Harry Holman, in the days of aboriginal fighting and journalism, a frontier celebrity.

Wake's company, out on a scout, was picked off by the Mexicans, and the distinction between United States soldiers and Texan rebels not being yet clearly established, a drumhead court-martial ordered "the decimation." This was a decree that one of every ten of the Yankee captives should be shot.

There being a hundred of Marshall's men, one hundred beans--ninety white and ten black--were put in a hat.

Then the company was mustered as on dress parade.

Whoso drew a white bean was to be held prisoner of war; whoso drew a black bean was to die.
In the early part of the drawing Wake drew a white bean.