Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1846-09-19
BILL Dean, tIle Texan Ranger

Kendall, OF the Picayune, writing
from Matamoras to that paper, gives
laughable account of droll old Joker
he has lately fallen in with. We have
read a good many amusing culinary
descriptions; but the exposition the
art, as practised on the Texan PTairies,
" whites into nothing" all we have
read or heard of before. But hear
Kendall's account Of this " happy-go-
lucky chap"
Rare wags may be found among the
Texas Volunteers, yet the funniest fell
low of all is o-lucky chap,
named Bill Dean, one of chevalier's
spy company, and said to be one of the
best g seven up" players in all Texas.
While at Corpus Christi, a lot of US
were sitting out on the stoop OF the
Kinney House, one morning, when
along came Bill Dean. He did not
know single soul in the crowd, al
though he knew we were all bound for
the Rio Grande; yet the fact that the
regular formalities of an introduction
had not been gone through with, did
not prevent his stopping short in his
walk and accosting US. His speech,
or harrangue, or whatever it may be
termed, will lose much in the telling,
yet will endeavor to put it upon pa
per in as good shape as possible.
"Oh, yes" said he, with knowing
leer Of the eye; oh, yes; all going
down among the robbers on the Rio
Grande. are you? Fine times you'H
have, over the left. I've been there.
myself, and done what great many
of you won't dol come back but if
didn't see material h, in August, at
that am a teapot. Lived eight
days on one poor hawk and three
ENTHUSIASTICALLY kill prairie
rat on the whole route to save us from
starvation. The ninth day come, and
we struck small streak of good luck
horse give out and broke down, plumb
out in the centre of an open prairie
not a stick big cuouSh to tickle a rat
tlesnake with, let alone killing him.
Just had time to save the critter by
shooting him, and that was all, for in
three minutes longer he'd have died a
material death. 1t didn't take US long
to butcher him, nor TO cut off some
chunks of meat and stick 'em on our
ramrods; but the cookin' was another
matter. / piled up heap of prairie
grass, and sot it on fire; but it flashed
up like powder, and went out as quick.
But"
"But," put in one of his hearers,
but how did you cook your horse
meat after that ?"
How 2"
eyes, how 2"
Why, the fire caught the high grass
close by, and the wind carried the
flames streakin' across the prairie, /
followed up the fire. holding my chunk
Of meat directly over the blaze, and
the way we went it was caution to
any thing short of locomotive doin's.-
Once in a while little furry Of wind
would come along. ard the fire would
get few yards the start; but I'D brush
upon her, lap her with my chunk, and
then wss'd have it again, nip and chuck.
You never seed such tigh. race-it
was beautiful"
"Very, we've no doubt" CALCULATED
one of the listeners, interrupting the
mad wag just in season to give him a
little breath Z" but did you cook your
meat in the end ?"
" Not bad ] didn't. | chased that
d. fire mile and a ball. the al
mightiost, hardest race you heer'd
tell on, and never givei it up until run
her right plumb into a wet marsh /;
there the fire and chunk of horse meat
came out even--a dead heat-especial-
Iy the meat"