San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-05-08
Almost a Fatal Mistake.

Is hard 10 realize tho state OF society here n
the close Of the late war. No mans lfe wa,
safe especially IL II was drought he had
accumulated money while the struggle wa,
going on. remember ono or two events
which occurred In the vicinity OF San Marcos
which will illustrate the state OF excitement
Of the people at that time.
Some Of the confederate soldiers had
reached home, and the country was full Of
discharged soldiers on their way homo. The
jayhawkers too, were travelling around after
plumber and would not hesitate 10 murder
any ono who como In their way.
A party of these desperadoes had followed
Mr.. Day from tho Rio Gande intending
no doubt TO rob and maybe murder him for
his money. They passed through San
Marcos late one evening and that night
stopped at Mr.. John W. Days, then Lying
near Mountain City. and demanded his
money. telling him that they had followed
him from the Rio Gmnde and know he had
lots Of it, Mr.. Day told them that they
were mistaken, that no had not boen to tho
Rio Gnnde and had no money. Thcy put
q ropo around his mock and drew him up q
tree which stood near his door, tho poor
wife begging all tho time for her husbands
life and assuring them that they had the
wrong man, that abe would give them her
husbands watch and what money they had
II they would spare his life. After draw
ing Mr.. Day up, and letting him down, three
times, and demanding his money between
times, they went of; and left him nearer
dead than alive. The news Of this outrage
spread rapidly through tho country next
day, and 10 increase the excitement was
reported that Mr.. Leatherwood, then q citi-
zen of San Marcos on his way home from
Austin, had been hung by jayhawkcrs. This
was not the case however.
A Confederate Captain Of Hays county
had Just gotten homo from tho war, and on
the evening Of the day Mr.. Leatherwood
WAS reported to have been hung, negro
woman, q house servant Of the Captains
wife, told them that she had seen party OF
mon well armed pass by the premises that
evening. As the residence was some dis
tance from tho public road this was unusual
to say the least, and calculated to arouse
apprepension, after hearing Of the events
OF the day and the night before. A short
time after dark this same servant came run
ming to the house and informed her mistress
In q very excited manner, that those same
mon she had seen in the evening were COM
ing up in the direction of the house.
Preparations were Immediately made in the
house for defence, the husband arming him.
self with his two pistols one in each hand.
the same that he had carried upon his per-
son during his soldier life, was now called
into reauisition to defend his immediate
family, his faithful wife pleading with him,
with tears in her eyes to hide himself telling
him that she believed they were only after
him.
Finding she could not prevail upon him
to secrete himself, she took down her own
gun that she had had become accustomed to
use.during he husbands Absence and told
him il he Intended to defend their home,
she would help; 1t was the husbands time
now to plead, he plead with her TO take the
little ones and get out of the way OF flying
bullets, assuring her that he would not
submit to the tight rope exercise they had
practiced at Mr.. Days, but that he would sell
his life as dear as possible, the brave woman
would not leave him. BY this time the
party had reached the front gate, and the
party in the house blew out the light, the
Captain went to the front door, and his wife
to the front window. When the party at
the gate saw the light had been blown out.
one af them said they have blown the light
out" another said. tell the old fellow to
come out here we won't hurt him much" and
and another said where il that rope Of
mine"? All these remarks of course height
ened tho excitement in the house, though
every thing was rs still as death. Imagine
il you can the feeling of this man standing
there in the door of his own house pistol
in each hnnd determined to fight for his life
no matter against what odds, and imagine
tho feeling of his faithful wife at this time.
She had been left at home with her little
ones for moro than three years undergoing
many privations nnd having much anxiety
of mind during the exciting campaigns in
which her husband had been engaged, but
now that he had returned home alive she
had felt that all her trouble WAS over, but
instead of this she was now standing in her
own house, gun in hand, and presented,
intending to shed blood if need be, in defence
of her husband, for She had no fear for the
safety of herself and children. One Of the
men then opened the gate and came walking
towards the house, his person could not be
seen it was so dark but his spurs could be
heard rafting on the gravel walk.
The Captain presented the pistol in his
right hand, intending to order the party to
halt before FREEING, his wife had her gun
pointing in the direction of the approaching
person. She then called out in loud voice
''gentleman what do you want here" The
response came back familiar voice why
sister don't you know me7" The party was
composed of two of the CaptaiR's brothers
and some other relatives, VIII had come
from another country to visit him and know
nothing of the excitement caused by the
events Of the past two days. The weapons
of war were laid aside, and instead Of blood
shed. followed pleasant greetings of kindred
after long separation. l.