The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-09-19

Quickly we ran TO where the StreeG nom
the great square opens on to the causeway,
and there even through the darkness and
rain we caught the gleam Of armor. Then
cried aloud in great voice: ITO arms!
To arms! The Teules escape by the cause
way of Tlacopan!'
Instantly my words were caught up by
the se1tries and passed from post to post
TILL the city rang with them. They were
cried in every street and canal; they echoed
from the roofs of houses and among the
SUBMITS Of a hundred temples. The city
awoke with mrrmur; from the lake came
the sound of water beaten by -10, 600 oars,
as though myriads Of wild fowl had sprung
suddenly from their reedy beds. Here,
there and everywhere torches flashed out
like falling stars, wild notes were blown
on horns and shells, and above all arose the
booming Of the snakeskin drum, which
the priests upon the teocalli beat furiously.
Presently the murmur grew to roar,
and from this direction and fem that
armed men poured toward the causeway
Of Tlacopan. Some came on foot, but the
most of them were in canoes which covered
the waters Of the lake farther than the ear
could hear Now the Spaniards to the
number Of 1,500 or so, accompanied by
some 5000 or s, 900 Tlascalans, were
emerging on the causeway in a long thin
line Guatemoc and rushed before them,
collecting men as we went, till we came to
the first canal, where canoes were already
gathering by scores The head Of the Span
ish column reached the canal, and the fight
began, which, so far as the Aztecs werc
concerned, was a fray without plan or order,
for in that darkness and confusion the
captains could not see their men or the
men hear their captains But they were
there in countless numbers and had only
one desire in their breast-to kill the
Teules. A cannon roared, sendinga storm
of bullets through US, and by its fash we
saw that the Spaniards carried timber
bridge with them, which they We're plac-
ing across the canal. Then we fell on
them, every man fighting for himself
Guatemoc and were swept over that
bridge by the first rush Of the enemy as
leaves are swept in gale, and though both
of us won through safely we saw each 9TH
er no more that night. With us and after
us came the long array Of Spaniards and
T1ascalans, and from every side the Aztecs
poured upon them, clinging to their strug-
Cling line as ants cling to wounded
worm.
How can I tell all that came to pass
that night cannot, for saw but little
of it. AL know is that for two hours
was fighting like madman. The foe
crossed the first canal, but when all were
over the bridge was sunk so deep in the
mud that it could not be stirred, and three
furlongs on ran second canal, deeper and
wider than the first. Over this they could
not cross till it was bridged with the dead.
It seemed as though all hell had broken
loose upon that narrow ridge Of ground
The sound of cannon and Of arquebuses,
the shrieks of agony and fear, the shouts
of the Spanish soldiers, the warcries of the
Aztecs, the screams Of wounded horses, the
wall Of women, the hiss of hurtling darts
and arrows and the dull noise Of falling
blows went up to heaven in one hideous
hurly burly. Like a frightened mob of
cattle, the long Spanish array swayed this
way and that believing as it swayed.
Many rolled down the sides Of the cause
way to be slaughtered in the waters OF the
lake Or borne away to sacrifice in the
canoes, many were drowned in the canals,
and yet more were trampled to death In
the mud. Hundreds of the AZtecs per-
ished also, for the most part beneath the
weapons Of their own friends, who struck
and shot, not knowing on whom the blow
should fall or in whose breast the arrow
would find Its home.
For my part, fought on with little
band of men who had gathered about me
TILL at last the dawn broke and showed an
awful sight. The most Of those who were
left alive of the Spaniards and their allies
had crossed the second canal upon bridge
made Of the dead bodies Of their fellows
mixed up with wreck Of baggage, can:
non and packages Of treasure. Now the
fight was raging beyond it. A mob OF
Spaniards and Tlascalans were still Cross
ing the second breach, and on these fell
with such men as were with me.
plunged right into the heart Of them, and
suddenly before me saw the face OF De
Garcia.
With shout rushed at him. He heard
my voice and knew me. With an oath he
struck at my head. The heavy sword came
down upon my helmet Of painted wood,
shearing away one side Of it and telling
me, but ere fell smote him on the breast
with the club carried, tumbling him to
the earth. Now, half stunned and blinded,
crept toward him through the press. All
that could see was a gleam Of armor in
the mud. threw myself upon 1t, grip
ping at the wearer's throat, and together
we rolled down the side of the causeway
into the shallow water at the edgo Of the
lake. was uppermost, and with fierce
toy dashed the blood from my eyes that
might see to kin my enemy, caught at
n. 4 l. -lelx -1,..&A &c