Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-10-26
LETTER FROM TEXAS.
JAcKsBoRo', JACK Co., TEXAS, /
October z, 1871. !

MEssRs EDITORs.-Permit me through
the columns of your widespread, and inter
esting paper to give to your many readers,
especially in East Tennessee, a brief
sketch of the outlines of my trip, and the
general news on the frontiers of the Lone
Star State. 1 left johnson City, Tennes-
see, August, the Sth, for the purpose of
rambling over the forests of the wild west
and of making my home in north western
Texas. pro tcmpore at east. The jour
ney was long. fatiguing, and no less disa-
greeable especially while travelling by
land, the heat and dust was almost un-
bearable however many things TRANSFERRED
that were calculated to amuse, and thus
time would seem to pass away more rap
idly. Among other things, some of our
young men considering themselves rather
gallant, and being among strangers, form
ed, what might be called railroad and
steamboat acquaintances, with many gay
looking ladies, whom they supposed to be
in a state of celibacy; and to whom, no
doubt, they would have said many fatter-
ing things, but to their surprise, their
..Beauideals" in every instance had been
led TO Hymen's altar, and more than that,
had their husbands with them. The Gulf
of Mexico, the Galveston Bay, and the
Buffalo Bayou were very smooth, which
afforded US quite a pleasant voyage, for
the space of about forty four hours. L
consider Texas as being a fine country
| almost every variety Of soil. from a black
vaxy, sandy loan and alluvialto the rocky,
broken, and less productive. The drouth
| this season has been almost alarming IN
fact, there has been no rain of any conse-
quence in many localities since the last
of May. Cattle are generally lean, and
in some places have died of thirst. In
some parts of the state, which l have visit
ed the p~rairies seem to be in a state of
| almost entire desiccation, while in other
places the grass is three feet high. In
some localities water is hauled twelve or
fifteen miles; however enough grain has
been raised to supply all demands in the
state. The most. surprising thing l have
seen, in regard to the drouth, is the
Brazos river. [ crossed it over two humid
red miles from its source dry-shod. The
channel is broad and deep, and commonly
contains as much water as the Wautaga.
Some parts of the state lin the language
of a Texan is we'll timbered but a Ten
nesseean, would say poorly timbered, as 1t
is post-oak and cottonwood; in places
lumber is hauled over two hundred miles,
Oh wagons drawn by from four to twelve
or fourteen oxen. [ travelled good part
of three weeks on a Mustang pony over
the equities of Parker, Wise, and Jack,
saw some fine land, and deer and turkeys
in abundance. | located at the above
named place the fifteenth of September,
.pened school at Fort Richardson, Male
and Female, Masonic Institute, tuition Is
high, no advanced students here :tbe girls
hang out their matrimonial single at
about fourteen, just as their minds are be-
ginning to De susceptible of culture, and
the boys at the same age start put to cat
tie driving, deer-bunting ct cetero, conse-
a~uently every school on the frontiers com
paratively speaking is composed of tyres.
Jack county lies chiefly in what is called
the Cross Timbers, at the head of the west
fork of Trinity river. hs some excellent
farm lands, though only ten or twelve un-
der cultivation it is chiefly a stock coun-
try, and it's exposed frontier position, sub
iecting it to Indian incursions, has kept 1t
from being settled its population is quite
small FIVE or six hundred, an election
closed here yesterday, the county voted
one hundred and eighteen, nearly all OF
whom live in the town, the county Is hill
ing up slowly, with the general hope and
expectation of better protection. The
people enjoy excellent health, as Is gene
rally the case in these north wertern coun-
ties. Jacksboro. tthe county seat has
five dry goods stores. three hotels, a drug
store, and ten or twelve saloons, no church,
or preacher | heard an excellent sermon
by a Methodist in Parker county the 10th
of August, nave not heard one since. The
Indians have been riding through these
frontier counties, very boldly, for several
weeks, within the hast few days they have
stolen a great many horses. They came
within a few hundred yards of the soldiers
quarters a few nights since, and drove OF
horses and mules. No one has been kill
ed by them during their last visits. Sew
eral horses were killed, DIR. Akard's wa:
shot through the neck with an arrow
which he extracted and deposited In hi
trunk, as his share of the booty. AS thy
passed through Parker county, forty miles
from here they had with them a little
white boy. five or six years of age he wa.
crying most distressiDgly, but he could
not be rescued, on account OF number, anc
the rapidity with which they pass through
the country. A large party of them
few DAYS since ran into a herd of fine bee
cattle, belonging to Murphy Hitson, ane
others, about forty miles west of this place
and succeeded in making their escape will
, near two thousand head of fine beef cattle
: The herdsmen nave reinforced and gon'
t in pursuit but it is thought they will no
overtake them until they have reached
the reservation. During my travels II
these regions, I have seen one hammock
: but there was no Pappoos IN it. The tW'
Indian Chiefs, of the Kiowa tribe Salanl'
y and Bigtree. are at this place in letters.
!. have scrutinized them thoroughly /; L woui'
rather see two well manacled, than one a
liberty. They were condemned to be ex
J. ecuted the LIST day of September, bu
/ Gov. Davis, committed the punishment ;
Imprisonment for life in the State Penl
, Tertiary. But Col. Mckenzie, command
er of forces at this place refused to CIV
? them up. They are large. portly, amb!
tious-looking savages. Bigtree has III
head ornamented with a lock OF ladys hall
interviewer with his OWN.
: Money seems to be very plentiful here
a produce pretty high; corn $3.50. hou
- m ~-So v>Nnnr