The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-07-05
William Ryon. Ricbmnnd.

ne late imam kypn OF Richmond
Fort Bend county. one o, the most gall,nt
Of the heroes known to Texas history, was
born IN Winchester. Ky: resided Tor sew
eral years in Alabama; came 20 TNxss n
1857 landing az the mouth q the prazos.
where he clerksd kept hotel ana followed
various occupations for a time: in 1879 was
. member OF the surveying party that laid
OF the Town Of Austin. the newly selcrte
site for seat Of government OF the pub
lie, ana later went to Fort Bend county.
where he organized company ia 1912 and
Joined the army Of General somer7cu .or
800 men who did not return home afler
the formal dishanding Of scmarycll's army.
They completed rcgimel'al Organization
December H. 1872. composed of companies
commanded ty Captains Ewin Cameron.
William Ryon. Wm. NJ. Eastlsnl, J. t. W.
lierson. Claudius Buster, john r Baker
ana C. X Reese. and selecting Willilm =
tisher Tor colonel and Thomas 4. Murray
ioF adlutant. marched across into Mexico.
where they captured the iowa Of M.er Tor
Il ore than eighteen hours held 1t bay over
-.'u Mexican anldiers under Ampulia.
thi1liug ovcT .Oo Of the enemy, ana finally
surrendered under promises that Il ev
would oe treated as prisoners o. war and
Aepl on The frontier until exchanged The
pledges OF Ampdia, reduced o writing az
ter tie surrender. ware redeemed by Wing
the men IN pai;s aud mar hing TEEN Oh foot
To Matamoros, whore thdy arrived on the
:ih day Of January. lS+S, ana We're marched
IN triumph through the streets With nells
ringing, music playing ana banners flying
Of ir. ffH
PITY, Afterwards contributed clothing and
money 10 supply their most pressing nee s
The main body o. the pris7ners left Mata-
moros on the lith marched eichtecu or
twenty miles a day. Were corr aled u, nigh,
IKE cattle, and reached Monters; on he
%Sth Of January. Here hey we're made
more comfortable and rested until the ID
NJ February. Arriving ~ Saltnlo. thoy
We're Joined by five Of Tho prisoners taken
from san Antonio by General Vol IN The
previous September. They left Tor san
LUIS foiosi under command OF Colonel Bar
| riRan and reached the hacienda Of Salndo.
on the way, February 10 1913 At a pre-
concerted signal on the morning OF the
nth the prisoners, lea BY captains Ewin
Cameron and william Ryon, rushed uron
/ their guard, then eating breakfast ais
| armed them and made their way into the
court yard. whore they ovcromne l50 in
| iantry. Here they armed themselves and
made dash FOR the gate. overcame Tie
guard stationed there AMI scattered the
cavalry on the outside capturing Their
horses. They had four mon Killed, three
, of whom We're 10 have been their guides
| through the mountains ON their homeward
march They secured 10 stand OF arms
and loo horses AZ 10 ococ a. m. they
| left They Travelled slxty-four miles The
| first twenty-iour hours on the Saltlllo
| road They next abandoned the road and
sought escape through the mountaigs ON
the night Of the 18th In the darkness they
| became separated. and during The five sur-
| ceciing days, suffciinr from hunger thirst
! and the cold mir from the mountains they
wandered about searching for lter. Sey-
| oral became demon'ed avid number be-
came separated from their companions and
were never heard ~ more About noon on
| the 18th those In the main body discovered
| smoke, the signal 10 he given II any o.
| the straselrfs found water. They hurried
| with mad Joy to tho srot. 10 find Them
selves in tile mtds, of n body OF Mexican
| cavalry, under command OF General Mexia.
Nearly all, through exhaustion, had thrown
away their arms, and none we're In condl-
| tion TO offer resistance, They accordingly
surrendered. During the day other strae-
giers came TO the camp or We're found and
| brought in by the soldiers ON the 18th
Captain Cameron came In with oi,lte n
number and surrendered. The men we're
marched back TO the hacienda Of Salado
| where they learned that Santa Anna had
ordered all OF them 10 he shot, but Weld
| ing to circumstances from General Mexia
and some OF the officers. had commuted
the order and ordered that one In ten be
put to death. General Mexia, who. unon
| capturing the prisoners, had treated them
with great humanity, now rendered his res
Equation. refusing To officiate al So cruel
ana unmartiai' ceremony. Seventeen