The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-11-21

From the Louisville Courier.1
A letter announces the impending death
fColonel Jack Allen, at Bright Star,
Hopkins county, Texas lie was widely
known in the Southwest. In his Young
manhood he had the inisfortuo TO stay a
man in Shelby county, but the jury ad-
judged it a clear case of self-dsfence, and
he was acquitted. Shortly afterward he
left for Missouri, and, with single com
panion made his way through the Indian
Territory, and thence into Texas. That
people were then at war with the Mex-
cans. lie was with Sam Houston at the
battle of San Jacinto, which ended the
war. He returned home and engaged in
farming but when the war broke out on
the Rio. Grande Allen raised n calvary
company, and was with General Hum
phrey Ma.ehall's regimentat at Buena Vista
The conclusion OF the Mexican war let
loose a set Of restless men, eagar for any
warlike enterprise. The acquisition of
Cuba attracted their attention Is it did
indeed many le ding men in the South.
Jack Allen va, of course among the
number. He raised band Of men 10
Kentucky, and was prominent among
those who imposed what may be called
the "frst Cuban expedition. Sailing
from Il Southern port in small vcs-
sci, by orders TO act in concert with the
creOles OF Cub, who were said to be ready
to revolt, the tlIbustors, as they were
termed rJcceded TO the island OF Contoy,
near the coast of Yucatan. A sGjourn OF
three weeks, with exposure disgu,ted the
men until orders were given 10 leave, when
their spirits revived. The vessel made
its way TO Cardenas, on the northern
part Of the island where they
were landed Their rebel friends.
to their chagrIn, informed them that their
force was too small to throw the island in-
to revolution, and declined TO give any as
sistance. The authoritie. had been advis-
ed Of The plans Of the filibusters, and had
force close at hand to meet them They
charged on the flibustcrs, who galluntly
repused the assault, and, knowing dscre-
tion & be the better part Of valor, retired
to their little vessel. Allen fought brave
ly in this fight. The flibusters then head
cd for Key West, and, when, within
few mIic, iace, discovered the
Spanish man-ot-war Pizarro bearing down
On them under full head of steam. She
approached near enough 10 fire few shots
ut the vessel, but the boys escaped and
scattered over the place.
The year following (lsjlJ, j, the iilibusters
were again ut WORK under Lopez, and
Jack Allen wa; @ith them. He raised
several hundred men in Kentucky, and
took them to New Orleans. Lopez, with
the lamented Major VIM. Crit,cnden, had
also left for the island. Their fate is
known. Crittenden's little band of fifty
men were captured, and himself shot, and
Lopez garroted. In the meanwhile the
Kentuckians in New Orleans bcseecLed
the Cuban Aid Society for trans nsportation,
but in vain. When the fate of the expe.
diuon was known, the flibusters in New
Orleans disbanded, and Allen and others
returned 10 Kentucky. Several expedi-
| tion- Of similar character were projected
between that time and 1876 by General
Goicpuria, with Colonel Allen rs one
Of the leaders, but all Of them
failed. General Walker and his ti-
busters, ho wever, had met with more sue
cess in Nicaragua, and jack Allen deter.
mined to join him. He chartered the
steamer Sultuna, and left the Portland
wharf May u, le56, with nearly two hun
dred men, for his expedition. Few, alas
were destined TO return. Half ofthe num-
Der reached Grenada where Allen was
appointed Colonel of the regiment. He
subsequently returned to Kentucky on the
| Of Walker was lost and while here he ar
ranged with Goicouria for another Cuban
expedition, embracing the enlistment of
| his own men in Nicaragua, as well as 9TH
ers who desired TO leave Nicaragua, but
. who were restrained therefrom by force.
! Gocouria was to send vessel to san Joan
del Norte 10 bring away the men. Gen
eral Lockrldge, who was subsequently, the
commander on San Juan river,
was in the secret. Allen returned to Mica
ragua; but II successful operation of the
Costa Ricans, in capturing from Walker
the steamships on Lake Nicaragua de-
feated the Allen-Goicouria descent on
Cuba. Colonel Allen left Nicaragua in
| October, 1856, and came home. He lived
in quiet on his farm in Shelby county
from that time until the inauguration Of
the late civil war, when he espoused the
cause Of the confederntes. He Was the
| leader of the several hundred men, who
| left Kentucky in September, 1851. lie
| served in the confederate army for n short
| time and then retired, remaining south
| however, until hosiilities ceased, wnon he
again returned home and resumed bis az
ricultural pursuits. He went to Texas
some months since, but with what particu-
| lar object we are not advised.