Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-03-17
PUNISHING A DESPERADO.
A Scene on the Rio Grande.

After the splendid triumph of the
American arms on the glorious fields
of Palo Alto and Resaca de Ia Pal.
ma, the victorious force hurried across
the Rio Grande, and occupied the
Mexican town Of Matamoras. But,
unfortunately, these were not the on
ly invaders, for, marching with the
valiant soldiery, or following rapidly
in ..heir rear, came another host, of
small merchants, of desperadoes, Of
gamblers, and every variety of reck-
less adventures, including swarms of
assassins and thieves. Any one can
readily imagine the inevitable confu-
sion, affrays, and mortal rencounters
which resulted from such heteroge-
neous aggregation of inaammable
human atoms.
Among the numerous professors
most eradite in the history of the
four queens, as also the most deeply
learned in the arcana of hair-triggers,
where three brothers by the name
Of Allen. Their art and dexterity
backed in each emergency by the
bowie-kniie and revolver, soon rem
dered them notorious, and promised,
in brief period, to break every bank
in the vicinity. Men of the high
est courage trembled at their ap-
proach, and even officers, wearing the
uniform Of bravery, accorded to their
desperation an external courtesy and
respect which belied the contempt
and hatred of their hearts.
At that time there was a brilliant
saloon kept open, for public amuse-
ment and private profit, by one Fer
nando Rosa. wealthy but avaricious
Sraniard. The dealer at the monte
sable was his daughter. Maria, a
young girl possessed Of that wild be.
witcbing beauty which so often dis
tinguishes the fascinating females Of
her nation, and, notwithstanding her
unfavorable and doubtful situation as
a principal in the genteel gambling
house, she bore fair fame for virtue
as well as intelligence. Indeed, re-
port said, with what truth am una
ble to affirm; that she detested the
position, and filled it only from the
compulsion Of parental authority
AT all events, she presided over the
cards in all the evoIutions Of tickle
fortune with the rarest grace Of man
ners, and the utmost honesty of con-
duct. AS might be logically infer.
red, such various and evident attrac-
tions combined to render the estab.
lishment a place of general resort for
the elite of the army, and all the
most accomplished connoisseurs Of
chance; and to insure the exclusion
of the plebeian class, the rule had
been fixed that the lowest bet on the
board must amount to a hundred dol
lars.
Il was fine clear night, at the full
moon of May. when the three BROTH
ers Allen, having swept the counters
Of all the inferior banks in Matamor-
as, with their pockets full Of gold and
heavy suas in pap.r, entered the sa-
loon of Fernando Rosa, determined
to close it with sudden thnnder-
crash of fortune or fear, if the latter
alternative should become necessary.
The apartment was crowded with ju-
venile lieutenants, who lost their mon
ey and their hearts with equal fatal
facility: and / am sorry to record If.
but the fact is nevertheless certain,
that not few epaulets of older and
more exalted rank glittered in the
gorgeous illumination Of the sill
yer chandeliers, and manifested symp-
toms of homage before the starry
smile of the beautiful and bewitching
Maria.
With that rude, elbowing impetu.
osity which, more than anything
else, marks the soul Of the thorough
bred ruffian, the bold, bad brothers
made their way to the monte table.
To say the truth, they found little
difficulty in so doing, as the throng
hastily retreated at their advance.
with as much trepidation as if they
had been Lybian lions fresh from the
desert. Everybody fell back from
the board to safe distance, and left
the contest alone to the three fratern.
al gamblers. Even the lovely deal
er turned mortaily pale at their ap-
pearance, and ber fairy fingers quiv-
- 80 49, -, 3
- Sas<S-~s "a ,s-,scsis. 80 ss.'