Jacob Jackson Humphries
J.J. Humphries
Texas Mtd. Vols. (Mounted Volunteers)
Mex War
Photo Credit: Rosa G. Gonzales
1. News article and Letter to the Editor, 1891
Jacob Jackson Humphries
HIS HAND IN THE JAR
Or, How a White Bean Saved the Lives of Seventeen Men Few People know of the hardships experienced by men in these diggings as far back as 1838, or fifty –three years ago, and fewer still are left to tell the tale. Indeed, the number is small, but their memoirs, if only one-half were to be told, would constitute a voluminous document interspersed with heart-rending incidents, camp-fire pathos and sweet sunshine on and off the battle field over which the proud American bird soared on high. Is not the purpose of The Caller to undertake to furnish its readers with a complete resume of those days, but occasionally it is our pleasure to meet an old-timer whose recollections are so indelibly impressed upon memory’s tablet that centuries will fail to erase it should they survive the time.
A few weeks back The Caller had interviews with Messrs, Page and Gilpin. Now we have found another veteran in the person of Mr. J. J. Humphreys, who conducts a small but honorable business in this city, adjoining the residence of Mr. John Fogg. Mr. Humphreys has passed the seventy-five mile-post, and if outward appearance indicates anything he retains a long lease of life. He is of the kind known as unassuming men, in common parlance, but one who reads the newspapers closely and is thoroughly posted on all matters of public import.
He first came to Corpus Christi in 1838 with Carnes company of rangers in pursuit of hostile and cannibal Indians called the Caranchuas. After camping here one night the march was taken up for the Lagoon Madre on the way to Padre Island. The red-skins were not encountered, so the rangers came back to Corpus Christi. At that time the first settler here had yet to pitch his tent. He says that Dimmitt was the first to engage in business, followed by Kinney and Aubrey, who put in an appearance in 1839. In 1842 Mr. Humphreys and his ranger comrades, numbering 300, went to Mexico. At Matamoras fifty of the number were left behind to guard the property. Thus it will be seen that in the great fight with Santa Anna the rangers lost eighty men, while the enemy fell like so many sheep. This enraged the Mexicans to such an extent that when they captured the rangers the death sentence was imposed on each and every one of them and the 170 were ordered to be shot. However, the sentence was not carried out because of unlooked for interference coming from cooler heads and wiser counsel. But the Mexicans were determined that the death sentence should be meted out to some of them, and true to their word, the order was executed. There were 170 rangers. Seventeen were to be shot. But to determine upon who should be the victims was the knottiest problem of all. A jar containing 170 beans was placed above the heads of the man. Of the 170 beans, seventeen were black and the remainder white. Each and every man took a bean from the jar. Those who drew the white beans were permitted to leave; those who drew the black were shot, which numbered seventeen brave souls. On of the number who drew the white bean was Mr. Humphreys. And this was (how) he was permitted to live. And thus does he still live.
All honor, them to those who died game.
Source: Corpus Christi Weekly Caller, May 30, 1891, p. 1, col. 3
Letter to Ed.
Re “His Hand in the Jarâ€
Brownsville, June 12, 1891
Editors of The Caller:
Having accidentally seen an article in your paper of May 30th, entitled, “His Hand in the Jar,†I cannot help but contradict Mr. Humphrey’s’ story about that hand in the jar. Mr. H. is alluding to 300 men under Col. Fisher, who joined Col Montano and others in 1842 with headquarters at the “Diejmero†about nine miles below San Patricio in Nueces County to start a revolution in Mexico. The passed the Rio Grande near Mier, Mexico, took possession of that town, and were attacked by the Mexican troops under command of General Ampudia, and after fighting his army for three days and after decimating Gen. Ampudia’s army, they had to surrender for want of ammunition and food, and that with hardly any loss, as they fought behind solid stone walls. After the surrender, they were marched down to Matamoros, in a very destitute condition, but Chas. Stillman headed the list of contributions to clothe them from hat to shoe, and the ladies of Matamoros finally saved them from putting their hands in the jar. This happened in the summer of 1842. There were no rangers here up to 1846, and then they wore the title of Gen. Taylor’s scouts, and then only about 40 men under Mustang Gray, who swam the river on the 10th or 11th of May, 1846 at the “Ramireno Ranch,†about 1 ½ miles above Ft. Brown, charged through Matamoros to protect the crossing of the army of General Taylor at the main ferry.
Adolphus Glaevecke
Source: Corpus Christi Weekly Caller, June 20, 1891, p. 5, col. 4
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin , Nueces County Historical Commission
2. Article of reference to the Mier Expedition in The Handbook of Texas online
3. News Item. 1881
Affidavit from J. J. Humphreys, a Mier prisoner now living in the city of San Antonio (1881)
The State of Texas
County of Bexar
Before me, Edward Miles, Notary Public within and for the said County and State, personally appeared J. J. Humphreys, resident of said County and to me known, who having been by me duly sworn upon his oath says:
That while encamped on the Texas side of the Rio Grande near to and opposite the town of Guerrio, Mexico, a party of men gathered around the camp of Capt. Cameron, engaged in discussing the enterprise as to crossing the Rio Grande for the avowed purpose of whipping the Mexicans under the command of Gen. Ampudia, and capturing Mexican prisoners, to exchange for the San Antonio prisoners who were then in the hands of the enemy. General Somerville was asked his permission to execute this enterprising, yet hazardous undertaking, Capt. Green, Col. Fisher and other this affidavit being one among number, the General’s reply was, “I give you my permission to go and take the boats that belong to my command and I only wish that I could go but circumstances prevent me from going with you.†This reply was made in my hearing about December 1842. Then we went with our General’s consent and took the boats according to his advice, not disobeying one order of the Superior Officer of the Government, the result is known—this affiant being one of the survivors of the Mier Prisoners.
J. J. Humphreys
Subscribed and sworn before me this 7th day of May, 1881.
Edward Miles, Notary Public, Bexar County, Texas
Source: This affidavit was included in an article “George Lord: A Mier Prisoner†by Mrs. C. T. Traylor, on page 536 in that article which was published in the September 1938 edition of Frontier Times, Vol. 15, No. 12.
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell
4. News Item, 1891
FORTY-NINE YEARS AGO
The Dark Period When Seventeen Texans Were Put to Death at Mier, Mexico
Another article was printed in these columns a few weeks since giving an account of the great battle at Salado, Mexico, in April, 1842, between Texas rangers and Mexican troops, the same has taken on new life and become a topic of conversation in many households in Texas and Mexico.
Mr. J. J. Humphreys, of this city, with whom a reporter for THE CALLER had an interview and came in possession of the facts referred to, was seen again yesterday and asked if the subject had suggested to him anything new that had been left unsaid, and which would be of any particular moment to our many readers, at the same time casting a bright reflection on the memorable event. The old veteran requested the reporter to keep his seat and repaired to his private apartments in a room adjoining the store. He soon returned with a picture about ten inches in length and a few inches les in width.
“This, he said, is a splendid picture of that great battle,†representing an adobe building with a cross on top, in the door of which stood a few men, while on the outside the ground was thick with rangers and Mexican troopers, some on the ground dead and wounded—others using their fire arms, and others still, beating a hasty retreat, mounted on horseback, and on foot, the two last named designated as 1,000 Mexicans, pursued by a squad of 200 Texas rangers, few in number, but defiant, brave, and unconquerable in spirit.
“In that door,†continued Mr. Humphreys, “was where our man Lyons and Dr. Benham were shot down by the enemy, and the man you see there minus a hat is I, but strange as it may appear, both sides lost but a few of their number. However, bold and undaunted we stood our ground, and when the smoke cleared away we had captured nearly 200 horses and $1,800 in Mexican money. I never before saw men skedaddle as those fellows did.â€
“But the Mexicans got even with the rangers at Mier did they not?â€
“Yes, it was their that the bean drawing contest came off, when the seventeen who drew the black beans were shot, but a braver set of men than those seventeen never smelled powder. That recalls to my mind a young fellow who stood upon the threshold of death and said to one of his comerades: “Give me a chew of tobacco and crack your gun.†He, like the others, died without a whimper.
Source: Corpus Christi Weekly Caller, 13 June 1891, page 7, col. 2
Research and transcription: Michael A. Howell
5. Obituary
DEATH OF A VETERAN
Saturday evening, Oct. 28, 1893, at 7:30 o’clock, there died in this city, Mr. Jacob Humphreys, who came to Corpus Christi about three years ago from Bee county. Mr. Humphreys was born in Giles county, Tennessee, and was at the time of his death, 78 years of age. Last Monday he was taken down with sickness and on Thursday his people in Bee county were notified, Mrs. Humphreys and daughter arriving on last evening’s train. Mr. Humphreys was one of the Mier prisoners who drew the white bean, an extended notice of which will appear in next issue. The funeral took place Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock. Deceased leaves a wife and two daughters to mourn his loss.
Source: Corpus Christi Weekly Caller, November 3, 1893, p. 6, col. 3
Research by: Msgr. Michael A. Howell
Transcription by: Geraldine D. McGloin, Nueces County Historical Commission