New-York tribune., 1902-12-06
A "BLUGGY" BOOK.
CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY ON SOME HIS
ToRIC FIGHTS.

BORDER FIGHTS AND FIGHTERS: Stories s tef of
the Pioneers Between the AleghanIeS, , ana i5e RS
cHTas ToWnsend Brady With plans and nd
many ilustTations by LOUIS Williams Vita Harry
Fem and A. de F. Pitney- 12nlo' pp XVI ''-'
Mcclure. Phillips & Co
Heroes and heroines enough to furnish nan
of Fame are presented to us by MI braoy III
this latest volume in his Fighters Series ne
has brought a wonderful relish to his subject
and he tells the stirring tales with sympathS'
dash, spirit and discrimination. The TONE
though thrilling with loyal Americanism' is gen
erous to brave and honorable foes ana tne
crescendo and superlative not abused In
fact the work is admirable, and cannot faI 10
give delight to many generations OF our youths
and to increase the military spirit lie "ouiu
indeed be gIutton for excitement ana ADVENT
ure who desired more than is to be 1ouHo III
these pages, which contain score OF massacres'
two score of battles and seges, a hundred falr-
breadth escapes and half a hundred romances
among the events. The author has taken such
matters as General Harrison's fights with Te-
cunseh Jackson's victory at Tohopeka, the
massacre at Fort Minis, the battle of KING
Mountain the desperate defence of the Alamo,
Croghans defence of Fort Stevenson, the last
stand of the Creek Indians, the trapping or
Santa Anna and the adventures of Boone, Brady
and Crockett, and treated each as a separate
story, and all in volume. with an adher-
ence to truth that gives historical value and
with a keen perception of the picturesque and
dramatic.
The most breathless moment of the booK Is
reached on page 15S, when the women and chill
dren of Bryans station go out to the spring 10
get the water that is vital necessity. They
know that the woods are full of Indians and
that the largest body of savages lies near this
spring. but these have been concealed, while on
the other side Indians have shown themselves to
attract the attention of the forts defenders
The men have reasoned that the savages will
make a feint on the front and a real attack on
the rear or spring side, and that sooner than
disclose their position they will let the women
and children get the water Acting on that
theory. out go the women taking some children
with them, and laughing and talking, right
down among the savages. who lie still And
afterward, when the Indians made a dash to
follow them. they found that they had been
tricked and trapped
Here is a little bit from the end of the de-
fence Of the Alamo page 32o), which the au-
thor characterizes as the most desperate in our
history:
The only fight left now is in the churchyard
A little handful bloody. powder stained des
perate are backed up against the wall II II
hand to hand work on both sides; no time
to reload, bayonet thrust against rifle outt IN
berserker fury. Hope is lost, but they are oyi.,s
in high fashion. faces to the foe. striking while
they have a heartbeat left. Fire the maga-
zine" says Crockett to Major Evans, the only
remaining officer. The man runs toward the
church where the powder is stored. and is
stricken down on the threshold. The Mexicans
rush upon Crockett and his remnant Inc Keen
deathdealing Betsy has spoken for the last
time the old frontiersman has clasped 1t by the
barrel now Swinging his iron war ciuD ne
stands at bay. disdaining surrender Inc Mex
icans are piled before him in heaps but num-
bers tell: they swarm about him. they leap upon
him like hounds upon a great stag, tney pun
him down, bury their bayonets In his greaC
heart spurn him. tranple upon him, spit upon
hir1-so he makes a fine end
Into this bloody tragedy comes Farce. grinnins
through his horse collar. we find him IN
Shakespeare for Travis. the leader of the
Alamos defenders. must needs add to his let
fer calling on all Americans for assistance
.P S-The Lord is on our side' suggesting
that this was late and surprising discovery.