Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-06-18
For the Spectator.
tut IIIG DptCtdIUT.
AUSTIN, TEXAS, May 9th, 1867.


tivation. There are some Of the finest farms
here that we have seen anywhere in the State.
Most of them are now covered with fine crops
of corn and cotton, promising an abundant
yield but this section is more liable; to suffer
from dry weather than the country North and
East of this. The scenery here is much finer
than it is on the Brazos and Trinity-as there
are numerous bluffs rising up near the river,
and back of these the country opens out into
| fine rolling prairies covered with grass and
usually quite rich.
| We stopped a few days at Bostross, the coun-
| ty-seat of the county of the same name. 1t is
| pleasant little town, of about 1900 inhabi-
tants, and was a frontier post during the revo-
| luton of 1888. Austin is situated on the North
side of Colorado in Travis county, and at the
foot of the Colorado Mountains. 1t stands on
unproductive soil An abundance of building
material can be found only few inches from
the surface, and most of the houses are made
! of it. The rock is species of soapstone and
| admits of fine polish.
The capitol is a large splendid building, with
a portico in front-supported by four massive
| Corinthian columns-all of stone, which was
found near the spot. In the portico stands a
monument which contains the ashes of the he
roes of the Alamo, 1873 in number, who we're
butchered by Santa Anna, March 9th, 1886,
and their bodies burned. The ashes were col
lected and afterwards deposited in this monu-
ment made OF stone taken from the ruins of
the Alamo, which was erected by order of the
Congress of the young republic. The base is
composed Of a square block of granite in which
are deposited the ashes-above this are four
square pieces composing the main body-on
the front and rear OF which are a skull and
bones, and on either side a shield containing
the names of the privates and lower officers
while on the four edges of a slab that surmounts
these are the names of Coils Travis, Bonham,
Bowie and Crockett The first of these was in
command-the two latter only fell after having
laid score or more of Mexicans dead at their
feet. This was stated by Mrs. Dickinson and
negro-the only two of the entire garrison
| who escaped-above all of this is single shaft,
| which completes the monument, and which
contains the following incriptions ITO the
| God Of the fearless and the free is dedicated
this monument, made from the ruins of the
Alamo ''Be they enrolled with Leonidas in
| the hosts of the mighty dead s'Thermopy-
lac had her messenger of defeat, but the Alamo
had none" s'The blood of heroes hath stained
me let the stones of the Alamo speak, that
their immolation be not forgotten"
But a few weeks after the capture of the
Alamo, Col. Fannin and his command were cap
tured near Golead, and all shot down in cold
blood several days after their surrender They
numbered over 800, but no monument has ever
been erected to their memory.
son flames eternal camping ground
| Their silent tents are spread,
| While glory guards with solemn round
| The bivouac of the dead"
The Land Office here is large fine stone
building of Norman architecture
The Lunatic Asylum and the Deaf, Dumb
and Blind Institutes are all large and elegant
| structures, all built of stone.
| The Ayenue Hotel and manv IF the mercsn-
| tile houses, would do credit to any of our Eas-
tern cities.
The air here is dry, pure and healthy, and
although the thermometer now stands at 900
in the shade, there is always good breeze
which prevents the heat from being oppressive
during the day, and the nights are always cool
and pleasant.
springs and wells being too much impregnated
with lime to be good. There is an Artesiau
we'll near the State house 1900 feet deep, but
the water is not good.
We called on the State Geologist, Mr. Buck
ley, and saw very fine collection of specimens
He has some excellent samples Of coal, which
is found in great abundance in various parts of
the state. Also some iron ore, which will yield
IS per cent. Of pure iron-this is very album
dant in Llano county. He has also discovered
| a rich vain of copper ore in the same county
also plenty Of lead in almost pure state
There is considerable excitement now about
gold, and large parties are going out prospec-
ting for it. One man came to this city recent
ly with $500 worth Of the precious metal
which he got somewhere on the Concho River
The same party brought some rich silver ore,
and some gold bearing quartz. from the Pecas
and San Saba.
One party of 40 men was attacked and bro
ken up by the Indians near the Wichita Noun
| ta1n bI1tf hax mn how Of
and have started again, and are quite sanguine
Of success this time They take provisions for
six months.
l The Comanches are the most troublesome
Indians, and having been nell armed 6y the
Yankees during the a0or, and sent to butcher our
defenoetess settlers on the frontier-are now quite
/ formidable enemies. We saw complete coat
of mail-supposed to be an old Spanish armor,
composed of iron scales, which was taken from
one Of their chiefs, called "Iron-J Jacket" who
was killed in 1858 on the Pecas, by some State
| troops.
ally-Texas-like all the rest Of the
Southern States is in deplorable condition.
King Philip is ruling with rod of iron, and
if the restrictions now imposed on voters are
not removed nine-tenths of the white popula-
ton of the State will be disfranchised. That
military satrap, Griffin has again disgraced civ
ilization by issuing an order to the people of
I IGAdS requiring Jurors u take the UOU-CtOU
oath, thereby rendering it impossible in more
than nine-tenths of the counties of the State, to
get jury without taking negroes, and in some
cases they have been unable to take the OATH
! What;a picture for the civilized world The
jury-b box filed with semibarbarous Africans, to
sit In judgment on the rights of civilized and
intelligent people, and that too by order of the
hfgh o9Jcials Of the best government the a0orld
ever sac. ''We think the Devil has been loosed
for little season."
The people are generally much dissatisfied
with the state of affairs, and many speak of
| leaving the country. Some are going to Cali
! fornia and Mexico, and few to the land Of
monkeys and EzzUrds-Brazl
| Those who go to the latter place will only
make their condition worse-for negro equality
exists there as much as here, and the white
race Is an inferior one, and are much prejudiced
against foreigners
Notwithstanding the pernicious effects of the
order above referred to, which has paralyzed
nearly all kinds Of business, and cast general
gloom over the whole country, the planters are
still working as vigorously as ever, and the
prospects for good crop of almost everything
planted here are very good-but the crops are
much later than usual on account Of the severe
Norther in March.
The farmers say they are looking for an I'M
usually large emigration next fall from the
States East of the Mississippi and are deter
mined to have provisions for them to live on.
Labor is still in great demand, and many
DtantarS sneak of viSitinU VIRGINIA and Nortb