Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-05-10

VI AlODO6C vi
their spoils, and one of the most curious
scenes, during our stay in the city, was
the enormous quantities Of Buffalo hides
stacked in the open air, in heaps as high
as a house, awaiting shipment. BY in
qulry, re learned that the hides are
shipped to a house in Wilcox, Pa, where
they are tanned. The firm of which
inquiry was made, have already shipped
~ carloads, or 420 tons of hides, and
still have on hand a pile big enough to
overtop a small church.
! While in Fort Worth. we met our
former to%wnsman, Alfred Ingalls,. He
IS the owner of a cattle ranch in Archer
county, about 100 miles northwest of
Fort Worth, but is temporarily living
with his family in that city. We are in
debted to him for much information re-
specting the country, and also for a
pleasant ride around the city and it's
environs. Mr.. W. +. Hill, also a former
resident OF this city, is located at Gle
burne, 70 miles south of Fort Worth.
the party was courteously welcom-
ed, and its stay in the city made
agreeable by the press of Fort Worth.
Mr.. Paddock, of the Daily Democrat,
placed the guests under special obliga-
ton by his attentions. Like all it's 9th
err institutions, the press is wide awake
and progressive.
At II A.. NJ. the excursionists took
leave of Fort Worth, returning by the
same route to Dallas, where two hours
were devoted to viewing the city.
Dallas has a population of $4,000 to 20
600, and is a place of much Importance.
1t is surrounded by a fine agricultural
country, which is being rapidly develop
ed, and with its superior faculties bids
fair to rival the best of Texas inland
cities. Our journey was resumed at 3
7. NJ. The party was joined at Dallas
by Mr.. H. W. Johnston, an Grant son of
Secretary Thompson of the Navy de-
partment. MI. Thompson is the gener-
passenger agent of the Texas Pacific,
and in his company was a somewhat
noted character now in the employ of
the road as a detective. This was Jim
Curry, formerly a Bowery boy, in New
York, afterwards a scout, and the reput-
ed killer of a score or two of men. He
is just now on the track of the train
robbers who, a few weeks since, stopped
a train on this road, and, after a sharp
fight with the men in charge, in which
the conductor was wounded, r1ed the
express safe, and carried off it's con-
tents. Curry showed the curious of
our party the exact location of this
transaction, and explained how it was
done. We noticed, as we passed, that
that indefatigable individual, the fence
advertiser, had improved the opportuni-
ty to place in conspicuous place the le-
gend: Train Robbers! Use Herrick's
Pills" Jim Curry is seeking a chance
to administer to them another kind of
pill, just suited to their case. He car
ries, for that purpose, wherever he goes,
in town OF country, a rifle with sixteen
charges, and a belt full of revolvers.
He is a dead shot, and the robbers will
give him a wide berth. 1t is a signif-
cant comment on the administration of
law in Texas, that in sight of the scene
of the above robbery, there is a settle
ment of probably Is or 20 small farms,
every one of the occupant. of which are
known to be desperate murderers and
robbers. 1t is more than probable that
from this hamlet came the dcsperadoes
who robbed the train. Yet the nest is
suffered to remain intact, and it's in
habitants to come and go on their mau-
rauding expeditions without molestation.
The progress of the expedition was
still eastward until Mineola, at the june
ton of the western branch of the Inter
national & Great Northern Railway,
was reached, where we were switched off
on to that road. At the head of the
management of this road is an Iowa
man, Mr.. H. NJ. Hoxie, formerly U. S.
Marshal for this State, and again chair
man of the Republican State Central
Committee, Mr., H6xie has still a warm
side for the people of Iowa, and his
treatment of the editorial fraternity was
most generous and hospitable. A man
of energy and great executive ability, his
road is a model of management and eff
cheney. As in Iowa. he is a universal
favorite with all classes of people, and
especially with those Under his orders.
He accompanied the excursion party
from Palestine, his home, and the head
quarters of the company, to Galveston
and return, doing everything in his pow
er to make the trip agreeable, for which
he received the warm thanks of every
member of the party. An easy chair
was purchased at Galveston, and pre-
scented to Mr.. HOxie at his home, as a
slight token Of gratitude for his kind
ness.
The route from Mineola to Houston
is through almost unbroken forest. At
l p. NJ. on Sunday, April %, we arrived
at Houston. Here the party began to
realize that they were approaching the
torrid belt. The thermometer indicated
lOOo in the shade, and thick clothing
was quoted at a discount. Making but
a short stop at Houston, the train sped
rapidly over the fifty miles between
that city and the Gulf, and at 3
p. NJ. rolled into the depot at Gal
weston, the commercial metropolis of
Texas. Tired, hot, dusty and hun
cry, the members Of the party were
only too glad to leave their cramped
quarters, and seek the comforts and
cOnvcniences Of a hotel. This was not
so easy, however. 1t was found hat
the hotel accommodations of Galveston,
a city of 10000 inhabitants, were not