Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1877-09-05
STOCK, W., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1872.

|
a daughter of Santa Anna. In the
course Of conversation that followed,
he remarked |:
"But did you know who it was that
you was ministering to all this time 2
Not at first, she replied. disCov
cred after a time that you were Gen.
Shields, who I had heard was killed.
Perhaps, had you known at the
first that l was one who had a large
sharge in the defeat of your father,
you would not have received me 2
She drew herself up with the air Of
an old Castilian. Sir she said, had
you with your own hand killed my ia
ther in fair fight, | would have done
for you in your extremity just as much
as / now have.
And she looked it as well as spoke
it.
MAGRUDER AND TIE GUERILLA.
1t was during this campaign and
about this time, that an incident oc-
cured which the lecturer very humor-
ously described, but which is here
greatly abbreviated :
Gen. John B. Magruder, Of subse-
quent Confederate fame, was then an
officer il, our army, and plumed him
self highly on his horsemanship. One
day he rode across the square on a
superb black horse that he had just
bought at high price, and came to
the window by which Shields lay, that
he might see and admire his purchase.
The curvetting of the Steed and the
bearing of the rider drew crowd into
the square, and presently there were
over thousand soldiers, citizens, and
army followers of all kinds. watching
and adniring Jack Magruder" show
off After a time, when Magruder
had stopped a moment, one of the
Mexicans came forward, patted and
praised the horse, and told the officer
that he rode almost as well IS all in
habitant of the country could.
Almost ! Masruder cried. Il can
ride as well as any Mexican. Show
me one who can ride bottom
Nay, saIu III. Mexican, you claim
too much. You ride well, but it is
not possible that you can know our
horses as well as we do.
Magruder insisted, aud. growing
warm, offered to bet u dozen doub-
looms that he could ride his horse bet.
ter than the other could.
The Mexican objected, said he did
not like to bet, and did not like to
show off his horsemansblp in public,
but at length, as Magruder grew more
urgent, he reluctantly consented, and
the money was put up in the hands of
another Mexican. Forjudges an Amer
lean was chosen by Magruder, Mex
lean by his adversary, and the two
together chose Frenchman tor the
third man.
Then Magruder put his horse thro'
his PAGES, first walking around the
square, then trotting, galloping, and
then finally putting the animal to its
top speed, with a magnificent burst
that drew cheers and hand clapping
from the crowd.
After few moments the Mexican
came forward for his trial. Without
touching his hands to the horse he
yaulted on his back and went through
with precisely the same performance
as Magruder, and really proved him
self to be the more accomplished rider
of the two. Magruder himself joined
in the applause, and frankly admitted
that he was fairly bcaten.-The Mex
lean smiled, and bowed, and said:
Now, if the senor will wait a mo
ment | will show him a feat of horse
manship the like Of which he has new
er seen.
Magruder assenled, and the Mexi-
can rode half way round the square,
and then putting spurs to the horse,
disappeared in twinkling.
sWhat the d does that mean !
said Magruder.
4 know of only one man who can
ride like that, said a by.stander,' 'and
that is Molino.
'Molino, the guerilla! groaned the
owner of the horse.
The same, sir l don't think you'll
eyer see your horse again
He never did the Mexican who
held the stakes had also disappeared
probably one of Mol'no's meo.-
Magruder never heard the last of this
exploit among his brother officers,
L:l l.; ,avotinn lostpd he do.