The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1875-05-01
RNSGlNG TIiE 'IApAhHAL, ,
TIiG MIDNIGHT nIGLIR,
ny nucKskiS SAN

"Rrmrmhrr the AluUu e. THIS,
The Wur,rrN shrlll nuh clear
~ our brave hund Ui Hangers, fell
I Upon the Bandits car
/ AZ In the morning, damp and still,
b We dushcd into ihcir camp,
/ And woke them from their slumbcH by
| The thunder Of our tramp
/ Few were our numbers, many they,
/ Hut ON our side wns right;
/ We shot them down remurSrlcssly,
/ Nor spared them IN thc ilphL
I They ilrd IN tprrOr-Nll who escaped
From our nvcnging hand
For quarter Sns nJt given then
Along the Rio Grandc,
Then tlghton.d we our saddle girths,
| Took trOphiCs'Of the fight,
And stretched HCIusS the prairie vast,
Nor halted til twas uight,
Aud though we met no McNlcnnS,
We struck their fresh h-wurn trail,
Ana passed their mid-duy rendezvous,
And chased them like gnie.
Snid allson, "ro-morrow, boys,
Wen take 'cm by surprise:
Picket your iHhed horses out
] Ou yOud"r mesquite rise;
Cook mp our grub-put ont your iires-
Sergeant guard well the linci
And we Will sleep, thrn push ahead
Before the sun shalt shine
Sweet was our rest; our morning fight
And weary march that day..
Caused ali the boys To sOund!y sleep
Some usually We're gay;
But just NJ midnight, bugle note
Gave forth u shrll alarm,
And every man sprnng nom ms couch
with rifle poised in arm
The moon on Texas brightly shown,
All eager for the Tray
But there was no foe to be seen,
Though nearly light MS day.
We rubbed our eyes, ana silently
GaZed round upon each other;
Then from the guard our buglcr strobe,
And said, "BoyS, what's the bother?
Who's medlin' with my OXen-horn
At this queer time o night
Disturbin' honest peoples sleep
He can't be over bright"
And sure enough there glistening
Upon mesquite tree,
Hung our own cOinpanSS DuBle-
This was mystery.
whats up, my boys ?" says Donaldson,
ais this some thievin' Mex,
Thnt's stole II bugle from Fort Brown -
He'd better pass his checks
Put out n half .a-dozen scout,
And scour the chRparrnl
And If we take him prisoner,
Wen ticket him to!
Stand bravely to your arms, my boys
Sergeant, call in the guard
Bring in the horses-s ddle up,
For they may press us hard"
The scouts dashed of in swift pursuit,
We heard some scattering shot;
Then soon from thorny chnparral
We saw them struggling out.
"They're coming here they are, "says Cap
"And got n sneakin' cusS;
DOg-gone yer dirty picture, why
Did you make such II fuss?
Why did'nt yer come dccently
And say yer wanted hangin?
Where's Cortina and his band p
Look here, now, none yer shamin'"
But not word the bugler spoke;
lie fiercely looked around,
While from his arm and from his cheek
The blood slow trickled down.
"Rring me n rope We'll find his tongue,
You bet your bottom dollar =
Here, Toby, make hangman's knot,
And fit him to collar J"
The rope was looped around his neck
Then DER n limb was run,
And half-a-dOgen of the boys
Who liked that sort of fun
Pulled steadily upon the hemp,
And brought him up standing,
Till he was black as any mig
ON Mississippi landing.
''Hold on" says Cap; 'now let him down;
I'll interview the cuSs;
He'll give us information
l. not, We'll treat him worse.
Now, Greaser, this is your last chance
To do Christian deed
Where's Cortina? tell us quick,
Ur be hung up for seed"
From mortal fear and loss of blood,
The buger's Ii hs, they culver,
But knowing well he ne'er again
Would see his Grande river,
He braced himself, and gazel around
Like tiger cat at bay;
Then yelled, " ViUn ii CoTtind'-
Which was his final say
For ere he finished high he swung;
Make fast, boys-let him 60
A foolsher chap lnever see
Where did you catch him, Joe?"
We'll, Capn, he were cOZy liked
Among the chapHrral,
But ] can scent a cigarette
I've got powerful smell.
When was up with Burleson,
IN BraZos, where 'twere brackey,
smelled spring more'n four miles OIL
Give us chaw terbaccy."
Joe, you are the dangest stretcher
Alive, this side the Red;
But had II been n whisky spring
I'd swallowed all you said.
Here's your 'bacca; saddle up,
nd start back on the TRAIL
nd tell the scouts Wen meet them on
The river, without fail"
way went Joe; he knew no fear;
He'd ranged the region wide,
Next day we found him lying deal
4 bullet in his side.)
Then hastily we pack our traps,
And take our morning meal;
Fall into line, answer the roll,
nd SOuthward silently steal
leaving the rigid bugler there,
slow swaying meath the tree;
warning to all Greasers, who
Nay chance that way to be.