The weekly Butte record., 1862-02-01
NO. 13
Colonel John Neil. of Tennesses.

Colonel John Neil. of Tennessee.
/ Coloacl Neil was born ana raised in a pire
tent, On the banks Of the Cumberland River.
At the age Of fifteen he ran away from his Ia
ther, and made lis way to The wilderness Of
Texas. He there adopted the profession Of
arms, which he never more reiiuquishe3 lie
was captain Of rangers, colonel Of militia, a
guarlsman to Mexican traders, and geaeral
thefcatcher for the sherifs Of many counties
and yet 4 byaver, warmer, or more generous
heart, never beat in human bosom.
Shortly after he went to Texas, while at the
Star Hotel in Houston he got into dispute
with Seth Allen, noted blackleg and daclist
! Allen was 4 tall. ueagre, athletic fellow, with
thin face aud huge moustaeAe. Getting offend
ed at some remark made by Colonel Neil, Al
len raised lis loot to MEX the Colonel, whea
the latter, quick as thought caught the foot
in his right hand, anl ihen stoopiug. suddenly
thrust his head between Aliens legs, and fair
| y raised him on his neck In that ridiculous
position he trotted of with the famous duelist.
and tossed him into mud-hole, while roars of
laughter proceeded from the spectators An
immediate challenge was the rusnlt Colonel
Neil accepted the challenge, chose rifles Of the
largest size, and fixed the distance at hun
dred yards
Il will only wing him." said the laughing
hero, as he took his stand he is too poor to
make good bacont'
At the first fire he broke Aliens arm, and
50 the affair ended. But the greatest feat that
ever mortal man achieved was the escape of
Neil from the Mexicans at the time of the
massacre Of Col. Fanuin and his men in 1886.
Neal was of Fanniu's party, and the sole sur
viyor The MeXicanS promised to treat Col.
Fannin and his company as prisoners of war,
if they would lay down their arms. This Fan
min agreed to, aud the arms were delivered up
But Neil did not have confidence in the prom
ises of the treacherous foe so be concealed bis
pair of reyolvcrs in his boots and they remain
ed there undiscovered. The result Of Fannin's
surrender is familiar with every reader of his
tory. After they had given up their arms he
and his men were marched out IN platoons and
shot.
Col. Fannin fell among the first victims, but
not so the giant Neil With the order of the
Mexican officer for his men TO fire, Neil stoop-
ed almost to the earth, SO that the volley pass
ed entirely over him. He waited not for
second thrusting hand into the leg Of each
boot, he arose with a couple of six shooters, of
Aliens patent, and commenced discharging
them, with the rapidity of lightning, into the
tbickest ranks of his foes, his immense strength
enabling lin to pull off both triggers together.
Panic stricken with surprise and fear, the
Mexicans recoiled and opened a wide passage,
through which Neil bounded with the spring
of panther, and fled away, as if wings were
tied to his heels, while half a dozen horscmen
gave chase. For awhile it seemed doubtful
whether the giant Colonel would not distance
even these, so much had the perils of the occa-
sion increased the natural elasticity of his
mighty muscles. Bat presently q charger
heeter than the rest might be discerned gain
ing on his human rival, and approaching so
near that the dragoon raised his flashing sabre
for the coup de grace. Neil being conscious
of his danger, hastily slackened bis speed, till
the hot stream of smoke from the horses nos
trils appeared to mngle with his very hair
and then, wheeling suddenly, be fred another
round from a revolver, and the rider tumbled
from his saddle. The victim then renewed his
flight.
\ mad yell Of grief and rage broke from the
remaining troopers as they witnessed the fate
of their comrade, and its effect was Immediate
ly evident in the augmented canton OF their
pursuit-for they golloped afterwards in ore
body, thereby greatly retarding their progress,
SO that Neil reached the river before them
He paused not a moment, but plunged head
long down the steep bank into the current, and
struck off for the other shore The dragons
discharged their side arms Intellectually, and
gave over the chase!
In a few minutes Neil landed, and as soon
as he felt satisfied that he was really saved, he
burst into fit of laughter, exclaiming 1t
will kill me. Just to think how astonished
the yellow devils looked when I hauled the
revolYers ont of my boots ~
SLANDER-The very best defence against
SANDER is TO refrain from retaliation in words