The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 4, July 1900 - April, 1901 Page: 35

-Reminiscences of J idge Edwcin Waller.

ican authority was committed by Mr. Waller's vessel sailing boldly
past the nose of the' fort, outward bound.
The sight .of this daring violation of his orders excited the Mexi-
can commander to vigorous action, and, forming his garrison on the
bank of the river, he opened a fusila.de upon the defiant craft, which
did damage only to her rigging. Inspired by this sight, another
vessel lying higher up the river, and commanded by Captain Fuller,
set sail to follow in the wake of the Sabine, which, now being out
of range of small arms, was seen crowded with passengers on deck,
huzzaing and shouting in derision and triumph, among them one
lady, a Mrs. Sweet, the sister of Samuel M. Williams. This so
inflamed tfe Mexicans that they turned on Captain Fuller's vessel,
and opened on her ,a heavy fire. Before the vessel passed out of
range a shot from the iMexi-cans struck tbt iller or helm held by
Captain Fuller, wounding him; he immediately called for his rifle,
intending to return the salute, when a young man, Spencer Jack,
the uncle -of 'Thomas 'M. Jack, of Galveston, asked leave to fire the
gun, and did so with good effect, as he wounded a 'Mexican in the
thigh. This worthy -set up such a howl ,of pain and fright that his
comrades ceased firing and gathered in disorder around him, under
which diversion Captain Fuller sailed quietly on his victorious way.
The ball being extracted from the limb of the fallen hero by an
American (one Dr. Robinson, hereinafter named), and the wound
;proving slight, the warlike ardor of the Mexicans revived, and they
at once arrested as the originators of this bold disobedience
Colonel Wharton and Edwin Waller, and conducted them as prison-
ers inside the fort. 'Colonel Wharton, with characteristic sagacity
and talent, soon argued himself out of limbo, but Mr. Waller prov-
ing more dbdurate, the, insulted commander sentenced him to be sent
to Matamoras, to the tender mercies o'f the authorities; there. After
much trouble, and principally through the .aid 'of -Colonel Wharton,
many good promises being 'exacted, Mr. Waller was finally .and
reluctantly released, and a hollow truce prevailed for a season.
When the Sabine sailed, Captain Brown was 'ordered by Mr. Wal-
ler to invest the proceeds of her cargo in two cannons, and to bring
them back on the return trip for retaliation upon the fort in case of
any hostile demonstration. The cannons did come, though too, late
,to do duty at the storming of Velasco, and being dedicated to the