Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-02-26
HEROES OF TEXAS.
Captain Robert j Calder.
RY IAMEs T. pEsHIELps.

Copyrighted-An Rights Reserved.
Captain Calder was naive OF Ken
lucky. He WAS born in the yeAr 1911,
and emigrated to Texas early in 1885,
settling in Brszoris county. AT the break
ing out of the revolution he was one Of
the first to volunteer, and was secocd
lieutenant in Fannin's company st tee
battle Of Conce ption. He, with six men,
was detailed to take a position In the
tower of the Mission church, 9
good point for observation. They
we're thus cut of from their
companies during the battle next morn
ing But they enjoyed a SPLENDID view
of the battle ground. and occasionally
picked CT a Mexican csvalrym.n who
came within rife shot Of the church.
| This was on the 2Sth OF October, 1885
At the youthful age of twenty five years
! he commanded Company K, In Burleson's
Rsgiment-one of the twenty three COM
panies that sealed the independence of
Texas at ssh Jaclnto, on the 21st of April,
1885
After the battle Robert J. Calder and
Judge B. C. Franklin were detailed to
convey tie gladstone news and official re-
ports Of General Houston to President
David G Burnet at Galveston.
Our readers will be satisfied that no IN
necessary time was lost when they are
Informed that besides the President ano
other officials of the government, there
were on the island hundreds Of
refugees, families Of women and
children, whose homes were on the
Brszos snd In the west, and
whose husbands were in the army. Among
those refugees WAS the family OF Msiol
, Douglas, whose plantation was on the
San Bernard river. Among this famll.
Wss daughter, then the sweetheart, be
since the wife of Captain Calder.
The gallant young Captain had been 10
, months in the army, and had com
manded his company in msnne
' that won to him many new laurels
! and he was now anxious to be the hrs
a TO bear the news to the lady who rule
a queen Of his affections, ss well as to IN
: President and others, citizens then on tn
= island. From letter written oy CaI
It tain Calder in August, 1873, we comph
Y the following Interesting account OF tbs
e trip from the battle-ground to Galveston
: "The only possible chance to reach tt
n island was oV an old, unwieldy, open bot
O or skif, propelled by oars. The par
IS consisted Of Calder, Franklin an
two soldiers detailed to accom-
n pauy them. They started on the morn
d ing Of the 23d; took no provisions, be
n cause none were to be had, the commits
N sary stores having been left at Harrlsbu
II on the goth. About noon they reachs
l. Ruth's place, where they expected to
lie dinner, but the Mexicans had been the
Is and stripped the place of estables, 81
nothing was to be had. At night tn
O reached Spillman's island and we're 70
Is tunate in finding plenty OF cornIneslI
id side of bacon and plenty OF chicken
TO There was no human being on the islsn
ne The next day they arrived st the head
IT the bay and found it so rough that
TX was impossible to proceed across in thu
to leaky craft. The soldiers wanted to
a by until the wind shifted, but Calder
90 sisted on going ahead if they had to Coz
ILL it all the way to the island; and, lespi
into the water with q tow line, pulled
skif along the edge Of the bay. Frank
nd was unsccustomed to work, and 80
tn gave out. The soldiers became tired, 8
rs most Of the labor devolved upon Chld
in While costing along that evening II
ed saw steamer far to the eastward gol
toward the mouth of the San Jacinto,
20 failed to make her see their Signals, 9
IS, thought perhaps she took them for ID;
ar leans.
I'D The psrty reached the Edwards pfscs
Ike Reddish bar about noon Of the third d
SIS Here they found some provisions ant
box of fine Havana cigars. The bnlyls
me ing being they saw Was wild African
Of gro, probably one introduced by Mon
nd Edwards. By this time almost the eni
as. labor Of propelllng the unwieldy crsfs'
au yolved upon Calder, as the others "
to tired out. About shutdown o. the lou
q day they reached the neigAoofh ooo
Virginia Point, aud could see the shipp
op in the harbor. Tired and hungry, as
of had very little to eat that morning, Fra
ur, lin and Calder spread their blankets
q the side OF an old cottonwood which
he lying on the beach, snd