Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-01
Huge Structure Spans Rio Gyamde a.
Even Cameron a
Hero in Drawing
Of Death Beans

the Texan we're placed IN ~ ialSe
stone Quartet.
That night Even Cameron passed
the word that the long-anticipated at
tempt to escape would be made the
following morning. In the courtyard
their captors had stationed a COM
pany Of infantry; a troop Of cavalry
guarded the outer wall, and several
hundred infantry and cavalry were in
camp a few hundred yards distant.
That 2l4 unarmed men should hope
TO escape under such conditions was
apparently the height Of folly, but
the Texans had infinite confidence in
their leader and their own fighting
abilities.
Cameron was 10 give the word. As
the sunbeams fell athwart the Guar
tel door he stepped to~ard the
threshold and glanced around at his
followers.
"Well, boys" he said, well 20 at
it."
He flung his hat to the ceiling. the
signal for the attack. and then sprang
upon the nearest sentry, telling him
with a blow Of his fist and Selling
his musket.
The Texans boiled through the door
and into the courtyard, shouting
"Remember the Alamol" the inspira-
tionaI warcry of the bordermen. The
surprised guards were momentarily
paralyzed with surprise. A few
sprang 10 their stacked muskets. but
were overpowered by the stalwart
bordermen. Captain Barragan, COM
mander Of the guard finally surren-
dered TO Cameron.
"To the gate, boys" was Cameron's
command, and he led the way.
The Texans followed with a rush.
The Mexican infantry and cavalry on
the street had formed. The Texans
charged. Some were armed with
captured muskets; others fought
with adobe brick pried from the
walls. They charged with a bravery
and desperation that nothing could
withstand. Captain Fitzgerald fell
at Cameron's side. shot through the
head. A bullet grazed Cameron's
arm. a score of the Texans fell dead
or wounded, but the charge could
not be stopped. The Texans flung
themselves upon the close formed
ranks Of roops and scattered them.
Two hundred and fourteen unarmed
men had defeated $50 equipped for
battle.
The Texans gathered up all horses
and muskets in the village and then
began their march back to the Rio
Grande. 400 miles 70 the north.
There were 1914 in the column that
started north that morning. The
first day they rode g. miles. The
following day they left the highway
to avoid the Mexican garrison at
Saltillo and struck off into the
mountains. For days they travelled
without food or water. followed con-
stantly by patrols Of Mexican cav
airy. Ten men died during that ter
rible journey. but the Texans. de-
spite their weakness. were ready for
battle when they found themselves
hemmed in BY the troops Of Cen
eral Mexia.
Mexia sent Cameron a summons 10
surrender.
I'VE will surrender on only one
condition-that we be treated as
prisoners Of war; was the border
mans reply.
The condition was accepted, and
after the Texans had recuperated
they were marched back to Saltillo
and later TO Hacienda Salado and
confined in the Quartet from which
they had made their escape.
A message was sent 70 the Mexican
dictator. General Santa Anna. APP
prising him of the ~re-capt=re. and
his reply was an order to execute
the entire company Of Texans. A
storm OF protest arose at Saltillo.
and General Mexia stated he would
resign If the dictator insisted upon
the execution.
Santa Anna then modified the SEN
tence, ordering one mar in every ten
TO be led out and shot. Colonel
Domingo Huerta was dispatched
from Mexico City to carry out the
order, General Mexia refusing TO
break his word TO Captain Cam
eron.
On March 25. 1s43, the lottery Of
death" was held IN the courtyard,
where six weeks previously the
Texans had defeated the Mexican
guard and made their escape.
Colonel Huerta decided that chance
should decide on the victims. He
informed Captain Cameron of the
provisions made for the lottery. A
large ola or jar was brought in By
two soldiers. Into this they poured
159 white beans and II black ones
one for each az the Texans.
The Texans we're formed in line.
Even Cameron stepped forth. plung-
ed his hand into the jar. and drew
forth a white bean. Down the line
of Texans swept a frenzy Of cheering
when they saw their leader was not
doomed TO the firing squad.
A moment later near ~ middle
Of the line a seattle occurred.
When the line was straightened out.