Litchfield enquirer., 1877-11-22
 Travel in Texas.

Travel 1n Texas na5 s#ss s [The following letter, written by an army officer from Fort Duncan to a relative, here, some months since, gives a pretty vivid idea of the vicissitndes of stage travel in Texas.
 ED. ENQ.J as.4s9 fyra sa gt t f l arrived here yesterday, but in very de plorable condition indeed. After travelling fif- teen hundred miles, crossing the Gulf twice, got within seven miles of Duncan, and met with a very unfortunate, accident regular shipwreck. e ~,s a.g .5.s .g s..... < We left San Antonio, Friday, at a. m.,and should have reached this point at D. m..,
 Saturday. All went well until after we. left Fort Clark, where noticed that the driver was
 drinking pretty freely, Weuaveled along at
 a snails pace for several hours, when I looked
 outside and saw the driver asleep. He then
 started up at a furious pace, driving the last
 two miles at a gallop, with brakes down. and
 flashing his team at every jump. We reached
 the station, changed the team and started on.
 He had already, with the help of man on the
 box, drunk one bottle of whfskey, and had an.
 other left. We went on very slowly until
 dark, when we were met by the most ferocious
 storm 1 ever experienced. The driver had no
 matches to light his lamps and unfortunately
 had used up mine for cigars. The night was
 perfectly black, except when the lightning
 flashed, but he lashed his team into run, up
 hill and down. beside deep cuts and ravines.
 It was far from pleasant.
 A lady had in charge was perfectly frantic and tried to jump out, but held her by force.
 At last we reached Elm Creek, and told him he could not drive in; if he did, 1 would stop him. He finally concluded to give in. then went down to the bank. ..only being able to step by the flashes, and saw that it was pretty full. Then the rain stopped for few minutes, and the clouds broke away so that we could see the other bank. The driver assured me that he could make the other side safely and that there was only three feet of water now. I thought that he had sobered up so concluded to let him cross as every minute was precious. We had nearly made the other bank, when the drunken fool, in spite of our calling to him, drove below the crossing. The lower wheels fell over ledge of rocks and in an instant we were over. "A man inside jumped out and was nearly carried under the coach by the current The lady tried to jump, also, but held her fast until the stage had rested on it's side, when l helped her out and made for shore Then the other male passenger and. myself got out our valises and the mail bags, when the coach commenced drifting, and sunk out of sight about fifty yards below the crossing. We sav- ed the mules and all of us went up the bank to pass a most disagreeable night. This all hap pened about ten o'clock. My trunk was gone of course
 shall never forget that night, to my last hour. There were five of us; two women and three men; and the only arm in the party was six shooter belonging to the driver. That appropriated, and, to add to it all, Indians had been through lately and every bush the women saw, was an Indian The rain commenced again, and lasted untilnoon yesterday. I found my trunk after it had been in the water twelve hours, but in what condi- tion. Things were perfectly ruined; mud and sand was ground into all my clothing. l don't know what to dO. am un- aBle to get cent out of the stage company, they are almost bankrupt now. I cannot tell one paper from another. My commission is nearly illegible, the sand and mud seems to have ground into it. My trunk is ruined and pefectly worthless. Tell--the album she gave me is in hundred pieces; the names of the photographers on some of the pictures have been transferred to the faces of others, and a Special Order is printed quiteplainly on new white shirt. My dress coat is ruined; my shoulder knots and dress cap look like the end of bad winter. It is pretty tough luck, but when I think how narrow our escape was cannot grumble.
 We could have crossed safely had the driver attended to his business. There was not more hree feet of water at that time, but an hour lfter there was twenty. Two hours before we cached Elm Creek there was not drop of wa CT in it and it was as dry as your floor.
 My LORD PETERBoRoUGH.-Earl in TIA Lord Peterborough married the operatic singer. Anastasia Robinson-the prima donna of her lay-and induced her to consent to their mar iage remaining private for time, Lady Ox- ord attending it as witness and friend .Anas- asia, having a remarkably fine voice, had be- ;ome public singer in order to avert the pov- rty that threatened her family when her fa- her, attacked by disorder of the eyes, was compelled to give up his profession of portrait 'ainter. She made her debut in 1712 in Bon ncini's opera of ''Griselda, with great success, which her subsequent performancesco confirmed. Very soon her professional income exceeded 2, GOO year, which was then considered arge one, even for prima donna. She main aimed this position till 1722 when a circum tance occurred that obliged her to retire from
 profession always uncongenial to her, but which in deference to her noble husband she ad continued to follow. He who had braved 'ublic opinion in all other matters shrank from his wife. Yet she was wo- nan of irreproachable character, well educated. | adylike, of very pleasing manners. and held n general respect. Lord Peterborough al l ways spoke of her as his "best friend and in 1 ariably accompanied her to and from the opera. 1cI dppdTcIIIy equFOCM COHn6cu0n With nm | xposed her, however, to many very unpleas- l mt annoyances, and at last Senesimo, an Ital- 1 an singer, presumed to make advances which l he thought insulting. Peterborough was then 2 the theatre; Anastasia sought him, and com l lained to him bitterly of the insults she was ubjected to- With his usual impetuosity he l lshed on the stage, seized Senesimo, dragged | i'm off, and compelled him to go on his knees l efore the lady he had insulted and to ask her l ardOn. This affair caused immense sensation. | nd was for some time ''the talk of the town,d l ut the town, from that day, heard no more 1 he voice of it's favorite prima donna. Many l Tere the jests this occurrence gave rise to at 1 is lordship's expense Gen. Lord Stanhope- | etween whom Lord Peterborough cooiness l xisted, owing to some difference of opinion l expecting the conduct of the Spanish cam | aign- -venturing to make a few witty remarks | n the 'irrepressible spirit of the old Don Oui- ote," was immediately. challenged by him. 1 ord Delamere consented to act as his second. l ut the affair being discovered, both parties to l
 were put under arrest, and only released on l le promise that no further hostile steps should 1 e taken. But Peterborough had not even | len the geherosity to own that his ssbest |