The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-27

bf NaPt. Hifus Tne captain hdfiSed NE
to 90 back home: that was too young
to endure the hRrdShips s5f a campaign.
but l begged so hard that he allowed me
to join the company as a driver Of paek
mules. As soon as the firing began AT
the battle Of San Jacinto / tied mis- mules
to a tree and galloped TO the firing line.
arriving there just as the Mexicsns were
giving away. joined in the pursuit. and
az night returned to camp driving two
prisoners in front Of me. Gen Houston
compiimented me. got the irst pair OF
shoes that l ever had on my feet from
Mexican officer on the field of San ia
cinto.
Yes" continued the old man, IL have
been In some pretty close places. think
my hair tarned white at the hacienda del
Salado. where we. the prisoners OF Mier.
drew for life or death. One hundred and
seventy Of Us were on the road to the dun
geons OF Perote under strong guard
When we discovered that the Mexicans
intended 10 violate the conditions Of the
surrender We threw ourselves upon a
company OF Dragons and unhorsed and
disarmed them. Mounting the horses Of
our former guards. We galloped out Of the
gates OF the hacienda del Salado and fed
main highway we might have deied the
whole Mexican army. but unfortunately
we scattered In the mountains and were
soon lost. Famished and dying of thirst,
we were In no condition to defend our
selves. and when we encountered a force
OF Mexican cavalry we were compelled 10
surrender. Santa Ana ordered every
tenth man 10 be shot. We were drawn up
In the plaza Of the hacienda and told Of
our fate. A cruel and remorseless Mexican
officer appeared with an earthen Jar con-
tanning bean for each prisoner. Every
tenth one Of them was black one. Capt.
Cameron, brave Scot. was the first to
draw, and he drew life. but Santa Ana
had him shot the next day. That was the
most solemn scene that ever witnessed.
Hardly a word was spoken. The brave
fellows advanced TO the jar and drew for
life or death in silence. Whenever a poor
fellow drew a black bean he turned to his
comrades and whispered messages 10
loved ones at home. and then with n firm
step Joined the ranks of the doomed. We
saw the hopeless men marched away and
heard the firing that ended their career.
We were informed that the Mexicans
stripped them naked and burned their
bodies. 1 and others who drew white
beans were sent TO the City of Mexico.
where we were kept in prison for several
years. Santa Ana's wife. on her deathbed.
made the cruel monster promise TO return
the prisoners of Mier TO Texas. Only two
of them are alive now-myself and an old
man who lives In Llano County. Bigfoot
Wallace was one OF the prisoners.
His Lie the Stake ut Cards
81 have often been badly scared, and II
Is my opinion that the man who says he
never felt fear Is flrst-class liar. On
one occasion / think my heart stood still
for several seconds. I had been captured
by band of Comanches under the noto-
rious old chief. Lost Day. This Indian
was a great drunkard and gambler and
something OF a humorist / had often
played cards with him at the frontier
when the whites and Comanches were on
good terms. While we were riding along
the trail Lost Day proposed game OF
cards, and since I had nothing to bet he
suggested that to make the game interest
| ing I should stake my life / accepted
the proposition, and we halted and spread
deerskin out under the shade of a tree
The warriors gathered about us and we
began playing the desperate game. The
rascal was very lucky and ] began 10 get
nervous In spite of every effort The In
dians noticed my fright and many Of
| them laughed. The final game stood S 10
6 and ii was my deal. We were playing
points. 1 dealt the cards and was about
TO turn the trump. when I felt that my
heart had ceased to beat Ny life de-
| pended upon that card. If could only
turn Jack I would be saved. Breathless
and speechless I managed to reverse the
card and heard Lost Days grunt OF dis
appointment. l was too blind to see that
I had turned jack and saved my life
Foasht Ten Apachc-.
"One time I fought ten Apaches single
handed. The Indians attacked a man
| named Walker and myself while we were
driving across the prairie in a wagon. We
saw the Indians coming, and tried 20
reach point of timber about a mile
away. Walker sat in the hind part of the
Wagon, and when the Indians came within
range he fired and killed one. The next
instant an arrow struck Walker in the
| right arm. and he dropped his pistol out
Of the wagon. The horses were fairly fly
| ing over the prairie. The Indians were
raining arrows into the wagon, and some
| OF them were trying TO lassoo the horses
I killed two Indians, and would have es-
| capped IL the chief had not ridden close up
to the wagon and driven an arrow into my
neck. ] dropped to my knees. With yell
| Of triumph the Apaches dashed up TO the
| wagon. Though badly hit I wasn't quite
dead. and as fell forward fired and kill
ed one of the foremost savages. The
horses broke loose from the wagon and
| started across the prairie. The Apaches
| shot fourteen arrows into my body before
| they ventured 10 get into the wagon.
still held my revolver In my right hand
| While three or four OF the Indians were
| tearing open the packages which filed the
wagon I summoned all my strength and
/ sprlnging to my feet with yell. began to
shoot at the Indians who were In the
wagon. I was so close TO them that
could put my revolver almost against
| their bodies One Indian fell dead in the
wagon and the others tumbled out on
| their heads Seven Of the eleven warriors
were now dead. and the other four gal
| loped away. l crawled 20 pool OF water
and drew the fourteen arrows from my
| body. and while dressing my wounds a
party Of hunters discovered me and car
| ried me TO a settlement"
| Capt. Ike now lives on the Pecos River,
in Western Texas. where he owns a hne
ranch.
An DHreeagBized American Genius.
| Pro,, TastIa's vVseIiy