San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-07-02
Our Latest Excursion - Huntsville, etc.


Our favorite season for travelling is
"In summer, when the days are long,,
prior to the period of greatest heat.
So, rs was announced in our last, we
availed ourself of this favored term
to make short excursion into East
ern Texas. We had no business, but
went "just because we could, and
felt so inclined - giving way to the
spirit Of "going a-gypsying" which,
we take it, everybody now and then
feels.
We went viz Taylor and Palestine,
The station, Gauze, recalled the men,
DRY of the ridiculous fasco of last
year concerning negro insurrection (;
but Elkhart, near by, in the late out
rage and murder by negroes, and the
hanging of five of the perpetrators,
suggested a genuine, frst-class hor-
ror. We reached Palestine about 10
P. NJ, and left for Huntsville about 4
A. NJ, so, as on our only former call,
did not see much of the city. We
propose "next time" going son pur-
pose" to that end,
Our main objective point on our
present trip was the old historic
town of Huntsville. Before removing
to Texas. we correspondent with par
ties there about locating at said town,
and have ever since felt some interest
in seeing the place and its surround
ings. Wereached Phelps, the place
ofjunctien with the "Huntsville tap,
some eighty miles from Palestine,
early in the morning, and hence were
impressed with the much which
might be accomplished by early ris-
ing, and especially if one could get
along with little or no sleep, which
we must confess our decided inability
to do.
The Huntsville tap" of about
eight miles in length, leads through
an unbroken pine forest, and the en-
tire scene impressed us most agree
ably, Tho lilliputian train suggested
the idea Of "playing railroad. 1t
consisted, besides the engine and
usual appurtenances, ofonly one pas
senger COR, and there was flat car
loaded with stone attached in the
renr. We were the only passenger.
The conductorship appeared to us
rather q sinecure In the engine we
were surprised and gratified to greet
an old acquaintance - it was the
"Rogers the first engine which
reached San Marcos in the construc-
ton of our road. Itvividly recalled
our first interview with it then, in
company with our little Claude, and
his enthusiasm on the occasion. We
were truly glad to find the sold Graf"
moored in so safe and pleasant har-
Dor (or arbor, Gas you like itD.
Arriving at the town, we took in,
at glance, the situation. 1t is q
struggling place of venerable appear
ance, the houses mostly ofwood, tho
there are some good brick buildings.
There is no bailding-stone. The site
of the town is q succession Of small
hills, separatedby deep gullies washed
out by the rains. The soil is of clay
or sand, of whitish or reddish com.
plexion. There are larger hills around
the town in some directions, covered
with native forDst trees, on one OF
which is situated the Sam Houston
Normal Institute building. The pen
occupies q far too central
and conspicuous position; it should
have been located some miles out
We noticed an opera house and
other good public buildings, and va
rious tasteful private residences. The
streets are pretty much in a state of
nature, and the sidewalks mostly of
plank.
We stopped at the Gibbs House, a
very nice one, indeed, which should
20 far towards redeeming the reputa
ton of the country townso Of the state
for poor hotel Accommodations
We repaired to the Item" Office,
where we met its venerable proprietor,
Geo. Robinson, and soon became in
terested in his conversation. He Is
an Englishman by birth, and came to
when quite a young man.
He worked for a time on the New Or
leans Picsyune, which, be told us.
was worked on a hand press about
1896. He came 10 Galveston in 1916. .
and worked on the News which then
was also printed on a hand press
The edition then was 50 to 100 Of the .