The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-05

ers made dash for freedom, and was killed by
the guards.
During the early Spring scouting expedi-
ton was sent out to scour the country lying
| on the east side of the mountain range, ana
| the inclined plain that overlooked
THE GREAT VALLEY OF PUEBLA.
The foothills and adjacent wooded ravines
| were infested with lawless guerrilas and roam
| ing bands of robbers who took advantage OF
the state of war to rob and pillage friend and
foe.
| The detachment consisted Of two companies
of infantry, one company commanded by Capt.
| Hughes of Cincinnati, o., Captain of Co. i,
and the other was led by Capt. Geo. W. Nc
| Ginnis, Captain of the Chilicothe o., company.
This latter officer also served through the war
of the rebellion, going in as Lieutenant Colonel
of the famous 18th Ind, passing through the
entire war, and participating in most of the
great battles in the West. He returned nome
Brigadier- General, and is now dlstn-
guished attorney-at-law of indianapolis, Ind,
and an honored and esteemed citizen.
The mounted troops consisted of detail
] from Capt. Little's company of Illinois ORA
| goons, the rest of the detachment being made
| up from the famous Jack Hays regiment OF
| Texas Rangers battalion Of the Rangers hav-
| ing been stationed with US. The entire detail
was under the command of the renowned Maj.
! Ben. McCulloch, of the Rangers, who aiterward
! became a distinguished Confederate General,
| and who was
| KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF PEA RIDGE ARK
| Ny compeer as battalion marker vas stray
lad from England, of Irish parentage, wan
! derer of the seas, who had drifted into CIncln-
natl. Capt. Hughes had picked him up and
initiated him into the mysteries Of 4 soldiers
life. His name was John Rease and he was
brimful of romance, with love for daring ex"
| ploits. We both solicited the privilege Of ac-
companying the expedition. He was fortunate
enough to secure permission to go, but mad
to stay behind. The refusal almost broke my
heart. never had my circulating apparatus
So thoroughly stirred up but once and that was
caused by the whack gay and dashing widow
gave it in more recent times. Well, have re-
covered from both and still live to relate Johns
romantic exploits with the brigands
As the command was moving through the
foothills and roaming in the adjacent valley,
in search of the
THTEvIsH BANDS OF MARAUDERS,
they came to a hacienda, where some poems,
under their major-domos, were thrashing IN
the primitive, antquated form Of the Egyp-
tians. On the better class of ranches they lay
down circular foundation of solid mason
work, something like so feet in width. On
the outer edge of the foundation they run up
wall some three and-a-half feet high, leaving
an opening or gateway for an entrance to
the Enclosure, using a siliceous cement as NOR
tar in its construction, which, when it becomes
dry, unites the whole structure into solid,
rocky. like mass that Is fully as durable and
strong as stone itself
On one of these floors the thrashers were at
work with their horses and mules, treadng
out the grain, the unthrashed barley having
first been stTewn on the rocky floor.
Our friend John, being weary and footsore,
1nl 0,a. f,ao Tod
self forsging party of one to secure the nec-
essary transportation. He left the column,
marshalcd all his latent power, and made
dash for the corral for the purpose Of procuring
q mustang. The ponies, not being accustomed
to his wild Irish brogue, became frightened
and were not easily caught
While he was trying to capture one of the
animals the command moved on. He was some
distance In the rear
WHEN THREE GUERRILLAs,
who had been lowering in the distance. swept
down upon him and took him prisoner.
The next day there was some brisk firing
and skirmishing, but the enemy managed to
keep well out of any serious engagement. A
number Of the Rangers managed to surprise
young armed ranchero and capture him. In
that part Of Mexico there no fences in the
rural districts, the fields being Enclosed with
bitches some four-and-a half feet deep and with
mestic animals from jumping over them.
After being d isarmed the prisoner was turned |
over 10 an Orderly and taken to the head
Of the column. Maj McCulIoch was some little |
distance in advance of the troops and on being !
informed of the capture by the Orderly, beck |
oned the prisoner 10 him. The Major could |
speak the Spanish language fuenty. and as |
they rode along he questioned the young man. |
Suddenly the Mexican grabbed the Majors |
saber, jerked it from the scabbard and struck |
at him, at the same time putting spurs to his |
horse.
MAJ. M'CULLoCH DoDGED THE STROKE,
but the whole thing was done so quickly the |
Mexican had q good start before our men re- |
covered. Although a number Of shots were |
fired at him lie made good his escape by jump |
ing one Of the bitches and seeking cover behind |
a cactus hedge. The heavy horses Of our force |
were unable to jump the ditch and pursue him. |
We afterward learned that it was not the first |
time be had been a prisoner. He was cadet |
at the Mexican National Military Academy at |
Chapultepee, and was one Of the defenders of |
the castle when it was assaulted by the storm |
ing party Of our army at the time of the nva- |
sion Of the city. When the fortress was carried |
he was made a prisoner, but during the con-
fusion that followed he made his escape and |
Joined his fleeing countrymen.
The little army, under McCulloch, returned |
to the post without any further incident OF |
note, but poor John was not with them. lie |
had not bees seen after his capture, and we did |
not know whether we would ever see him again, |
out we I'd,
Some weeks later, toward evening, q Govern |
ment train arrived from the City OF PuebIa,
AND TO our SURPRISE
John came with IL, sound, hale and hearty. !
He related his experience to eager listeners |
and as near as l remember, this is it:
lie was taken by the bandits who captured |
him into a thicket, where they bound and
gagged him and then tied him to small tree |
lie was in the bushes at the time our troops
were skirmishing with the band that took him |
prisoner and some Of the shots came uncomfort- |
ably near him. a number of his own COM
pany came near enough for him to recognize
them, bat he was so thoroughly gagged that he
could not let his presence be known.
He was kept in his uncomfortable position
for many hours until the Government forces
left the neighboFhood. He was then taken by
his captors to their camp and guards placed
over him.
He had been reared Catholic and always
carried a rosary. Deeming his condition criti-
cal he concluded to tell his beads, which he did
in the usual manner Of persons of his faith.
His devotion had a wonderful effect on his
captors. They no longer looked upon him as
one Of the despised heather, but rs member
Of their own faith who was unfortunate and
from that time On treated him with kindness.
In heir eyes he was no longer fhe half civil