Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1914-12-25
CHAPTER XXI.

The superintendent house stood On
a low bench above the town, looking
nut over all the valley, but protected
by a high hill behind, upon the summit
of which was placed a mammoth black
water tank.
In It's architecture the casa grande
was an exact replica Of a hot-country
hacienda, q fat-roofed, one-stortsA
square of adobe bricks, whitewxshsd
to keep OF the sun and presenting on
three sides nothing but dense trees
planted near for shade. Along the
front was a long arcade the corridor,
graced by a series Of massive arches
which let IN the light and air. Inside
were low chambers and long passasess
and. behind, the patio and garden Of
orange and 1g trees.
Built for a sumptuous dwelling. It
became in q moment a fort and, with
men on the high hill by the tank. II
was practically fmpregnabls to dirsot
assault.
AS Hooker stepped out on to the oo$.
cred porch with his saddle-gun In his
hand he became simply one more Of q
band Of excited Americans. all armed
and ready to defend the house to tho
last. Some were pacing back and forth
IN the corredor, others were hurryiAs
up from the Mexican quarters with .
last belated handful OF women. but the
major portion were out or the open
bench, either gazing north and south
at the scenes of the distant firing or
engaging in a cur1o-mad scramble Tor
any spent bullet that struck.
The fighting, such as there was, was
mostly up the canyon. where . lsrgs
party of Sonoran miners had rushed In
pursuit Of the rebels. The firing down
the canyon in the direction Of Old For.
tuna had died away to nothing, and for
the moment 1t seemed as II the futile
charge and retreat was the beginning
and the end Of the battle.
A party Of rebels had penetrated
clear into the town, but It was appar.
emily more by accident than intention.
and they had been quick to beat a re-
treat. As for the main command OF
the insurrectos, they were reported al
Chular, six miles up the railroad,
where they had surrounded and taken
a small mining camp and captured q
train at the summit.
The column to the south-the ono
which Hooker had encountered-had
taken to the high hills west of the
town, and, along the skyline Of the
buttelike SUBMITS they could now be
seen In scattered bands making their
way to the north.
The defenders of Fortuna consisted
Of a rag-tag garrison Of twenty fed.
erals and the hot-headed, charging
miners. But apparently that was .
combination hard to beat, for, while
the federals entrenched themselves be-
hind the black tank on the hill and
prepared to protect the town, the So
norans in shouting masses drove every
thing before them and marched IN to
attack Chular.
But In this they made a mistake, for
the rebel scouts, seeing the great body
of defenders pressing on up the mar
row canyon, rode back and informed
the tricky Bernardo Bravo. He would
be a poor general indeed who could
not see the opening that was offered
and, while the valiant Sonorans pur
sued the rebel cavalry up tho pass
| Bernardo Bravo sent the half Of his
thousand men to cut of their retreat
from behind.
Along the broad top Of the noun
tain above they anne scampering BY
tens and twenties, closing In with
vastly superior force upon the now
defenseless town. In the depths OF the
canyon below the miners were still
chasing the elusive cavalry. their fir
ing becoming faint as they clamberet
on toward the summit and the rebe
headquarters at Chular.
1U6y uHu, III ldCS1 pCoh hoAuAou AL
children, and the Americans Joined II
contemptuous curses Of their mistaken
bravery as they beheld In what straits
It had left them.
Forbidden by the superintendent u
participate In the combat, yet havinl
in their care the women OF the camp
they were compelled to stand passive
" aside while rebels by the hundre'
came charging down the ridges. Onf,
in the last resort. and when all diplc
macy and federal defense had failed
would they be allowed to 80 much q
cock a rife. And yet-well. twent'
determined Americans might easil,
turn back this charge.
Taking advantage Of his Mexical
citizenship, Hooker was already on tn
run for the trenches when the super
intendent stopped him with a look.