The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-19

Later he led 100 men in charge against
large body of Mexicans and killed 30 with
a loss of wounded aud l captured. lie
met his doom at the Alamo as might have
been expected. When the Mexicans broke
into the building, be seized his pistols and
fought until he was overpowered and pinned
to the earth with bayonets in the midst OF
group of PROSTATE enemies brought down
by his deadly aim.
The strongest and nearest Texan post
whence Travis expected aid was Goliad,
which contained a garrison Of 400 men un-
der Colonel James w. Fannin. Fannin
was good soldier and had fought under
Travis at Conception the previous year.
He was n North Carolinian by birth and
was 80 years old. Travis message reached
Goliad Feb. 25-two days after Santa Anna
marshaled his army in front Of the Alamo
and Fannin immediately set out with 300
men and four cannon. On that same day
Santa Anna detached force of cavalry
and infantry to march toward Goliad. Fan
min was short Of carriages, aud one broke
down, SO that he was Obliged to haul his
guns across the San Antonio one ut time.
The rations of his force consisted of rice
and dried beef and were scant at that.
AT the end Of 80 miles march he heard Of
the Mexican advance, aud by the council
of his officers returned to Goliad.
Fannin acted under conflicting orders,
the governor having instructed him to re-
main at Goliad, and Houston to fall back
toward the main Texan army. Finally, aft
er several attempts TO strengthen the po-
sition by establishing outposts, he started
on March IS TO retreat in the face of the
enemy. The Mexioans fell upon the march
ing column at the crossing OF the Coleta.
Fannin's men turned and fought bravely
behind barricades Of wagons and bag
gage until night They numbered 275 in
all against 2,0O0 Mexicans. The Texans
had 90 wounded, among them Fannin, and
all their teams were killed. The sound
men could have retreated during the night,
but refused to abandon the helpless wound
ed. Early on the 10th they surrendered
upon written terms guaranteeing them
treatment as prisoners OF war and safe con
duct to the United States.
The prisoners, well and wounded, came
together mt Goliad on the 22d. On the Goth
Fannin entertained some friends and tho
company talked cheerfully Of the prospects
of speedy liberty, and TO the accompani-
ment Of the lutte made the old church walls
where they were imprisoned echo with the
strains OF "Home. Sweet Homer At z
o'clock that evening a swift riding courier
brought an order from Santa Anna to the
prison guard directing that the captives be
shot.
At the dawn Of Palm Sunday, March 81,
the Texans were formed In line under pre-
text of being counted, marched out In de-
tachments and inhumanly butchercd by a
band Of Indians specially chosen for the
purpose. The wounded were the last to
suffer, and Fannin the last OF all. lie asked
his executioners TO aim at his breast and
not his head, seated himself in a chair, tied
blindfold over his eyes and barred the tar
get 70, the fatal volley. So died the last
victim OF that Mexican fendishness which
Texan valci avenged three weeks later on
the field Of San Jacinto.
GEORGE l.. KILMER.