San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-02-21
"reminiscences OF Texas veteran..-The
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
LvII.
py o. HRHAnI


The day following that on which
Colonel Cooke and his comrades were
marched through San Miguel, we
petitioned the old alcalde for a change
of quarters, the room we were then
occupying, although comfortable in
every other respect, being so com
pletely overrun with chinches and
other vermin, that it was impossible
to sleep at night. After we had wait
ed with great impatience for two
days and passed two more sleepless
nights, the old fellow finally procur-
ed for us clean and comfortable
room, directly ON the plaza. A hint
from Van Ness to the effect that Armijo
should be made acquainted with the
kind of room the old alcalde had fur
nished us, probably induced that
functionary to hasten our removal.
When established in our new quar-
ters, our time passed more agreeably.
Oar only occupations were eating,
drinking, sleeping, chatting with the
girls, who made us daily visits, and
speculation on our past reverses,
our present position, and future pros
poets. At dark we would build q
fire, for the evenings were now cool
among the mountains, and then prob
ably spend half the nightin song and
story. Each one of our little party
had a checkcred experience to relate,
and the recital of some ludicrous ad-
venture would bring forth peal of
uproarious laughter, much to the as
tonishment of the little knot of Mexi
cans congregated among us, who
could not conceive how prisoners, in
the power of such a man rs Amigo
could indulge in such boisterous mirth.
For myself, I must say that I never
laughed more heartily than while
confined in that little prison-house,
and could our anxious friends have
been spirited to that wild and roman
tic land, and permitted to eavesdrop
under the walls of our carcel (prison),
on some of these evenings, they could
hardly have deemed us other than
party of merry fellows holding jolly
carousal.
But through all this hilarity,
thoughts Of escape frequently enter
ed our minds. Those of our guard
who manifested the greatest astonish-
ment at our Indifference to our i'm
prisonment, we could have captured
and tied with their bows and arrows,
and a German double barrel in their
possession, we could next have taken
the town of San Miguel with the
the greatest ease. On several occa-
sions SO careless was the guard, that
they allowed us to make trials of skill
with them with bow and arrow, Maj.
Howard beating the best of them at
game which may be considered
their own; but, even with their arms
in our possession, where we're we to
90 tot Had we known this, what
we afterwards ascertained, that so
many dreary months of toll and cap
tivity were in store for us; bad we
been aware that by forced marches
we couldha reached Bent's Fort in
three or four days, we might have
made the attempt There was no
one, however, to give US advice, DO
friend without to aid us in an under
taking OF the kind, we knew nothing
Of the country, and thus we were
compelled to give up all thoughts Of
an escape at a time when the chances
OF its beng successful were altOgeth-
ier in our favor. With the knoWledge
We have since gained, ] doubt II the
sane party coaid be safely kept AZ
other month IN San uigusl, at lesst
will - weak q gard and unier Ike
Circumstances
We lad ben BIT . vel u or