The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-07-18
Then the retraelng q those


were mot by body of Mexican caval-
~ and hidden 70 halt and give mp their
arms.
After three days rest, In which their
hali-spcnt lives were restored by those
arts Of healing the Mexlcans know Sd
we'll. they were carried, handcufred ia
pairs. into Saltilio and thence 70
Saiado
The hoary walls OF the old hacienda
looked down in sinister strength as the
thinned ranks filed ii. Eight Mexicans
werc outside digging a trench Ned
exchanged a look with Harvey. his
companion in irons, and whispered:
THAT means death Tic WAS not
wrong. At twg O'clock 81 the same
day tile prisoners were ordered out and
ranged in double line against enc of
the walls
The officer In command then read
the written decree OF Santa Ana, pres
ident ~ Mexico, decree which pro-
nonneed for these men fate Il, in-
geniens in its torture 10 mind and body
that IL might have been conceived IN
the subtle brain 81 llcrod
Every tenth man was ta be killed,
the decision 10 be made BY lottery
Into u jar were 70 be dropped one
hundred aud seventy beans -ane hum
dred aud iifty-threc white aud seven
teen black
Each man was TO take ont d bean.
Those drawing the black ones were To
be shot before the sun went down; the
rest spared death, but retained rs
prisoners
II was dark and cloudy day, this
Goth Of March, with high winds that
whipped the sand into great waves and
blew il across the plains
Beyond the door of the courtyard
nothing could be seen but the flying
sand
Over all spread the duslSy canopy Of
the heavens
A Mexican soldier mounted stool
and held aloft the fatal pitcher
The roll was called.
As each hand was slowly lifted and
poised for one single instant above the
mouth Of tho jug life and death must
have-met and nado salute.
The game WAS for souls, aud the die
was q Mexican bean!
Fosters name was called near the
last and he carciessly dropped in his
left hand, with perchancc reminis-
cence Of childish days when he had
done such tllings afor luck, !, and found
he had piclted up white bean.
As he returned to his place Harvey
passed him, and Mel saw II the white.
drawn face Of his friend no sign OF
fear. but tho mental anguish 81 Geth-
semane.
What was 1t he hal said last night in
ono Of the pauses Of that long march?
That perhaps even now, baby
voice was waking faint echoes in his
little home, and that the anxiety he
was bearing for another was sharper
with pain than amy physical torture he
had experienced.
Ned locke Tat the smooth white oval
u the vegetable seed Ia his hand and
made resolve.
When he looked up Harvey was Just
raising his hand Ned noticed how 1t
tremhled
When the fingers were withdrawn
there was something black outlined
against their bloodless tips
Tho change in his face was that of
death
With a quick movement toward his
friend, Foster made sudden thurst
and gesture, and--how IL was no one
could ever explain but afterthe slight
confusion and pcrcmptory orders to full
in line Harvey was seen standing In his
old place sta ing with bcwildercd gaze
ut u white object in his open palm, and
Ned, erect and calm with brow OF
more than mortal beauty, awaiting the
signal Of death.
As soon as Harvey regained control
Of his confused faculties he made fran
.tic,l pitiablc efforts to communicate
with his friend. but was silenced at the
point OF musket and compelled to
throw himself face downward with the
were led forth, bound together with
cords, their eyes bandaged, and shot
repeatedly until life was extinct, They
asked the privilege OF being shot from
the front, but were refused, and made
to sit upon log near the wall with
their backs to the executioners
Six were taken out first, then six
more and then five.
Darkness fell like great funeral pail
as the last shots were fired, and stars
shed their holy candle rays above the
dead; the dishonored dead, lying III
one great heap, body piled atop OF
body. Nora c. Perry, In Omaha Bee.