Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-07-10
MAZEPPA IN REAL LIFE
THE AWFUL FATE PREPARED FOR
DR.. GRANT By MExiCANS.

DR.. GRANT By MExiCANS.
A Tragic Story of al Inhuman Incident
Of the Early Struggles Between Mexico
and ~Texas-Brief History Of Grants
Life In Mexico and Texas.
Among the tragical events that, written
in blood upon the page of the history of
Texas early struggle for liberty, make it
d 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
vas no rescue, and he was torn to pieces
after a mile or two by the raging, mad
dened animal to which he was bound.
Grant was a Scotchman by birth, and
had been educated for a physician, but
owing to i'll health was obliged to leave
Scotland for n milder climate, and finally
settled in Mexico, Of which country be be-
came, for tho sake Of expediency, a natu-
rallied citizen, and in 1926 bought a large
tract of lane in the neighborhood of Par
raS.
In the management of this property he
gave great offerse to the better class of the
Mexicans by his advanced notions and
efforts to reform the condition of the poor
laborers of the 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.
II HE BECAME OBNOXIOUS.
In company with DR.. j. C. Beales he, in
1888. 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. 6 the schooner entered Aran-
sas pass. Cumbered with children and
ertions of a pioneers life, the party pro-
ceeded with the greatest 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 a little stream
called the Las Moras on March 16, 1884,
where a village was duly laid off into
streets, and with renewed hopes the colo
nists began the work of breaking 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 to occupy himself with
politics, tnd"was secretary of the executive
council of Coahuila, and in 1885 a member
of the legislature dispersed by General Cos.
After this arbitrary measure he made his
way with a 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 i~mprudent and precipitate,
and advised patience until REINFORCED by
, other settlers.
WHEN GRANT WAS CAPTURED.
Early in 1886 he projected an expedition
to the Rio Grande for the purpose of re-
establishing, at least temporarily, the con-
stitution of 1924. In this he associated with
himself Colonel p. W. johnson, the pioneer
, hero and patriot, whom he 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 and about forty men, went farther
west to collect a supply of horses.
On Feb. IS San Patricio was surprised
and captured by General Urea, who pro-
ceeded 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,
Oh their way back to San Patricio with the
horses they had secured. Urea learned of
their whereabouts, and sent out a large
body of Mexican dragons for their capt
ure. A 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 a lasso.
Grant, known to be a surgeon. was prom
ised u 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
a 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, to which no
attention was paid, he appealed to the
men, recalling to them his ministrations
and devotion, but the only reply was in
sulting 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 co.
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
lance from the town, but were left IN.