The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-13
~ ~ - ~ ~ ~ s~>N~1~~>-"N~e
}COL. BURSTS ESCAPED
s FROM MCNCLoyA.
, At interesting Chapter of Ear
ly Texas History.
FROM MoNcLovA


in his fathers life and of daring horse
back ride connected with the same which
all Texans should know
As in the celebrated Caesar Rodney
ride SO well described by Brooks, at was
Liberty's stress, it was Freedoms need
ana right nobiy did the daring soul Of
Colonel John burst, the delegate. respond
TO IT,
the Incident and all facts and dates
connected with 1t were written OF in i
Texas history by Colonel r. NJ william
son, better known as "Three-Legged wiz
lie but the manuscript was bdrned
when The residence Of George Clark was
destroyed by ire.
During The year d6S5 a congress OF
delegates from Conbuila and Texaa was n
session al Menclova Colonel John burst,
then resident OF acogdoches repre-
sonred Eastern Texas and was promptly
IN his seat, although he had 10 ride nearly
1000 niles on horseback 20 get there. He
roomed with Milan and Bowie al the
house OF CasHlian lady. One day AT
noon. when he came from the capitol To
his boarding house. be found his clothing
oil packed up as ii for q trip His pro
vision Valiet WIS oiled with chocola e
biscuit. onions, tortilla bread aud peno l.,
popular arJcle o. food for nasty prepa-
RIA on. He had given no instruction for
bis procedure ana hunting up the ma u n
asked for an explanation She said "T
heard you say you had family IN Texas
and that you were getting anxious to see
them. Now, am by accident in possess
sion OF a secret having overheard con
versotiou between two officers. If you re-
turn to the hall I'll is evening you will be
made d prisoner of war Mexico has de-
clared war against Texas and her policy
is to establish guards ana overrun tbs
stare before the information reaches
Texas or the United States In order to
accomplish this al the members OF tho
congress Will he made prisoners this
evening"
Colonel burst hunted up Milan and
Bowie and told hem OF what he had
heard They rether discredited the infor-
nation calling it a merc rumor. Colonel
burst told them he believed it was true
and proposed leaving Immediately for
Texas, as II was Of the utmost import
ance 70 take the news to General Rusk
prepare to meet the invasion. As to the
guards to be posted he thought they
might by immediate action outrlde tho
dispatches.
Milan and Bowie could not believe the
statement to be true and added III it is
true we had best remain here, for we can
not outrlde the Information and If cap
tured by the guards would fare worse than
If captured in the capitol for in the lat
ter case we would only BE- held as hos
tages' Colonel burst undaunted by the
long. lonely dreary ride of nearly 10O0
miles, told them the action taken by the
Mexican government must be known TO
the Texans and that he intended to go
and carry the news Selecting a trusty
peon he took care that he had the best or
horses and soon h was on his perlous
journey Night snd day he rode. givns
Only sufficient rest to his horses to enable
ihsm to Keen up. Many were the thrilling
incidents OF this trip so boldly under
taNsn by the dauntless delegate. He found
guards already posted, hut being very con
Versant with Spanish he managed to pass
thsm by rtSor'ing 10 various devices
Finding them more suspicious of him as he
neared the Texas border he resolved TO
cross the S1lalo river to eluie them. He
lay IN ambush until nearly night, and
while thc guards busted themselves build
lns q campfire and prspar,nS their supper
ne took a survey Of the situation he dis
covered cut or washout leading down 10
she ford and ready At a moments no
tee to make has run for life or death.
knew not which he ran a fawr through
the camp Tia guards grabbed the
guns and fired at il, While he fswn
excitement Was at it's height Colonel
burst and his poon dashed down The
i7v,ne and into the swift flowing stream
The splash OF their horses feet gave the
guard their first knowledge of their pres
enes- volley was fred at them For
tunatoly they were not struck, and pur-
sued thsir danger-fraught journey with
all possible speed.
As soon as they came to Eastern Texas
colonel burst sent a courier 10 General
Hush Informing him OF the intended in
vas!on
ne then fastened 10 his family Ia Nacog-
doches. He made The ride OF 900 miles
OF he same horse IN twelve and half
Gays This horse was ever afterwards
Faiued by all tAe members OF the family
and did neEhborhoog service for several
General Rusk commenced modifying his
forces to meet the enemy The invasion
IGOR place, as we know, as early in 1886
as The seaenn would, allow the marches
or am army Milan ana Bowie were cap
nred IN The capitol hall in Monclova ~
! DE day Colonel burst left them They
13ter MANAGED by brihing their guards. "a
ee1ane and made their way slowly and
PAINFULLY 70 Texas They Joined Travis
e.srlson az San Antonio and in the siege
ol ne Alamo sacrificed their noble lives
hloody field
That hold intrerid rider Colonel burst
no doubt helped 20 win the glorious re
few years arc John s Ford wrot. a