The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-04-22
FRIDAY, APRIL 90, 1892.

III CWlHc W SHOW tNe DenQ IN Inc
stream). Ouly one wooden bridge
crossed The river at this point and
no other was any where near lead.
ing TO his neck OF land. General
Sam kept very still about his plan,
but marched steadily on toward
the enemy, whom the men thought
TO be far away. About sunset
they came TO the bridge and cross.
ed. When night came they had
left the bridge FIVE miles behind,
and were encamped nn the same
heck OF land that the Mexicans
occupied, and only a mile or so
away. A rise of ground between
hid The camp fires Of the enemy
and tie, only uneasiness occasion.
ed was by a big blaze that sprang
up at midnight, and lit the whole
southern sky with fringe OF red
flame color for a time and then
suddenly died out. Several of The
mon were absent, General Sam
having sent out small party early
in The evening on some secret er-
rand. No one knew where they
We're going or what they were to
do, but there was not much said
about it. This fire, however, was
supposed to be some Mexican sig
nal, cr likely an attempt to burn
the praine and smoke lhem out.
At dawn, however, while the gray
mists still covered the camp. lhe
men were aroused and called 10
the generals tent. My men, said
he, the enemy are ahead Of us
and less than an hours march
away. On each side of US and be-
hind runs the San Jaclnto river, a
boiling torrent which no man can
hope to swim. The bridge over
which we came is gone. The fire
you saw last night was caused by
the burning tlmbers which my
me:l had kindled. II you are
beaten 10 day no one will escape
alive. Ii you win none OF the
"Greasers" will get away. Take
your choice now and die, or fight
and lver'
Jack here gave a long sigh Of &c.
stacy and hugged uncle Joe in de.
light, as he went ON with TIE stc.
ry.
"One grand cheer went up and
the men set TO work with a will,
making ready to fight. The order
was gwen 10 march, and soon al
ter they started they came upon
the first part OF The enemy and
battle opened in earnest. The
rest of The Mexlcans Joined in and
for a time seemed 10 gam, tor they
were more than twice as many as
the Texans, but AT last hey weak
ened. The long line trembled and
twisted before Houston's boys,
fighting like human tigers.
"Their cry was: Remember The
bridge is gone,' and every man, as
he thought of the terrible river,
plunged into the thlckest Of The
struggle. A cry a cheer! a ring.
ing Yankee yell, ami the. enemy
broke and began to run, sneaking
through the prairie grass in every
direction. Then The fearful
slaughter began. Every Texan
was a picked shot, and wherever
palroI black eyes showed through
the high weeds, rifle bullet shut
The eyes forever. High and low
they hunted them till dewy dusk,
chasing them like sacred jack rab
bits all day, and finally at night
fall he last few left alive fled to
The river hoping to cross The bridge.
There they were penned like
mules on the river bank and TAX.
EN- prisoners, among them their
treacherous leader, and he hard.
fought battle OF San Jacinio was
wou. Alter that tight The worst
fear was over, aud from that very
day the war was won. The Lone
Star flag hoated over free and
happy land, aud General Houston
looking back in years all er, thought
many time what Il mercy it was
that he burned The bridge behind
HIM"
For a lew moments, when thu
story was ended, Jack sail moth
ing, but remained gazing earnestly
into The fire as If he was thinking.
"Uncle Joe," he SAID, "lhat was
an awful risky thing to do, don't
you think sog I'd be SO frightened
if l knew That couldn't ever get
back if wanted TO, that l would
be beaten any way il l did such a
thing" W
"Ah! you and /, Jacky. buru
many a bridge behind us alter
ALL" replied his uncle, looking
down inIo tue little boys astonish.
ed brown eyes.
eNWhut do you means e. / never
burned any bridges, not ore," as.
serted Jacky, with apositive head
shake.
"Nct 30 fast not so fast and
rlllell You what ] mean, my boy
You and all Of us, little fellows
and big ones, are all soldiers IL
the great hurrying, pushing arm,
OF humanity. Father Time Is oul
general, and he drives us Away.
on. On! on! on! though our Tee
are tired aid sore, through BRAN
bles and mud and water (which
are only our trnubles, sorrows snt
pains) up hill and down dale
Eonk Jnt, Iant%, slxut .oss~s, 49,