Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-04-12

PS1 Ah uci eCoIA. one lOOkeu u
them curiously and when one O
them addressed her in English sh,
answered in Spanish. tits not pro
bable that either understood tn,
other, but one of the young mer
(Crockett) interpreted her reply a.
a challenge to kiss her, and he al
once attempted to do it.
As the girl drew back he snatched
at the scarf in which she had mnf-
fed her face and pulling it away,
exposed her shoulders and bosom.
She screamed, and her male rela.
.tives and friends at onea -rnshed q
the rescue.
The unarmed Americans found
themselves in very dangerous po-
sition, with knives and revolvers
bandished around them on all sides.
The situation sobered them, and
they made very effective resistance,
out they did not succeed in escaping
however, until Boswell had been
stabbed three times and Walker
shot through the face, the ball
piercing his tongue and both his
cheeks. Crockett, who had caused
the trouble, was the only one of the
three to escape unhurt.
When they had almost reached
the camp they found that a young
Mexican was following them, and
when they asked what he wanted he
replied "satisfaction."
Before there was room for extern
sive explanations the whole party,
the Mexican included, was arrested
and carried to headquarters to ex-
plain.
When the men had told their
story, Shelby concluded that after
the blows, stabs and bullets they
had enjoyed as part of the evenings
fun they had been disciplined
enough, and he was about to turn
them over to DR.. John S. Tisdale,
the regimental surgeon, to be patch
ed up, when the young Mexican
stepped forward and once more de-
manded satisfaction. ssl.--
General Shelby found English
comprehensive enough for his con-
versational needs and Governor Rey-
nolds generally acted as interpreter
for the expedition, as he probably
did on this ocbasion. At any rate
an interpreter was found and the
Mexican told his story.
That man insulted my sister,
he said, pointing to Crockett. i
could have killed him, but / did
not. Americans are brave. Iknow
they will be generous and give me
satisfaction
When ross-examined, Crockett
admitted that he had attempted to
kiss the girl. He pleaded that he
meant no harm, but willingly con,
sented to fight the Mexican when
Shelby asked if he would do so.
Pistols were produced, but the
Mexican demanded knives, drawing
his own and waiting for one to be
produced for Crockett. When il
was finally forthcoming, a ring was
made and surrounded by several
hundred men. The two duelists
stepped into it.
The young Mexican was short
and light. Crockett was at least a
head taller, and it was evident that
the men were badly matched, but
iii his anger at the insult to his sis.
ter the young Mexican did not stop
to measure the size of his antago-
mist. The fight began at once, and
it will be well to leave the descrip.
ton of it to the historian Of the ex.
pidition.
Between them some 12 inches OF
space now intervened, writes Major
Edwards. The men had fallen
back upon the right and left for
their commander to see, and be
stood looking fixedly at the two as
he would upon a line of battle.
Never before had be gazed upon SC
strange a sight. The great circle
Of bronzed faces. eager and fierce
in the fare of the torches, had some.
thing monstrous yet grotesque about
it. The civilization of the century
had been rolled back and they were
in a Roman circus, looking down
upon the arena, crowded with glad.
iators and jubilantwith the stranges,
of war cries 'Morituri te salutant.
The attack was the lightning.
fash. The Mexican lowered hll