Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1914-09-24
CHAPTER XXI.

The superintendent's house stood on
low bench above the town. looking
out over all the valley, but protected
by high hill behind, upon the summit
of which was placed a mammoth black
water tank.
In its architecture the casa gTande
was an exact replica OF hot-country
square OF adobe bricks. whitewsshed
to keep of the sun and presenting on
three sides nothing but dense trees
planted near for shade. Along the
front was long arcade, the corredor.
graced by series Of massive arches
which let In the light and air. Inside
were low chambers and long passages:
and. behind. the patio and garden Of
orange and fig trees.
Built for a sumptuous dwelling, II
became in moment fort and, with
men on the high hill by the tank, II
was practically impregnable to direct
assault.
AS Hooker stepped out on to the COW
cred porch with his saddle-gun in his
hand he became simply one more of
band OF excited Americans, all armed
and ready to defend ths house to the
last. Some were pacing back and forth
In the corredor, others were hurrying
up from the Mexican quarters with a
last belated handful Of women, but the
major portion were out on the open
bench. either gazing north and south
at the scenes of the distant firing or
engaging In curiomad scramble for
any spent bullet that struck.
The fighting, such as there was. was
mostly up the canyon, where a large
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 IL the futile
charge and retreat WAS the beginning
and the end OF the battle.
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 re-
treat. AS for the main command of
the insurrectos. they were repeated at
Chular, six miles up tho railroad.
where they had surrounded ana taken
smaH mining camp and captured a
train al the summit.
The eelumn to the south-ahe one
which Hooker had encountered-had
taken 10 the high hills west Of the
town, and. along the skyline of the
butteliks submits they could now be
seen in scattered bands making their
way to che north.
The defenders OF Fortuna consisted
OF rsg-tag garrison of twenty fed
erals and the hot-headed, charging
miners. But apparently that was a
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 on to
attack Chular.
But in THE they made O 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 woald
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 the 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 came scampering by
tens and twenties, closing In with a
vastly superior force upon the now
defenseless town. In the depths of the
canyon below the miners were still
chasing the elusive cavalry. their f1r-
ing becoming faint as they clambered
on toward the summit and the rebel
headquarters at Chular.
They had, in fact, been handled like
children. and the Americans Joined In
contemptuous curses of their mistaken
bravery as they beheld in what straits
II had left them.
Forbidden by the superintendent tc
participate in the combat, yet having
in their care the women Of the camp
they were compelled to stand passive
ly aside while rebels by the hundred
came charging down the ridges. ONLY
In the last resort. and when all diplo
macy and federal defense had failed
would they be allowed to so much al
cock a rife. And yet--well. twenty
determined Americans might easily
turn back this charge.
Taking advantage OF his Mexican
citizenship, Hooker was already on tn,
run for the trenches when the super