Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-20
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF TEXAS
RANGER.

The death at Austin, Texas, on Tuesday,
July 10Th, Of John B. Jones, Adjutant-
General OF that State, is the closing
event in the history of one of the most
picturesque and romantic characters in
Texas. General Jones was long COM
mauder of the celebrated State battalion
of Texas rangers, and was during his ca
reer the hero Of wild adventures, desperate
enterprises and bloody foraya among the
hostile Indians and more savage outlaws OF
the Texas frontier. enough to have fur.
nished material for cart-load of blood
curdling fiction of the most sensational
sort. He served calamity in the Confed-
crate armies during the civil war, and on
the accession of Governor Coke in 1874 to
the administration Of the State government
was appointed to the command of the
frontier battalion of six companies Of
Texas rangers. In this service he had
many battles with the Comanche and
Kiowa Indians, who, at that time, were
accustomed to sweep the western settle
ments with murder and confagration.
On one occasion with a detachment
of thirty-seven men he defeated a war
party of one hundred and fifty warriors,
thoroughly armed and well mounted. He
captured and exterminated numerous bands
of outlaws with which the frontiers of
Texas were infested, and by means of his
wonderful tact, judgment, GOODNESS, and
courage, and the confidence with which he
inspired those whom he approached, he
was able to reconcile and settle peaeeably
several deadly feuds that had kept entire
communities in a state of strife and blood
shed for years. In this work it is said
that often at night, alone in the vast wilds
of the frontier, has be met by appointment
the most desperate men probably In the
world, and by calmly reasoning with them
persuaded them to return to their homes
and live peaceful lives. The desperadoes
of the frontier feared him as they feared
no other man. They looked upon him as
the embodiment of bravery, honor, and
truthfulness, and the promises he made to
them were relied upon with an unfa|tering
faith. Space fails for the enumeration of
his varied adventures, but his work ON the
frontier was go efficient that it was found
that his command could be safely reduced
to one company when the gallant COM
mander was made Aojutant- General of
the State in 1879. In personal appear.
ance he was as little as possible like the
ideal of a daring border chief. Rather
below medium hight and somewhat slen-
der, he was strong and well.knit. and ca
pable OF great bodily strength and endur.
ance. His eyes and hair were dark, his
complexion pale, and the expression of his
countenance remarkably sweet and WIN
ming, but serious and thoughtful. He was
fairly educated, and his conversation was
that of well informed gentleman, never
turning upon his own adventurous history
except among his personal friends. He
was neat and careful of his dress, and
when he occasionally appeared on the
streets of Houston and Galveston wearing
black cloth suit and shiny beaver hat,
he looked like quiet professional gentle
man far more than a noted Indian-ighter.
He was born in Fairfield district, South
Carolina, in 1884, but at the age of years
| was brought to Texas by his fathers who
at once identified himself with the State,
and became prominent with its history.
General Jones was possessed of much
| executive ability, and, although man OF
quiet tastes, was peculiarly fitted for his
arduous and exciting work on the frontier.
He never married He died in the 47th
year Of his age.--[New Orleans Times.