The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-02-16
AUSTIN HISTORY.
"Reminiscences of the Arch'Ve 8
War and Other Incidents.
How Austin Was Finally Selected
As the State Capitol.

TO a STATESMAN quid nuno that some ren
iniscences of the early settlement ana
military occupancy of Austin would DE
he accosted Mr.. Henry hlrscn
field on the subject, supposing that genue,
mans memory ran far enough pach
to give him the desired information but
Mr.. Hirschfeld was not ancient enough
for that, as the reporter might nave
known had he reflected, and must conse-
quently beg his pardon for rather sefl-
ously antedating him. At all events MI.
Hirschfeld would not undertake to revert
his memory SO far back into the misty
chronicles of the past, but he added,
"Why don't you see Judge Lee, who Is
one of our oldest settlers! his
memory is like a tablet, and almost as
good as Judicial record. Only quite
recently some lawyers, who were deteno-
ing suit for trespsss to try title to some
valuable property in this city, beng I'M
able to trace UT the records satisfactorily,
concluded Judge Lee might be able to
put them on the proper track. And sure
enough he did, recalling to them IN a
moment the date of the record, and even
the terms of transfer of the property
some twenty years ago, and, the records
confirming his statement, the case was
thrown out of court"
So, hunting up Judge Lee, the follow
ing interest facts were elected from him,
only a little more briefly stated than re-
cited:
After Santa Ana's disastrous cam
paign of 1886, and his defeat at San ia
cinto, the summer following was compare
lively quiet. But in the fall of that year
the congress of the Republic of Texas, in
session at Columbia, passed an act or
December Is, providing for the loca-
ton of the temporary capitol at Houston
and on October 10, 1887, passed
joint resolution appointing five COM
missioners to select a location for the
permanent seat of government
As is we'll known, they were to make
their selection from limited section Of
the country (which Judge Lee defined)
Other acts which the judge recited were
past changing the reservations, till finally
the last set of commissioners, under ac
of January 4, 1889, selected the present
site of the city of Austin then in BastroI
county.
lWO IdulhltS5 DuhCI anu 1oiiSA, hNN
already settled on the banks of the Colo
RADIO at the foot of what is now Congress
avenue and with the intention of laying
off town, called their settlement Water
loo. Mr.. Barton had settled at Barton
springs.
The report of the commissioners having
been approved, President Lamar sent Ed
win Waller as agent with VIM. II. San
dusky as surveyor to lay off the city OF
Austin and provide arrangements for the
general transfer of the government by the
erection of capitol buildings for its re-
ception. These embraced frame build
ing upon the present site of the city hall
which was enclosed in stockade, another
frame structure on the opposite hill for
the executive mansion, and log cabins
convenient on either side for the heads of
departments. One of these cabins was
standing only few years ago on Hickory
street, on corner of the lot on which
Hood seminary is built.
The first sales of lots here took place in
October, 1889, when the executive, with all
the departments, repaired to Austin, (which
then became the seat of government of
the republic of Texas, with all the in
cidents of independent nationality. The
location was beautiful, and as the capitol
of the republic, naturally at
tracted good class of people,
whose peace, however, was not in
frequently disturbed by raids of Indians.
In the spring of 1912, when General
Sam Houston was president, the Mexicars
invaded Texas, and on March 5
General Vasquez, at the head of 100
Mexican regulars, entered and sacked
San Antonio at daylight, and captured
District Judge Hutchinson and several
officers of his court and a mum Der of
prominent citizens of Bexar county. A
party who escaped on good horse got
here with the nsws about dusk the same
day. Runners were sent out AMI by
morning about two thousand citizen
soldiers we're assembled for the protection
of the capitol. Women were advised to
keep with their children in doors, and
although the men we're directed by posted
orders not to leave the city many left at
night for the front of battle. In the
meantime preparations went on for
abandoning the city by the officers of the
government, and the next morning the
executive, General Houston and state
officers rode out of the city towards
the eastern section of the country.
Vasquez was pursued beyond the Nueces
and the pursuing troops returned. The
Austinites found their city nearly de-
serted, only four or five families remain
ing with about twenty-five men, who had
organized for their own safety and the
protection Of the government archives.
Steps were taken to prevent the removal
OF these archives from Austin, which they
regarded as the legal seat of government
under the enactment of location, pledg-
ing faith to purchasers of city lots that
Austin should remain the permanent
capitol, the government besides having
condemned private property of citizen
Tor that purpose, and only paying ab,u
$4,000 for what 100000 was received.
THE ARCHIVES WAR.
The government having left without re-
moving the arsenal, leaving artillery,
arms and munitions of war in CHARGE Of
captain Sutton and one or two Others, in
duced the Austinians to believe the re-
moVal OF the government archives was
not seriously contemplated. Two com.
hittees, however, were created, one an
executive or archive committee. consistin,
OF Messrs. Samuel Whitney. A. S. Combs
James Webb, Eugene G. Kelly, VIM. P.
CaIeneau and myself, and the other
Vigllant committee to watch the archives
Thich were Immediately in charge of
Coionel Thomas W. Ward, the oomn,is.