A White Bean or Death — Struggling for Texas Independence

1878

A White Bean or Death

A Story of the Texas Struggle for Independence — Shot by the Mexican Authorities — Drawing the Lot for Life or Death

The events recorded below took place at Salado, Mexico, March 28, 1843, when seventeen Texans of the Mier expedition were shot by order of the Mexican authorities. The story is told by a correspondent who signs himself R. P. H., of Blanco, Texas, a brother of one who drew a white bean:

One hundred and-fifty-nine white beans were placed in the bottom of the mug and seventeen black ones placed upon the top of them. The beans were not stirred. Such was their anxiety to execute Captain Cameron, and perhaps the balance of the officers that first Cameron and afterward the other officers were made to draw a bean each from the mug in this condition.

Cameron, in the act of drawing first, said with his usual coolness: "Well, boys, we have to draw, let's be at it." So saying, he thrust his hand into the mug and drew out a white bean. Next came Colonel William F. Wilson, who was chained to him; then Captain William Ryan and then Judge F. H. Gibson, all of whom drew white beans. Next came Captain Eastland, who drew a black one, and then came the balance of the men. They all drew their beans with that manly dignity and firmness which showed superior to their condition.

Some of lighter temper jested over the bloody tragedy. One said, "boys, this beats raffling all to pieces." The knocking off the irons from the unfortunate told who they were. Poor Robert Beard, who lay upon the ground sick, said: "Brother, if you draw a black bean I'll take your place." The brother said : "No, I am stronger and better able to die than you." Several of the Mexican officers who officiated in the cruel violation of their country's faith expressed great dissatisfaction thereat, and some wept bitterly. Soon after the fated were placed in a separate courtyard, when about dark they were executed.

Several of our men were permitted to visit the unfortunate previously to the execution, to receive their dying requests. Poor Major Cooke said: "Boys, I told you I never failed to draw a prize; and then he said to Judge Gibson: "Say to my friends that I lived in grace." Judge Gibson was so much affected at this last parting that he showed it from his tears. The major said: "They only rob me of forty years," and then sat down and wrote a sensible and dignified letter to General Waddy Thompson, the United States minister to Mexico, and knowing that his remains would be robbed of his clothes after death, drew off his pants and handed them to his surviving comrades and died in his underclothes. Poor Henry Whaling, one of Cameron's best fighters, said: " Well, they didn't make much off me, anyhow, for I know I have killed twenty-five of the yellow dogs." Then demanding his dinner in a firm tone, saying that "they could not cheat me out of it," ate heartily, smoked a cigar, and in twenty-five minutes was launched into eternity.

Our interpreter, who was permitted to remain with them to the last, says that "fifteen times they wounded the iron-nerved soul, Henry Whaling, and it would seem that Providence had a special care in prolonging his existence that he might demonstrate to his enemies the national character they had to contend with, for he gritted his teeth at and defied them in terms of withering reproach, until they placed a gun to his head and blew his brains against the wall." Such was the effect of this horrible massacre upon their own soldiers, who were standing as guards upon the wall above, that one or them fainted and came near falling over, but was caught by his comrades.

Poor Terry, quite a youth, but in spirit a giant, said that "he was perfectly willing to meet his fate; that for his country he had fought and for her glory he was willing to die," and turning to the officers, said: "After the battle of San Jacinto my family took one of your youths prisoner, raised and educated him, and this is your requital." Edward Este spoke of his fate with coolness. Cash said: "Well, they murdered my brother with Colonel Fannin, and they are about to murder me. Tell the officer to look upon men who are not afraid to die for their country." Captain Eastland behaved with the most patriotic zeal. He desired that his country should never lay down her arms until the most ample reparation and her freedom was obtained. Major Robert Dunham said he "was prepared to die, and would to God that he had a chance to do the same thing over again; that he gloried in the demonstration they had made, which showed Texans without arms to be more than equal to Mexicans with arms." James Ogden, with his usual equanimity of temper, smiled at his fate, and said: "I am prepared to die." Young Robert W. Harris behaved in the most unflinching manner, and called upon his companions to avenge the murder, while their flowing tears and bursting hearts, invoking heaven for their witness, responded to the call. I have the utmost confidence that this pledge, so solemnly plighted, will be redeemed. They one and all invoked their country to do both them and herself justice.

Just previous to the firing they were bound together with cords, and their eyes being bandaged, they were set upon a log near the wall, with their backs to their executioners. They all begged the officers to shoot them in front and at short distance, as "they were not afraid to look death in the face." This they refused to do, fired at several paces, and continued the firing from ten to twelve minutes, mangling these heroes in a manner too horrible for description.

The names of the murdered men were : L. L. Cash, J. D. Cooke, Robert Dunham, Captain W. M. Eastland, Edward Este, Robert Harris, Thomas L. Jones, Patrick Manan, James Ogden, Charles Roberts, William Rowan; J. L. Shepherd, J. M. Thompson, James Terrey, James Turnbull, Henry Whaling, M. C. Wing. — Houston (Texas) Telegram.

The Fourth of July – The Spirit of American Liberty

1895

The Spirit of American Liberty

I believe the Declaration of Independence valuable not alone because it drove from our shores a foreign invasion, not alone because it established a government by a written constitution, but because it gave to the spirit of American liberty and American virtue the opportunity to erect a broad home of constitutional liberty through which prosperity was attained and no tyrant could breathe its atmosphere.

Wise as were the fathers who framed our constitution, deeply laid in political wisdom as were its foundations, it would not be worth the paper on which it is written but for the fact that it gave to us the spirit of liberty that has never died in the bosoms of Americans. — Bourke Cockran.


Every One Should Celebrate

Make the Fourth a gala day, as we have ever done, and let us celebrate it with the largest liberty practicable inside the lines of law, safety and rectitude, I do hope that in some way through all the public schools the meaning of Independence day may be brought to all the children in the land, and that to all of them it shall be so marked and so happy in its celebration that it will ever be a brightly shining star in the coronet of liberty. — General O. O. Howard.

—Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 29, 1895, page 3.

Changes in the Manner of Observing the Fourth of July

1895

READING THE DECLARATION

Changes In the Manner of Observing the National Birthday

With the late civil war began a new era in our national life. The preservation of the Union became the absorbing topic of thought among the loyal people of our land. The great national anniversary continued to be celebrated, but in a modified degree. Instead of ovations largely devoted to the apotheosis of the American eagle as the hope of the world, there were thoughtful discourses concerning the duty of every American citizen at that momentous period. The putative crimes of old King George were almost forgotten, and in many places the farewell address of Washington, the peerless plea for national union and public virtue, was read instead of the Declaration of Independence. Ever since that war the public reading of that Declaration has been less and less observed. It is well to "Let the dead past bury its dead" and to direct our energies to the strengthening of our national life. Let our boys and girls have all the innocent fun and healthful amusement on the Fourth of July and express their joy as loudly as they please. Would it not be well for their seniors to follow the example of ancient Hebrew fathers, who required their sons to come at the time of the celebration of the passover and inquire "What mean ye by this service?" and then gave them full instruction concerning the origin and significance of the great national festival? By means of such home education on our great anniversary Young America might receive valuable instruction that would stimulate and foster true patriotism. — Benson J. Lossing in Independent.


Depew's First Fourth of July Oration

Chauncey M. Depew will always associate the Fourth of July with his first attempt as an orator, this important event taking place at Peekskill when the great after dinner speaker was 21 years old. Mr. Depew had then just graduated from Yale and was not so fluent of speech as he is now. The late James W. Husted was present and also delivered an address. "Our Chauncey" remembers that for the first and only time in his life he experienced "stage fright." "The audience were very kind to me," he said, "and appeared to be very much interested, although I felt every moment that I should break down. I can still hear their cheers in my ears as I finished, but I felt nevertheless that I had made an utter failure of my first attempt. Husted made a much better speech than I did. He laid special stress upon the injustice of England. Just when the mother country was getting it the worst an Irishman in the audience called out: 'Good! Give 'em h—l, Mr. Husted! Give 'em h—l!' This incident was the only one which at all relieved my downheartedness on this occasion." — New York Press.

—Newark Daily Advocate, Newark, Ohio, June 29, 1895, page 3.