The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-07-23
JOHN DUVAL'S ESCAPE.

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 a manner
to be much read. IT, a.. 90. ~
Texas, while a province Of Mexico,
had been mainly settled by emigrants
from the Omitted States. Outraged by
bad government, the people rose and
proclaimed Texas a free republic. Be-
tween five and six hundred volunteers,
under Col. Fannin, rallied in defense of
this proclamation. .>.. u....,.. ..i 49,
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. .: 49,. 5.y-..
This occurred in March, 1886. The
volunteers were taken to Mission Goliad,
on the San Antonio river, and on the
twenty-seventh of the month, expecting
to be released on parole, they We're 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 years,
was one of the few who, almost BY mir
acle, escaped. 81: IL
early Sunday morning. says Duval,
flour 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.
1--WE were formed in three divisions,
and marched out separately. The divis-
ion into which was drafted consisted
Of about $50 men. We believed what
had been told US, and had not the slight
est suspicion Of danger.
LAS we filed out Of the gates and past
the houses, noticed a number Of Mexi-
can girls standing in groups Of four or
five and looking at US in a plying way.
We had often danced with them at the
Jandangos, and as we marched past, we
nodded to them and called them by name
From two or three I heard the low
words Po6recstos!!" (Poor fellows)
''Adios, po6recito" 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 about
half mile a malt was ordered, and the
column Of Mexican infantry that was
guarding us on our right, countermarch
ed and formed in line behind the column
on our left.
Even then I thought this movement
was merely for some change in the orde1
of march; but moment after some one
standing near me cried out:
boys, they are going to shoot us!'
AT the same instant 1 heard the click
ing of their musket-locks, and before We
had time to stir we were fired upon.
Most Of them fell dead on the spot
The man standing in front of me was
killed. When the ball struck him, he
leaped convulsively backward with great
force, knocking ME to the ground.
II lay for moment stunned. The
smoke of the deadly volley drifted into
our faces, and partly hid us from those
who had fired. ...t
''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 fed.
ave were near the upper ford of thu
san Antonio River. The stream was OF
outright. l knew that my only safet,
lay in getting across it, but the Mexican
were between me and the river.
Il ran after them, however, unobserveG
IN the smoke and confusion, and had go
within fifty or sixty yards of the bank
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. .4
awhile the Mexican was withdrawing
his bayonet. I ran on and went head
long through their now scattered line
Several Of the soldiers shouted and free
at me. l heard the balls whizz by, bu
none OF them touched me. Reaching tn
bank leaped into the river, which a
that point ran deerly and very swiftly
though not more than sixty yards wide
Hhe current set towards the opposite bank
oAA vOA0S9 SOOu o"1luucI SOOu reached
it, -... "
LAS swan, could hear the Mexican
loading their muskets on the bank be
hind nae, shouting and ramming dow
their bullets. The bank for which wa
swimming I found was eight or ten fec
high, and nearly perpendicular, and whe
I reached it could not touch bottor
with nay feet. ....~.'
The current swept me along down tn
bank, exposing me to the aim of the sol
diers who were on the opposite shor,
The murderous wretches began to fire a
me, and NO doubt enjoyed the sport. Th
balls struck all about ME, pit, pat, in til
water, as foated and swan along tn
high bank for hundred yards or NOR,
and it is wonder I was not killed q
wounded.
"At length I came to grapevin
which hung trailing in the water from
tree that leaned over the bank. This
caught, and drawing myself up, began t
climb it. L had nearly reached the to
CT the bank when soldier who had fol
lowed down on the opposite side fired HI
escopeta "a kind of muskeD at me, an
ont tho xy;na az hort civ ,rohoo 900, -,