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Show 78 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY THE be shot down like dogs without a possible chance that our friends could ever know the place or manner of our death. But our thoughts were suddenely checked by a motion from Salazar, as if to give the word of command for our execution. I east hurried glances at Fitzgerald and my comrades for a signal to make a dash; but at this junction an altercation ensued between Damasio and a Mexican named Vigil. Not a word could I understand, but from my companions I learned that the latter was interfer ing for our lives. He contended that we had entered the settlements openly and peacefully, and that we had asked to see and hold converse with Governor Armijo. With him rested the power of life and death, and before him we must be taken. Vigil prevailed over the bloodthir sty captain, and thus were our lives spared; but in the few moments which had passed since we were had lived a common lifetime of excitemen t. ’’ first drawn up, we The man thus saving the lives of the captives was Don Gregorio Vigil. He was a man of great prominence in that locality and pos oeEhesgt BI Ppt bl eae lhe CM ee P&. & Se 3 roo oe ee a oe =ee a ae i Ca . an ed ry oo re Pe ee ee ca ras —_ Ph Sea rea + 2 a ee .7 * a ® a Pee St ee neta eee tesppcieeeies srg fee ae++ee 66.8 he. pee& rater: ti des Se St o ) Stet § r yea He was of good rect principles and had great influence in Mexico. On the 17th of September Colonel Cooke hale et sessed of considerable wealth. heart and cor- that portion of New and Captain Sutton, at Las Vegas, with ninety-four men, surrendered to General Armijo at Anton Chico. Armijo established his headquarters the prefect, Antonio Sandoval, having been summoned to Santa Fé, wher he was acting as governor. All of the property taken from the Texans was distributed among the soldiers, and in the plaza in Las Vegas, a great celebration was had, at which the printed copies of Lamar’s proclamations were burned. Armijo sent out Colonel Juan Andrés Archuleta the Texans. 7 led Hon to with a strong command On the oth of October Laguna Colorada Colonel where Archuleta. they Armijo to find the remainder of they were found at a place surrendered without opp0s- now left Las Vegas for his capital, where on the 16th of October he was given a public and most enthusiastic reception. On the day following the last of the Prisoners were sent on their tedious march to the City of Mexico, where they arrived in severa] divisions at the beginnin g of 1842." °5 Captain Salaz in ¢ ll “s captives south ivisl aes, bani <p : tient El Paso. who to had cut off He or died as and ye ee frrom i roieh, tock oan conduct on the from Santa Fé ag an accountwhile of the death journey of a Texan, named Ernes exr o ve € 1 mm the> dea9 d man y ’s aa ? Cars,’ aS a token c | eau I tha he had not esc hatt he had ot : e ape’ P TEXAS-SANTA FE EXPEDITION 79 After the arrival of the prisoners at the City of Mexico, some of them were released upon the intercession of foreign ministers, who claimed that they were not Texans, and had joined the expeditio n not knowing its real objects. The remainder were finally released by and by the orders of the same brute, the body was thrown into a neighboring ditch, One of the prisoners, a man named McAllister, a native of Tennessee, so foot-sore that he was unable to proceed, and was which had been procured by the alealde of Valencia for the riding in a cart purpose of transporting some of the sick and lame prisoners, but before it had proceeded a mile upon the road, it either broke down or was found loaded. At all events, McAllister was ordered by Salazar to be too heavily to hobble along as best he might, and to overtake the main body of prisoners, now some quarter of a mile in became advance. The wretch had frequently told those who, from inability or weakness, had fallen behind, that he would shoot them rather than have the march delayed; not that there was any necessity for the hot haste with which we were driven, but to gratify his brutal disposition did he make these threats, Although he had struck and in several cases severely beaten many of the sick and lame prisoners, we could not believe that he was so utterly destitute of feeling, so brutal, as to murder a man in cold blood whose only fault was that he was crippled and unable to walk. He could easily have Procured transportation for us all if he had wished, and that he would do so rather than shoot down any of the more unfortunate we felt confident; how we mistook the man! On being driven from the cart, McAllister declared his ability to proceed on foot. Salazar drew his sword and peremptorily ordered Ain to hurry on, and this when he had half a dozen led mules, upon either of which he could have placed the unfortunat man. Again McAllister, pointing to his swollen and inflamed ankle, declared e himself unable to walk. Some half 4 dozen of his comrades were Wrought up, waiting appearance of Salazar, the standing around him, with feelings painfully denouement of an affair which, from the angry they now feared would be tragical. Once blood-thirsty Savage, pointing to the main body of prisoners, ‘pple to hurry forward and overtake them —he could not. more the ordered the ‘Forward!’ ‘ald Salazar, now wrought up to a pitch of frenzy. ‘Forward, or I’ll shoot eon the spot!’ ‘Then shoot!’ replied McAllister, throwing off his blanket and exposing his manly breast, ‘and the quicker the better!’ Salazar 00k him at his word, and a single ball sent as brave a man as ever trod the earth to eternity! His ears were then cut off, his shirt and pantaloons “ripped from him, and his body thrown by the roadside as food for wolves! ’’ ice hen this inhuman monster “ h to the commanding general arrived at that at El place, Paso, Don J. he turned M. Elias his prisoners . eau was generally termed, General Elias, a well bred, liberal, a . a No sooner had he been acquainted with the conduct and : aga’ hose: cP Mexico e © aed great indignation, and, as the Texans had — Pe 6 food and excessive fatigue, he at once phi 7 a City of recruit and give them strength for the march to int and whi]le n the afternoon of the day of the arrival of the Texans at 1 i the prisoners were some of them being entertained at the oo Elias, Salazar entered the room, his object being to renderrou 7 _— ac- eG Sar 0 _ his stewardship in relation to the Texans whom he had brought rom charge of ora € ae hade intrusted him with the ‘overnor . Armijo i began b y saying wa F¥, that Governor rm1j 2 tn, Til anes: thet he had t guarding a certain number of men from San Migue Oo c A a . pi Over the whole number with the exception of five, fortunatel: y died upon the road; mae “Scaped, he had brought and to prove that they had really their ears, at the same time died, throwing upon |