The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1872-01-06

mish; never did men Gght with more bravery
and desperation. In one of these encoun.
ters Captain Delacroix fell after killing in
A hand. to hand conflict six of his assailants.
His comrades, at midnight sunk the body
of their leader into the Brazog; and leaving
no sign to mark the place, continued their
flight westward Their prospects were
gloomy, and their plans had no lc ngcr the
appearance of prncticnbiity. Backward
they could not 90; there was a bare posi-
blity of reaching the Rio Grandc, bat the
unanimous voice was forward -
Twenty miles east Of San Antonio the
party came suddenly upon large detach
mcnt Of Mexican troops, when bloody
struggle cnsucd, resulting in the loss Of
some forty Mexicans and the complete dis.
comfure Of Ellis and his surviving com.
ralcs. Prisoners and plunlcr were carried
to the then capital Of Texas, whcrea court.
martial was called aud all save Ellis con.
demned to be shot. Ellis spoke Spanish
pretty hucntly, and it is possible this fact
may have influenced the tribunal in his case.
At all events, without testimony or justice
the sentence was published, aud the next
morning at sunrise he witnessed the exc.
cutiou by musk c,ry Of his friends on the
pid-d oithe town. The booty captured was
conhscatcd by The officers, as he suhse.
quently learned Soon after this summary
proceeding Ellis was released from c0niine.
ment and hurried of under a strong guard
to Maiamoros, where he was allowed to
walk the streets, but was forbidden to pass
the gates. Whether from desire to relieve
the monotony Of his captivity ,his diary is
entirely silent upon the subject or from
necessity, he apprcnticed himself to a sil.
cr.pater, and soon displayed wonderful
ingenuity in the art In the course Of
year or two he eXcelled his employer, upon
which he set up business for himself and
becoming exceedingly popular amassed
considerable amount Of money. But he
could not reconcile himself to the restraints
Of a species Of Imprisonment, and on sey.
eral occasions attempted to escapc. Cross.
ing the river for that purpose, he wasat once
fairly on his way into Texas, but was pur.
sued, captured and brought back in disprace
Alter this he was closely watched, and sub.
sequeutly he was notified that he would be
sent to the City Of Mexico. On the next
day he started on foot, guarded by ten Ian.
GERS. The journey was completed in an
incredibly short time, but he was so pros
trated by rapid marches that some days
elapsed before he could summon strength
to appear before the authorities. \ week
thereafter he inquired what disposition was
10 be made OF HIM He demanded the
cause OF his detention and treatment, and
insisted upon a trial To his repeated in.
'erroga'ones no response was made, and it
was evident that his boldncss and undis.
gulsed Indignation rather aggravated than
improved his position. The Ncoregal
government was still IN existence; the spirit
OF revolt had not then begun It's sweep, and
absoiuusm IN the administration Of law
was grinding with remorsccss iudiscrimi
nation an abject race into the dust. The
city "sci in silver sea- was rich in doub.
looms and dollars, the cluipagcs Of the
SpanRrds and their descendants were
prncely. and the court Of the Niccroy was
incidentally rich aud magnificent. cXcrcis
ing at the time a power absolute and osien.
tatlouS as any potentate Of Europe This
was the status Of Mexico when Ellis enter.
ed the beautiful capital; and indeed it was a
type Of the past three centuries.
After wears d,lny he WAS one p,orr;ry
abruptly ordered TO prison nt Aconulco
Ten minutes thereafter he was mounted
upon a mule his arms pipioped 10 bis sid.
and was placed in the midst of a baud Of
Spanish soldiers. Thus he iourncycd west.
ward for DAYS through barrancas and over
bleak hills, down the Pacific slope In the
sea There he was placed in solitary CON.
Gncment for three years. For two wears
of this time he s,,v nor c,,vsr.el .y;,I, ,o
living human being save his GUARD He
heard no sound save the monotonon, tren i
Of the sentinel on the rampartg Of the fort
and the roar of the waves fnminc and fret.
ting agains, the walls of his prison. Frou
the little window irontiug the sea he eoula
discern the distant sails drifting toward the
harbor, the birds dipping into the waves,
while he, beyond hope Of help or rescue,
was denied the freedom of exercise and
pure air. Still he was not wholly alone.
for lizards, cenGpedes and spiders ran
boldly about his cell and disputed posses.
sion during the weary nights with the Ion civ