Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1891-06-25
4 MAZEPPA In TEXAS.
ONE OF THE TRAGIC INCIDENTS
OF MEXICAN RULE.
Ti.i to u Wild Horse aud Then Dragged
to Death After Having Dressed
tho Wounds OF Ills Mcr-
ciles Captors.

Among tho tragical events that
written in blood upon the page OF the
history OF Texas early struggle for
liborty, there Is mono more thrilling or
terrible than tho fate OF DR., James
Grant In tho person Of this unfort-
unato settler was repeated the famous
story of the ride OF the Pole Mazeppa
but for Grant thore was no rescue, and
he was torn to pieces after mile or
two by the raging, maddened animal
90 which he was bound.
Grant was n Scotchman by birth and
had been educated for II physician,
hut owing TO ill-hcalth, was Obliged
TO leave Scotland for milder climate,
and finally settled in Mexico, OF which
country he became, for tho sake Of
expediency, u naturalized citizen, and
In 1925 bought u large tract of land In
tho neighborhood Of rarras. In tho
m Engagement OF this property he gaNo
great offence 10 the better class OF tho
Mexicaus by his advanced notions and
efforts to reform the condition OF tho
,or lahorerS Of the vicinity, and II IL
b, loved that tho cruelty practised
toward Grant Is TO be attributed TO the
dislike he aroused az this,time,
Early in 1886 he projected nm exrcdi-
tion to the Rio Grandc for tho purpose
OF re-establishing, at least temporary.
ly the constitution OF 1924, In this
he associated with himself Colonel +.
W. johnson, tho pioneer hero and
patriot, whom he sent by the way OF
san Felipe whore he WAS successful
in obtaining tho 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 Patriotic, where
Johnson established his headquarters,
while Grant with Major Morris and
about forty men, went further west TO
collect II supply OF horses
On tho 2Sth of February san Patri-
clio was surprised and captured by
General Urea, who proceeded with
such caution that the Texans were
kept In profound ignorance Of the
movement, The Mexican citizens had
notice OF the approach OF tho troops
and were instructed to keep their
houses illuminated, so that their
friends would know and respect them.
BY n fortunate accident Colonel John
son was writing until late hour, and
before the light was oxtinguishod re-
ceived through n Mexican servant the
noNss that the town was In possession
OF Urea, and waI able with four com
panons --Tolcr Miller, Tone and
Beck to mako his escape.
In the meantime Colonel Grant with
his company was encnmped on the
Agia Dulce creek, twenty-slx miles
TO the southwest, on their way back
10 san Patrico with the horses they
had secured. Urea learned Of their
whereabouts and sent out u 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, md
Brown taken prisoner by means OF n
lasso that was thrown over him. and
by which he was dragged ID the
ground.
Grant, known TO be u surgeon was
promised passport 10 leave the
country IL he would attend TO tho
such fidelity that all, without excep-
ton, recovered but In the meantime
the captain left In command OF the
town after tho departure OF Urea
secretly dispatched eight men in search
Of wild horse. which thoy succeeded
In capturing after about three weeks.
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 franticnlly, and
after reminding the officer OF his
solemn promise, 20 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
nicrr mem.
As the men stood ready 10 sever the
cords that held the mustang the cap
tain brought lash down upon the an
imal's TANKS, exclaiming: This is
your passport now CO."
The fiery untamcd horse sprang
away with great violence, and was
soon lost TO sight. Tho next day the
mangled remains OF poor Grant were
discovered some distance from the
town, but were left unburied.
The story OF his fearful ride TO death
was told by his Mexican servant who
had been left in San Patric,o, and who
was OF course perfectly familiar with
his person. This servant boy OF
about ~ years old, afterwards made
his way 10 General Houston, and with
every evidence o. real grief related
the harbarous fate OF his master. lie
declared that he made several attempts
TO secure the remains and bury them.
but was warned by the Mexicans not to
interfere on peril OF his life.