The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1861-02-28
Sn yntersstilrg Story.
THE DEsPERADo's LAST LAUGH.

man heart. In all ages and nations, and
with every class of the species, bravery
commands the key which opens the door
to the temple of fame, and, with.its fierce
hand writes the passport to universal
popularity Prowess is the master-word
Of all history, and has the force of mag
ical incarnation to move the mind or in
flame the feelings of both old and young
Il is the envy of one sex, and the admira-
ton of the other 1t inspires poetry, elo-
quenco and art, and forms the life-breath
and being of the political world.
Some philosophers cndoavor to degrade
this glorious attribute by the contemptn-
GUS epithct of "mcre brute bravery" as
if tho unrefccting ferocity Of the wild
beast could be compared with the con-
scions courage of intelligent man. The
lion and tiger, in their most bloody bat
ties, have at most but dim perception OF
the fatal consequences to result from their
encounters, and therefore their fury flows
from animal impulse, without fear only
because the sense of individual peril. But
what we admire in the rational hero is
the bravery of a soul acquainted with all
the danger, and yet defiant OF death,
though marshallcd face to face with that
almighty foe; for in this case the prowess
must be in great degree mental andsvol-
untary, rather than physical pure man.
Hesitation of the will far more than the
effect of organization.
Nevertheless, there are strange myste-
ries and capriccs connected with the sub
iect as there are many varieties ofhuman
courage. Some horocs, that can confront
the most awful pcrils of a particular char
acter, shrink like the veriest towards
from others of a different and often less
frishtful description The bold orator,
whose unrivrlled thundcrs and fearless
manner literally appalled, the fierce de-
mocracy. of Athens, fed ANONYMOUSLY
from the field of Cheronea; and the
worlds llighesthero, who rushed through
the horror of fiery hail that swept the
blood-stained bridge of Lodi, and gazed
with fearless eye on the carnage of a
hundred battles, yet turned pale and
trembled before the Council of Five Hun
dred.
n
Among the desperado's and duelists of
the south and west, I have never known
one who did not have his cowardly
days "-seasons when he would use even
dishonorable means to avoid the very per-
sonal difficulties which at other times fur
nishod his chief amusement and delight.
Some men arc heroes only when intoxi-
Gated. Others borrow all their bravery
from the passions of love and revenge.
Many fight we'll in the ranks Of an army,
yet fly in terror from an individual foe; I;
while some display the most reckless
daring in all single combats, but run away
at the Arst fire of platoon!
The most remarkable peculiarity and
inconsistency of desperation may be found
among the Mexican braves Of the Rio
Grande, who cvince the utmost fear at
the sight of pistols, especially revolvers,
but shrink not from the more terrible
combat with bowie knives; indeed, they
never refuse the challenge of even an
American, provided they can have the
choice ofthese their favorite weapons. AS
itmay naturally be supposed, they become
wonderfully expert in the use of their
deadly implements. 1 have frequently
seen them stand, and, without tremor
OF token of alright, hew each other in
pieces. until one or both of the adverse
ries sunk down dead or exhausted.
But woe to the unfortunate enemy who
did not possess their marvellous dexterity
with the naked dagger! The first blow,
one mortal Mexican stab, always, in such
cases, terminated the struggle by piercing
the combatant's heaft.
Among the most notorious duellists in
this savage species Of conflict, Pedro Pa
lacios. of Brownsville, was altogether pre-
eminent. lie boasted, and doubtless with
entire truth, of having slain a score OF
men on the Rio Grande, besides unknown
numbers in other parts Of Mexico. He
followed the profession Of a gambler, and
therefore wandered from the mouth of the
river to Laredo; and in every neighbor-
hood might be seen the graves OF his VIC
fms until his name became a terror to