Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-18

GONZALES on THE GUADALUPE, Feb. n, 60
Since my last dated from Bastrop, have been
wandcring-havc been in the saddle almost con-
stantly. My face and hands, originally white,
have become aboriginally brown-transformed
by exposure to Texas sun and the ceascless
wind. have left the Colorado with its forests Of
pecaus clms, and cotton-woods, to scramble over
bluffs, through cedar brakes, and to scoHr over
prairics OF vast extent where have found thorny
thckeis of the mesquit, amid which, Craze thou
sands Of Texas CATTLE now lean from u winters
| exposure and want OF grass and where tho post
oaks raise their gnarlcd and scraggy heads 10 ut
| test the power of long continued drouths in the
past-wherc the cactus fourishes, and where all
is wicrd, and vast, and peculiar
Gaze with INC from this height-this point OF
bald prairie. Away, on every side, recedcs the
landscapc--blue earth, and forest, and sky, com
mingling in the dim distance. At our feet
stretching TO the right aud TO the left-is an un-
| broken forest of post-oaks. Their grey limbs
seem laden with hoar-frost, but ,hey arc motifs
their popularity of color that deceiyes u.s. Far
ther on, the trees are laden with the long trailing
| Spanishmoss. Notice these trees form tortuous
| line-they mark the course Of stream, dry, per.
| haps, in the summer; for this Is an arid country
| one where rain falls not for months, in the dry
scason.O On every hand, scattered amid the lnesguil
brushes, the postoaks, or ON the distant prarics,
arc cattle, long-horncd cattle, the pride and the
wealth OF Texas; and you may at times, see q
hcrdsman galloping across the country on his
scraggy but scrvicablc cow-pony. Houses too
may be seen; but you will notice they are few
| and far between.
We mount our horses, everybody rides in Tex
as, and ride for u day. The chill blast of 4
" norther" penetratcs our heavy overcoats, and
we shiycr as we ride. Twill be more pleasant
pcrchance, tomorrow although "norther
sometimes blows for week to be succeeded by .
delightful day, when delicious breeze tempered
with sunshine fans our cheeks, and MS We gallon
on, strange thrill of delight creeps over us. Thi'
is lhe first stage of the "prarlc fever" strange
malidy, which SO pervcrts a mans nature that liz
forgets the past, and cares only to rcvel in Tit
present.
One who las lived in Texas and followed, ever
for a short time, n life in the saddle and on til,
paries, will bear me witness us to the fascination
OF such an existence where n barbarous sort Of in
dependence, and total disregard of personal ap
pearanee in the way OF apparel and cleanliness
seems the climax OF enjoyment. II is rarely tina
a man who has lived sin the saddle" even fol
one summer, can abandon the prairics of Texa
without regret; and have heard many men oil
standing, In the towns say that the life of q ran
chero or herdsman is the ireest and most dashinl
In the world.
Well, to speak more particularly of my ride t.
this point. As left Lockhart, thirty miles below
Bastrop, met party of four men bringing
prisoner In. His name was McKane, and he hat
playfully shot three holes in his best friend III,
day before, as one of the party informed INC. Tn,
victim died the night after the shooting Since
left Austin, which was twelve days ago, hay,
learned of eight murders having been committed
within territory comprised In the limits OF fiv,
counties. Four murders were committed in Web
berville and vicinity, within the week ending Feb
I'D. can, If necessary, give names and clrcum
stances. In addition to this, two bodies, parti
ally decomposed, were found In q creek near the
town. They were not identified. Webbelvills