Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-14
A TEXAS VETERAN.
Preparing to Meet His Old Comrades at
Temple on the 2ltt.


Temple on the 21st.
TExAEKArA, TEX, April G, lass.
Te the Z iitor of the Gazette.
Among the conspicuous persons who
will visit Temple, Tex, on the occasion
OF the reunion Of the Texas veterans on
the 21st inst, no one has more romantic
record than Colonel Samuel ". McKneely
of this city, who is the vice-president OF
the Texas Veteran Association. His ad-
ventures while assisting the Lone Star
state to achieve its independence would
make long and very Interesting story,
but he is modest and quiet, and very sell
dom speaks Of the stirring incidents Of
his youth. When 8 mere boy he left his
home In Louisiana to cast his fortunes
with the Texas patriots, and after parti-
cipating in many skirmisheS was captured
by detachment Of Ufea's Mexican
Cavalry somewhere in the vicinity OF
where Brownsville 10 now. This was in
the yezr 1888, and the sufferings OF the
heroic band Of captiTes (COlonels Brown,
Grant, Frank johnson and others being Of
the number) are masters Of history. The
death Of young McKIeely WAS determined
on soon after his capture, on account OF his
persistent ipsolelce to the Mexican
officers, but hi5 execution was deferred
until after the arrival of the forces at
Mat6mores. The prisoners, bsrefooted
and almost naked, suffered untold mise
| ries, both on the route and IN prison.
They were taken out to be shot, but the
native priests used their influence TO have
the punishment committed, and young
McKueely found deliyerer in the person
of q bright-eyed sonora, who sent food
and clothing to him, and finally assisted
him to escape. While confined in the
prison at Matamorss, the prisoners were
marched out frequently TO perform some
kind of labor. On these occasions, Nc
Kneely being tall, gawkynboy, Was al
ways accosted as Ell grsllo! ell grsllo!
(the crane, the crane The Colonel still
maintains his slim dimensions and any
one to see him now would not fail to ap-
preciate the point CT the witticism.
Through the intervention Of the Mexican
lady above alluded to, and out
side friends, McKneely in COM
pany with Col. R. R. Brown
made his escape by crawling out OF prison
between the very legs of the sentinels
and scaled the tWelve.feet wslIs. Their
escape was discovered Immediately and
the alarm given. The refugees were safe
ly hidden away by an lrishman named
Douglass, who lived in the suburbs Of
the city (Matamoras> and his wife big
Msry). A colored woman cooked them
quantity OF provisions to take on their
proposed journey home. McKneely be-
ing unable to swim WAS frequently car
ried over the streams by Colonel Brown
and sitter incredible hsrdsbips they ar
rived at Columbi, then the capital of the
state, where they were received by their
friends SO if they had just arose from the
dead. Colonel McKneely remained in
Texas until its independence was SC
knsWledged, when he returned to his
fatker's plantation in Louisiana. He has
Cor many years been successful planter
near this place. He owns 6 splendid
plantation on Rad river and residence
here and mas ample means to crafty his
ambition in attending all the re- unions OF
the Texas veterans. He and his young
and accomplished wife are now preparing
to attend the reunion at Temple and take
in the Interstate drill st Austin.