River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-01-17
THE CURSED RIFLE.
BY W. W. FAY.


having gained advantage over the Mexi-
cans-whose first discharge had been aim
ed too high-rushed on while our enemies
paused to reload their guns. Each one
reserved his fire for some individual, SO
that the struggle was less a battle than
succession Of daels Without bayonets,
we broke our rifles against their heads,
and, without pistol or bowie-knife in hand
trampled down the dying men, plunging
our blades into the breasts of the few who
opposed us, into the backs of those who
fled.
We were still full OF memories of the
Alamo Never COLD we forget how the
Mexicans had slaughtered every human
being within its walls, save three-a wo-
man, a child, and negro-and afterward
burned the bleeding bodies in one horri-
BILE pile.
The war-cry of our band had been:
Flight for your lives and remember the
Alamo" and the poor Mexicans, who
were. after all, but the slaves of
a blood thirsty tyrant, thought of
it also, and moaned as they fell: ME
no Alamol Me no Alamo!" hoping to
establish a claim for mercy on the plea
that they had no hand in that horrible af-
fair
In the midst of this conflict I saw my
college chum, Howard Rathbone, in in
slant peril. | rushed to his aid. Having
broken his gun over the head of one
Mexican, he found himself beset by an
other, who cried out that he would avenge
his brothers blood. AS they grappled,
the Mexican tried to use his rifle as my
chum had used his. 1t was in vain.
Howard was the stronger. In few mo-
ments he gained possession of the others
weapon, and struck him binding blow.
Then, his hands being free, he drew his
bowie knife and plunged it into the Mex
icans heart Meanwhile the savage tide
Of fighting men poured past. This was a
little conflict by itself. Hardly any one
noticed it. there were so many others.
But as he fell, the dying Mexican clutched
the cloth of the soldiers coat in the grip
of death, and dragged him down upon his
breast, where for a moment he lay as one
VINO had cast himself upon the breast of
a friend Only a moment; but ere he
had freed himself these words had been
Kissed into his ears:
y curse the gun! May it prove the
curse of your lifem
As the Texan struggled to his feet,
wrenching the dead clutch from his
jacket, he felt inclined to cast the rifle
upon the ground. At the moment it was
too necessary to him The next he was a
tiger again, beset by other tigers.
Me no Alamom moaned the bleedin
Mexican.
He struck him down.
''Mother" cried a boy, into whose
L.
For answer he drove his iron heel into
the face that was hardly moro than
child'S.
Seventeen years had passed since the
battle of San Jacinto, when | went TO the
house of former chum to see his
daughter marry. Soon came the rustic
supper the music of two fiddles, dane
ing, and plenty OF drinking-too much
by far but it is the custom of the coun-
try. At last the bridegroom's father,
standing beside the father of the bride,
glanced up at the rifle hanging over the
chimney-piece.
Some of the relics Of your fighting
times, | reckon" said he.
"Yes said Rathbone, Ives, | took
that from a Mexican rascal at San ia
ointo."
"Weu, we'll" said the other, regarding
the weapon with curiosity Sort of sin
gular looking, amt it2 l never saw a
Mexican rifle before Can't see much of
it now-its so high up"
He had been drinking a good deal and
was in high spirits The same might
have been said of the old soldier.
III have it down." said he, land let
you see it,"
He mounted on a chair and took the
weapon in his hands, the thongs by which
il was slung remaining on the nails.
Here you are, friend said he, and
now you've got in your hand rifle that
may have been the death of many q
brave fellow at the Alamo. It's seven
teen years since it was in anybody's hands
and its last shot, mayhap, was fired as a
kind of salute to my girl, your boys
bride, who came into the world on that
dav, her mother not knowing whether she
was a widow ornot Eth, mother2"
"Ah! that's day to remember" said
the wife.
.Pa has got his gun down." cried the
bride "Sam, | never saw that gun
down before"
As she spoke the other man gave the
rifle back into Rathbone's hands, and he
stood holding it.
You don't dare to shoot me-" cried
the bride 'Ah! pa, you're not as brave
as you used to be. You don't dare aim
at me-
YES, shoot us" laughed half dozen
wild Texan girls. "Shoot us-shoot us,
shoot usl"
"Then will, my pretty robins cried
the father. zone, two, three, fly away or
I irel"
He aimed the weapon that had hung
useless on the wall for seventeen years
the gun the Mexican had cursed-at his
daughter. 1t was just as safe thing to
do in ones opinion, as if it had been a
broomstick.
.'Whos afraidl" cried the girl.
Now, then; one, two, three" said the
soldier. "Bangm
AS he uttered the childish imitation of
the sound of firearms, it was drowned in
real explosion The gun went off, and
the bride dropped to the floor with a
scream. A bullet had entered her tenn
ple. She was dead when they lifted her
in their arms. 1t was plain that seven
teen wears before, the Mexican who had
owned it had not fired after reloading,
His diving words had been fulfilled
His gun mad proved curse to Its captor
But howl
/ am not willing to admit supernatural
agency. I MAINTAIN the gun exploded In
accordance with the laws of loading and
of friction. If men would only try to
trace mysterious events to their source
superstition would soon cease. For one
I believe nothing ever occurred which
Gould not ba exDlainpd That this Is not