University of South Carolina Libraries
The Mier Prisoners. ^ Son of One Who Drew Life Bean Recalls Tragic Incident in History of Texas. From Rockda'e, Texas, Reporter. I liuve be? n wai'ir.g lor some time to give you and. your readers a few of my thoughts ill re garci 10 8om? incidents in Tex .s history. While lite endures can I not speak of Asa Hill, my lather, the Mier prisoner who drew the life bean which proved a thousand times worse to him than the black 1) an, as he and his companions suffer* d more than tongue can tell? Very soon alter lie returned to his home he fell with a stroke of paralysis while] plowing near the spot, where he now sleeps by the side of his oldest son, Green Washington Hill, the old Indian agent, Col. ^ Milton Swisher, Captain Eastland, Lieutenat Mack Thompson and many others who drew the black bean. Captain Baker still lives in Wilson county, T* m Rabb in New Mexico and William Rabb in La Porte. The last mentioned was the first white child born west of the Colorado river, lit' was born near the bluff, where the hones of our Mier prisoners are in a vault, ill which place they were deposited when Urs' himiffhI from Mnvinn WLila Lh Grange not very long past, by the kindness of Mr. Nat Kives, 1 procured the inscriptions v which are on the monuments erected in honor of those noble sons of Texas. They are as follows : On the east side : "Erected by the state of Texas to the memory of her defenders, Captain N. H. Dawson and his command, who felt at the battle of Salado, Mex., September 18, 1842." On the south side: "To the memory of the men who drew the black beans, and were shot at Salado, Mexico, March 24th, 1843." On the west side : Dawson's Men." ' 1 On the north side : l'Mier prisJfc oners." ' After the battle at Mier the 1 prisoners were at once started 1 on a long march toward the dun- 1 geons at Perote, where they knew they would be tortured to I death. At the Hacienda Salalo ' they overpowered a company of envalrv. and takinir tlm and aims from tho trembling ' wretches Ihov rode away in a ' gallop. A f"W shouted: "To tho J mountains!" (Cameron and Hip * Foot Wallace realized I he mis- ( taae, but fearing the T?xans I might get separated they loft ' the road. There were 103 of * them. It was no' long until liny r were en'angled in the mountain * parses. Days passed and they 1 were wit hout food or waier. They 1 were wild and did many tilings 1 to procure something to live on. ' Big Foot Wallace w as about the ^ only one who was able to stand ' such hardships. When Colonel Mexin came up- 1 1 i on tho unfortunates he was so touched with pity that he ordered his soldiers to give their can\ teens of water and rations to tho j' p*'sorters. Nine of these prison- ? era reached Texas, and the re T1J1 mainder were returned lo th< Hacienda Salado, heavily ironed Cruel San'a Anna ordered every tentl> man sh 't, but brave Mexia replied I hat he would have nothing to do with such inhuman bu'chery ; but some one was lound who was wi'ling to do tlie deed. One hundred ai d fifty-nine while beans and seventeen black I bems were placed in an e-rrlhe.n mug and the prisoners drew lor life or death. My father, Asa Hill, has often related to me W liat 1?A oanr ^ ~ 1 ....... jjo ncrtiu unci experienced a^ one of the unfortunate sufferers. lie said one ot the most piteoup appeals was made by an alllicted brother, whc was chained to his healthy brother who had drawn a black bean, paying to him, ,4I do not expect to live but a few days at most : let me take your place." My brother, Jeffrey Bardsdnle Hill, the noted '-mother's boy," who was one of the famous pris oners, died last year at Waelder. Big Foot Wallace said he would vouch for this story : There was a man by the name of Sheppard who drew a black bean and was shot with the other condemned men. He fell, but realized that he was not fatally shot. He lay perfectly sjill, letting them take his clothing and drag him to the heap of slain. There were a certain number of graves, and when they were ready to bury the men they found one missing. This one was Sheppard, who made his escape 'he night before. He U - J 1 una mane ins w.?y to tlie ranch of a Mexican, who promise*! to take him to Texas. These stealthy Mexicans trailed him to his hiding place by the blood he had left on the rocks. They took him out and shot him at once. Ou one occasion a fine lady said to the guards: "Why do you keep these men chained? Are you afraid of them?" The reply was: "The governor's orders." She exc'aimed, <kI am the wife of the governor, and 1 intend to cut. the chains." She brought a blacksmith and had the irons cut; but with fourteen others Big Footed Wallace was put in irons again. On the fifth day they began to die; one lasted until the twelfth. On the fourI teentli day the British minister *11(1 a surgeon general in the Mexican at my came into the prison and ordered the chains unlocked. There were good women in Mexico, among the number 8?na Anna's wife and sister. I w ?s said that tin- wife of Sanla \nna was constantly appealing io liim to release them, and her lying request was to send li e aoor Texans home. Although he oved his wife very much, he i rranled her dying request with nueh reluctance, after they ha 1 mdured every species ot cruelty ind torture that the inhuman Mexicans could devise for a ?oi t wenty-two months. A gr*at; nany escaped and many died )i ihe J100 at Mier, about- one.' la'f got hack to Texan. The Mier prisoners avenged his wrong when war broke out > 'tween the United Slates and Mexico, Asa. C. Hill. Orino Laxative Fruit Syrup is sold unci u positive guarantee to cure constipnion, sick hcudacln , stomach trouble, or ny foriu of indigestion . If it fails, the lAimfacturcrs refund your money. What lore can any ono do. - - *' ' 1 K LANCASTER NKWS. AUGUST 3. 1!?07. * SPS IW VmUI ttub neauH White Lawn Waist for 90 cents. Ladies White Lawn Shirt Waist, beautiful styles in long or short sleeves, good quality sheer white Lawn and trimmed with insertion and val lace, the best #1.25 waist sold: Special price 90 cents Ladies' White Linonette Wash Walking Skirts. These Skirts are made of white linen finish linonette, are easily washed, several new sty les in pleated and tucked effects; prices, 95 cents, $1.35, $1.65 and $1.95. Specials in White Goods. Wash Chiffons, 48 inches wide, beautiful sheer quality and sells for 50 cents, special for this sale 35 cents the yard. Fine Persian Lawn, 45 inches wide, 25 cts. quality, 20 cts. yd. pjnp rhprl' - ? JU? iiiuilbo VYVJllll I jj cents, in short lengths 10 to 20 yards: your choice in the lot 10 cents the yard. Good white lawn 30 inches wide, 5 cents the yard. 35 cts fine lingerie at 25 cts. White lingerie, 38 inches wide, special price for 10 days, 25 cts. yard. White dress linen for ladies suits, all pure linen, 36 inches wide, worth 35 cts, quick sale price, 25 cts the yard. Palm leaf Fan free to each customer. Peoples Sup LANCAS This is Headquarters Cold \ - Por Pianos and Organs JV1 *1 v< You want a sweet toned and a dur w ahle instrument. Out; that will last a long, long life time. Our prices are lowest, consistent witli quality Our References: Any hank or rep. utnhl business house in ?'olumhia. ? <1 Write us for catalogs, prices and /Ml OU! Malone's Music House, Nobby now c oi.ruitu.? llon- II;ivc ? OUR LIGH Dr. J. E. WELSH, DENTIST. rp'1G _ 1 he Office in Kminon* Building c?j>pogite Kir-t National Bank. And Phone No. 8. Our LANCASTER, S. C. Our And What a New Jersey tdltor says All we as M. T. Lynch, Editor of the Phillipsbnrg: for f h^mool N. !.. Daily Post, writes: ! have used lor mt-inhCIVtS. many kinds of medicines for coughs and lUf/-./ colds in inv family hut never anything so III ?1 good as Foley's Honey and Tar. I cannot say too much in praise of it " I I _ ? *r.< 4WX- ! f 4*$ ' J'" r 3 GIAh White Lingerie Parasols at Half Price. All our White Lingerie Parasols, embroideried, trimmed, hamnnn V? n r?r1 ~ -1 ? luuuiv.J) J)1 1CCS, 75 cents, $1.25 and $1.50. Figured Lawns, Dimities and Organdies for Hot Days. New assortment of summer lawns and Organdies, 12 1-2 cts quality at 8 1-2 cts the yard. 1 lot lawns, light and dark colors, worth 10 cents; your choice in the lot 5 and 7 cts yd. Belts. Tan and brown belts to match your traveling suit, twenty-five, thirty-five and fifty cents. Kmbroideried wash belts, 10 cts. A pretty assortment of gold Swastika waist pins. Swastika l'earl Belt Buckles. A new line of back combs, ten, fifteen, twenty-five and fifty cents. Try the new Hairlight crown and side puffs. The latest effect in hair dressing. This artistic effect obtained in a minute, price fifty cents. Men's negligee shirts in good styles and patterns, slightly a 1 -1 vittinagcu, worm ntty cents; your choice in the lot twentyfive cents. One job lot of men's pants, worth lrom two dollars to two fifty; special for this sale, seventy-five cents to one dollar and a quarter. ply Company TER, S. C. T . ^ - Veather in April and Brings Big Bargains in June. r Straw Hats must be sold. Our $3.00 $2.25. All other grades cut in propornot space to quote prices. T WEIGHT CIOTHING AND PANTS MUST ALSO BE SOLD. $(>.00 kind, now $4.00. $5.00 kind, now $3 50. $4.00 kind, now $3.00. I so on down. $12.50 suits, now $9.50. $10.00 snits, now $8.0o. 1 so on down. k is for the purchasing public to come and see ^ardell & Allison Bros. % Ut *