The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-10-03
sold Sam Houston"

One of the eccentric characters of the
old United states Senate was Gen. Sam
Houston, of Texas. His character har
monized with his life, which had been
one of strange adventure.
He had served as soldier in the war
of 1912, as Governor of Tennessee, as an
Indian chief while in exile among the
Cherokees, and as Communicated chief
of the Texan army. He was victor on
the field of San Jacinto, and became the
first President of the Republic of Texas.
In the streets of Washington, his tail
figure-he was six feet and half in
height-and singular dress attracted at
tention. On his head he wore Mexican
sombrerO, while bright-colored blanket
was thrown negligently over his shoulder.
His coat and pants, of the richest black
broadcloth, set off a unique vest made OF
tiger-skin.
In the Senate Chamber, he would sit
all day whiting, with a pile OF soft
wood and a basket to hold the shavings
by his side. Young ladies and children
we're quite anxious to secure the hearts,
darts. crosses, and other devices, which
the senatorial whittier made. Around
his bedroom at the hotel hung several
printed cards, on which were inscribed,
t'My bed time is nine o'clock
As stump speaker, the backwoods-
men, who called him "old SAM" thought
he had no equal. He had Il melodious
voice, excelled as a teller of anecdotes,
and was fond-thOugh he spoke pure
English-of dropping into the patots OF
his frontier audiences.
In 1857, the Legislature Of Texas re-
fused to re-elect him Senator because he
had voted against the Kansas-Nebraska
bill. He ran for Governor. In one of
his speeches during the excited canvas,
he said:
"But, fellow citizens, you whopped me ;
yon whopped me good. Now, eff | dome
wrong, you have had your satisfaction;
and eff you dome wrong, God knows
| forgive you"
The backwoodsmen chcercd the man
who could talk to them in their own
lingo, and Houston was elected by an
overwhelming majority.
While Houston was clerk in a coun-
try store in Tennessee, the war of 1912
broke out, and he at once enlisted. The
style in which he did 50 was character
istic. A drummer and tifer paraded
the streets of the town, headed by a SER
geant. Silver dollars were placed on the
head of drum, and the volunteer stepped
up, took dollar, which was his bounty,
and the sign of his enlistment. Houston
took his dollar, and was at once marched,
with other recruits, against the Creek
Indians.
His friends had sufficient influence to
procure him an ensign's commission. AT
the battle of the "Horse- Shoe" he
mounted the Indian fort, colors in hand.
A barbed arrow pierced his thigh. Hous-
ton ordered soldier to pull it out. The
man tried and failed.
"If you don't pull it out" exclaimed
Houston, drawing his pistol, "I'll shoot
you!'
The man gave a strong pull, and out
came the arrow, leaving a lacerated
wound. As soon as it was dressed, he
rushed again into the fight, whence he
was carried out with two balls in his right
shoulder.
In the later years of his life, Gen.
Houston, through the influence of his
pious wife, became Christian. His &C.
centricities of character, however, con-
tnued, and to the day of his death he
was known among his friends as "Old
Sam