Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1857-03-14
A Thrilling Incident.
THE few immorta, namcs,
That were not born to die -

The tragedy of NacDgdoches and the
romantic incidents which led to the Texan
War of Independence and their parallel
only in the Roman history of Lucretia and
the elder Brutus.
Juan Costa was person of influence
and bravery in the wild forest, but he fell
under the displeasure of Santa Anna, and
his minion, Pedras, the commanddcnt
of Nacogdocles, was sent to arrest him.
He arrested the father at the supper table,
attended by his only daughter, a young
girl of surprising beauty and intelligence.
lie loaded him with chains, and cast him
into prison, notwithstanding her tears and
entreatics. Finally he proposed to free
the father if the daughter would consent
to sacrifice her innocence and honor. She
rejected the infamous proposal with q
blow in the face. The armed ruflian swore
horrible oath to execute his will on them
both.
With dark eyes, fearless fixed as those
of a corpse, yet flashing double portion of
luminous fire she mounted horse and
hurried away wild around the country.
She halted at every house, no matter
whether Mexican or American, and re-
hcarscd, in tones of thrilling horror, her
fathers wrongs and her own.
All timid modcsty, all weakness had van
ishcd from her tongue, utterly consumed
by the SC orching thirst for revenge. She
painted in passions fiery language, and
with awful minutcness, fact of the damn
ing deed She barred her virgin bosom
and showed the lived marks Of the ravish-
er's fingers among the azure veins along
the surface of snow, now SO polluted and
soiled, but before as pure as the CLEAN Of
an angels wing.
And still, wherever the beautiful maid
wandered, a deafening yell of wrath and
vengeance rose up against the tyrants.-
Tho people Of both races and all classes
few to arms, appointinga general rondez
vous for the l4th Of June, at the residence
of the absent and now imprisoned Juar
! Costa.
1t was there debated by the people the
mode of attack, and who should be theil
leader, but nothing was agreed upon, the
whole assemblage badc fair to break up il
confusion when a tall and powerful bull,
stranger, who had just entered Texas from
the States, came forward and addressed
the multitude.
~ am stranger, but am also a man
and owe my lie, soul, body, health ant
happiness, all-all to woman-to my moth
er: and if turn deaf ear to the prayer
of an innocent woman, asking my aid a
gainst villain, may she and my God curse
me. If you stay behind, 60 for one tc
fight Pedras, and his well armed ravisher
of your wives and daughters I"
The speech was received with tremend
Gus cheers, and a general shout they seem
ed to shake the solid earth, uttered the frs
peal of the revolution.
ave will 60! Death to the tyrants =
Freedom for Texas, and the giant shall b,
our leader !"
And then for the first time was heard il
the land of Texas, the name destined t.
become and echo to the pulsation of al
hearts-the name of Thomas j. Rusk.
The next day he led his raw recruits t.
the attack of Nacogdoches, and stormet
every position against immense odds, aftel
an assault of four hours, the carnage being
dreadful ON both sides. Fortunately, amony
the slain was the dead body of the atrOcious
Pedras.