San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-10-11
Written Tor the Fasx PnEss.
"Reminiscences of a Texas Veteran...The
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
BY O. ERHARp.
, tCopyrighted.l
XII.
xrSpALL's NARRATIVE CONTINUED.

Having distributed all our weapons among
his principal men, Salezar next drew his of-
ficers into the little house in front OF which
the scene had taken place. In the mean
time we were left outside, under no appar-
ent restraint led my horse, the faithful
old "Jim the Butcher" as he was called, to
an irrigating canal close by, and after allow
ing him to drink his fill of the cool and ex-
cellent water, walked back with him to my
pack mule, opened one of the leather pam
riers, and commenced feeding him on bread
which l had purchased that morning. A
crowd of men and half-naked women and
girls pressed around me, apparently aston
ished that I should give my horse What was
really one of their greatest luxuries, and It
was while was thus engaged that Salezar
and his officers stepped from the house ana
second time approached us.
His first request was that we should form
in line. He then said he was Obliged to
take from us any papers or articles we might
have about our persons such were his or
ders from the Governor. There was even
AN approach of delicacy in this command
for the scoundrel had not as yet shown his
real colors; and as we were weaponless, and
completely in his power, we submitted to
the degrading operation of having our pock-
ets turned inside out and our persons search
ed by committee of his officers. During
this process very fortunately for me, neither
my gold pieces nor my other valuables were
discovered; but all my papers, note book
and penknife were taken away from me.
Up to this time the conduct of Salezar,
with the arguments he used to sustain him
in arresting us and taking our papers and
other articles, was to certain degree honor
able and it was impossible to suspect the
deep treachery and atrocious designs lying
under an exterior so apparently fair; we
were now to read new chapter in his char
acter, which with all that suddenness anc
startling effect which iction-writers strive tt
: attain in their scenes of the most thrilling
blood-freezing horror
Salezar suddenly ordered twelve OF hi
men, all armed, to march up in front of us
The movement appeared strange, more par
ticularly when we noticed that the men, nov
paraded directly in front of us, and withil
three yards, were pale and fairly trembling
= with fright; but still we could not suspec
, the horrible design of their leader. Ou
, suspense was of short duration however
for no sooner had he arranged the twelV
men in front of us than it became but to
evident his intentions were to shoot US o.
the spot Fitzgerald was tho first to SPEAK
The brave but eccentric Irishman had see
much service in Spain, understood not onl
the language, but the treacherous and SUI
4 picious character of the Mexicans, and nov
fathomed the intentions of Salezar. Pre-
facing his short speech with strong oath
the excited man, with fists clenched, and
rich brogue, exclaimed: They're going I
shoot us, boys; let's pitch into 'em and di
in hot blood, it's much easier!" At th
same moment cast my eyes around an
noticed that the crowd in the rear were fal
ing back in two straight lines, as if 70 e
'' cape the balls in their passage, while Il
. women and girls were wringing their hanC
5. and flying from pointto point, apparently
1. deep dispair.
That we we're 10 be Immediately shot vi
now terribly manifest. We exchange
gl.nces with each other, and those glanc'
plainly told that each of my companion
+ in obedience to Fitzgeraid's emphatic cal
was prepared 20 rush upon the cowardly an
faithless rliscreanls the moment they ve'
in :he az y !eveIing Their guns, . w
'th-ir veaPons from them Ana h-en 70 81