Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-14
MAZEPPA IN REAL LIFE.
AWFUL FATE PREPARED FOR DR.
GRANT BY MEXiCANS.
Ar Inhuman Incident of the Early strug-
gas Between Eexlco and Texas--Grant's
Life in Mexico and Texas.

Texas early struggle for liberty, make IL
one of the most glorious in the annals OF
the world there is none more thrilling or
terrible than the fate of DR.. James Grant
In the person of this unfortunate settler
was repeated the famous story of the ride
of the Pole, Mazeppa; but for Grant there
was no rescue, and he was torn to pieces
after mile or two by the raging, mad
dened animal to which he was bound.
Grant was a Scotchmap by birth, and
had been educated for physician, but
owing TO i'll health was obliged to leave
Scotland for milder climate, and finally
settled in Mexico, of which country he be-
came for the sake OF expediency, natu-
rallied citizen, and in 1875 bought large
tract of land in the neighborhood of Par
res.
In the management of this property he
gave great oi1ense to the better class OF the
NeXicans by his advanced notions and
efforts to reform the condition of the poor
laborers of tire vicinity, and it is believed
that the cruelty practiced toward Grant is
to be attributed to the dislike he aroused.
But it is probable that while this in
creased the feeling against him, his en-
deavors to introduce American colonists
into Texas was the real secret of this en-
nifty.
WHY he BECAME OBNOXIOUS.
! In company with DR.. J. c. Beales he, in
1858, obtained an impressario contract for
settling 500 families between the Nueces
and Rio Grande rivers Fifty-nine OF these
colonists sailed from New York in the
schooner Amos Wright on Nov. II, 1888,
and on Dec the schooner entered Aran-
sas pass. Cumbered with children and
women unused 10 the priyations and eX-
ertiUns of a pioneers lie, the party pro-
ceeied with the grcltest difficulty toward
the territory where their proposed settle
ment was TO be. Their way led via Goliad
and San Antonio, and from the petty an
noyances TO which they were subjected At
the hands of the MeXicans it was evident
that the immigration WAS bitterly resented,
and an object of suspicion.
The party arrived at little stream
called the Las Mcras on March Ii, 1884,
where a village was duly laid Of into
streets, and with renewed hopes the colo
nists began the work of bresking the land
into little farms, But the name of the
village, which was Dolores, seemed pro
phetic The place was never built up, and
the settlement WAS soon abandoned.
Grant then began 10 occupy himself with
politics, and was secretary OF the executive
council of Coahuila, and in 1885 g member
OF the legislature dispersed by General Cos.
After this arbitrary measure he made his
way with few companions to San An
tonic, and in the command OF a company
of forty men assisted Milan in the capt
ure of the city, but he was opposed to the
declaration of Texas independence, believ-
ing the measure imprudent and precipitate,
and advised patience until REINFORCED by
other settlers
WHEN GRANT WAS CAPTURED.
Early in 1896 he projected an expedition
10 the Rio Grande for the purpose OF re-
establishing at least temporarily, the con-
sUitution of 1924. In this he associated with
himself Colonel P.W. johnson, the pioneer
hero and patriot, whom lie sent by the way
of San Felipe, where he was successful in
obtaining the authority of the executive
council for their scheme, while Grant went
directly to Refugio They arrived early in
February, with about seventy men, in San
Patricio, where johnson established his
headquarters, while Grant, with Major
Morris ard about forty men. went farther
west TO collect supply OF horses.
On Feb. 2S San Patricio was surprised
and captured by General Urea, who pro-
ceeGed with such caution that the Texans
were kept in profound ignorance of the
movement.
In the meantime Colonel Grant with his
company was encamped on the Aqua Dulce
creek, twenty-six miles to the southwest,
on their way back TO San Patricio with the
horses they had secured. Urea learned of
their whereabouts, and sent out large
body of Mexican dragons for their capt
ure 4 short but decisive fight ensued,
when most of the Americans were killed
without quarter, Major Morris killed,
Grant slightly wounded and Brown taken
prisoner by means OF lasso.
Grant, known to be a surgeon. was prom
ised a passport to leave the country if he
would attend to the wounded Mexicans.
This he did with such fidelity that all,
without exception, recovered; but in the
meantime the captain left in command of
the town after the departure of Urea
secretly dispatched eight men in search of
q wild horse, which they succeeded in capt
uring after about three weeks.
HORRIBLE TREATMENT.
The unfortunate settler was then brought
forth, and by the order of the brutal cap
tain his feet were bound to those of the
horse and his hands to the tail. He strug-
gled frantically, and after reminding the
officer OF his solemn promise, 10 which no
attention was paid, he appealed to the
men, recalling TO them his ministrations
and devotion, but the only reply was in
sultiug imprecations and shouts of hideous
merriment As the men stood ready TO
sever the cords that held the mustang the
captain brought a lash down upon the ami
mails TANKS, exclaiming, This is your
passport-now 60"
The fiery, untamed horse sprang away
with great violence, and was soon lost TO
sight. The next day the mangled remains
of poor Grant were discovered some dis
tance from the town, but were left IN
buried.
General Urea, in his account Of the
capture of San Patricia, declares that
Grant was killed in the action of March 2,
and the statement was confirmed by Colo
mel Reuben Brown, who saw him fall,
| wounded, on that occasion, and believed
| him dead, but the story of his fearful ride
TO death was told by his Mexican servant,
who had been left in San Patricia, who
| was Of course perfectly familiar with his
person.
This servant, boy of about eighteen
years old, afterwar,l made mis- way to Cen
| eral Houston, and, with every evidence of
| real grief related the barbarous fate Of his
master He declared that he made several
| attempts TO secure the remains and bury
| Them but was warned by the Mexiesns
q l..