The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-10-24

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pyramid, it would not give shelter to halt
our numbers, and Il edesired to defend
it some of the multitude herded round its
base must seek refuge elsewhere Calling
the leaders Of the people together, put
the matter before them in few words,
leaving them to decide what must be done
They in turn consulted among themselves,
and at length gave me this answer: That
it was agreed that all the wounded and
aged there, together with most Of the chill
dren, and with them any others who wish
ed to 90, should leave the teocalli that
night, to find their way out of the city If
Of the Spaniards.
said that it was well, for death was on
every side, and it mattered little which
way men turned to meet it. So they were
sorted out, 1850 or moro Of them, and at
midnight the gates Of the courtyard were
thrown open, and they left. Oh, it was
dreadful to see the farewells that took
place in that houri Here q daughter clung
to the neck of her aged father, here hus-
bands and wives bade each other q last
farewell, here mothers kissed their little
children, and ON every side rose up the
sounds Of bitter agony, the agony OF those
who parted foreper. buried my face in
my hands, wondering, as / had often Won
dered before, how God whose name is
Mercy can bear to look upon sights that
break the hearts Of sinful men to witness.
Presently raised my eyes and spoke to
Otomie, who was at my side, asking her II
she would not send cur son away with the
others, passing him of as the child Of COM
mon people May, husband" she an
swered, aft is better for him to die with us
than to live as slave Of the Spaniards- -
At length It was over, and the gates had
shut behind the last Of them. Soon we
heard the distant challenge OF the Spanish
sentries as they perceived them, and the
sounds Of some shots. followed by cries.
Doubtless the Tlascalans are massa-
cring them,'' said
been killed, the leaders Of the Spaniards
found that they waged war upon an un-
armed mob, made up for the most part OF
aged people, women and children, and
their commander, BeenM Diaz, merci-
full man If a rough one, ordered that the
onslaught should cease Indeed he did
more, for when all the ablebodied men, to-
gether with such children as were suff-
GENTLY strong to bear the fatigues of travel,
had been sorted out to be sold as slaves he
suffered the rest Of that melancholy COM
pany to depart whittier they would And
60 they went, though what became of them
do not know.
That night We spent in the courtyard Of
the teocalli, but before 1t was light I
caused the women and children who re-
mained with Us, perhaps some 600 In all,
for very few Of the former who were un-
married, or, who, being married, were
still young and comely, had chosen to de-
sert our refuge, to ascend the pyramid,
Guessing that the Spaniards would attack
us at dawn. I staid, however, with the
500 fighting men thai were LETT to me, q
hundred or more having thrown them
selves upon the mercy Of the Spantards,
with the refugees, to await the Spanish
onset under shelter of the walls OF the
courtyard. Atdawn it began, and by mid
day, do what we could to stay it, the wall
was stormed, and leaving nearly hum
dred dead and wounded behind me l was
driven to the winding way that led to the
summit Of the pyramid. Here they as
saulted US again, but the road was steep
and narrow, and their numbers gave them
no great advantage on it, so that the end
Of it was that.we beat them back with loss,
and there was no more fighting that day.
The night which followed VIC spent
upon the summit Of the pyramid, and for
my part was SO weary that after had
eaten never slept more soundly. Next
morning the struggle began anew, and
this time with better success to the Span
.iards. Inch by inch, under cover of the
heavy fire from their arquebuses and
-soo1,- tho.z forced Nc a1n1carf1 and hack