Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-10-25
HIGFOOT WALLACE.
s. Hit Of Frontier BlOGraphy-The
Famous Texas Hanger Visits his Old
Virginia Birthplace.


From the Eockbriige iEa-l Citizen.
The famous Texan fighter, hunter and
ranger, known throughout the length and
breadth eft cur Southern country arrived
here last Thursday morning on visit to
his friends. Sine he left here, in 1880, he
has ranged every nook and corner OF the
Lone Star State, from the Sabine to the
Rio Grande, and from the Gulf over the
Liau0 Estacado-tMOugh New Mexico,
Arizona. California through the Mexican
States Of Sonora. Chihuahua, Limpas and
':Grcasors;" slept under the wallis of Mon
tert.y while Old Zacl's cannon Numbered;
with lis tlusty rifle he has brought down
scores Cf buiialOs, lions, panthers and
V Dives has ridden a mustang 100 miles
day ;'or "A ncek, and made many hearty
Racial Of mule steak. Although he has
been through many hardshipS and perils,
sill lis bICnzed face is lit by n bright,
Keen eye, lis step firm and carriage erect.
Iellaps a short sketch of his life may
not lie devoid Of interest 10 our readers.
William Anderson Wallace, third son of
Andrew and Jane Blair Wallace, Was born
III the Eous" now owned by Mrs. Z. A.
Wallace, willow Of Andrew Wallace, q
younger brother in the year 1916. This
Old hCmastead h is been in possession OF Il e
Notwithstanding f. GIN father to sOn-tor
days If the ecttlem 3nt, tradition says, So
frtINclt were the iHcurSiOns Of the SHAW
nees that his Scotch-Irish ancestors never
vcutured to the forest, field or church,
without the rifle. Two of his grand uncles,
AGam AID Andrew, we're captains in the
. Continental line dtuing he Revolution.
Audr, was killed at the battle Of the
WaXhaws, III South Carolina, and Adam
l"tJ W0ln,ied on the iitll at Guillfold, and
was butchered by Tartleton's troops. A
sNoid, with the name Of Adam Wallace
engraved on thG blade, is still in possession
OF the family. Ofcourse 9 Big Foot" grew
from a baby to q boy; went to school to
old Tid peace to his ashes-as did
some other Nimrods in our midst-and
from {, 10y to a stalwo1ti youth, worked
on farm and played all sorts OF wild
pIanks.
But this monotonous life was soon to be
btrken. Ills oldest brother, Samuel, emf
grated to Texas during Tie struggle for in
dependence, and fell a victim to Mexican
treachery, along with the Iamentel Colonel
Fanin, at GOliad. So deep an impression
had this tragic event made upon him, that
he turned q deaf ear to the entreatleS OF his
friends and went to Texas. He was at the
battle uf SoladO, when the MeXicans und.r
General Wool invaded Texas in 1912.
Shortly after, he Joined the Nier expedition
under General Greene, was captured, drew
beanS-dreW white One-eScaped being
Shot; was taken to the castle of PerCte,
from thence TO the city Of Mexico there he
was put TO work on the streets. AT the
solicitation of the late Governor Mcdowell,
then member of Congress, through the
Mexican minister, General AlmOte, Presi-
dent Santa Anna libel ated him. He re-
turned to Tt xlS, and was with the a.lant
Harry Hayes and his rangers in the Indian
war.
At the close Of the war he was appoint
cd to the command Of the escort of the
United States mail, from San Antonio to
El Passo. Ri. Foot Wallace, weighing
240 avoirt'upois, standing six feet two in
his stockings, measuring forty-siX inches
around the bre0St, has by no means such
q big foot but he killed the COmanche
chief big Foot" hen .e the name.
''Big Foot's" home is at his ranch in
Medina county, thirty-miles west of the
city Of San Antonio. The drouths of for
mer and IL . floods Of last year, and the
loss of20O horses, stolen by Indians, do
not prevent him dispensing ''true frontier
hosritalty'' to all who come.
We behold in William Wallace the true
type of the American pioneer and frontiers
man-now passing away, and soon with
the rapid settlement Of the country to be
known only in history-who With rifle in
hand, at the head Of an army of clyiliza-
ton, plunge fearlessly into the dark forest
and trackless prairie, and make way for the
school house, the church and the printing
press. All honor to these brave veterans,
gray in the service of their country and of
humanity.