Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-09-22

Puisuie, Eacn farmer whose home
was destroyed by the Mexicans became
uercest OF Houston's followers. ana
most eager TO be led against the
parbarous enemy, while dwell.
ers In the valley Of tha
Colorado and those west Of that stresr,
Were lnimical to Houston. He ala NOT
pretend TO conceal his resentfnl FEELING
when he was denounced or when his
courage and capacity were questioned
IL was this luminosity of the people
OF Austin, asserted everywhere and Inv
every exponent Of popular prejudice
ana opinion, that impelled Houston 10
oppose the concession to Austin as the
site Tor the capital Of the republic. ON
one occasion, when Houston was thor
oughly exasperated by assaults and crit
lclsms affecting his fitness for the Mace
OF general.in-chief Of the armiee or
loxas, he swore that he would make
Austin a breeding-place for bufIaloes
ana dwelling-place OF Comanches.
In March, 1912, Texas was invaded
ny Mexican army led by Velasauez.
austin, then frontier village, was
nrst endangered from the direction Of
III Paso. The people Of the newly
made capital were somewhat combat
i've. They rather approved the con-
duct of the Mexicans, and illustrated
IN their own acts their own unselfish
honesty when they were condemning
the Fabian policy, "a few years earlier, of
Gen. Houston. In truth the people OF
Austin and those dwelling along the
valley of the bright, brawling Colora.
do did not await the action or coming
OF Houston or OF the army Of the re-
public. Every arms-bearing man of
Austin, except the few first above des-
ignated, went forth to meet the Next
cans on the south and west side OF the
Colorado. The participants IN the
Archives war, above named, consti-
tuted the garrison Of the place, un.
willingly left to guard IL against the
Indians and against any force OF ma
rauding Mexicans.
IL was hardly generous of Sam
Houston that he sought to take ad-
vantage of the peoples condition at
Austin, at juncture like this, to rob
the town OF It's title papers to greatness
and prosperity as the capital of the
republic. But even then did President
Houston order the transfer of all the
I fAANAiNNo vi AhN w w
ton, q little town on the Brazos. The
archives were moved accordingly, ex-
| cept the papers and books pertaining
TO the general land office OF the repu6-
lie. For these. ut the time, there
were no sufficient means OF
transportation. These books and pa
pers of the land office were worth all
the rest. The riches OF the republic
consisted in It's matchless land in a
matchless climate.
Nelasquez, the Mexican hero, whose
preferred weapons Of war were dread.
| ful prOclamations, as destructive 20 his
enemies as Ben Buffers terrific
proDunciamentos and platform,
| Velasquez fled before the Texans,
These speedily returned to their homes
in the capital and to farms loved by
The sparkling Colorado. Here they
rested, famed by softest winds that
came athirst from the Pacific. across
arid plains and mountains of Mexico
TO steep themselves and quench Their
thirst in the beautiful river. Let me
tell just here why the cities and
plains of Western and Central
Texas are most delightful and health
full even in hottest days of summer
time. The winds come perpetually
| from the south across Mexico. They
are desiccated by traversing sandy
stony plains aud the heated sides .
rock ribbed mountains of Mexico
! The thirstiest winds that blow kiss th,
plains of Texas east of the Rio Gronde
Therefore the fact that in mid-sum
mer, IN Austin, the evaporation from
ones body, invested with this south
ern breeze, is instantaneous aud the
process is perfect. Dry, thirsty breezes
cool ones blood and brain, while winds
filled with moisture, taken up from
the surface OF the Gulf o.
Mexico or from the lowlands
OF the Mississippi swathe, as with 4
moistened cloth, the bodies ofswelter
ing, parboiled multitudes. There Is
no evaporation from the person wher
the air is already full Of vapor and car
! contain no more, and IL is this ALSO
| Lutte dryness and this extraordinary
| transparency OF The winds in South
western or Central Texas that make IL
even in midsummer, the most delight
full abiding-place of man. Eastern
people will ultimately learn 20 spenc
summers In Texas.
The citizen soldiers oil Auslln ant
vicinity returned TO their homes
thoroughly exasperated that Houston
had taken advantage of their patriot,
action and absence to possess himsel
of portion OF the archives of the gov
eminent. 1t was at once determines
to resist the transfer of all other publ
property from Austin 10 Washington
on the Brazos The books and paper
of the land Office were to be retained q
all hazards. Houston had original,
fent two messengers TO Austin (Bucl
Pethes and James +. Johnson) u
superintend the removal of the govern
ment property. These two excelleiI
gentlemen sooh learned that the,
could accomplish nothing. The tail
, of their horses were shaved and the,
themselves advised to retrace thei
stems and tell Sam Houston that Il h
really wanted the archives to come
himself, and get them. Houston wa
exasperated and resolved 10 emplo
force in the execution OF his wishel
He organized secretly a company {
thirty picked men placing them undt
the orders of the daring and resolut
CYant Thns T. Smith. Smith wa