Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-11-12


j prisoners.
Il For this attempt to escape, the Mex
lean government ordered the bloody
sentence of defamation, which was
executed on the summit of lofty
mountain between Monterey and Sal
tillo.
I A little before sunset two hundred
Texans were marching into line to
draw lots for death. The cruel Can
ales, with the smile Of demon, coun-
ted out into his hat number ofbeans
equal to that of the captives, every
tenth bean being black,while the rest
were white. He then shook the hat
thoroughly, and carried it along the
line for each man to thurst his fingers
beneath the cover of a handkerchief,
and by the award of impartial chance,
extract his own doom.
The suspense and horror Of the
scene defied all powers of pictorial
description. Features grew liyid
that never paledin the most perilous
crisis of burning battle. and brave
nerves shook like leaves in the wi nd,
which would not have quivered be-
fore the fiery ordeal of hundred
pieces of artillery. The strange un-
certainty of this novel contest with
the viewless fates. produced general
and fearful agitation. Many of those
who drew tie color of death, uttered
involuntary means, while some
screamed wildly, as if they already
felt the cold lead ii their hearts.
At length the ominous hat approach
ed the three brothers, who stood
near the centre of the room. Jack
Phelps put in his hand and remark
ed in laughing tones:-'Captain Lew
is, I'll bet you a hundred dollars that
draw black beam
'Donei' cried the officer in care
less voice.
i have won It'll exclaimed the
youth, in accents of BLENDED joy and
triumph, as he held up ihe hue of
death, adding--'Such is always my
luck! bat whether he refened to the
bean or the result of the wager, the
Mortified spectators could lot we'll de-
termine.
William also extracted the unfor-
tunate color, while Captain Lewis and
the third brother drew the bean of
safety.
Immediately the twentf doomed |
prisoners were placed in a line with
two hundred loaded muskds, aimed I
at their hearts,while the Last red rays
of the setting sun reflected from the |
glittering snowy tops Of tle distant |
mountains, Illuminated the, awful
scene. The atmosphere, though chilly,
was clear and calm. and ribbons of
fleecy clouds aoafed in the west like
wings Of rainbow, while some hardy +
birds sung sweetly among the neigh
boring trees, naked as they were.
All at once Jack Phelps aled out
eagerly:
Captain Lewis, I'll bet you an
other hundred that the rsscals can.
not hit mel
But the reckless ranger, wha had
never before been knownto refuse a
wager, answered with an icy shud-
der Good Heasens, Jack! how
can you jest at such a noment?'--
The ruthless Canales proclaimed
-Prisuueru, say your prayers, for you
die in three minutes!'
Some turned their eyes upwards,
and muttered with pale lips their last
petitions; some of them give their
friends moufnful commissionsfur their
families far away; while others shou-
ted fierce curses In the faces of their
foes; and a few cried simply a fond
farewell TO their more fortunate COM
rades. S /.
At length Canales sounded the
final signal, .fre!' A loud roai re-
yerberated among the mountains and
when the smoke cleared off, nothing ,
vas seen of the doomed band but a
scorce of bodies stretched upon the
bloody earth.
The order was Immediately given ,
o marcha mile further into the val. /
ey, before encamping for the night, :
While small party Of soldiers remain {
d to bury the corpses. Il
But when one of these advanced t
0 strip the form Of young Phelps, the 0
anger bounded to his feet, and knock
Dg over the astoEished Mexican.
praDg upon his horse,- and effected 0
,sc occapo N