San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1885-10-29

L
him 10 the boat was on the San
Jacinto battle ground, few miles
from Houston. That little fight was
short but decisive contest. The
Mexican forces were totally routed,
aud Santa Anna taken prisoner.
That battle crowned Houston with
honor-in Texas. The town Of Hous-
ton, when / was there, was a moral
desert-a he'll on earth. Vice Of most
every grade reigped trium-
phanty. The Attorney General,
while l was there, roamed the
streets most OF one night
drunk, and hatloss, ooatless, bootless,
daring anyone TO fight with him.
The people laughed about his dis
graceful conduct, as il it was a triH'
ing matter and OF frequent occur
renee.
We addanother extract from the
life Of j. j, Audubon, the naturalist,
who visited Texas at this period.
The extract is under date OF May 10,
1887, and gives a most graphic pic
ture of the FIRST days of the republic
of Texas:
We walked towards the Presidents
house, accompani ed by the secretary
of the navy, and rs soon as we rose
above the bank, we saw II level OF far
extending prairie, destitute of timber
and rather poor soil. Houses half
finished, and most of them without
roofs, tents and liberty pole, with
the capitol, were all exhibited to our
view at once We approached the
Presidents mansion, however, wad-
ing in water above our ankles. This
abode of President Houston is a small
Lighthouse, consisting of two rooms,
and a passage through, after the
Southern fashion. The moment we
stepped over the threshold on the
right hand of the passage we found
ourselves ushered into what in other
countries would be called the ante
chamber the ground floor, however,
was muddy and filthy, large fire
was burning, small table covered
with paper and writing materials was
in the centre, camp beds, trunks, and
different materials, were strewed
about the room. We were at once
presented to several members Of the
cabinet. some of whom bore the
stamp of men of intellectual ability,
simple, though bold, in their general
appearance Here we were present
ed to Mr.. Crawford, an agent of the
British Minister to Mexico, who has
come here on some secret mission.
The President was engaged in the
opposite room on national business,
and we could not see him for some
time. Meanwhile we amused our
selves by walking to the capitol,
which was yet without roof, and the
floors, benches and tables of both
houses of Congress were as we'll sat
urated with water as our clothes had
been in the morning. Being invited
by one of the great men of the place
to enter booth to take drink OF
grog with him, we did SO; but l was
rather surprised that he offered his
name instead of the cash to the
bar-keeper.
We first caught sight of Presi-
dent Houston as he walked from one
of the grog-shops, where he had been
to prevent the sale of ardent spirits.
He was on his way to his house, and
wore large gray coarse hat and
the bulk of his figure reminded me
of the appearance of Gen. Hopkins,
of Virginia, for like him he is up
wards of six feet aud strong in pro-
portion. But observed u scowl in
the expression of his eyes that was
forbidding and disagreeable. We
reached his abode before him, but he
soon came, and we were presented to
his excellency. He was dressed in
fancy velvet coat and trowsers trim
med with broad gold lace; around
his neck was tied cravat somewhat
in the style of seventy-six. He re-
ceived us kindly, was DESTROYS of re-
tanning us for while, and offered us
every facility within his power. He
ut once removed us from the ante
room into his private chamber, which,
by the way, was not much cleaner
than the former. We were severally
introduced by him to the different
members of his cabinet and staff, and
at once asked to drink grog with him
which we did, wishing success to his
new republic, Our talk was short,
but the impression which was made
upon my mind at the time by himself,
his officers and place of abode, can
never be forgotten.
We returned to our boat through |
a melee of Indians and blackguards |
of all sorts. In giving a last glance
back we once more noticed num-
Der of horses rambling about the
grounds, or tied beneath the few trees
that have been spared by the ak. We
also saw a liberty pole erected on the
of the battle of San ia
cinto, on the 21st of last April, and
were informed that brave tar, who
rugged the Texan flag on that occa-
sion, had been personally rewarded
by President Houston, with town
lot, a doubloon, and the privilege of
ferry across the Buffalo
Bayou at the town, where the bayou
forks diverge in opposite directions.