San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-13
TEXAS.
Whist Correspondent d The Madison !sd., Her.
aid Saw u Texas and what No Thinks
or the Leae Star State,

or the Leae Star State.
PALESTINE, Texas, August 20, 1884,
Upon reaching the vicinity Of the gulf,
tired as was, made Immediately 10.
ward the roar Of the breakers, which ]
could not yet see. Ascending an elevs.
ton of sand, which the storms have
heaped back from the shore, the whole
scene was upon me.
In front and far around on either
hand, encircling the front on which
stood in a vast concave line, the waves
with their caps Of foam rolling and
laundering to the beach, while far ont
beyond could only be seen flashing
and tremulous motion of the water, till
it faded into that deep, dark blue field
that went on and on to meet in the in
finite distance, the lighter blue of the
sky.
A great number of birds of various
kinds were ON the sands, sea birds and
shore birds mingled and confused.
Flowers and cranes of various species,
gulls, terms, and pipers, and in their
midst squad of huge pelicans stood
filling their pouches with unfortunate
fish. The larger birds slowly Topped
out to neighboring bar, while the
smaller fry spread to the right and left
along the beach.
I walked down to the waters edge /;
the waves broke one after another, as
they have done since Creations dawn"
and spread their waters upward ON the
sands, rolling to my feet many O shell
that would have delighted some little
girls in Indiana, as well as some larger
ones.
I gazed long at the seal was going
to say till I was weary, but I never
grow weary; I have yet to experience
monotony on the shore or that the roar
of the breakers has tired my ear.
soon tested the surf bathing, which
is most delightful on this beach, the
sands are so clear and firm, the slope
into the sea SO uniform and gentle, and
the waves rolled in with just sufficient
force to render the bath daily exhilarat-
ing.
afterward went to examine the work
at the mouth of the Brazos, where the
government is constructing jetties sim
liar to those at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi with prospect Of similar sue
cess. I could not see much, as there
was little work going on. and that on
the opposite side. They have not yet
commenced on the west bank. Large
quantities Of fascines or tightly bound
bales of brush, are used; and there is
quite business of cutting it alone on
the Brazos.
The prodigious amount of fish, oys-
tiers, and other shell fish about the
mouth of the Brazos, and, indeed, all
along the coast, is almost incredible.
The best and finest fishing is in the
gulf rr per oysters and other she'll fish
are found in the lakes, bays and lagoons,
or shallow sheltered water.
A chain of lakes run along the coast,
through the prairie from the Brazos to
the San Barnard, filled with fish, oys-,
tiers and other shell fish. It was not
the season in which oysters are good,
but the shells I saw lying about were
very large.
The sea breeze here upon the beach
was most refreshing. Notwithstanding
the intense heat of the season and the
day, one felt cool and comfortable in
the vicinity of the beach. The Their
mometer at 2 p. m. indicated 81 degrees
in the shade.
The landlady who presides over the
only house Of entertainment at this
point had just been fishing in the gulf,
and came in with three very large red
fsh-a fine table fish. The largest
would have weighed twelve pounds.
She thought she could have caught q
CARLOAD by evening, but had no use for
them.
The landlord was just preparing to
make his second garden, for, though he
was close to the beach, aid his garden
very sandy, he says it will produce
nearly all kinds of vegetables luxuri-
antly, planted at any time.
The Brazos and the San Bernard are
the only streams of Texas, believe,
that empty directly into the Gulf with
out the Intervention of bays or lagoons,
and the beach between them the only
beach on the mainland. All around the
west of the sea line is an exterior coast
of islands and peninsulas.
There are four or five families spend
ing the hot months on the beach along
here, from the country above. They
reside in temporary frame structures or
tents.
At the mouth of the San Bernard
were few empty houses, but no in
habitants. should have suffered for
water but for a fisherman who had
boat in the river and supplied me. The
river is as salty as the sea for miles up.
There are lakes and bayous here; as
usual, full of oysters and fish, and
dead alligator lay upon the bank of one
of them.
I made lonely bivouac by the moan
ing sea, but slept well. In the morning |
took INV last surf hath and hade adieu |