Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-14
Things i'm Texas.

correspondent of the N. Y. Journal of Com
merce, dating from AUSTIN April 8, gives pleasant
detail of matters and things, from which we select
the following
There at the arsenel at this place about 60 U.
5. soldiers, under the command of the ever merry
Maj. Bell. They dragons, and their horses are
much the best looking animals of the two. They
have no music,-but one bugle, which seems to an
swer every purpose.
There are two companies of mounted rangers
Texns make; one, under the command of the brave
and noted Captain Hays, stationed at San Antono,-
the other is encamped about two miles from here
These soldiers have done much lessen the Indian
depredatons in fact, they have nearly extnguished
them, all about this region. They are all young, ac-
tive and intelligent men. Captain Hays is not
% years old, and less than the middle size of men,
but he has shown himself most valiant and skful
officer. You recollect his thirteen men killing sixty
Indians in fair open fight. Very little fear is
now felt from hostile Indians at present. Within
two years man went ten rods from his house with
out his rifle. Several persons shot within
stones throw of of this city, There are some tribes
that visit Austin, which are very imposing The
Llpans and Camanches are the finest made human
beings | have seen, if the two or three score
that visit here, fair specimen. They tall,
straight, full chested and very graceful Their dress
approaches nearer nudity than is often seen-conss-
ting Of scarcely more than a small mantle of buck
>hlls VI ABOUT IlelF lOlnS. lney are dpl-
tai and skilful riders. Many of them can pick up
one of their own men who has been wounded kill
ed, when their horses at full speed All the tribes
in Texas profess to be friendly but the " Oldest
inhabitants" have but little confidence in them.
have had many interesting interviews with thor
ough Indian fighter and Mexican trader (who has been
In the country some years. in which | have been
vastly edited, while listening TO his hair-breadth
'scapes. Many of your worthy New Workers will
remember IL. l.. Kinney, ESQ.,, formerly large ope-
rator in Illinois. He rich, and is or rin be, for
he is one of the few always perseyering men of the
age. He was and is the intimate friend of Daniel
Webster and his family At this time Col Kinney is
the Senator from Corpus Christi, but left his business
much against bis will He was in Mexican prison
for twelve mOnths-was sentenced to be shot ION ac-
count OF the interception of correspondence which
he had the temerity to undertake for the benefit
of his government) but through his mastery adroit
ness escaPedand is now the road 10 great wealth
(or am mlstaken) and is one of the prominent men
OF the State. HIS horsemanship is astonishing-the
most skilfu part of which he acknowledges himself
indebted to the Indians for. have seen him Gull
boquet of flowers from the ground. / have him
take lady In spite of herself from the ground and
place her on his horse in front of him have seen
him pick up hats, papers, &C., from the earth, and
all this with his horse at full gaop Men must learn
to ride if they fight Indians.
At dinner party given yesterday, at the barracks,
by the principal officers, and which was attended by
the governor senators, members of the house. officers
of all kinds, civil and military witnessed what they
tell me was the true Texan style of dispatchng an
entertainment of that kind. Ii was rich beyond de-
scrption. The toasts were very worthy. Gov. Hen
derson gave " the President of the United States,
James X. Polk +" which was drunk heartily. Then
we had, " Texas a State"-the memory of "An-
drew Jackson"-''of Fanning"-and other heroes of
Texas but the toast which almost drew tears and
was drunk standing and in silence, 50 the Memo
ry of the late Republic. Our songs "irst rate,
but would hardly answer for a drawing room.
The weather is warm, and every thing is thriving.
They look for large crops this season. Wheat and
corn can be raised here in just such quantities the
planters WISH but they have good method of grind
ing It, The only mill in this vicinity is g propelled
by two mules. The stones five inches thick and
eighteen inches in diameter only. One quarter is
ken for toll, and grinds at that. Why won't
some of the New York State mllers put up mill
herel They would be rich who would do it, in few
years. Flour is worth $40 BARREL and has been
since have been here-more than four weeks. This
is the price, and it is hauled from Houston.