St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-12-26
STATESMAN FROM TEXAS.
Some Amusing Incl ents i'm the Ca
reer Of Congress man IL eagan.
Nov

some amusing 1nCaGemtB III the va
reer of Congress man Reagan.
Washington Cor. New York Herald.
Since Congressman Reagan is destined to
get more notOriety out Of his absence yes
terday at rOll-call on the motion to consider
revenue measures by reason of his taking
bath at the unusual hour of half-past in
the afternoon, some incidents in his life in
Texas are told with more than ordinary
glee by his colleagues in the Texas delega-
ton.
Appearances indicate that he will be
chosen to succeed Mr.. Maxey as the next
senator from that state.
Mr.. Reagan is So years old. He has held
public office the greater portion of the past
forty years. He was serving his second
term in congress when he resigned to join
his fortunes with those of the Southern
confederacy. He was member of jeff
Davis cabinet. first as postmaster general.
and afterward as secretary of the treasury.
He was one of the rebel presidents suite at
the time of his capture. While a prisoner
at Fort Warren. Md, Reagan wrote to his
Texas constituents urging them to unite in
favor Of negro suffrage. He said the
federal government would ultimately adopt
this course. and advised his friends to
anticipate it. The effect of this advice
was to make him very unpopular until
congress did precisely as Mr.. Reagan pre-
dicted, when he regained his prestige and
became stronger than ever.
Mr.. Reagan moved to Texas when
young man. He was born in
Tennessee. He left there between days.
and the cause Of his removal is said to be
as follows:
One day his father sent him with sack
of corn to the mill few miles distant. The
custom in those primitive days was ''first
come. first served" While young Reagan
awaited his turn big, burly mOuntaineer.
who thought to save an hours time. cOolly
lifted Mr.. Reagan's sack from its position
and substituted his own. The young man
demonstrated as did the miller. The fel-
low impudently asked Mr.. Reagan the ques-
ton which Boss Tweed half century
afterward asked the people of New York:
what are you going to do about it?' For
answer Mr.. Reagan seized him about the
waist and, carrying him to an open window,
threw him bodily into the mill-pon d. twenty
feet below. Then. fearing he had drowned
the man, he rushed from the building,
mounted his horse. and, it is said, never
stopped until he reached Texas.
Mr.. Reagan located at Palestine, his
present home.
Palestine at that time contained probably
two hundred inhabitants. He studied law
and was admitted to practice. In those
days the frontier of Texas was overrun with
marauding bands of Kiowan. Comanches
and other wild Indians. In the fOrays be
tween the whites and redskins Mr.. Reagan
bore conspicuous part. He was very
athletic and absolutely fearless. These
qualities made HIM popular, and resulted
in his election as circuit judge. One day
noted desperate. Tom DowneY by name,
rode into town. He was armed with SIX
shooter and a double-barreled shotgun.
Mr.. Downey would ride his horse into a sa-
loon or shop and demand that the place be
instantly closed.
AS Mr.. Downey's character as slough"
and dead shot were well known to the
people of Palestine any intimation of this
nature met with speedy compliance. In
few hours every business house in the
town was closed. Judge Reagan was try
ing a case at the court house. He in
structed the sheriff to go out and arrest
Downey. The sheriff frankly admitted
that he dare not Judge Reagan told him
to take half a dozen deputies, but no one
volunteered his assistance. The Judge
thereupon hastily adjourned court. and,
SlcpphlS iutO biiO auJVihhiS SiOfO, Oue HUI
self stout hickory club about three feet
long. Someone told Downey that Mr..
Reagan was coming. Downey dismounted
and started up the street to meet him.
Each man walked firmly toward the
other until they were about ten feet
apart. Judge Reagan was then seen to
tighten his grasp upon the stick. AT that
moment Downey faced about and started
for the woods on dead run. Judge Rea-
gan bounded after him. At one time the
iudge drew near enough to strike at
Downey. He escaped the blow. but the
club split the coat from the collar to the
waist. and as he ran the two sides futtered
in the wind like the pennant from yachts
masthead. Downey, however, proved the
better runner and finally made his escape.
subsequently Jack Reynolds, another
.'tough." took possession OF the town OF
Limestone where Mr.. Reagan was holding
court. The same objection was urged on
the part of the local constabulary against
the arrest of Mr.. Reynolds that had been