The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-17
SAM HOUSTON'S SECRET.
Why the Famous Old Man Left Tennessee
and Went to Texas.

From the St. Louis Republican
The blank in the history of the famous Sam
Houston has at last been filled up. 1t will be
remembered that after living for some time
among the Cherokee Indians and fighting in
the war of 1912, he settled in Tennessee be-
gan to practice law, was twice elected TO con-
gress, and in 1897 was elected governor of Ten
nessee, and in January, 1929, he was married
to the belle of Tennessee, and in less than two
months after his marriage he suddenly re-
signed the governorship, deserted his wife and
home and disappeared.
This created an intense sensation throughout
the country, as Houston was regarded as the
most promising man i'll the south. The cause
of Houston's resignation of tho governorship,
his desertion of his bride, and his abandon
ment of the path of civilization has always
been mystery. lie never revealed it him
self to his civilized friends. A reporter sent
to Tahlequah, Indian Territory, to write up
the Indian troubles, obtained from undoubted
authority facts that clear up this mystery.
When Houston resigned the goyernorship
he rode straight from TenneSsee's capital to
the Arkansas river. He fell in with band
of Usage Indians near the present site of Fort
Gibson, told them he desired to live with the
tribe and he was welcomed. He donned d
breech clout and blanket, shaved his head to
the crown and daubed his face with paint. He
cut himself off entirely from civilization and
lived with the Indians.
For time he was a leader and married an
Indian girl, but afterward he became drunk
ard. While under the influence of whisky he
told the story of his flight from Tennessee to
John Jorley, an Indian companion. Jorley
told it to Wolff Starr, and from tho latter til Q
correspondent got it,
Houstons wife married him to please her
parents. She had been previously engaged to
young man in Nashville, but, under parental
influence, broke off the engagement and ac-
cepted Houston's offer of marriage, and, in
view of his prospects, it was thought she had
made q brilliant match. He loved the young
woman, and was made to believe that she re-
turned his affection. Houston had no knowl-
edge of the previous engagement, and his wife
some time. He returned home one night
about IL O'clock and found his wife in bed
and she was weeping. The husband was solicit
tiouS and the wife fretful. He asked what
caused her tears, and she gave no satisfactory
answer. He importuned her, and at last she
told him.
She said she was q bad, wicked woman that
she did not love her husband, but loved an
other man that she could never love her hus-
band nor forget the other man. and that her
life was miserable. She confessed that for
marry Houston she had maintained illicit re-
lations with the other man. Houston never
said a word, but Immediately went to his
Office, wrote his resignation as governor, sad
died his horse and rode into the wilderness.
This is the mystery Of Houston's life as re-
vealed by himself.
Houston kept little store among the In
dans, and always had barrel of whisky ON
tap. He drank all the time. In this way he
lived for couple of years. He finally went
to Texas, where his brilliant career as n soldier
in the Texas war, as president of the Texas
republic and senator from the state OF Texas is
well known.