New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-29
The Black and White Beans,
OR THE LOTTERY OF LIFE AND DEATH,


From 4 chapter in the Austin (rexas) Rambler, of
the forthcoming History Of the Mer Expedition by
Judge +. N. Gibson, we copy the following:
The lottery as the Internal scheme for the select
Ing OF human victims was termed. was arranged. in
tie following manner; hundred and seventy-six
beans, seventeen black and the balance white. were
deposited in crock, so covered with silk handker.
chief as to conceal the beans This vessel pregnant
with the issues oflife and DEATH stood on low wall
about breast high, which separated the prisoners
from the Mexican officers, and behind which the lat.
ter were assembled to witness and direct tine progress
of the most important rattle that mortal eyes ever be-
held, The black bean, to the unfortunate drawer
f0rebOded the sleep that knows no waking;H the
white, exception from such fate. For the purpose,
however, of sacrificing as many of the officers as
possible the latter We're placed at the bottom of the
crock or urn, while the former the black beans were
permitted to remain on top until the officers had
drawn when the vessel was shaken and its contents
equally mingled. This mean trick affords lively
and by no means uncommon example OF Mexican
notions Of fairness and honesty
When the reading of the fatal decree was finished
and all again were silent, the intrepid Cameron upon
whose majestic form all eyes were involuntarily
turned, he moved to and fro like some tabled god
OF ancient times, exclaimed: *For my own worth
less life care no more than the running stream for
the forest flower blooming upon its green banks
but for my brave troOps whose gallant deeds in de-
Tense Of their countys rights / have so often wit
messed, and who are now about to be inundated upon
the affairs of a bloody vengeance my heart beeds
with an anguish words cannot express" Here the
speaker, overcome by feelings that chOkpd his utter
ance for a moment paused. Finally, mastering his
sympathies, he continued "But language is una
Naillng we are WASHING time. As we are to draw,
oeys ets oe ~ u SulElhg the action to the word,
and in anticipation Of any command to do so, he
camly advanced to the crock, and thrusting his hand
into the mouth Of The vessel drew forth white bean
So likewise did his companion, VIM. Il, Wilson. The
next names called were Capt. Wm. Ryon and F. NJ.
| Gibson.
1t will not be surprising if on an occasion like this
we should have been constrained to brief review OF
OF our past career. Ihere stood the ciay.cO!oTed,
| omhoaSiooklhg croch-the SIX handkerchief care
| IuHy IOlueQ over the tOpi prevented mortal VISION
from peerng into It's fearful secrets. Perhaps that
lille article q eatthenRaIe vas the urn III when
| were buried all our hopes OF life and pleasing dreams
/ q future happiness Perhaps IN its dark chambers
| lutktu tne evil genus OIL our ueSEny-tne spirit 10
| summon us away INTO eternity We cast lightning
| glance through the vista Of past years. Many acts
4 throngeq tne storehouse Of pusy memory OF which
/ We deeply ana sincerely repented. But the mirror
winch felecteu the ueeds oil hygone days, eXplbted
! no pfemedltaled en0Fmty OF lrreparable wrong. In
| the atonlng blood OF blessed Redeemer there was
suulGl NJ eAcaCy TOT the e&patOn OF our slS, even
| though they were like scarlet. We remember also
our numerous escapes from imminent peril Through
out The Yiclss1tudes OF career more familiar with
the storm than with the sunshine of life, the protect
ing hand Of Providence had been over us like cloud
we did not believe that our time was yet come and
thought only OF those to whose lips would soon be
commented the bitter cup Of death.
/ While Ryonstood before the crock, he said, Judge
as my right hand Is IN n0o while yours Is Tree and
you generally lucky, please draw lorme8 Not being
| passlonateiy i9Ad Of saeh amusements, we promptly
Dut respectfully deemed taking two chances: but as
RyQl was ehuled 70 the tt10 pitHeSe, we suggested
| 70 MN the comfort theTe might be IN the Rory
! " more doctrne oil " luck IN odd numbers which
! he soon realized, as the exhibition OF a white bean
! gEasped between the thumb and fore finger proved
| Inc writer's experiment was accompanied by the
same satisfactory result But poor Eastllnd, who
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