in the streets and ON the stone
roofs of the houses.
Ampuda then, with the customary craft
of his cormtrymcn, rcsorted to stratarcm,
and sent II white Hug "illl Gen. La vega,
urging til" texans 10 c''''n'''e' anu 'lv'i"a
highly favorable terms; ana as II was knoM'
'l'' I'tGH aHui.o"'' ,p'oe ,,,"i .''."" "aot.d
iNeu III '"u ''''"'t!' ~ u' ,,r,, ar,n,
"e Ii",U''',,' ,.r,r artr," If thr solemn
,rrrrmrmt, nv wLichthe prisoners had been
''I, ~ .rr,'lnr w,s vi,Intal ina few
I,ys. and Il nnwcrtul guard marched them
off for fine city of Mexico. Their suiicringS
and priyations during the journey almost
surpaSs belief, and many of them SINK under
the crushing burden Of melancholy hunger
and fatigue, and were bntchcred by the way.
But still the youth Jack Phelps, who had
esq ccially distinguished himself during the
halrle and bitterly opposed the capitniaton;
maintaining his habltual How OF spirits, ana
laughed and jcsted as m'rrliy as ever. How
ever beneath the giittcilnS crust OF this cylty,
he concealed deep ana daring design ana
having communicated the desperate plan to
the other captivcS. they suddenly assaulted
and oyerrowrrcd their Srncd guard, and al
though nearly twice rs numerous as them
selves, while they were entirely without wca-
pons.
They then started to retreat hnmcward;
but the whole country arose around thcm
and meeting the troop Of lanccrS, cumman-
dcd by their traitor, Canalcs, they were all
again made prisoners.
For this attempt to escape the Mexican gov
crnmcnt ordered the bloody svntance of dcci.
nation, which was executed ON the summit
Of a lofty mountain between Monterey and
Sal.llo
\ little before sunset, two hundred Texans
were marching into line to draw lots for death.
The clucl CaualcS, with the smile Of demon
cuuntcl out into his hat number Of beans
cuual to that of the capiycs, every tenth
bean being black, while the rest were white.
| He thcn shook the hat thoroughly, and car
ri,d it along the line, for each man to thrust
his fingers beneath the cover Of handkcl-
chief and by the award Of impartial chance,
extract his own doom.
The suspense AID horror Of the scene dclicd
all powers of pictorial description. Features
crew livid that never ralcd III the most per-
ilous crisis of burning battle, and brave ner-
YES shook like leaves in the wind which
would not have quiyerca before the fiery hail
of A hundred pieces Of artillery. The strange
uncertainty of this novel contest with the
vicwlcs fatcS produced general and fearful ag
ita,ion. Many Of those who drew the colo
of death. uttered involuntary means, while
some screamed wildly, as it they already tell
the cold lead in their hearts.
At length the onllnous hat approached lh
three brothers, who stood near the centic G
the room. Jack Phelps put in his hand an'
remarked in laughing tones captain Lewis
IL bet you a hundred dollars that draw ;
black bean =
| Done! cried the o!lltcr IN careless voice
i have won 1t .'eNclaincd the youth in ac
cents Of blended JOY and triumph, as he hrl,
up the hue of death, and addcd-'Su"h is al
ways my luck but whether he referred Il
the black bean, or the result of the wager, tn
mortified spectators could not well determine
William also extracted the unfortunate col
or, while Captain LOWS and the thIlu Drotl
or drew the bean of safety.
Immediately, the twenty doomed prisoner
were placed in II line with two hundred load
ed muSkct aimed at Their hearts while I'll
last red RAYS of the setting sun reflected iror