The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-03-10
NSBURG, PA. FRIDAY, MARCH 10, 1882.

cuuCdtcu AZ Oh JOoopu SOll6Ret DAIOStOWuB
KY, and we're known to some of Fannin's
men, and hence, when the terms of capitu- |
lation were accepted they had no doubt but
that they would be carried out in good faith.
The surrender was on Sunday morning,
March 90 They were taken back to Fort
Goliad, and q system OF cruel treatment was
inaugurated that served to crush their spir-
Its and debilitate their bodies in preparation
for the bloody tragedy about to take place.
The prisoners, although guaranteed to the
contrary. were required to surrender their
side arms, and were forced at the point of
the bayonet to severe and iCcessant labor,
without anything to eat except raw beef Of
Dferior quality. Saturday they were allowed
nothing by way Of sustenance. Saturday af
ternoon . courier arrived from General San
Ia Anna, with instructions to shoot the pris-
oners at. sunrise on the following morning.
That night . council was beld by the hexi-
can officers as to whether Santa Anna meant
to include our command in bis order or not.
Upon q vote being taken . bare majority of
one was in favor of awaiting further orders.
We told some of Pannin's men what we had
heard, but they did not believe us, and felt
secure In the promise that they were to be
exchanged. Sunday morning the sun arose
in . splendor of glory and looked smilingly
down upon the doomed victims of Mexican
treachery and gave no token OF the terrible
bour we were removed from our quarters
and placed In peach orchard just outside
the fort, which overlooked the surrounding
country. White handkerchiefs were tied
around our arms to distinguish US from Fan
Minis men. we were told. At O'Clock Fan
nin's men were ordered to fall into line, and
we're drawn up in double files, extending
across the yard of the fort from the cannon
at the gate to the opposite wall. They were
then divided into three divisions, and being
told that they were required TO drive a large
herd of cattle into town, the cowardy Mex
leads fearing them even in their weakness
and without arms, were ordered to march.
The First division, as It filed out OF the gate
OF the fort was marched straight forward,
aud the Second division was made to wheel
TO the right, and the Third division to the
left on lines at right angles with the line OF
the First division. The Mexican infantry
with loaded mnskets, as each division came
out, fell in on different sides of il in single
file, and at the same time mounted cavalry
men, with drawn swords, fell parallel with
each line Of infantry. The prisoners by this
time began to feel greatly alarmed. The
Mexicans suddenly halted and began fixing
bayonets, and just as some one shouted,
Boys. we are about 10 be shot - a peal Of
firearms, followed by dismayed and terrific
shrieks from the prisoners in the middle di-
vision, announced that the bloody butchery
had begun, and the most perfdious act in
the annals of warfare was about to be con-
sumuated. This opening fire was precon-
certed signal of the cowardly executioners,
who, advancing within few feeto the pris-
oners, fired directly into their faces. To
describe the terrible scene wonld be impos-
sible. The agoniZng shreks of the wound
ed as the bloody bayonet met them at every
turn, the dead and the dying, and the demo-
MAC yells of the inhuman butchers, are be-
yOnd the power of mortal tongue to depict
With that hope born of desperation and
agonizing fear, about fifty meH made break
and rushed instinctively toward the bank of
the San Antonio river, pursued by the infu-
rated soldiery, by whom many were over
taken and killed. About twenty FIVE, who
had divested themselves of their knapsacks
and such articles of clothing as they could as
they ran, succeeded in reaching the river
and plunged in. But few lived to reach the
opposite shore, most of them being picked of
in the water by musket shots. Some Of
:hem gained the opposite bank and conceal
ed themselves in the bushes ana timber
skirting the river bank, only to be hunted
down and murdered by a company OF Mexl-
can cavalry, which had been posted across the
river to intercept any one who might escape
the slaughter at the fort. A few succeeded
in coHcealing themselves In such a manner
as to evade detection by crawling into the
high grass on the prairie away from the river.
The Mexicans, thinking they had extermina-
ted the entire band, passed on, and the sur
vivors, without hats, ehoes, and no clothing
except pants AMI shirts, ran for miles into
the prairie until they sank from utter ex-
haustiun. They remained in this position
the entire day, not daring to move or speak,
aud at night started on their uncertain Jour
Bey, bewildered, half starved and nearly
famished. The hardships of these men, and
their many hairbreadth escapes, as was told
me afterward by one of the few that ever
reached home aud friends, would fill book.
After the massacre We were taken back to
our quarters, and in going to the fort saw
! Col. Fsnnin bound to q chair, where he was
/ blindfolded aud shot. The bodies OF the
| murdered soldiers were stripped naked aud
J piled up In = large heap and burned by the
/ inhunan monsters. Col. Fannin's body
was also stripped and burned upon the same
| pile.
We were In constant dread of our own ex-
ecution, and momentarily looked for an ex-
press from Santa Anna ordering us to be
shot. Our Captain assured US that we would
be spared, but it was impossible to allay our
fear after what we had witnessed, and a
| portion of US determined among ourselves to
! endeavor TO escape that night. We were be-
! trayed by some one, because our Captain
| came to us aud said he had heard that IN at
tempt would be made by some of US to es
cape, and advised us not to attempt it, as 1t
would become impossible for US to get away
alive. as the fort. besides being strongly
/ guarded, was surrounded by the Mexican
army. He called upon all those who would
remain to take one step forward, and those
who were determined to go to remain in
! their places. We held short cons ultation
and decided that it would be best for us to
steo forward, but at the same time not to
abandon the idea OF escape. b, this means
we hoped to throw the Captain and Mexica n
! officers of their guard. When the order
was given, all stepped forward but one ma D,
named John 81. Lynn, very brave but
stubborn soldier. He was Immediately ar