The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-02-09

dependence, small squad of Texan
volunteers had been surprised and
overpowered by larger body of Mex
lean troops. The prisoners were
marched to the banks of the Rio
Grande. and incarcerated in the dom
Jon OF the castle, to await the arrival
OF Santa Anna. He had arrived the
day previous, and at the court mar
tial over which he presided, deter
mined the fate Of the prisoners.
For the purpose of executing the
first provisions of the sentence they
were brought forth from their pris-
on cells into the plaza at the mid
night hour.
Within hollow square, formed by
two files of Mexican soldiers, the lit
tie group of Americans stood in ques-
tioning amazement. They had not
been informed of the nature Of their
sentence and were at loss to under
stand the proceedings.
One of the soldiers brought forth
a small wooden box, with a hole in
the top large enough to admit a
mans hand. This, at the command
of the captain of the lancers, was
placed on a stand in front of an ell
derby man in citizens dress, who
stood facing the prisoners. Into the
box this man dropped twenty beans
ten white and ten black ones. Then
he addressed the captive Texans.
Prisoners" said he, citizens of
Texas in revolt against her lawfully
constituted authority, you have been
taken with arms in your hands. and
arrayed in warlike guise against a
government to which you owe entire
allegiance. 1t has been decreed by
the Court of this State, in and for
the Republic of Mexico, that you are
guilty OF treason, and that you shall
suffer death. You are brave men. or
you would not have been found with
arms In your hands; but to permit
you all to die the death accorded to
brave men would have no effect In
lettering others of your misguided
countrymen from a similar course
course equally injurious to them
selves and the interests of our coun-
try. Therefore, it is ordered that
each of you in succession place his
hand in the box before you and take
therefrom one bean. There are TWEEN
ty of you, and there are twenty beans
half of them black and half of
them white. Those who draw the
white beans shall be shot within the
present hour. Those who draw the
black beans shall be confined in sep
arate cells, without food or drink,
until death results. Only one caution
/ will give you. Should any one at
tempt to evade his just fate by draw
Ing two beans, 1t shall be the same
as though he had drawn a black one.
Prisoners, advance and read your
own dcomr"
Not one of the twenty men but ex-
pected death; but not one there had
believed their captors would be so
inhuman as to prolong existence Just
for the sake of torturing them. For
well they knew that such confinement
with no hope of relief but death
would daily exceed the pain of many
deaths. Strong, brave hearted men
that they were. there was not one
among them whose cheeks did not
pale at the though of such torture.
IL is no wonder that each should hes
itate to be the first to decide his fate.
At haunting laugh from the COM
mander Of the soldiers, and a reiter-
alton OF the command to proceed with
the drawing, one OF the doomed men
stepped quickly up TO the box, in
serted his hand. withdrew a bean.
and held Il up to the view OF the Of
ficer.
Hiram Hallowel was one of the
later immigrants from Tennessee to
Texas. He was tall and stout. with
a splendid physique. Well educated.
gentlemanly with a natural refine
ment of manner. he won his way rap
idly in favor among the other resi-
dents OF the little Texan village Of
Houston, whore he settled. and which
was built and owned almost exclu-
sively by citizens OF the United
States.
Then, when Texas desire her In
dependence, Hiram was among the
first to volunteer his services. and
was Immediately elected captain of a
company OF Texan Rangers. Stationed
Tear the Rio Grande. to protect the
border, HIS little command had been
attacked by a greatly superior force.
with the result stated.
It was the remnant OF Captain Hal
eowel's company that was drawn IN
thai night I'm the public square, sur
rounded by body Of Mexican SOL
diers, and condemned to die-some
20 be shot TO death within the hour.
others to die the lingering. soul sick
ening death of starvation. It was
Hiram Haliowell himself who was
the first to place his hand I'm the box
and draw out a bean.
As he held It up, the Mexican Off
Ger exclaimed sententlously:
Black"
Without a word I'm reply, the young
men stepped back to his place I'm the
line OF captives. and was followed In
succession by his companions.
When the drawing was ended.
those who drew the white beans we're
handcufed and led away to their
speedlcr death The others we're
conducted back to the jail. confined
in separate cells, and left to the fate
accorded to them by the decree of
the court
But outside Of the file OF soldiers
there was one unexpected witness to
the enactment Of this murderous de-
cree.