The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1877-05-20
The Massacre OF Fannin and nis men.
ny W. NJ BRYANT.

'HO tnNN OnfnllNn WIN ItunluNh III INC
host OF the mighty dold, that thor immOln-
lion bo not forgotten"
Probably nowhere In the annals OF
history can be found an incident OF
refined savagery and dlabolio hate, 10
eclipse tho awful tragedy the following
lines design to recount. The scene OF
this foul butchery was the little MeXi'
can town OF La Bahia (angliclzed TO
Labndee), near where the city Of Go
lad now stands, on the San Antonio
river, In Goliad county, Texas; the
time, March 20, 1886, less than one
mouth subsequent TO the stormlng and
capture OF the Alamo by the Mexicans
at San Antonio.
After u desperate struggle at Gollad,
and only when ammunition and food
had exhausted, and hope for succor
had died out In their hearts, Colonel
Fannin, with four hundred and fifty
men, surrendered to the overpowering
numbers Of the invading Mexican
army.
The surrender was conducted under
a flag OF truce and the general rules of
war, aud only yielded-as otherwise 1t
could never haye been accomplished
while an arm remained to WELD u
blade or club gun-upon the sacred
pledge OF the Mexican general that
they "should be treated rs honorable
prisoners OF war"
But this faith was violated, and on
the 10Th day of March, 1886, the sun
went down upon one Of those scenes,
Mt the contemplation Of which the
heart sickens aud the very blood con-
geals In virtuous veins.
These brave men-inoited by no
fierce gloating for blood, or wild
schemes of conquest; Infatuated by no
diverse and unstable revolutionary
currents, but rather and only enthused
by those lofty principles of patriotism
that proclaim the inviolability OF the
freedom of conscience and the pursuit
of human .haWtless-t6ese brave
men. I2rftnis, "the head and front of
their offending" were led out as 'sheep
to the shameless" mercilessly shot
down, and the turf of old Labadee be-
came sanctified with the blood OF pat.
riots. Their martyred blood "cried
unto heaven" and 1t was answered
with retributive vengeance at the
hands of the Texans.
Without the Alamo and Goliad, Tex.
rs would probably never have achieved
her independence, for these harrow
ing memories nerved the hearts of the
patriots aud gave them an after easy
victory over foe lighting in an igno-
BILE cause, the enslavemeut OF free
men. Truly "God moves in u mystic
rious way his wanders to perform"
Until these horrid scenes had sent
the Saxon blood leaplng through the
veins, and quickened every energy OF
race that could
"Brook not the cup OF commun on,
Filled with bl cd from the side offieodom;
The bride, nevermore, OF n parasite union y
Until these sickening scenes had sent
their daggers to the brain, and awoke
them to ah appreciation OF their prob
able fate, without Il stroke for "God
and lioerty,n there was an apparent
apathy with many of the Texans, and a
disposition 10 listen to the "siren song
ofhope;n but when the Alamo and Co
lad mingled their wild cries of despair,
the soft cadences of the SIRENS fatal
wooiug died away amid the wild in
vacations Of y noble race, to the "God
of the fearless and free"
Twas once upon the dying OF Southern
sunny day,
The gorgeous shades OF blue and gold, wero
dappling into gray;
TIL enrth seemed there to blend with air,
A panoramic reflex grand, OF Gods eternal
world
The time, the scene, the landscape fair, the
peaceful browse OF herds,
The mellowed sheen ofgold and green, the
gleeful chant of birds,
Seemed lily % comport with aught but peace
ful paths of life,
Not mete for war, and IRE, and blood and
hellish human strife
But God, in his omnicient power, and his
untathOmed caus-,
Permits TO flourish and defy cen His eier-
Vain, weak, important, puny man-inanitis-
Who blindly, madly rushes on TO fate, Plu-
tonian dark
But to the theme, the bloody theme. now
laid aside too long,
The dekenlng, heartless, haleiul feminis-
cence OF song;
Down where the "Star OF Empire wends its
onward western way"
On Texas hallowtd sofia band OF chosen
pauiots lay
No marble monumental spirc, no statue
grand proclaims,
No tomb, no willow, cypress grove. who're
rest their last remains;
But craven ON each patriot heart, where
glory earyes her name
A consecrated love proclaims their bright
enduring fame.
Down where the san Antonio blue, sweeps
onward TO tina sea,
There freedoms sacrifcal altar burned ON
Labadee;
Brave Fannln and his Spartan band nm.
daunted met their death;
Their mariyred blood erie out 10 heaven ou
freedoms every breath
And retributive Justice stalks through Mon.
tcEumas halls.
Internal fratTicidal strife which inevitably
falls
On Natures violated laws, where brothers,
blood IL slain,
Gods memorable decree Is infamy and
shamei
And thus the hanghty boastful power with
Ehibboleth Of hate,
Who seoufved us then, Is now pursued by
unrelenting Fate,
And white winged peace no more spreads
forth her pinions DER that land,
,lncs martyred patriots blood first stained |
her foul polluted hand
AusrIr, TEXAS, August ls7s.