Sharp County record., 1888-10-25
PRINCE OF THE SADDLE.
A Wild Ride from Matamoras to
the City of Mexico.

lllO SlIJ VI nhOAAOS'
It was accident rather than design
that took me to New Orleans during
one of the recent carnivals OF King
Momus and the Mardi Gras. | had
Just witnessed the brilliant and be-
wildering procession from the balcony
of my hotel, with a seductive "Henry
Clay" between my lips, had strolled
into the streets ready for any thing
that might turn up. A stranger in the
city, l was not likely to find any
familiar faces in the carnival crowds;
but accident brought me in contact
with a gentleman whom | remembered
to have seen in the corridors that day,
mingling Spanish with his English in a
group Of friends.
His name was already somewhat
familiar, and when he was first pointed
out to me, | was told that he was the
hero of one of the most famous rides
in the annals of the saddle. He was
now alone for the nonce, and this op-
portunity, coupled with his fame, en-
boldened me to introduce myself.
1t was not long before | discovered
that l had encountered polished gen
tleman and a thorough American, de-
spite the fact that at that time he held
Colonel's commission in the Mexican
army.
1t goes without saying that men will
ride long and hard for life with an
enemy at their heels; but one seldom
hears of any person foolhardy enough
to gallop a thousand miles and more
toward the spot whore he is likely to
be executed with promptness on his ar
rival Such was the feat of my carni-
val acquaintance, and now let me,
without further ado, tell the story as
he related it to me, amid the festival
lights of the Crescent City.
Colonel De Witt Foster began active
life as a pony express rider on the
overland route before the day of Pacific
railroads, and, later on, after having
drifted nearly all over the country in
search of adventure, he entered the
Mexican army, and, in course of time,
reached the position of chief Of staff
TO the intrepid Canales.
When the Diaz revolution of 1870
broke out Colonel Foster was intrusted
with the delivery of dispatches be-
tween the City of Mexico and the i'm
portant outposts, and, one day, whilst
serving in this capacity, he was order
ed north with sealed messages for Col
onel Palacios, at Matamoras.
A part of these orders were intend
ed to compel General Cortina, a some
what head-strOng officer, to join Gen
eral Rocha at San Luis Potosi. Once
before this same command had been
sent to Cortina, but he had given it no
attention, and, as his loyalty was sus-
pected by this act Colonel Foster re-
ceived verbal orders to "enter his camp
and see what was up"
1t happened that the fiery Cortina
was at Matamoras when Foster reach
ed the city, and when Palacios read his
dispatches, he sent their bearer back
to San Luis Potosi with Others
1t was pleasant evening, and, as
there was no particular haste, the
courier strolled off in search OF infor-
nation about Cortina and his designs.
He left orders for his servant to have
every thing in readiness for start
before day-break from certain meson
in the suburbs of the city, and, con-
fident that he would be obeyed, he be-
gan to play spy among the soldiers.
At this he was successful beyond his
most sanguine expectations, and ere
long he found himself in possession OF
the very information wanted at the
capital.
When he went back to the mesOn,
ready and eager for the long gallop,
he made the startling discovery that
his dispatches had been stolen! The
servant simply said that they had been
taken while he was feeding the horses,
and his account had to be accepted in
lieu of any other
Colonel Foster was now in dilemma,
but he met the misfortune like brave
man. Assisted by the terrified servant,
he began a search for the lost dis
patches, but, not finding them, he was
compelled to report his loss at Palacios'
headquarters. He got no sympathy