The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-06
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YELLOW ROSE OF TEXAS;
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| The following csFay by bliss Mary a. COOK
Of the Temple High school was awarded
/ first prize by the Daughters OF the Republic
| OF Texas, being considered the best histog-
lcal romance pertaining &c early Texas. The
Prize Is n Handsomely wrought medal OF
gold and silver. The contest was open TO
the pupils Of the schools of Texas.
My mother has among hcr relics OF the
| lays that are no more, an old guitar, which
10 dnaror, perhaps, than ony Other, for the
story 1t tells IN the reseundirg OF It's
stripgs. II has made our adopted State as
near 70 our hearts as the old home we have
lett behind, End Joins hand in hand the his
| tories OF the two States.
Many years ago, on u spring afternoon,
small band Of iootsolc soldiers were max
| ing their way back 10 their old homes, as
they passed through Arcadia. beautiful
| little village In Northern Louisiana. They
we're not young gallants OF dashing grace
| and brilliant uniforms. but they Wore no
bier badges SCARED and hardened faces,
tired faded cteps, and noble brave hearts
| underneath the experience Of valiant Texas
| soldiers,
| The evening was sultry-hot as mid
summer. The band halted III the little
| town for rest and refresbment. as they en-
pccted TO move south in the night. They
| econ scattered in the home-like place, for
| you may deperd on a Southefner for hos
| pitGiity. A tirod soldier cams up through
| tho long walk shaded by the magnnlias.
to the oper piazza OF one OF the planters
| homes. Tho family was seated there. and
the soldier asked for drink of water. L.
| was brought by the mstrcss own hands,
aud when he had drunk The last sparkling
drop he was asked to sit and rost. Conver-
sajiun soon led out the story OF q sturdy
Texas hero. HIS name has not been written
in the chronicles o. the Lone stars fight
Tor justice.
The patriotic city, New Orleans. in the
fall of 1895, made the first advance in TIE
rant of the nation towards help for the
struggling Texans The company OF sixty
enthusiastic men--the New Orleans Graya-
on board the Columbus, had arrived at the
mouth of the Brazos, November 81. The
citizens had caught indo ed the sentiment
OF the men who met DeLeon. Texia!
1exa, beamed in the faces of all; it sound
cd from the depths Of troubled hearts
{ CuulG they In return have felt otherwss
than proud of their mission. these Sous vi
the gray?
Tbe irwin Cities at tho mouth of tine
Ijra2os welcomed them with Wild huzzaa.
! tlutierng handkerchief and smiles and
, tears alike. On the steamer Laura they
I assembled the river to Bra2oria, and there
the enthusiasm of it's citizens knew no
/ Bounds. Flowers were plentiful, and the
hoomirg Of the cannon stirred the blood
Under the gray uniforms. They Toasted on
tho hosptalities G. mary OF our famous
Teas women, one of tnem the heroic Mrs
Long.
The soldiers marched from here to San
G | Antonio then to Victoria. and soon after
begun the test of the strength VI the sixty
Gioys. Every patriotic Texan has indeliby
y | inpre ssed upon his heart and mind the SUR
: render OF Gciiad and the fatal results; 10
not fatal Tor Il nave tho deter;oined mon
the lighted torcfj by which they finally
e. started into flamts the smoldering fire and
buried away the bonds OF hated Mexican
X, rule.
y The hemmed In situation of Fannin 6
" men. the condition of the soldiers after the
. encounter, made hope vain. All night the
!, agony of the bloody camp lasted the busles
u OF the enemy just across in the wood
sounded until daybreak The wounded and
exhausted soldiers wondered what the sun
r bcgus would bring They brought 10
8 help. The leader viewed his brave men
= no doubt with woaful heart ache, as he
saw the enemy drawing Into line. All these
II things influenced a surrender, and so the
a white flag flCated above the camp, and the
d triumphant Urea. with fair promises, hur-
ricd the prisoners away. Among the pris-
G cners was Francis Leonard handsome
Young fellow from the New Orleans Grays
a He moved along with mis- commander ana
fellow soldiers, with never a suspicion OF
&, the trcachtry OF the Mexican general, back
I, to Goiad. and the old mission church, tier
a Fort Defiance only short time before
Hunger and sickness entered the walls
of tl,oir prison, but i'll treatment was moth
Ing compared with the cbsgrIn OF their own
: defeat Many Of young Leonard's compan-
a ions OF the New Orleans Grays We're slain
:. The men were told that they were TO b'
II placed on ships and sent to New Orleans
whore they would be parolsd and set al
a liberty. The hoert underneath the gray
e Jacket, though stlll loyal to the cause es-
10 pcused. beat joyously at the news, asd
/ peaceful and happy dreams softcnod the
hard bunk and harder crusts.
y The next day, that of their release, was
re Palm Sunday. 1t was heralded in with
/ sansuine hopes. The old mission churcl
OF had witnessed many scenes contrastini
greatly. Palm Sunday In the early days
n, of the mission had been observed by tbs
rs Indian converts. They had green branches
90 md marched UP the aisles singing hymns
N In memory of Christs entry into Jerusa'
-. lem
~ \, the same hour at which that service
vas wont to take place, strangely enough
N the eager soldiers were awakened anc
10 marched out OF the church, never once
u thinking of such fate as awaited them
IL What Is the need Of repeating story
se every Texan has shuddered over? M,
God, boys, they are goag 10 kill US" rams
~ out from one 10 his comrades, and ther
AS they realized the truth. The charge o
d the guns soon brought Own what was lef
NJ az Fannns men. Desperate oourag,
ed seized some, and they escaped into TIL
swamp. The young gray-coat struggle,
ur to his feel in spite of severe mounds, anS
So ran towards the wood, As he passed Sc
sh nora Alvarez a Mexican woman. she di
IA | rccted him 10 n place OF safety, and h,
ro made his way towards the hut OF an In
dian convert one Of her friends. \ nohl,
woman, indeed as she stool with all thu
's sense Of injustice flashing from her blacl
y. eyes. and denounced her countrymcn He,
90 name should truly be written I'm letters o
y gold"
:" But to Leonard-he hal been pursued
short distance, nut stilt ran on in hopes o
ell refuge. until, exhausted by wounds. h
he fell, hut fortunately near the place wher,
ma he had been directed. The old Indian ga
or, without his hut smoking. when he wa