Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-01
BY II. L. SEXTON

The history Of Texas is replete
with thrilling deeds Of brave men,
great sacrifices and patriotism and
devotion without parallel IN world
history. In all the dramatic and
tragic history of the Lone Star state
no incident reveals greater heroism
than the lottery Of death" at Haci'
eada Salada, when 173 Texans were
lined up by their captors n forced
70 draw from a jar either q white o.
black bean-the black bean, n IN
every ten placed in the jar, signitying
that death would be the fate of the
individual drawing il.
There was no wavering IN that
line of Texans as they marched out
TO accept what fate might decree
They knew that seventeen Of their
number were doomed 20 6Sash. Un-
like the heroes of the Alamo they
were not to fall fighting. They
knew that death would come, not in
the heat Of battle, but before a fir
ing squad.
The Part that Even Cameron, rec
ornized leader Of the heroic band,
PLAYED in that grim tragedy will ever
be one Of the cherished memories OF
the border. His heroism was the in
SEPARATION Of those bordermen who
eheered their comrades who drew
white beans from the jar, knowing
that every white bean drawn ~lessened
their own chance for life in the
grim lottery.
Cameron county bears the name OF
this rugged hero Of the border eoun-
try. Two a ago a movement was
started to place in the Cameron
county court house a memorial tab
let in his honor, to immortalize IN
bronze the name that Even Cameron
immortalized in deeds. This move
ment has been permitted to anguish.
but il is understood that a new effort
will be made to raise the necessary
funds.
II was on Christmas night. 1912,
that a band Of 500 Texans under Col
onel William Fisher crossed the Rio
Grande near the present site OF
Roma. marched to Mier, even miles
distant, and attacked the town. gar
risoned by 1000 Merican troops
commanded by General Ampudia and
Colonel Canales. Driving in the Mex
lean outposts they gained the town,
and throughout the day, December
rs. a sanguinary battle ragged in the
Streets
The Texans gained the plaza, driv-
ing back the Mexicans from street
to street. Mid-afternoon found the
Texans in possession of the plaza and
all approaches. Colonel Fisher was
wounded, twenty Of the Texans lay
dead, and the streets approaching the
nlaxa were strewn with the Mexican
dead and wounded.
Colonel Fisher, ~agonized by his
wound, received a summons from
General Ampudia to surrender. and
accepted. upon condition shat the
Texans be treated as prisoners Of
war. The Texans, believing the bat
tie won, received word Of the surren-
der with shouts Of disapproval, and
= small party. refusing TO accept the
decision Of their leader. fought their
way out of the city. and gained the
Rio Grande where they Joined the
troops left TO guard the camp.
Colonies Fisher and Green we're
Immediately sent tc~ Mexico City.
Captains remained in charge Of their
companies, and Even Cameron then
became the recognized leader.
On New Years day. ls43, the Tex
ans. guarded by 1000 picked troops
started on their long march 70 Mex
leo City. On February 10. the wearied
columns came 10 Hacienda Salada.
100 miles south Of Saltillo. where