The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-09-09

tons.
\ treaty was drawn up, and onco again
false VOWS were pledged by Spanish lips.
Water was not reached until sunset of
tho next day. BY that timo only four of
tho men were able to walk. Harvey, among
many Others had fallen and been lifted
and strapped across saddlcd horses and
thus brought into camp. After three
days rest, in which their half spent lives
were restored by those arts of healing to
Mexicans known SO well, they were carried,
handcufIcd in pairs, into Saltillo and
thence to SaludO.
Tho hoary walls of the old hacienda
looked down in sinister strength us tho
thinncd ranks filed in. Eight Mexicans
were outside digging u trench. Ned OK
changed II look with Harvey, his compan-
ion in irons, and whispered ''That means
death" He was not wrong. At . o'clock
of tho Same day tho prisoners were ordered
out and ranged in double line against ono
of tho walls.
Tho officer in command then read tho
written decree of Santa Anna, president
of Mexico, u decree which pronounced for
these men II fato so ingenious in it's tor
turc to mind and body that it might havo
been conceived in tho subtle brain of
Herod
Every tenth man WIS to BIO killed, the
decision to BIO mado by lottery. Into
jar were to DO dropped l7O bcans--153
white and II black.
Each man was to take out u bean. Those
drawing the black ones wcro to be shot
before the sun went down; tho rest spared
death, but retained as prisoners.
On March 20 the roll was called.
AS each hand was slowly lifted and
poised for one single instant above the
mouth of the jar lifo and death must
have met and made salute.
Tho gamo was for souls, and tho die
was Il Mexican bean.
Fosters namo was called near tho last,
and he carclessly dropped in his left hand
with pcrchanco u "Reminiscences of childish
days when he had dono such things for
luck" and found he had picked up Il white
bean.
AS no returned to his place Harvey
passed him, and Ned saw in the white
drawn face of his friend no sign of fear,
but the mental anguish of Gcthscmanc.
What was it he had said last night in
one of tho pauscs of that long march?
That perhaps even now u baby voice
was waking faint echoes in his little
homo and that the anxiety he was bearing
for another WAS sharper with pain than
any physical torture he had experienced.
Ned looked at tho smooth white oval of
u resolve.
When he looked up, Harvey was just
raising his hand. Ned noticed how il
trcNbicd
When tho fingers were withdrawn, there
was something black outlined against
their bloodlcss tips.
The change in his face was rs of death
With quick movement toward his
friend Foster made u sudden thrust and
gesture and-how it was done no ono
could ever cxplain-but after the slight
confusion and pcrcmptory orders to fall in
line Harvey was seen standing in his old
place staring with bcwildcrcd gaze mt a
white object in his open hand and Ned,
erect and calm, with brow of moro than
mortal beauty, awaiting the signal of
death.
AS soon us Harvey rcgained control of
his confused faculties he made frantic,
pitiablc efforts to communicate with his
friend, but was silcnccd at the point of
muskct and compelled to throw himself
face downward with the rest, while the
II doomed men wcrc led forth, bound to-
gcther with cords, their eyes bandagcd,
and shot repeatedly until life was extinct
They asked the privilege of being shot
from the front, but were refused and
mado 10 slt upon a log near tho wall with
their backs to the cXccutioncrs.
Six We're 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 upon the dcad-tbc
dishonorcd dcad-lying in one great heap,
body piled atop of body
There live today thosc whose eyes look
ed upon that scene, and although the suns
of more than 30 summers have since
swung above the fort, and rains beaten
upon it, and winds tanned its rugged
sides, it stands today and will stand for
all the tomorrows, grim and changclcss,
in eternal pcnancc, marking the spot of IL
butchcry so inhutnan that it is worthy to
mate with the murtlcrous deeds of Nero.
1t WAS not until months had pissed
months spent in irons in the Castle Perotc
| City of McXico-that Harvey Armstrong
was released and permitted to return home
TO his wife and child.
! And what Il changed and saddcncd man
1t was vino held that wife in his arms and
| looked down through tears upon the face of
| his first
Scrvilc labor and hardShips had whitcncd
his locks and weakened his frame, and
thoughts unspcakably sad had aged and
| furrowcd his brow.
| When he told Nellie about Ned, she hid
| her face upon his breast. Not even to her
| husband must be told the secret OF that
| loyal heart, which woman's intuition re-
| vealcd to hor so long ago
Looking up through tears, she repeated
| in awcstruck tones:
| Greater love hath no man than this,
| that Il man may lay down his life for his
| friends, " and softly laying the child in its
fathers arms she Slipped out of the room
Their little daughter had been born on
tho evening of that Hateful day, March 20,