Clayton herald. (Clayton, Del.) 1867-1870, 1868-04-25
written for the "Clayton Herald.')
THE SOUTHWEST" !"
Extracts from a Travellers Note Book.


| Ihave often heard it said-"About as
well go to Texas and be shot as any
way''-signifying, that person ran des-
perate chances there in the "Game of
Life" Such may have been the case
when Texas was the Paradise for Grim
inals''-when it was the refuge for every
\ one who had committed crime in the
States and could get away, for the "min-
ions of Law" never followed him here.
1T is said in those days, every man who
Handed from the boats at Galveston, was
Invariably asked, "What he had done to
I run away''-guilt was understood. But
those were the days of the Republic,
when the bowie-knife and the revolver
were the only law-as they are in some
parts of the State yet.
Texas is now being filled up by bet.
ter class of people, and they are pushing
the former class back towards the from
tiers. They can't associate. The saw
agest set of beings I ever sap, ssas.-a
parry of frnnfiermen rhny had been
driving drove of cattle in from the
West. 1 saw them in Galveston on a
spree. They were all quite six feet high,
large, brawny fellows, with long, haxy
hair hanging half way down their backs.
Some wore Indian ad-dresses-circu-
lar pieces of red flannel, stuck full of
gaudy feathers-which were, no doubt,
the spoils of some fight. The rest of
their attire consisted of a pair of buck
skin trowsers and a red and white
woolen shirt. Each had bucleled around
his waist two six-shooters and a bowie
knife, and carried a huge club in his
hand, They inspired terror wherever
they went. But such men as these are
needed on our frontiers; none others
could Withstand their life of hardships,
surrounded, as they always are, by con-
slant danger from the Indians. The
life of the frontiormen afford quite a
study. They are the staunchest kind of
friends, requiring no guarantees for
their friendship, setting aside all prece-
dents-and who knows what TIL heir
own might be--they repose their entire
confidence in you, as long as you act
your part right. They are the kind of
friends who will go through danger for
one. But once betray their confidence,
and they will view YOU as they would
= = an Indian, as a dangerous being to til,
!, community, fit to be shot down at tn,
first opportunity. They are banded to
. gether by a sense of common danger
and are forced into these habits for thei
: common safety. A regiment or two o
these men, if allowed to fight in thei
. own way, would do more towards quel
ling our Indian difficulties, than all th
. troops the Government has out on th
y frontiers.
There are great many Mexicans il
" this State. This is sneaking, cunnin,
looking race; their very step and actor
denoting craftiness and treachery. Ii
talking to person they will never lool
him in the face, but always keep thei
eyes bent on the ground, and one cal
see harm lurking in them. They hav
dried up, dirty complexion, and keel
= black eyes, and are of medium stature
= In disposition very taciturn and mo
- rose. always apprehended DANCE
from this people. On one occasion
had to cross prairie about ten mile
wide, and when about half way across
= discovered Mexican lying in the gras
= by the side of the trail. 1t was too lat
:. then to change my course, as it woul
- have shown signs of fear-for, like al
/, Indian races, they will not attack on
= fairly and squarely-so I went on b,
= him. But in doing so, took my rifle
which was my constant companion OF
such missions, and laid it across tn
y pommel of the saddle, with the muzzl
!, towards the Mexican. He then took vi
\, his gun, which before 1 had not OBJ
:, served, and held it in an upright DO
\ sition. We presented arms and passet
:. by at mutual defiance. will not den,
that was not somewhat frightened, a
l hurried OH my mule to get out of hi
T. reach, and cast many glance back t.
see if he was taking aim at me.
The only criminals receiving capita
punishment in Texas are horse end cat
tie thieves. The stockraiser's brand i
sacred-every one being duly recorde,
at the State capital. do not. mean t.
- say that the thieves receive their sen
tence according to the law, but that the,
are lynched. Such rigorous law a
!, this is needed for the stockraisers pro
4. lection, whose cattle roam over forty o
9 fifty miles of country without any othe
:. safeguard. All cases of murder are con
: sidered in the light of duels. I neve
: heard of an execution for this crime
Sometimes the eulprit is arrested ant
j. kept in prison for short time, but gen
orally allowed to go unmolested.
The women in Texas, like the womel
|. of the South in general, are inveterat
users of tobacco. This practice is no
= confined to the lower classes, but ex
: tends even into the highest circles
When young ladies visit each other, tn
= snuff bottle is constant companion
! They set lit in their midst and dip"
a The people Of the Southwest don't reaC
much. They get all their outside in
formation from their politicians, and, il
consequence, are a prey to every de
:. signing man. A young lady once tolC
, me, that she did not exactly think tn
YANKEES were beasts; but that she hac
, an idea they differed from any race o
human beings sho ever saw. To tn
" negroes they were represented as hide
ous-looking monsters, with horn stick