Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-09-12
Martin of Texas Was Loaded.
Chicago Herald.


Congressman Martin of Texas,
happened to be at the Sherman house
while Mr.. Cummings was at the Leland,
but neither knew of the others pres
ence in the city, and perhaps it was as
as well that they did not meet. Mr..
Martin came to Chicago ten days ago to
look after some Texas land cases in con-
nection with the Taylor-Farwell syndi-
cate
1t will be remembered that Congress
man Martin is the member from Texas
who it was faleslY said blew out the gas
at Willard 5 in 1885, and came near
being carried out q corpse. 1t was
Amos Cummings who started that story,
and Martin, while he pretended to
laugh it off, never forgave Amos. Nor
did he subsequently forgive him for the
sum account of Martin S maiden
speech in the house.
1t was along in February, 1887, that
Cummings, Bob Vance of Connecticut
and O'Neill Of Missouri, all Of whom
had been having, or thought they had
had, huge lot of fun with Martin
of Texas, concluded to make the amende
by inviting the eccentric Texan to
swell dinner at a French cafe on T
of course, and as starter the table was
to be decorated with vegetable tops i'll
stead of flowers, and notices of mock
sentiment were to be hung on the walls.
AS another feature of the feast each of
the entertainers was to bring q toy
cannon. charged to the muzzle, and at
the toast of welcome to the guest he was
to place the same beside his plate and
touch it off in a grand feu de joie. Then
mock speeches were to be made, glorify
ing Martin of Texas, and the festivities
were to conclude by the waiter present.
ing the Texan with a bill for the whole
feast.
All this was prettily conceived and was
intended to be very funny. Martin of
Texas is not nearly so green as he vas
thought to be. He was given quiet tip
as to the true meaning of the intended
compliment So when he appeared at
the feast, his lapel wore q radIsh top for
a buttOnniere. His entertainers looked
at each other. Mr.. Martin praised the
table decorations, and spoke feelingly of
Texas Horticulture, and how superior 1t is
to the coarse methods of the North.
Somehow, wherever Vance and Cum
mings laid the foundation for some fun,
Martin of Texas WOuldn { have the fun.
The dinner dragged a little, but finally
came the time for the tOasts. The three
entertainers and two others at the table
pulled their toy cannOns and put them
beside their plates. Each lit cigar
cite. Martin gave a funny little look at
the cannon, and then with movement
as quick as a flash went to his hip and
laid huge Colt revolver, loaded to the
muzzle, beside his plate. Vance and
0 NELL turned pale and red by turns.
Cummings murmured something, but
| Martin of Texas cheeTily remarked {:
"The waiter didn't give me any artil-
Iery, and, of course, I've got to join in
your salute. Touch 'em off, gentle
men!' and he swung the revolver square
in Vance s face.
the cannon were not touched off.
And then the boys began to see that their
| huge joke on Martin Of Texas, had
proved a fizzle, but Martin Of Texas 3,
though enjoying their discontinue, was
disposed to be generous. He at once led
| the conversation. He told funny stories
| discussed congressional measures with
rare intelligence, compIimented the
| viands, dealt out tafy to all three of
! the congressional jokeTs and finally ,
when the feast was over, invited the
! whole party to a dinner at his expense at
| Wormley's, an invitation which was not
accepted.
Amos Cummings never likes to hear
much about that dinner TO. Martin of
| Texas, nor did he ever write anything
al