The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-11-28
4 White Bean or Death.

TIE STORY OF THE MEIR MASSACRE
THE TEXAN STRUGGLE FOR ISDE
PENDEycE.
From the Houston (Tex.) Telegram. Nor. 9. j
The events recorded below TOO
place at Selado, Mexico, March q
ls43, when seventeen Texans of th
Mier expedition were shot by orde
of the Mexican authorities. Th
story is told By correspondent wa
signs himself Il. p. H., of Blancc
Texas, brother Of one drew q whit
bean.
One hundred and fifty nine whit
beans were placed in the bottom Of
mug, and seventeen black ones plsc
ed upon the top Of them The bean
were not stirred. Such was thei
anxiety to execute Captain Cameron
and perhaps the balance of the off
GERS, that first Cameron and after
wards the other officers were mad
to draw bean each from the mug il
this cordition. Cameron, in the &C
of drawing first, with his usual cool
ness, well. boys, we have to draw
let's be at it,
So saying, he thrust ais hand inc
the mug and drew out a white bean
Next came Colonel VIM. f.. Wilson
who was chained 10 him then Cap
tain VIM Ryan and then JudgeF NJ
Gibson, all of whom drew white
beans. Next came Captain East
liant, who drew black one, and ther
came the balance Of the men. They
all drew their beans with that manly
dignity and frmness which showed
them superior to their condition
Some of the lighter tempered jested
over the bloody tragedy One o.
them said, Boys, this beats rafting
all to pieces" The knocking off the
irons from the uniortunates told who
they were.
Poor Robert Beard, who Law upon
the ground sick, said: Brother II
you draw a black bean I'll take your
place" The brother said, "No, i
am stronger aud better able to die
than you" Several of the Mexican
officers who oficiated in the cruel
violation of their country's faith ex.
pressed great dissatisfaction tbercat,
and some wept bitterly. Soon after
the fated were placed in a separate
courtyard, when about dark they
were executed. Several of our men
were permitted to visit the unfor-
mates previously to the execution, to
receive their dying requests
Poor Major Cooke said, Boys, l
told you | never failed TO draw a
prize; and then he said to Judge
Gibson, "Say to ply friends that I
died in grace Judge Gibson was
so much affected at this last parting
that be showed it from bis tears.
The Major said: "They only rob
me of forty years, and then sat down
and wrote q sensible and digni6ed
letter to General Waddy Thompson,
the United States Minister in Mex
ice, and knowing that his remains
would be robbed of his clothes after
his death, drew off his pants and
handed them to his surviving COM
rades and died in his underclothes.
Poor Henry Whaling. one of
Cameron's best fighters, said, ''Well
they don't make much off me any
how, for | know | have killed twen-
ty-five of the yellow bellies" Then
his dinner in a firm tone,
saying that They shall not cheat
me out of it," ate heartily, smoked a
cigar, and in twenty minutes was
launched into eternity.
Our interpreter, who was permit
ted to remain with them to the last,
says that Fifteen times they wound
ed that iron nerved soul, Henry Whsl-
ing and it would seem that Provi-
dence bad special care in probing
ing his existence, that he might DEM
onstrate to bis enemies the national
character they had to contend with !;
for be gritted his teeth and defed
them in terms Of witbering reproach i.
until they placed gun to his heal
and blew his brains against the wall.
Such was the effect OF this horrible
massacre upon their own soldiers,
who were standing as a guard upon
the wall above, that one of them
tainted and came near falling over
but was caught by his comrades.
Poor Terry, quite youth, but in
spirit q giant. said that 'he was per-
fectly willing 10 meet his fate; that
for his country be had fought and for
her glory be was willing to die" Gnd
and turning to the officers said: "Af-
ter the battle of San Jacinto my fam
lily took one of your prisoner youths,
raised and educated him, aud this is
our requital." Edward Este spoke
Of his fate with coolness. Cash said:
well, they murdered my brother
with Colonel Fannin, and they are
about to murder me-" "TeIl the off
Ger to look upon men who are not
afraid to die for their country"
Captain Eastland bebaTed with
the most patriotic zeal. He desired
that his country should neyer Law
down her arms until the most ample
reparstion and her freedom was OBJ
Major Robert Dunham said
be was prepared to die, and would
% God that be had a chance to do
the same thing over sgain that he
gIoried iu the demonstration they
aad made, which showed Texans
without arms TO be more than equal
70 Mexicans with the M
James Ogden, with his usual
equsnimity of temper, smiled ct bis
fate ard said: II am prepared {"
Young Robert W. Harris behaved in
the most unllinehing manner and
called npon his companions to avenge
the murder, while their flowing tear
aud bursting hearts, invoking heaven
for their witness, responded to The
call | have the utmost confidence
that this pledge. 50 solemnly plighted.
will be redeemed. They one and all
invoked their county to 90 both them
and herself justice.
Just previons 20 the firing they