The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-09-13
GEN. FREmoNT's LENIeNcY
The Pioneers Clemency to a Condemne
Mexican Prisoner of War.

The Pioneers Ciemency to a Condemned
Mexican Prisoner of War.
just before the capture of San Luis
Obispo the men under Fremont had
been subjected to great exposure and to
privation and hardships of all kinds. and
their hatred of the MeXicans had reached
its height. In fact, it was pretty clearly
understood that if any of the enemy was
unfortunate enough to fall into their
hands they would spend but little time
or sentiment in disposing Of him.
On Dec. 10, two days after the taking
of the town, the picl5ets captured Don
Jose de Jesu Pico, who was called Totci
He was tried by court martial on the
charge of breaking his parole was found
guilty and was sentenced 10 be shot.
The fact that Pico was aleadcr rendered
him still more an object of hatred and
distrust, and on every side were heard
mHrmurs of approval when twas decid.
ed that he should pay The penalty oe his
treachery with his life.
The execution was ordered for hall
past 10 o'clock in the morning, and at II
o'clock the whole battalion was ordered
to parade on the plaza, where the eyecu.
ton was to take place. The prisoner
was confined in a room in the Mission
Fremont, with two or three ct his of
ficers, was present, awaiting the coming
of the prisoners family to take their last
farewell of the beloved husband anC
father The prisoner, with bowed head
was seated ON one side, and opposite
stood Fremont with folded arms and
face unmoved from its usual stern de
meanor.
The officers in grim silence were
grouped about when the wife. with her
eight or nine young children entered
dressed in the deepest nauraing The
wife was beautiful woman OF stately
bearing. and the children of delicate an6
refined appearance. No word was ut
tered TO break the silence, which hat
| grown oppressive. Then the children
fell upon their knees, and with fearful
eyes and outstretched hands mutely
begged for the life so dear to them.
Among the officers present was thai
stern soldier, Capt Richard Owens. who
had never feared "a living foe. but whose
eyes We're then dimmed with tears al
the pathetic sight before him. Sudden
! ly, for he could no longer control him
/ self, he uttered the one word, Colonel"
! Fremont's face relaxed it's determined
expression, and he exclaimed, Yes
Dick, l know we had rather meetu thou.
sand Of them in the field tomorrow thar
take this one life" Turning to the pris
oner he said, "You are, pardonedi you
are free"
The prisoner fell upon his knees at
Fremonts feet and pressed the helm OF
his cloak TO his lips, exclaimmg brokenlS
in Spanishi My life was forfeit Yor
have given it back, and henceforth il
shall be devoted to You" Instantly
Pico ordered that his horse bee saddled
and from that day ON there was no NOR,
devoted follower Of Fremont through
danger of every kind than the maI
whose life he had given back to him.
San Francisco Examiner,
What Is the apparent size of the disk
of the sun or moon seen with the naked
eye? Most people estimate il at from
about three inches i'm diameter 30 the
size Of a soup plate. An investigation
3 says that at a distance Of ten feet a sill
yer quarter dollar would conceal the
disk of the sm or moon, as would a
buckshot about quarter of an inch iu
diameter az arms length Exchange