Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-12-24

49,
tinued and a Mexican dropped in the
water at every crack OF the rifle, seeing
which, Col. Wharton rode in front Of
the firing party. Drawing his sword
he declared that he would cut down
the first man who fired on the sur
rendered enemy. The moment was
~fearfully critical. AT once some OF
the men shouted: "Shoot the man
who takes the part>oi the Mexicans;
kill him, kill himl" Col. wharton
presented the most magnificent illus
%tratlon OF cool courage l ever wit
messed. In front OF more than twenty
rifles bearing on him he stood unmov-
ed, a moments space, long enough for
the brave men to realize the situa-
tion. Then swinging his sword lie
gave the order: Fright about marchln
aud with one accord his order was
obeyed, and some fifty miserable Mex
leans came to the shore unhurt and
surrendered. / stood close to this
scene, and IL is indellibly impressed
upon my memory. Two years after l
stood by the body Of Col. Wharton as
1t lay In state In the old capitol at
Houston, and heard David G. Bur
nett, the first President of tine Repub-
lie OF Texas, pronounce his funeral
eulogy, in the course of which, plac-
ing his hand on the casket, he said:
1.-THE keenest blade Of San Jacinto
field lies before you"
THE CAPTURE OF SANTA ANNA.
1t was in the midst OF the fight,
April q, 1886, although the tide OF
victory was with us, that | beard
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Somer-
vile, Of my regiment, shout in a loud
voice: "Yonder he goesl'' and looking
In that direction / saw a body OF
horsemen rapidly retreating from the
field. 1t was General Santa Anna and
his body guard, who, realizing defeat,
were seeking safety. A few horsemen
under Lamar at once pursued. 1t was
about two miles to the bridge oyer
Viucent's Bayou. BY the time it was
reached the escort were all killed, but
Santa Anna mounted on a splendid
coal black S allion, which he had TAX
en- the evening before, easily out
stripped the rest, and reached the
bayou, but the bridge had been burn
ed by Deaf Smith, and into the muddy
sluggish bayou he leaped. The horse
sunk into the mud, and he returned
to the shore from which he started
land availing himself OF the darkness
which by this time o~verspread the
field, he concealed himself in the high
grass which bordered the bayou, and
thus eyaded capture for the time. On
the 22nd, the next day after the bat
tie, two cavalrymen, Sylvester and
Joel Robins IN, gathering together
two loose horses which were saddled
and bridled with Mexican bits, found
Santa Anna On the high March grass,
dressed as a common soldier, with a
coarse jacket covering his embroidered
shirt. He made no sign. Returning
with the prisoner they passed near my
camp fire, and | hailed Robinson and
asked: "Who have you got there?''
He replied; "We have got a big one y
| followed them to headquarters
where General Houston lay on his
blanket under a tree pouring water
from a gourd ON his wounded ankle,
which was wrapped In green moss.
lSaluting the General, Sylvester said.
General, this mar says he is Santa
Anna.n The General In his powerful
sonorious voice said: "Who are you,
lsir?" Young Lorenzo de Zayalla, sit
ting at Houston's feet, said In Span
ish: 1.-THE General asks who you are
THE prisoner with courteous saluta'
ton stepped to the front and replied
in Spanish: II am General Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, President Of
the Republic of Mexico, and Comman.
der-in-Chie of the operations against
Texas. You, sir, are the Wellington
of the day. You have conquered the
Napoleon OF the West" Genera.
Houston then ordered all that wer,
standing around TO retire to theil
camps, which order | obeyed, and
heard no more; but | stood in a few
feet and understood Spanish anC
make this as a true statement Of what
occurred on this historic occasion.
CITY OF SAN ANTONIO.
This sIhe Oldest, largest and mos
Interesting city Of this great State o
Texas. There Is much Of historic in
~terest; as well as many things to b,
enjoyed in the way Of fine buildings
beautiful parks and plazas. We Wis
tied most Of. the places OF general in
terest. Those we most enjoyed wer,
the Alamo, San Pedro Park, Fort San
Houston, the Army Headquarters fol
the Department Of Texas, the Cit
Hall, the Main and Alamo Plazas, the
San Antonio river aud the miles Of
asphalt paved streets ~traversed b.
electric cars In every direction. Their
are scores Of beautiful residences ant
some as fine business buildings as car
be found in st. Louis or Chicago. TIT
Quarantine, on account Of yellow
fever, had a very depressing etfecl
upon the spirits and business Of th,
city, but the people are all happy nov
and business is rapidly reviving. NAM
Of the citizens deny that there was
single case OF yellow fever in the city
and pronounce loud curses against tn
doctors who reported such TO exist
We go TO Austin two days, anC
then off for the City Of the Montezu
mas for the winter.
II. X. HISDE.
San Marcos, Texas, Dec. Is.
THE FAD FOR cHAMPAeNEs.