The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-12-14
AN AMERICAN IN THE FIRST
MEXICAN REVOLUTION.

AN AMERICAN IN THE FIRST
MEXICAN REVOLUTION.
From first to last, men from the
United States, Americans, haye taken
more or less prominent part in the
numerous Mexican revolutions. In
the very first revolution, that which
overturned the Spanish rule and estab-
iished Mexico as free and independ-
ent republic, an American, one Ellis
p. Bean, born in Tennessee, took a
part more conspicuous than that of
any who came after him and better to
be known, for he recorded his expert
ences in a manuscript which one can
read in the appendix to Yoakum's
History of Texas.
Ellis Z. Bean was born in eastern
Tennessee on the headwaters of the
Tennessee river, in 1888. firing of
his fathers farm and longing for adj
venture, when but Is years old he set
out for himself, Hoated down the water
ways and arrived at Natchez on the
Mississippi in 1900. There he met
with a character evidently after his
own heart. Philip Nolan, who had
been engaged since 1875 in leading
trade expeditions across the river into
Spanish territory as far as San Antonio
in Texas. The trade was illicit and
must have been winked ut by local
Spanish authorities, for Spain was
extremely solicitous against any Amer.
lean intrusion into that territory and
her laws were drastic upon the subject.
Men of a nation that had successfully
revolted against king and established
their own republic were not such as
Spain desired among her Mexican
subjects lest the latter might absorb
some of their principles.
But the prohibition of Spain had
little effect on Nolan or those he in.
duced to follow him on his expeditions.
To forbid such men from entering into
territory makes that country so
attractive it is sure to be invaded.
In October, 1900, Nolan started
from Natchez on what proved to he his
last expedition with a company Of
twenty men, and young Bean. II years
old, was of the number. The Spanish
authorities had determined to put a
quietus on these expeditions, and they
knew of this last one of N6lan's. The
little company proceeded westerly
from the Mississippi, and on the
Washita were met by fifty Spanish
riders who would have stopped them
only they dared not. Nolan and his
men showed fight, and looked to dam
gerous to be attacked. At the Red
river three of Nolan's men lost heart
and returned to Natchez- The rest
pushed on, aud six days from the Red
river they crossed the Trinity, and in
the open country established a camp
and busted themselves catching wild
horses, as their own horses were badly
worn out, and many had died. The
company had become reduced to
Nolan, five Spsniards, eleven Ameri.
cans and negro. At this camp they
were attacked by troop of one hum
dred and fifty Spaniards with a field
piece, on March %, 1901. From be.
hind a log inclosure built as corral
for horses, Nolan and his men stood
off their assailants from daybreak until
late in the afternoon. Nolan unfortu.
nately was killed early in the action.
The rest, their ammunition running
low, surrendered finally, under condi.
ton that they should be returned
under escort to their own country.
They were taken to the Spanish post
at Nacogdoches and held, so they were
told, to await orders from Governor
Salcedo at Chihuahua in confirmation
Of the terms Of surrender The orders
came after a month. but instead of
their liberty the Americans were each
put in irons and marched to San
Antonio, a little jaunt of some six
hundred miles. Here they lay in
prison three months. Then they were
marched to San Luis Potosi. well down
into Old Mexico, where they stayed in
prison sixteen months. After San
Luis Potosi the prisoners were started
for chihuahua, where they were kept |
as prisoners for five years. Bean made
continual unsuccessful attempts to
escape, and earned for himself the
reputation of desperate and danger.
Gus man among the Spanish officials.
The long delay in chihuahua was in
order to receive instructions from the
ling of Spain, to whom the case of
these prisoners had been submitted.
The order of the king after this weary
ime, came along and was to the effect
t,at every fifth man Of the prisoners