The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-03-06
THRILLING INCIDENT.

n 4
The tragedy of Nacogdoches, and the TO.
mantle incidents which led to the Texan War
of independence find their parallel only in
the Roman history of Lucretia and the elder
Brutus.
Juan Casio was person Of influence and
bravery in the wild forest, but he fell under
the dispIeasure of Santa Anna, and his min
ion, Pedras, the commandant of Nacogdo.
ches was sent to arrest him. He arrested
the father at the supper table, attended by
his only daughter, young girl of surprising
beauty and intelligence. lie loaded him with
chains, and cast him into prison, notwith.
standing her prayers and entreatles. Finally
he proposed to free the father, il the daugh.
Ter would consent to sacrifice her innocence
and honor She rejected the infamous pro-
posal with blow in the face. The rutfian
swore horrible oath to execute his will on
them both.
With dark eyes, fearless, fixed as those of
corpse, yet flashing double portion of lu-
mlnous fire, she mounted horse and hurri-
ed away wild around thencountry.
She halted at every house, no matter
whether Mexican or American and rehears.
ed, in thrilling horror her fathers wrongs
and her own.
All timidy, modesty, all weakness had van
ished from her tongue, utterly consumed by
the scorchng thirst for vengeance. She paint
ed, in passions fiery language, and with aw-
iul mnuteness, the fact of the damning deed.
She barred her virgin bosom, and showed the
livid marks OF the ravisher's fingers among
the azure veins along the surface Of snow,
now 50 polluted aud soied, but before as
pure as the CLEAN of an angels wing.
And still, wherever the beautiful maid
wandered, n deafening yell of wrath and ven.
geance rose up against the tyrants. The
people OF both the races and all classes, few
to arms, appointing general rendezvous for
the l4th oil June, at the residence of the ab.
sent and now imprisoned Juan Costa.
1t was there debated by the people the
mode Of attack, and who should be theil
leader, nothing beirg agreed on, the whole
assemblage bade fair to break up in confus
ion, " hen tall and powerfully built s,rang.
er, who had just entered Texas from the
States, addressed the multitude.
81 am stranger, but am also man, and
owe my life, soul, body, health and happi
ness, ALTO woman-to my mother! and il
turn deaf ear to the prayers of an innocent
woman, asking my aid against william, ma,
she and my God curse me! If you stay be
hind, 90 for one to fight pedras aud hi,
well armed ravishers Of your wives and
daughters?"
The speech was received with tremend
Gus cheers and general shout, that seemed lc
shake the solid earth, uttered the first pea
ol the revolution.
awe will go! Death to the tyrants!-
Freedom for Texas and the giant shall be
our leader"
And then Cor the first time was heard in the
land of Texas the name destined to become
an echo to the pulsaton of all hearts-the
name of Thomas ]. Rusk.
The next day he led his raw recruits to the
attack of Nacogdoches, and stormed every
position against Immense odds, after an as
salt of four hours, the carnage being dread.
ful on both sides. Fortunately among the
slain was the dead body Of the atrociou.
Pedras.