El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-02-02
A STORY FROM MEXICO.
Love That Lived Through Fifty
Years of Silence and Separa-

Love That Lived Through Fifty
Years of Silence and Separa-
ton.
A love affair extending for fifty
years from courts hip to honeymoon is
the latest romance of real life. The
story comes from Texas, and involves q
i72-year-old groom and his bride of
It begins with the Interesting adven-
lures of DR.. John G. Hill, wealth y
mining expert of Mexico. When DR.
Hill was ID years old he joined the ILL
fated "Mier expedition that attempt
ed to invade Mexico in 1889. Although
q 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 Mex
leans. It was the persistence with
which Hill obeyed this wish of his
his father that led to his wonder
career.
After few skirmishes on the Mex
lean eide of the river the brave little
band of Texans, numbering less than
200, were surrounded in the town of
Mier by a greatly superior force of
Mexican soldiers. After a battle last
ing two days the Texans were finally
forced to surrender.
Young Hill was all through that
memorable fight. When his COM
panions laid down their arms this boy
stubbornly refused to give up his gun.
When be saw that it was folly on his
part to resist further. he stl uck 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
reckless courage of the American boy,
and told the story of the occurrence
to u number of fellow officers. 1t final
ly reached the ears of General Santa
Ana. The latter at once gave 1nstruc-
tions that Hill be accorded good treat
ment and that everything possible be
done to m AXE him comfortable on the
proposed long march to the City OF
Mexico.
Shortly after this a messenger
brought word to Hill summon1ng 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
warm embrace and informed him that
he desired to adopt him rs his son.
Hill consented to the proposed ar
ranpement and was Immediately in
stalled as q member of the generals
household In the City of Mexico. He
was treated with the utmost considera-
ton and kindness, and by order OF
General Santa Ana he was placed In
City of Mexico.
It was while attending the school Of
mines that DR.. Hill met Miss Mary Ann
Murray, the beautiful daughter OF a
distinguished and wealthy English re-
sident of the City OF Mexico. The
young couple fell in love with each
other, and would soon have been united
in marriage but for the fact that In
l849 Mr.. Murray and his family re-
moved to California. They corresponded
for q time, but finally Miss Murray re-
ceived word from the City of Mexico
that her lover was dead. Several
years later she WAS married to man
named Masterson, who died number
of years ago.
A few months ago An article appear
ed in an eastern magazine from Mon
terey, Mexico. over the signature OF
"John G. HILL" The widow Master
far western home, and when she came
to the signature food of memories of
her American lover in Mexico OF the
long ago swept through her mind.
It must have been an inspiration, d.
rected by an unseen power, that caus-
ed her to write o letter, couched In
careful but direct language, to "John
G. Hill. Monterey, Mexico" The
letter reached its destination in due
time, and was read by Hill with sur
prise and pleasure.
He sent the writer q prompt reply
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, aud the old flame OF love
was famed to life again, which resulted
in DR.. Hill proceeding to San Francis
co, where he met his intended and the
two were married. Al buquerque De-
mocrat.