The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-09-13

On the evening OF the tenth day they
were met by body OF Mexican cayai-
~ and biddenrto halt and give np their
arms
After three days rest in which their
half-spent lives were restored by those
arts Of healing the Mexicans know SO
we'll. they were carried. bandcufFed In
pairs. into Saltillo and thence To
Salado
The hoary walls OF the old hacienda
/ looked down in sinister strength as the
thinned ranks filed ii. Eight Mexicans
were outside digging q trench Ned
exchanged q look with Harvey, his
companion in irons and whispered:
THAT means death lie was not
wrong At two o'clock III the same
day the prisoners were ordered ou. and
ranged In double line against one 81
the walls
The officer In command then read
the written decree Of Santa Ana, pres
ident Of Mexico decree which pro-
nounced for these men a fate SO in
genious In its torture 70 mind and body
that IL might have been conceived ia
the subtle brain Of Iierod
Every tenth man was to be killed,
the decision o.br NUDE by lottery
Into q jar were 70 DC dropped one
hundred and seventy beans -one bnn-
dred and fifty three white and seven
teen black.
Each man was 10 take out i bean.
Those drawing the black ones were 10
belshet before the sun midtown; tile
4 Il.
prisoners.
II was dark and cloudy day, this
Goth 81 March, with high winds that
whipped the sand into great waves ana
blew il across tho plains
Beyond the door Of the courtyard
nothing could be seen but the living
sand
Over All spread the duslsy canopy III
the heavens
a Mexican soldier mounted stool
and held aloft The fatal pitcher.
The roll was called
As each hand was slowly HAL ant
poised for one single instant above lie
month Of the iu9 life anLaeath rnust
have met and made salute.
The game Wa for souls, aud ths die
was MeXIcan beanl
Fosters name was called mar tic
last and he carclassly dropac. i III viii
left hand, with pcrchancs Il rental.
cence Of childish days when hs had
done such things flor luck. E and found
be had pic'sea up White beam
A. he returned tohia place Harvey
passed hin, and Neti saw "a the white.
drawn face of his f-.atl no siaen of
fear. but the mental an aish of GiatIi-
scmanc
What was i lie hn said lls night in.
one Of the pauses Of .Iat long masch?
That perhaps, even nov. baby
voice was waking flint echoes in his
little home, AMI that The auxieiy lie
was bearing for an1ther was sharper
with pain than any physical tortnse III
had ex acr.cacaa. LII
Ned locke ii the smooth white oval
Of the vegetable seed in his hand ana
made q resolve.
When he looked mp Harvey WINS iast |
raising his hand Ned noticed how ii I
trcmbled.
When the fingers were Withdrawn
there was something black outlined
M
The change in his face was that III
death
With q quick movement toward his 4
friend, Foster made IA sudden thurst +
and gesture, and how it was no one \
could ever explain but after the slight 4
confusion and peremptory orders to faIl \
III line Harvey was seen standing in his (
old place staring with bewildered gaze j
a a white object in his open palm. and (
Ned. erect and calm, with brow OF
more than mortal beauty. awaiting tile
signal az death
AS soon as Harvey regained control I
of his confused faculties lie made fran.
tic. pitiHble efforts 10 communicate
with his friend, but was silenced at the
point Of musket and compe1lea 10 Z
throw himself face downward with tle
rest, while the seventeen doomed men
were led forth, bound together With
cords. their eyes bandagcl, and shot
repeatedly until life was extinct They 4
asked the privilege Of being shot from
the front, but we're refused and made +
to sit upon q log near the wall with
their backs to The exccntioners
Six were taken ont Grst, then six
more and then five.
Darkness fell like agreat funeral pail
as the last shots were fired, and stars
she'd their holy candle rays above the
dead; the di8honorel dsal. lying in
one graf heap, body Piled atop. III +
body, Nora Perry. III Omaha Bee.
Shoorty aud nt,lA.t fsaro w.. AZ