The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-01-17
DR.. JAS. a. suMPTzR.
Interesting Notes and Incidents
His Health and Travels.

E take the liberty of extracting an
commenting froLi the letters:
DR.. Sumpter and Esq. B. "
Knight left Pulaski Dec. -, goin
by New Orleans, where they foun
the air damp and bitter cold, goin
directly to San Antonio, Texa.
where they arrived on the evenin
of the 18th. They there met Nj
+. G. Buford and wife. The latte
they found in improved health. Nj
Buford was thinking Of moving on
to San Marcus, town of about $50
thirty miles distant, and the dOcto
thought it highly probable that Mr.
B. would return to Giles this month
The temperature at San Antonio
was about 400, air bracing and dry
and he was informed by physician:
and citizens that many persons in
his condition found relief and some
times permanent cure in that eli
mate. "San Antonio is in basin
and the most filthy place I ever
saw. The streets are muddy and
filthy and not one bit Of sewerage
in the entire city. Why the people
don't all die with low grades OF
fever and cholera is a thing that
battles me. There is no section OF
this country that is exempt from
typhoid and malarial fevers, though
there is little malaria in dry wealth
er except upon water courses and
low marshy lands.
They went TO San Marcus on the
18th, and thence TO the country to
spend several days with a Mr.. Gill
liland, whose friendship was cap
tured by Dr. Sumpter's generous
and aft'3ble nature. Here he has
some fine sport shooting qualls and
jack rabbits. He will send some of
the rabbit skins home to make vests
for his little boys, and his thought
fulness also suggested that he send
two or three Of the plumed quails to
be stuffed to adoTn the hats Of the
ladies. He wrote for wings for q
net and his friend is to capture
some of the tOp-knOt quails and
send them here to be turned loose
on the Carter bottoms to propagate.
He also had an invitation from
Spaniard to visit his ranch. 81
like the Spaniards much better than
[ thought l would. The people
here (San Antonio) use beer in
place of coffee, tea and milk. Sun
day is NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and
business houses open all day, beer
gardens and race grounds are visit
ed by thousands Of women and
men and chicken fighting is still
kept up. Upon the square at dark
the Mcxicans bring out their stores
sometimes so or rs on one square
or plaza-and remain all night sell
ing their Chillicancomia (soup)
made hot with red pepper, cooked
with beans, meat and garlic. When
they can't get beef they put in cat,
dog or horse meat"
Dec. % he writes from San Anto
Mo; There are a great many con
sumptives here and a great many
of them had better remained at
home with their friends where they
could have been better cared tor.
They have all the diseases at San
Marcus incident to our climate in
winter. 1 could have obtained a
position in the SanItarium there il
/ would have accepted it," He saw
roses in bloom, eat lettuce and cab
bage every day and all manner of
game; milk scarce and butter all
twelve. months old. He says he
found friends and kindness every
where. The difference in his health
is yet inappreciable.
After spending Christmas with
Mr.. Gilliland, DR.. Sumpter and Mr..
Knight are back IN San Antonio
Jan. l. He has not met a severe
norther yet, but goes prepared. He
tells an incident of q man and his
little son being caught three quar-
tiers of a mile out on the farm,
when one Of those terrible chilly
winds that almost congeals the
blood came dashing upon them in
all its icy fury, without a moments
warning, and by the time he reach
ed home the boy was so nearly froz
en- to death that it was with great
effort that reaction could be es-
tablished." His homesickness crops
out now and then ip his letters but
he stiles it by dashing oil into a
description Of hunting and game, in
which he so much delights. He
killed any amount of patridges, four
fox squirrels in three minutes, jack
rabbits, but no turkeys or deer.
The instability OF fashion and fe
male whims is exemplified when he
remarks that he skinned two Mexi-
can cartridges and would send them
home 10 be used to ornament the
ladies' bonnets, "if the style has not
gone out when they get there"
Two weeks study of the climate
and surroundings having convinced
him that the result upon his health
was doubtful, on the evening OF
Jan. ! he
STATED FOR CALIFORNIA.
He left Mr.. Knight at San Anto
Mo, who he said was a little home
sick and would probably soon be
take himself to Tennessee, 1t is
four days incessant travel and he
starts reluctantly. No monied
consideration could take him fur
Their from home, but he yields to the
duty to himself, mis- family and PEG
! pie and determines to seek the best
place at once that promises restora-
| ton. "The entire route from San
Antonio to Cotton, Cal, is one vast
monotonous stretch of sandy plains
and mountains" Not p tree or
shrub except cactus and Wild sage
to greet'the eye, but an arid waste
the poorest he ever bebeld. The
mountains themselves, which gener
ally I'LL one with inspiration and
wonder on account Of their sublimi-
w and grandeur, so n cease tC
awaken emotion because the sur
rounding country is so bleak and
barren. The only emotion excited
in me, gazing day. aioer day upon
these mountain hillocks, was thai
God in His wisdom had SO nicely
balanced the physical universe
that these numberless and immense
mountains could be cast up by vol
canic action, away back in the his
. r.fs . a. 4