The National tribune., 1890-08-28
FIGHTING THEM OVER
What Our Veterans Have 10 Say About
Their Old Campaigns
A DEATH LOTTERY.

The following thrilling account Of the terri
bic suffering and the death lottery" whicl
the Texan Rangers underwent when the Lon,
Star State was struggling for freedom, was reaC
before the Society of Mexican War Veterans il
San Francisco CAL, by Col. J. w. Mckenzie a
their last meeting:
It was on Christmas day, 1912, that battal
ion OF Rangers, numbering BPS, commanded 10y
Col. W. ). Fisher, of the Army of Texas
crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico and halted
within range Of the city Of Mier with the in.
tention Of capturing that stronghold and
making IL base Of future operations Fisher
learned that Gen. Ampudia had reached there
the day previous with force of ], 200 LanCers
Then the Texans determined 10 attack them
81 midnight. and did SO, and in the savage fight
that ensued in the darkness the Rangers, with
rifle, pistol and bowie knife killed over 400 of
Ampudias command, while that of the Ran
gers, both killed and wounded, did not exceed
so. They fought on during the day, but un-
fortunately the subsistence and ammunition OF
the Texans became expended, aud, their retreat
having been cut OF, they were compelled TO
surrender as prisoners of war.
But rs soon as the MeNicans had the Texans
arms in their possession they broke faith with
them, and in a short time they had them
mauacled and tied together aud moving of
toward Monterey, marching 10 the music Of
A-ttEaAE 1NtAo anu ALN .jNGAs aAA GllSNS Va hiI
people Of Mier.
This was a sad march for them, for they well
knew that the wives and little ones they had
left with sad embrace and heavy hearts but a
few days ago, with a promise Of a speedy re-
turn, would see them no more forever. Upon
arriving II Monterey, they were imprisoned in
the Black Fort, aud for about three months
they were compelled to labor on the highway,
paired Of and chained TO Mexican couyiCts.
Early in February, 1913, the Rangers were
again manaeled together half starved and
barefoot, and placed en- route 10 the City Of
Mexico by the way Of Saltili0 and san Luis
F0t0si Driven like cattle, with bleeding feet
and half famished, they arrived at the cele-
brated hating place, the Robbers Redezyous,"
the Hacienda Salado.
After a short rest Of three DAYS at this place,
the Rangers formed a plan to gain their lib
eTty, FOR cruel treatment had driven them 10
desperation. The plan was completed, aud at
daylight next morning, at the time agreed upon,
the signal was given and the Rangers with
one accord rang out their battle cry, Remem-
Der the AlamO!' and rushed upon the half
sleeping scntineis. Cameron struck one down
with a stone, whilst Sam Walker dashed the
brains out Of another with an iron bar he had
Wrenched out Of grated window, and the re-
manning senunels vanished.
The Texans now rushed 10 the outer court
yard where the Mexican infantry lay sleeping
with their arms stacked, and seized upon them.
snort conflict took place in which II Mexi-
cans and three Texans were killed. The sur
prise was complete, and the Texans were
masters Of the situation.
The Hotel Salado had changed hands and
the AeElcaus were now on their Bonded knees
with upllfted hands begging for mercy. The
MeElcaus were DOW compelled TO yield up their
money and clothing, then driven into the
corral where tie Texans had been, simply re-
YcEsIng positions, nothing more. The small
body % cavalry who had acted as escort who
were cncamped outside, saved themselves by
pTecIPitate hlEht. mol having time 10 saddle.
they fed bareback.
The Rangers now had grand feast from the
MeXlcaHs' stores. a feast such as they had not
tasted for many a long mouth before and
The Old hacienda rang again aud again with
cheers o. JOY Alter destroying cvcTyiug they
could lot carry away, they started Tor home
b. short cut, as they thought. across the Sierra
MadTe Mountains; but. alas, they had taken !
tie wrong direction, and on The second day
out they lost their way entirely. They were
now IN & section q country where the cactus
only grOws-a plain Of desOiati0u destitute Of
wood and water For five DAYS these poor fcl-
lows wandered around iu TINS desolatc region.
su5slsilug upon what few animals they had
captured al saiad0. Some Of the men became
deTanged from long suffering and thirst, and.
wandering Of Iu the u GIT and falling ia deep
TGviues were never seen again.
On the seventh day they came 10 an opon
plain, and sam Walker discovered smoke arts
ing some distance away, and thinking il might
b. friends camping there, they FASTENED az fast
g. tEelT failing strength would permit. hut
alas 70 their great establishment and chagriu
tiey found tie hated enemy. il was the cafnn
q q fe2 f1eui o! Mexican cavalry, and amongst
iheU were tlc principal portion Of tb, guard
whom they had surprised and capturel M
H4la-3. Inc Hangers lad struggled IN squads.
aIa being too weak 10 fight OF retreat were
Soon captured, uLcOndItIJnallv There was
nov only l-J lett out Of tLc original number Of
80 t4e rest having either escaped, were killed.
q persisted on Tie cactus plains. Again were
tlcoe poor fellows IN tie hands Of their heart
les eaf,gTs #a0 exhibited their Joy in every
species 81 ceTIltry they could think Of.
Aga-D were they tied together and driven
back 10 tic devils den, that old Hacienda
haiado, ana placed ia the corral, the gates
closed On them. and more closely guarded fhsu
ever -Four days aiucrwagd Mai Mezia. the
A-Zicau commander, with great glee Informed
them q their terrible fate. The order Of Gen
Santa ANA was promulgated as follows:
IRE laalgeEsWeIc ~ be cccimatcd forthwith
ana every ientA man, Jy lot. was - be shot. and
TIE remainder 10 be- taken L. the Cagfie ~
ferOte, and there BE- Imprisoned Tor the terri,
q theIF natural life Tic Eaugers were now
placed lu line and marched up 10 an officer WHO
he'd black Dag, lH which there were lG2 white
beans aud u black ones. They who drew tn.
white were - be- imprisoned Tor life but those
who lic" TIC black were doomed 10 die Ia
L3s dreadful game u lie and death Cameron
walker and Baker were the first 10 draw
IHey Grew white. This fact 50 enraged the
Mexican commander, and because they were
the iHstiFatoIs Of tie bloody revolt az ealado
be compelled them % diaw second time
Eud - singular good luck they each again drew
White walker quiet y TcmaIElug that he never
cgul4 Ora" prize IH lottery.
h-eu TIE drawing was finished the uufgrtu-
nate fellows VINO drew black beans were in
EiauLsy D.llalOsded, led Out Oh the plains and
seated with THOR backs toward their eyecu.
tolcrs, aud there and iAca they were shot n
dealAi whist their c0mTlle- inside could hear
l-s4f IilllaI meanings auu cries for helm where
10 Atlp could come. u Was more than 20
mlh4tea DslD!e The LriHP ceased, iu consequence
81 gaQ workmanship b. the haiCdruukeu guard
WHO performed the brutal deed, aud some tVcre
Ehgi seven ~ cIght times before life was ey
tlLct They were lcft lying whore they feI -
4 least l9r iic WolFes aud bgzzagds Tins was
3 hcaTtess DaTDaIgUs deed u butcbcrV tbat
sent thrill ~ horror throughout the land.
IND Gays aitgTWaTd Capt. Cameron was taken
oul au4 also shot, On pTeteusG ol his being about
T. raise another revolt, and this gallant man
Wa also lett yang where he fell These and
Oihei kindred Cuirages upon the Texan prison
Cfs Dy the Mexican authorize KiudIed a d,gft,
Tor revenge, and wac the cause u many a fear
iul act u retriDullOH by the Texan Ranger
thereafter acts 50 terrible ia their nature
which d were y relate here, would not be
cred ted.