The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-03-05

HERoIssI OF SosEPH HoRssBg ASD COZ.
JAMES EbNCNDs0N-THE FAMOUS RK-
TREAT or join wAHRENBCRGER COL.
JAMES NNYFTBLD, BARTON SINS AND
THREE-LEgeED WILLIE
As a rencral thing. war Is calamity,
and we are rather disposed to admire man
ike Jacob who was the father cf twelve
sons, than one like Cain who slew bis
brother man.
Indeed, the amiabIe and lonely character
of the Saviour is 50 yenerated that even the
wicked sing
. Oh / would I were like Jesus,
st - 80 geuIle. Mid and kind
But q blOOdless war ike that Of the
qrckioss, Is an exception to the general rule,
and the Austinians deserve praise rather
than censure for their bloodless achieve
ments in the -Grchics soaT, which viii now
give !. har.Esl
On the fifth of March, 1912, General Ra-
fael VasoueZ with about 1000 Mexicans
invaded Texas. He took and pillaged San
Antonio, while other parties OF God and
liberty loving Greasers did the same thing
for GOliad and RefugiO, which so affected
President Houston that he left Austin, the
capital Of the Republic, went to Houston,
and attempted-by ordering the archives,
his cabinet, etc, thereto change the CAPT
tai Of Texas back to Houston, which being
named after him, was his favorite city.
The people of Austin, however, opposed
this measure of the administration, looking
upon it as fragrant violation Of the Con-
stitution, and a heavy blow to the future
DEVELOPMENT of their city So when Presi-
dent Houston sent after the archives, to have
them taken to Houston, they opposed it.
On the twenty-ninth of December, 1912,
Captain Thomas J. Smith, with forty armed
men, by, order of the President, came to
Austin with three wagons, and going up to
the Land Office, of which Thos. w. Ward
was the Commissioner, commenced loading
the wagons with the records of the Land
Office.
The Austinians having organized resis-
lance and formally protested against the
removal of the archives by Capt. Smith and
his party, brought out an old howitzer and
charged itwith grape and fired Just one dis
charge at Smith and his party, hitting the
land office and knocking up considerable
dust, but fortunately injuring no one.
! Whereupon Capt. Smith and his party
hastily retreated with as much of the
archives as they had already in the wagons
and got away with them in good order as
far as kidneys Fort on Brushy creek, eigh-
teen miles IRON Austin, where they we're
overtaken by about sixty Austinians under
the command of Capt Mark B. Lewis and
forced to carry back to Austin in their own
wagons, everything taken away and replace
them in the Land Office.
The scene was rich and rare one when
the returning victors were met and welcomed
by the ladies of Austin, who honored them
not only with their smiles and embraces,
but with their loudest huzzas of approba-
zion, for they had returned safe and victo-
rious, when horrid war and bloody death
had been apprehended.
The archive warriors, as they have been
! styled, also took possession of the arsenal,
formed a vigilance committee, and with
arms in their hands retained and guarded
the archives until the annexation conven-
! ton assembled on the 4th of July, 1915,
when they turned them over by agreement
| to the administration of President Arson
Jones, on condition that the convention
should meet in Austin.
| Comptroller James B. Show and Judge
B. f. Johnson, some time an 1S43, came to
Austin to get some forms and blanks from
among the archives, but they went away
without them, with the tails and names Of
their horses and mules sheared, and with
their mules ears cropped.
From the 9Th March, 1912, to the 4th of
| July, 1916, the people of Austin had hard
time, for they were not only at war with
their own people, but with the Mexicans
and Indians. i
| An incident occurred on the third day
after the bloodless ''battle of the archives, :"
which, from its rarity and unexampled dash
and daring, has no equal that the writer
ever heard or read of in either ancient or
modern history.
On the evening of the first of January,
1S43, after attending a public meeting in
A1stin, Capt. Alex Coleman and William
Bell started in their buggy for ride, fol-
lowed by Joseph Hornsby and James Ed
monson on horseback.
Just as Hornsby and Edmonson mounted
the spur of RObertsOn's Hill, east of Austin,
where George i. Robertson now resides,
they saw Coleman and Bell jump from their
| buggy, cross the fence and run for dear life
across the field southeast of them, pursued
| by about thirty Indians.
They saw the Indians capture them both,
kill Bell and about to kill Coleman, when,
after moments consultation, they resolved,
/ though unarmed save with one single bar
rel pistol between the two. to stampede the
/ Indians and rescue their friend Coleman or
perish in the attempt. a
In their flight Bell and Coleman had sepa-
rated, and the pursuing Indians did the
same, many of them leaving their horses at
the fence when they entered the field, and it
so happened that when Hornsby and Ed
monson charged them at full speed, yelling
terribly and discharging the single barrel
pistol in their midst, that they were fright
ened, left Coleman at liberty, but almost
naked, and took totheir heels, no doubt
thinking that Hornsby and Edmund would
Immediately be followed by more Texans.
Coleman did his best, running back to
town and raised the alarm, while his hber-
ators hung on the rear of the retreatIng In
dams for two and half miles, yelling and
hallooing until assistance joined them, when
little battle took place, wherein three saw
ages we're killed and their horses and accou-
tTements captured.
i One night John Wahrenberger, a Switzer
and gardener of Col Louis p. Cook, Secre-
tary Of the Navy, returning home with bag
of meal on his shoulder, fell in with party
of Indians at the head of the Avenue, near
the Alhambra. He fed and gained the res
idence of Col. Cook, who then lived where
Col, A. II. Cook now resides, but received
/ three arrows in his meal sack and one in his
arm.
As the poor fellow gained the door, he fell
exhausted and tainted, while Col. Cook fred
on bis pursuers and wounded one so badly
that their trail was easily traced the next
/ day BY the blood on the ground.
After recovering his senses, John Wahren-
berger felt his wound, then looking round
he exclaimed Mine Got What Texas y
Then casting his eyes around without any
more ado, he earnestly inquired: "Where
ish mine meall" It was shown to him un-
der his head, and taking it up he retired to
j his apartments.
i One night as Col. James S. Mayfeld, Sec
retaryof State, was returning home from q
party with young lady, Indians shot at and
wounded him.
4 Once Ona time, this same Col. May6eld,
Bart Sims, large powerful old Texan, and
Judge r. u. Williamson, were in Swisher's
hotel together, when the Colonel taking UNI
bragg at some remark of old Bart, so called