Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-20
JOHN DUVAL'S ESCAPE.

No event in the history of our country
was attended with more thrilling Incl
dents, or more striking instances of per-
sonal heroism, than the Texan revolution
of 1886. Yet few of these have been re-
corded, or at least recorded in manner
to be much read.
Texas, while province Of Mexico,
had been mainly settled by emigrants
from the United States. Outraged by
bad government, the people rose and
proclaimed Texas free republic. Be-
tween five and six hundred volunteers,
under Col. Fannin, rallied in defense of
this proclamation.
Against this little band came the en-
tire strength of the Mexican army, in
those palmy days of Mexican glory when
Santa Anna was at the height of his
power. After number of hard fought
actions, the handful of volunteers were
hemmed in at Victoria. Their stock OF
powder and lead was exhausted, and
they were forced to surrender as prison
ers Of war.
This occurred in March, 1886. The
volunteers were taken to Mission Goliad,
on the San Antonio river, and on the
twenty-ssventh Of the month, expecting
to be released on parole, they were TAX
en- out Of the mission, and without mo-
ment's warning shot in cold blood, by
Santa Annals own order, it is said.
OF the four hundred and eighty or
ninety young men who filed out Of the
mission gates on that fatal morning,
John Duval, then but youth in wears.
was one OF the few who, almost by mir
acle, escaped.
"Early Sunday morning." says Duval,
''four or five Mexican officers came into
the Mission yard where we were confined
and babe us get ready to march to Co
PIANO, saying that we were to be liberated
on parole and sent home.
"We were formed in three divisions,
and marched out separately. The divis.
ion into which I was drafted consisted
of about $50 men. We believed what
had been told us, and had not the slight.
est suspicion of danger.
GAS we filed out of the gates and pas1
the houses, noticed number of Mexi
can girls standing in groups of four o.
five and looking at us in a plying way
We had often danced with them at thu
tandangos, and as we marched past, W.
nodded to them and called them by name
From two or three I heard the low
words Po6recitos!" Poor fellows)
"Adios, pobrecito" Goodbye, poor fel
low.
''But we were all in pretty good spirits
and had not thought Of the doom await
ing us. When we had marched abou
half mile malt was ordered, and til,
column Of Mexican infantry that wa
guarding us on our right, countermarch
ed and formed in line behind the column
on our left.
Given then l thought this movemen
was merely for some change in the orde
of march; but moment after some on
standing near me cried out:
"Boys, they are going to shoot us!'
Eat the same instant I heard the click
ing of their musket-locks, and before W,
had time to stir we were fired upon.
'sMost Of them fell dead on the spot
The man standing in front of me wa
killed. When the ball struck him, h,
leaped convulsively backward with grea
force, knocking me to the ground.
~ lay for moment stunned. TIL.
smoke of the deadly volley drifted int
our faces, and partly hid us from thos,
who had fired.
"Before had time to scramble up, the
two lines of Mexican soldiers had rushed
over us in pursuit of those of our me1
who were unhurt and who had fled,
eve were near the upper ford of tn,
San Antonio River. The stream was OF
our right. I knew that my only safet,
lay in getting across it, but the Mexican
were between me and the river.
81 ran after them, however, unobservet
in the smoke and confusion, and had 90
within fifty or sixty yards of the banl
when one of them turned and saw me
His musket was empty, but he drew bacl
for thrust with his bayonet, when an
other man ran blindly between us and re
Ceived the thrust.
"While the Mexican was withdrawing
his bayonet. / ran on and went head
long through their now scattered line
Several of the soldiers shouted and free
at me. I heard the balls whizz by, bu
none of them touched me. Reaching tn
bank I leaped into the river, which a
that point ran deeply and very swiftly
though not more than sixty yards wide
The current set towards the opposite bank
and being good swimmer Isoon reached
it.