Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-31
An AlabamIan's Texas Adven
fURRe-
10TH Tune

Il is painful 20 learn from q recent
leader in our powerful contemporary,
the Brownsville (Texas) Ranchero,
that Mr.. Abraham j. Watkins, late OF
Selma, Ala has got into trouble. 1t
appears that Watkins inserted himself
in Brownsville society somewhat over
two years ago as a steam printer, 10
which vaporous capacity he accumu
lated several hundred Mexican dol
lars, aided, perhaps, by an occasional
dip into the fAvorite local employment
known as draw poker. Having then
provided himself with a SLOUGH hat, a
hymn book, a mustang and a revolver,
be embarked as a travelling revivalist
aud wakcd up the border to an extent
OF Baptistienthusiasm unknown in that
section before. Mr.. Watkins method
in this good work was singularly in
genius and fetching, for when pious
exhortation failed TO draw a sinner
from heshly pleasures he deprived
him of the means OF gratifying his
riotous appetites by the simple pro-
cess of getting him drunk and win
ming all his money at poker, Yellow
fever broke out in Brownsville last
summer, and MIR. Watkins found
therein a new and glorious field OF
enterprise and labor. Hurryinz back
to the afflicted town be announced
himself as sole agent for the Great
Brazilian Remedy, price 81, a bottle o.
which was guaranteed to be sure death
to yellew, scarlet, blue, green, or any
other color Of fever known to science
Placards representing long professions
of intelligent natives bearing the
precious herbs of which the remedy
was composed we're posted all over
the fences and barns, and the grateful
citizens of Brownsville poured int
Mr.. Watkins Office in steady streams
depositing their dollars and carryin,
off the invaluable bottles. A weel
later, at midnight, Mr.. Watkins LET
town, and left it suddenly. By a mos
curious coincidence, no sooner had b.
Quilted the lucrative place of bushes
by way Of the back fence and allie.
than the excited populace surged in a
the front door with a rope, and no
finding him home proceeded to demol
ish the stock of the Great Brazilian
Remedy aud make a bonfire Of sue
other portion of Mr.. Watkins estat
as he had forgotten 10 his evideu
hurry. The only explanation of thi
popular upheaval was that some loca
doctor, no doubt actuated by ran
envy and malice, had analysed tn
remedy,and had found it to consist Of
decoction of plug tobacco in exceed
ingly cheap whisky, favored with
mixture of cinnamon and red pepper
Further investigation unearthe,
the sad fact that no yellow fever pa
tient with a lingering spark OF self
respect had ever spoken again afte
having been dosed with it. a fort
night ago Mr.. Watkins returned [
Brownsville, trusting. no doubt, tina
his public services during the cpl
demic had been forgotten. They hal
not. At 4 clock the next mornin
some early rising Mexican gentleme
employed in the cattle stealing in
terests of MstamOras saw what the
at FIRST thought to be q gigantic bir
limping along the road leading out t
Brownsville. They lassoed the curl
osity to examine it more closely.
certainly was very singular, for il
feathers grew with the roots out, an
it eIhaled an odor singularly re
sepbliRg that Of 40 asphalt refinery
L likewise said its name was Wal
kins.