San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1880-11-06

Gems from the country 10 town that day
and great excitement prevailed on every
hand. Mr.. Bostio was also lawyer oil
some emineuce. snd . msp who figured
somewhat highly among the respecta
bic classes Of those days. When Bostic
fell, number Of men we're noticed run
ming TO his Office. The class. and char
acter Of these mon and the point to
whi,h they FASTENED quickly creatsd sus'
picion among the more calm aud
thoughtful Of the spectators. The
Sheriff was procured and DO aud mum
Der Of the best citizens Of the county
also rushed to Bostic's Office. When
they entered the room great confusion
prevailed among the crowd who had
Just entered the Office. Two or three
trunks were standing open. Papers
were scattered promiscuously over the
floor and room. And on an examina'
ton of the papers, a list Of the names
OF the parties. composing the band
above mentioned were found amonp
tile papers were also found their gener.
al proera mme-the part allotted to each
individual member, &o. Mr.. Bostc
vas found " % tho president. ruling
hen . OF t,"ra! schemer and manager
tor the whole party The excitement OF
the moment was 70 intensely great that
the guilty parties who had assembled
at the office tor the time being made
good their escape-scme Of them were
never arrested 1t WI. also disclosed
by the rapers that one Tom Short, 4
young student Of the band, was then
on tour to Natchez on the Mississippi
river. with n lot of negroes to sell to
those old planters over there. lie was
intercepted at Natchez and arrested, ne.
groes and all. ..-
But for the present let US retirn to
Lagrange. and see how things are 60
ing there. Bill Shurt, Mclaughlin,
Shook and others were arrested, tried.
condemned snd sentenced to hang on
the most suitable limb Of the nearest
tree of the adjacent forest; which sen
tence was promptly executed. Mo.
Lnughlin ridiculed the pnr'y for not
knowing how to tie the hang mans knot,
he tied the knot, and placed it on his
own neck and reported ready. Bill
Short was an older brother Of Toms
and Plead vehemently for his life, tax
ing ull the guilt on himself. he was
hung in regular Mexican riding regalia
Of that day, which assure you was a
real novelty. Shook was Methods
preacher and also leader in the baud,
Intense-prcbably Unparalleled excite
mcnt prevailed Tor weeks throughout
the country. Many Of the party were
out on unlimited loave Of absence.
Some Of those men prior to this time
were supposed to be good and true men.
| know to-day men whose names sp.
peared upon that list, who figure pretty
highly 10 society, l am acquainted with
one of them who is to-day paeachcr of
some considerable cmiucnce. 1t is tc
be hoped he is better man now Il az
his credentials proved him to be at that
time, WhicA blythe way is net at all
is written, the vilest sin
ner may return" Tom Short on uc.
count of his being only youth, and
the fact that Bill (his brother) aud all
the rest that were captured alive plead
so fervently for him, was spared alive.
could give many other particulars, but
don't deem it expedient now. | only
give the above as matter of history to
those that did not live 10 the State at
that time and have not otherwise be
came acquainted with those old stirring
events of an earlier day in Texas. do
not expect them or their recollection
to be very interesting to all those who
lived here at that time, Leaving those
Incidents, I will now make few gener-
II remar ks about the old residents OF
Texas in those days. Their occupation,
habits. &c. and close this chapter.
The people of Texas at the date Of
which am speaking. we're. or might be
'nid to be. divided into three or more
distinct classes. The first class contain
ID men and their families of whom. if
we're to tell one half the truth, the
resent generation would think it at
east one half exapgeration. am not
nsster OF words that seem to me would
convey to the people OF the p',sent day
mere than vague idea of the philau
hropy, maguanimity. generosity. hos
,lialiiy and absolute kindness Of heart
# Il class of people of which am
low speaking. Then doors were always
brown open to the way.worn and forlorn
raveller-the hungry. tired or distressed
n any condi ton. And il the sojourner
aw Ct to stay one. day or ten days it was
II the same price, which was po'hing
u fact they were always ready to feed
he hungry. clothe the naked, visit the