The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-11
Welded AFTER FIFTY YEARS.
Half Century of Separation Overcome
Mt Last.

| at Last.
| A story travels north from Texas that
twines remantically around the lives of
man and woman for fifty years, true
lovers knot Of half a century.
| 1t begins with the interesting adj
ventures of DR.. John c. Hill, wealthy
! mining expert of Mexico. When DIR.
Hill was ID years old he Joined the ill
fated "Mier expedition that attempted
| to invade Mexico in 1899, Although a
mere child in years and physique, his
| father, an ardent Texas patriot, con-
sented to- his going and placed in his
hands gun, with the Injunction never
| to surrender the weapon to the Mexi-
cans. 1t was the persistence with which
Hill obeyed this wish of his father that
led to his wonderful career.
| After a few skirmishes on the Mexi-
can side of the river the brave little
band of Texans, numbering less than
200, were surrounded in the town of Mier
by greatly superior force of Mexican
soldiers. After battle lasting two
days the Texans were finally forced to
surrender.
Young Hill was all through that me-
morable fight When his companions
laid down their arms this boy stubborn
ly refused to give up his gun. When he
saw that it was folly on his part to re-
sist further he struck his gun upon the
stone curb of the street and broke the
stock into several pieces.
The Mexican officer seemed to be
greatly pleased with the brave and
rockies courage of the American boy
and told the story of the occurrence to
a number of fellow officers 1t finally
reached the ears OF General Santa Ana.
The latter at once gave instructions
that Hill be accorded good treatment
and that everything possible be done to
make him comfortable on the proposed
long march to the City of Mexico.
Shortly after this messenger brought
word to Hill summoning him to appear
before General Santa Ana. Hill obeyed
the command and when he entered into
the presence of the Mexican general the
latter gave him a warm embrace and
informed him that he desired to adopt
him as his son.
Hill consented to the proposed ar
rangement and was Immediately in
stalled as a member of the general
household in the City of Mexico. He
was treated with the utmost considara-
ton and kindness and by order of Gem
eral Santa Ana he was placed IN the
national school of mines in the City of
Mexico.
1t was while attending the school Of
mines that DR.. Hill met Miss Mary Ann
Murray, the beautiful daughter of a dis
tinguished and wealthy English resi-
dent of the City of Mexico. The young
couple fell in love with each other and
would soon have fbeen united in marri-
age but for the fact that in 1s49 Mr..
Murray and his family removed to Cali
fornia. They corresponded for a time,
but finally Miss Murray received word
from the City of Mexico that her lover
was dead. Several years later she was
iaH q n.
who died number of years ago.
A few months ago an article appeared
in an Eastern magazine from Monterey,
Mexico, over the signature of John G.
HILL The widow Masterson read the
article in question in her far Western
home and when she came to the sigma
ture a flood of memories of her Amer
lean lover in Mexico of the long ago
swept through her mind.
1t must have been an Inspiration, d.
rected by an unseen power, that caused
her to write a letter, couched in careful
but direct language, to John c. Hill.
Monterey, Mexico" The letter reached
it's destination in due time and was
read by Hill with surprise and pleas
sure. He sent the widow a prompt re-
ply and the vague hope of the latter was
fully realized. DR.. Hill was the boy
hero of the Mier expedition and her
sweetheart of long years ago.
Letters flew thick and fast between
the couple and the old flame of love was
famed into life again, which resulted
in DR.. Hill proceeding to San Francisco
where he met his intended and the two
were married.-Chicago Chronicle.