The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-08-25

special confirmation of the grant
his father. He then returned to Mis-
souri, to obtain emigrauts for his colony
The father of John Ray, being
neighbor of the Austins aud on term
of Intimacy with the family, was na
turally applied to by Austin to i'm
migrate To Texas on very liberal pre-
positions of lands to be donated to him
! At the solicitation Of Austin h
visited the section of country covered
by the Austin grant with other neigh
bors, soIicitous like himself, to satisf.
! themselves OF the genuineness of IN
claims put forward for that Eldorado
! and the good faith Of the Mexical
Government.
A view of the country satisfied tb
prospeclOr, and emigranis were readiI.
obtained from that part of Missouri 4
swell the little army that Austin wa
gathering around him for the formation
of his colony.
Shortly after the return of Mr.. Ra!
from this trip to the Mexican Province
of Texas, as it was then designated, th'
Indians became very troublesome
news reached Missouri of terrible mas
sacres being perpetrated by them in thu
eastern parts of Texas, and reign O
terror was said to have been inaugural
ed throughou that count: :, This TO-
a time threw a damper over the ardol
of the proposed colonizers deferred
many from joining the enterprise, and,
other events iranspiring in the country,
rally was not obtained till some time
later.
Mr.. Ray, having h large family of
small children, thought it the better
part of prudence to abandon, with
others similarly situated, his connection
with the expedition,-hts wife, with
wonanly foresight and love for her
adding her entreaties and sup
plications to that end. His Missouri
lands had been sold, and all his per-
sonal effects disposed of at public auc-
ton his wagons and teams had been
purchased, and all outfit procured for
the journey.
With this change of front he had TO
rehabilitate himself at home intending,
10 more quiet times, to seek settle
nent in Texas. He exchanged his
of land, donated to
him by Austin in the Mexican province
If Texas, for tract of land in Missouri.
a year later the party with whom this
was effected moved to Texas,
md was murdered by the Indians on
he identical piece of property obtained
rom Mr.. Ray.
Mr.. Ray entertained a high opinion
If the Texas country, and when his
ION grew up wished him to immigratc
here believing that, in time, tho
younger children would follow. But a
Kind Providence ordered otherwise, as
will lie related hereafter.
The colony of Austin grew and pros
,ered. History records the struggles
If this, the first American colony in
Ter (Stephcn +. Austin); his imprison-
nent in the city of Mexico for his
in the movement for local
in the Mexican State
# Texas, construed by the authorities
o be reasonable; his patriotic services
II paving the WY for Texan Indppen-
lence, and final annexation 10 the
United States. He died on tho 9th OF
1886, honored by all his
and recognized as one
# the founders of Texan prosperity.
rhe colony, founded by Stephen +.
Austin, is known, now, as the City of
Austin, tho capital city of the great
State If Texas.
Shortly after immigration began
moving towards Texas, assuming large
proportions from about the year 1880,
band Of robbers, mur,le=ers and out
Avs of every kind, began preying
lpon the property and lives Of travel
rrs, Immigrants and citizens, living
u Southern and Western States. A
ecp. laid scheme had been formed by
which all vioiatOrs of the laws of the
United States were assisted into Mexi-
0, where they were safe from molesla
ion-nO cXtradition laws between the
United States and Mexico being then
n existence. Such was the condition
f the country that laws OF that nature
ad they existed would have ben set
I naught with impunity and considered
erfectly harmless. This order of things
ontinutd for several years striking !
rror into the heart of the Southern !
ountry, the moving spirits of the plot
concealing their Identities !
nd incogniti, defying the laws Of the
and.
In 1884, one Virgil A. Stewart, who
Iad been connected with the band, be- !
anne alarmed or disgusted and publish
pamphlet protesting 10 divulge the
Whole plot, and giving the names of
many prominent men living in Ken
ucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Alabama,
Louisiana, Arkansas and
ther States, as being connected with !
he organic ,tiou, chief among whoru !