The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-11-09

MIE AAhNNN ~ ILAA NNfNAAN W. 49,
CANT stories about the Mexican border
during the next few months. The adj
yenturers who are seeking "a incito the
Two countries " trouble along the Rio
Grande for the sake OF booty or am
bition are here in considerable numbers,
and are sometimes able 10 attract a
curious crowd 70 listen ~ the stories ~
The wonders vf their EldoraiO.
These are cOlored BY warm i'm
arinings, but I have reason 70
think that the one which follows j. sub
staniially AT all events, | have II
from one Of the gentlemen who spent a
considerable time in the service of the
Government along the Rio Grande bOr-
der. and who could have no special in
terest in calling upon his imagination
for his facts. AT any rate, the story of
this biz ranch, as told TO me, runs IN
this way;
A fEUDAL BoRDER FARMER
Col. King is \ fair type Of one Of the
former feudal Knights of our Mexican
border. He found his way 70 Mexico
during the Mexican War, a. a camp
follower in the wake Of The army Sub
s%eQuently he became = ~czlbin-boy on a
steamboat on the Lower Rio Grande.
He picked up a little money in this Dur-
suit. and soon had accumulated enough
TO begin steamboating on his wi ac-
count. The accumulated earnings II
his steamboat he invested in spanish
land grants, saving his grants uEtil he
had secured a large amount Of acre
age" which he settled in one locality
from the time Of the Mexican War I'M
Ill our late Civil War, he devoted him
self to agricultural pursuits AT the out
break OF the last War he commenced
operations ia cotton, IN which he made
another fortune. The excitements Of
the border, and the love Of speculation
together. helped 10 make him rebellious
during the War, and be became a Rebel
OF that passive sort which permitted
other people to 10 the fighting while he
p0ckeied the gains. am informed BY
IA officer In command along the border
that during the War Col. King found q
mere congenial residence south Of the
Rio than north of il. lie j. a man 81
years Of age, 81 Irish p2rentage. lie
has a family II three daughters. whom
he j. educating ~ Louisville, Ky, and
nho are the heiresses TO the most
MAGNIFICENT FEUDAL Estate
in Republican America. As might be
expected from his life, King j. = man 81
little education, but possesses much
natural ability. and has acquired con-
siderable polish from contact with the
world. He has had no time for cultiya-
ton. He now own most Of the steam
boats on the Rio Grande. and control.
the Gull trade between Galveston and
New Orleans. His ranch possesses tbs
magnificent proportions which a b.
best appreciated by the ambitious West
ern farmer. His estate itself comprises
10000 acres. Ofthis, 10000 are un
der fence. In one Enclosure there ar
lUu miles Of fencing, built Al a cost ~
5000 per mile. The ranch i situates
in a diversified country on the Lowe
Rio. made up IN part Of rich low lands
and in part u wooded rollipg hills
The figures which represent his stocl
are Of such a character that the addition
Of 4 cipher III tw0 would make NJ
appreciate difference IN the imaginatiol
Of the ordinary reader. He has POO.
horses. Il 1000 cows. 6U,tAu stock cattle
3u.uuU mules. 1850 sheep, and jack
asses and pigs III countless numbers
He employs $50 MexicanS ID manage hi
ranch. They are 0f . peculiar tribe Q
clan. from which the hOrscinen II Ia
border are usually chosen. and are NJ
very different character from the rovin,
bandit clans whose occupation consist
in predatory incursi0ns upon a terri
tory. These herders are tame, quiet
inoiiensiye. and faithful. and cOnstitut
ia themselves an army either for 0iIens
or defense which the isolated bands d
~plundercrS dare not hccdlessly attack
The ranch itself j. 4 large brick build
ing, unpreientious in appearance, hu
comfortable in its appointments. {.
large brick warehouse j. necessary I
contain the stores III this plantation
one section III this siore-huuse. Str0ngl
built. i called the Treasury In
this farmer Knight 81 the Border keep
his money. mostly in the shape of goi
and silver coins packed in bags.
now NE SPENDS ms MONEY.
The .Colonel- had occasion, whe
my informant was there, to % % th
nearest large town on commercial bus
ness. He travels in a style correspond
inr in laviShnesS with the extent ~ n
own broad estate. The spending-mone
for the trip was contained IN 10 or
bags ~ considerable size, filled wit
gold and silver coins. ON arriving
the little town he threw out these bas
on The ground with careless unconceri
and directed the hotel maj 10 take cal
Of them. They were slowed away /
the landlord with equal carclcssness y
hind the bar on the iloor. a. II they We
80 much pig-iron. useless ~ poke
money and difficult 70 be carried ava
The occupant Of an adjoining room =
mex morning found drifting about u
floor in a dark corner a wad Of brow
paper, which, upon picking up, he d
cover to be a roll Of grecnback-. Si.s'
In amount. He Knocked At the door
the rancher, and asked II he had =
any thing. The reply wa that nOthil