Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-07-09
A MAZEPPA IN TEXAS.
ONE OF THE TRAGIC INCIDENTS
OF MEXICAN RULE.
Tied to Wild Horse and Then Dragged
to Death After Having Dressed
the Wounds of His Mer-
ciless Captors.

| Among the tragical events that
written in blood upon the page of the
history of Texas early struggle for
| liberty. there is none more thrilling or
terrible than the fate of DR.. James
Grant In the person Of this unfort-
| unate 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, maddened animal
! to which he was bound.
! Grant was a Scotchman by birth and
had been educated for a physician,
but, owing to ill-health, was obliged
to leave Scotland for a milder climate.
and finally settled in Mexico. Of which
country he became, for the sake Of
expediency, a naturalized citizen, and
! in 1925 bought large tract of land in
the neighborhood of Parras. In the
management of this property he gave
| great offence to the better class of the
Mexicans by his advanced notion and
| efforts to reform the condition OF the
poor laborers Of the vicinity, and it is
believed that the cruelty practised
toward Grant is to be attributed to the
dislike he aroused at this time.
Early in 1886 he projected an expedi-
ton to the Rio Grande for the purpose
of establishing, at least Temperate
ly, the constitution of 1924. In this
he associated with himself Colonel +.
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 ex-
ecutive 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 further west to
collect supply OF horses.
! On the 2Sth of February San Patri-
clio was surprised and captured by
General Urea who proceeded with
such caution that the Texans We're
kept in profound ignorance OF the
movement. The Mexican citizens had
notice Of the approach of the troops
ana were instructed to keep their
]
friends would know and respect them.
BY a fortunate accident Colonel John
son was writing until a late hour, and
before the light was extinguished re-
ceived through a Mexican servant the
news that the town was in possession
of Urea, and was able with four com
panions-Toler, Miller. Tone and
Beck-to make his escape.
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
thad secured. Urea learned of their
whereabouts and sent out a large body
of Mexican Dragons for their capture.
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 that was thrown over him, and
by which he was dragged to the
ground.
Il Grant, known to be surgeon. was
promised a passport to leave the
country If he would attend to the
wounded Mexicans. This he did with
such fidelity that all. without excep-
ton. 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 wild horse which they succeeded
in capturing after about three weeks
h The unfortunate settler was then
brought forth. and by the order OF
the brutal captain, his feet was bound
to those Of the horse. and his hands to
| the tail. He struggled frantically, and
l 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 insult
| ing imprecations and shouts of hideous
merriment.
!, As the men stood ready to sever the
: cords that held the mustang the cap.
l tain brought u lash down upon the an.
imal's TANKS. exclaimlng: This i.
| your passport, now GO
Q The fiery untamed horse sprans
, away with great violence. and wa.
D soon lost to sight. The next day thu
mangled remains of poor Grant were
s discovered some distance from tn,
n town, but were left unburied.
The story of his fearful ride to dealt
l was told by his Mexican servant wh'
Q had been left in San Patricio, and WHIT
o was of course perfectly familiar witt
g his person. This servant, u boy o
d about IL years old, afterwards mad
l. his way TO General Houston, aud wit
: every evidence OF real grief relate
IL the barbarous fate of his master H
h declared that he made several attempt
y to secure the remains and bury them
but was warned by the Mexicans not
= interfere on peril of his life.
l. Claiming the Courts.
ID In spite of the lack Of faith in Gel
er tain iuries In New Orleans the peopI
~ vnh ia \