The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1881-03-17
On the Tramp.
FRO CITY. March :, 1881.

RIO OITH, MaEcn - 1851.
We arrived at this little village on the
south bank OF the Rio Frio at $3.50 P. NJ,
and after replenishing our corn sack and
consulting a clever Irishman and black
smith, we were ready to leave. Frio is
located a distance of from twelve TO fif-
teen miles above the International cross
ing of the Frio, going in the direction OF
Larado. The international has a good
force at work all the way to the crossing
of the Rio Frio. and probably farther
south. The natives feel that they, too,
will soon be brought in rail
connection, and that the mantle of
civilization will fall upon them. The
village is situated on the south bend of
the river at an altitude of fifty to sixty
feet above the ordinary low water mark.
The town seems to be prosperous. The
courthouse in the centre OF the plaza,
built of brown sandstone, is two stories
high; the court room above and the cOun-
ty offices below. 1t is a respectable build
ing for a compal atiyely new country. We
saw two stores that seemed to do athriving
business, and amarket place, though the
market was not well supplied with fresh
meat. The country from Frio to Elm Creek
is beautiful: sufficiently undulating to at
tract the attention of the passer and fully
impress him that the western counties
have not only rich lands but have real
beauty. The country from the F'rlo TO
the LeOna, with few exceptions, is rich
and will support large herds of sheep and
cattle We breakfasted at the Leona,
distance of twenty miles from the Rio
Frio, and with happy anticipations of
reaching Leona Vista at an early hour,
which we did, finding, as the word means,
low mountain view. Leona Vista
past, the next point was the Tortuga.
About seven miles farther, we
struck an old camping ground at nearly
two O'Clock: This reminded us that our
cook, Pat Dickson, had some good things
in store and in a short time our bill of
fare was announced. Good bread, broiled
ham, canned peaches, stewed CLANS with
tomato sauce, butter, scrambled eggs, ana
for dessert, dripped coffee with condensed
milk, cheese, cream crackers with rasp-
berry sauce. Dinner over and the next
point to be reached was the Nueces. The
Manehac crossing was the point deslS-
mated ut a distance of eleven miles. We
soon crossed the line of one of the eleven
league grants now belonging 10 L.
s. Carothers and Seabright. We hurried
on to cross the Nueces before dark, as
the crossing is not to be regarded better
than should be. The river was reached
just in good time for an evenings sport.
One of the first sounds heard was the
Hopping ofthe wings of an immense wlld
turkey, whose sharp eyes seemed to take
in his.situation, but not in time to relieve
his species. Soon down came one from
his lofty perch. and then another; but
here the history must be closed. The
camp established, water provided, wood
gathered, fire built, supper prepared, and
our locomotive power, not to be forgot
ten that had so nObly performed their
part of the task, supper over, our astrono-
mical observations were taken and our
tent stretched to be in time for what we
thought would be necessity before the
morning dawn. DELTA