The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1872-05-10
glbaagly Teoister.

hhoNei Sdse etnesuu]ecta thought,
he replied. ''But come to nv room
for few minutes. and we will decid,
upon one"
followed him into his sanctum, al
elegantly furnished little room. ant
found Il number of gentlemen present,
canvassing the prospects of ole
"Rough-and Ready's" election.
Senator. said tile Colonel. address.
ing stout, tlorid-faced man, who sal
tilted back in his clair, and with hi.
feet resting on the side Of the window,
I'VE want motto for our paper. Sit
down, Mr.. Ransom;' turning to me
aud landing a chair. "What shall ii
Tx. -
well. Colonel" said the Senator.
Il am not an adept at such matters
but probably our learned friend Blake
tan dig us pearl from that oyster he
calls his hrain:" This was said with
an ironical look in the direction of Il
fIir-flced man, who was the school
master Of the place. Blake was about
thirty-tive years of age. Yankee ;
but, notwithstanding that Etct. had the
entree into the best society. lie was a
thorough gentleman and a fine scholar.
lie laughingly replied: ''Senator,
you do me too much honor. Iou,
aiteiiiuyian birth and education las
certainly placed you in possession Of
pearls much more valuable lhan car
lie taken from the oyster, as you arr
pleased to term 1t, which possess.
This was n shot at vulnerable spot
of Senator VS.; his advanced age
troubled him.
Lawyers and sclool-nates alway;
differ" he pleasantly rtorted.
Here a clrniverous specimen of the
southwestern lawyer, named Harris,
suggested that each present write Il
sentence. with his name, upon a slil
of paper. and have the motto drawn
by lottery, which suggestion was acted
UPON.
In a few minutes each one had a
sentence written and placed in Senator
W--'S hat. which, being shaken,
Major Howard, Il noted politician OF
Mississippi ut that Time, was chosen
TO draw. The first slip drawn was to
he the motto. With a handkerchief
over his eyes, he put in bis hand. and
feeling around for second or two,
drew out a slip. The Senator read it,:
BE JUST AND FEAR NOT. john
Ransom"
Ransom, vou are tie lucky man."
said Colonel DaviIlS, as all turned to
look at me more closely, being Il
q stranger in their midst.
"Yes," l replied; ''now | can 90
on with the paper, \ and rose to 60.
"Wait moment said the Colonel.
That motto brings back recollections
OF one Of the most eventtul epoclls of
my life. Wait and hear the story.
Gentlemen, am not much ola story
teller, but after You have heard it, you
will say there Is strange coincidence
in the drawing Of this motto to-day
Give Il; the story, then, said Har-
ris.
| took my seat again. and after hav-
ing cigar handed TO me by Major
Howard, We sang out, Ready. aud
the Colonel began.
TIE COLONIES STORY.
Gentlemen, you all remember the
excitement that prevailed in the South,
subsequent to the annexation of Tex
a., in 1915. Well, in 1913. ullnors
reached our Government tliat strong
influence was ahout to be brought to
bear up0n the Texas independents, by
which British and Spanish interference
might take place in the internal ar
Of the country.
Through friend OF mine in the
War Department at Washington. and
my own personal solicitations. | was
with two Others, as COM
missioner to visit that country. and
feel, as it might I've said, the pulse of
the people in regard to the question of
which was being firiously
agitated i'll the States. What is HOW
the State of Texas was divided into
three sections for our inspection. The
tier was given to a Captain
Unlway, a very fine officer, which de-
lartment included the country from
the Br7lzos to Sabine rivers, and north
west, nearly as far Us the Red River
country. The second tier, and the
easiest commission of the three. was
the country contiguous to the Brazos.
This department fell to the lot of a
young civil engineer, named Parks,
from Philadelphia, Pa, through the
political influence Of friends. lie was
Il splendid specimen of manhood, full
Of buoyancy ard hope. but unfortu-
lately the poor fellow was killed By
rowing band Of Indians only one
month after entering upon active duty.
lie third tier was an extensive Que;
it included the settlements from the
Colorado River south to Matamorls,
and northwest along the course of the
Rio Grande. 10 this division was
assigned.
'.llaying met my fellow-commis-
sioners III New Orleans, at which
point we received our final instruc-
tions, we took passage in a sailing YES
sci for Galveston, from which place
we were to separate TO our respective
departments. After a stay Of three
days in the latter city, | parted COM
pany with my fellow-inspector3 and
sailed for Matagollla, arriving there
on the 18th day Of Auglst-tliis very
day five years ago.
Eager to commence work at as
curly a day as possible, concluded to
start UP the Colorado River and reach
Austin, from which place would be-
gin my tour Of observation. | there
fore engaged passage Oh board small
liat-b0ttonled steamer, advertised to
On I'M flip river to Mli1rtnn mr. In