Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-07-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
Above That Never Died.
LOriginal.1


cret service took place which was not
only thrilling, but which contained a
romance.
One evening two officers, one In the
uniform of a 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 i'll
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 commandment 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 the
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 n bold attempt to secure 1T.
Lieutenant Holmes was sent with
him, 1t 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.
"Are you related" asked Winchester,
''to Edward c. Holmes of the class of
1872, at West PointT'
HE was my father" replied Holmes.
Winchester said nothing, but looked
at the young man with melancholy
stare At the moment a messenger
from Major FourtadO entered.
"The commandant." lie said, sis 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 eX-
changed"
Winchester again turned his glance
on young Holmes, and Il sight might
have been of relief-cscaped him. The
two officers exchanged letters to their
respective families, to be taken north
| by the one escaping death. Then they
were conducted to Fourtados 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. lie step
ped up to Fourtado. who sat ut 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 tc
the guard. he directed that the pris-
oners be taken away. A few minutes
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
hand to withdraw the remaining stone
1t was not there.
HAS any one touched the hat" he
asked, surprised. "since l laid 1T on
the table?'
Every one present disclaimed having
done so.
Gentlemen" said the major, 1--WE
have shot a noble man. He took boil
chances, sparing his companion"
A month later Lieutenant Holmes
was exchanged. Before taking his de
parture for the American lines he wa:
conducted TO Major FOurtadO's head
quarters.
What bond was there between yot
and your comrade?" asked Fourtado.
"None that know of. General Tay
lor called for volunteers to attend al
officer on a hazardous enterprise.
volunteered and was accepted"
Lieutenant, 1 will tell you a secret
When Colonel Winchester Withdrew
his hand from the hat that decided
your fate and his he took both stones.
The information weighed heavily up
on Holmes. He remembered Winches
ters mention of his father, who hat
, died some years before, and as soon a
!, he returned to his home went straigh
. to his mother to ask her to enlightel
him.
Mother" he asked, "who was Oti
Winchester"
"Why do you ask, my boy?" replies
the lady, starting.
The young man gave his mother tin
. information he had received from th
Mexican. 1t was some time before sh
could find her voice to speak. Thel
she said:
"Otis Winchester was your father
rival. They were classmates at Yves
Point and l was a guest Of the super
inteudent. l decided for your father.
The last FIVE words were spoken al