Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-08-08
A LOVE THAT
NEVER DIED
(Origtnal.]

lOrl&lnaIJ
When General Zachary Taylor's
troops were in Mexico confronting
those Of Santa Anna an incident of Sc
cret service took place which was not
only thrilling, but which contained
romance.
One evening two officers, one in the
uniform of Mexican colonel, the other
that of a captain, rode into the advance
Mexican camps and asked to be con-
Quoted to the tent Of the commanding
officer. Arriving there, they found Ma
jor Fourtado, to whom they presented
an order purporting to be signed by
General Santa Anna directing that
they be afforded every facility to in
spect the camps. This was given them.
They rode over the ground, noted the
approaches, and as they were about to
depart they were arrested and taken to
Major Fourtado, the commandant. On
them were found sketches and memo
randa that proved them to be spies.
They confessed and were informed
that they would be shot at daylight tile
next morning.
The men were Lieutenant Colonel
Otis Winchester and Lieutenant War
rem Holmes Of the American army.
Colonel Winchester, knowing that Ger.
tain information was extremely neces-
sary to his general, had volunteered
to make bold attempt to secure it,
Lieutenant Holmes was sent with
him, it being hoped that if Winchester
was taken Holmes might get through
and back with the information. The
uniforms had been obtained from Mex
lean officers, prisoners of war. Santa
Annals signature had been forged from
dispatch which had been captured
on the messenger who bore it.
Neither Slept during the night and
shortly before dawn wrote brief letters
to their homes, which they were told
would be forwarded under flag Of truce
to General Taylor. Winchester, much
the older man, was composed, but
Holmes suffered from all the depres-
sion to be expected in one about to be
shot.
care you related" asked Winchester,
Ito Edward C. Holmes of the class of
1872, at West Point?"
HE was my father" replied Holmes.
Winchester said nothing, but looked
at the young man with a melancholy
stare. At the moment a messenger
from Major Fourtado entered.
'"The commandant," he said, is es-
pecially reluctant to take the lives of
two such brave men. He deems one
sufficient to satisfy the military law
common in such cases and directs me
to inform you that you are permitted
to draw lots, the one losing to be ex-
ecuted at once, the other to be e.
changed
Winchester again turned his glance
on young Holmes, and sight might
have been of relief-escaped him. The
two officers exchanged letters to their
respective families, to be taken north
by the one escaping death. Then they
were conducted to Fourtado's head
quarters.
The commandant placed two stones
in his hat, the one black, the other
white. Colonel Winchester claimed
by right Of seniority to draw, the first
stone drawn being decisive. He STEP
ped up to Fourtado, who sat at a table
holding the hat, put in his hand and
withdrawing it tossed a black stone
on the table.
"You have lost" said the major, lay
ing down the hat. Then, turning to
the guard, he directed that the pris-
later volley was heard without, and
Otis Winchester had been executed.
Major Fourtado took up his hat and
before placing it on his head put in his