The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-04
REMEMBER THE ALAMO.
"REMINISCENCES OF THE GREAT CEN.
TRIAL FIGURE AT
The Battle OF sn Sacilto =An ecd otos
and Sketches relating to an interest
ing Period in zoe Life Of Gen, Sem
Houston.

handsomely furnished office in the new
Federal building And II you should call
on the judge in a social way you would
find him an entertaining talker, as full Of
"reminiscences and anecdotes pertaining to
events in Texas history as nut is full OF
meat.
A Nous representative was fortunate
enough to lind him in conversational
mood yesterday, when the talk turned
upon events connected with the battle
OF San Jacnto, as is becoming at the
season Of the year. Judge Burford
was not IN Texas when that memoir
able event occurred, but he came here
shortly afterward. and became personally
acquainted with persons and events i'm
mediately allied thereto, and in speaking
OF them he assumes familiarity that
shows he must have had an inkling OF the
historical significance OF those apparently
trivial affairs even ut that early time.
The few who still remain with us who can
speak from personal knowledge OF those
early days, when the fate Of Texas was
still an unsolyed mystery, are fast grow
ing fewer and fewer, and as each year
sees decrease in their ranks in proper
lion do the words OF the remainder adj.
vance In importance and interest.
There can be no allusion TO fatoful San
Jacinto that does not bear with ii re-
minder Of Glen. Houston" said Judge Bur-
ford. "1'he first time met sam Houston
was in 1871, when he went back TO Ten.
nessee TO visit the scenes OF his youth. lie
was then pretty well up in years, but still
bore himself with the vgor and sprghtli-
ness OF youth. lie was US fine a specimen
OF u man rs have ever seon.-six feet in
his stockings he stood. and weighed 250
| pounds il lac weighed an ounce, without a
particle OF surplus flesh ON him. In dress
lac WIS peculiar. lie could not be called
a dandy, but he wore clothes differ
ont from anybody else, OF nm eccen-
trio fashion OF cut or material. lie
WIS extremely popular with the In.
dies oi his Jay. lie was given credit
in some quarters for being a hard
drinkcr and possessing other habits that
might have placed him outside the posi-.
| bility OF social success, but during the
time knew him in Texas he drank but
very little, II any, ! am certain. At any
rate, he had the knack oi winning great
! popularity In the drawing-room rs IN his
| political career, which ] attribute TO the
fact that he used the greatest degree OF
| tact and policy in the most minute Of his
actions, aud this, combined with his com
handing personality, ovcrcalnc oil deter
ioraiing qualities. ] have heard Il said
| that when lac walked nlong the streets OF
| Nashville IN the early days OF his popu.
lahty the ladies' ia the residences along
the line of his promenade would raise
their window sashes and gaze out after
him ~ far rs his figure could be dscerned.
but he was very mysterious man, and
very little IN known OF his private life.
| Even his most intimate friends were moi
permitted n cross certain line In tht
direction oi familiarity. For instance. Tia,
matter 0f his separation from his first wife
back In Tennessee has never been
elucidntcd In the slightest degree, though
the focus OF investigation has been turned
on from every conceivable direction"
The Judge was asked II There was moi
some spcculat on at the time OF that event
as to the motive for II.
There was great deal Of very natural
curiosity at the time and for q long tim,
aitcrward and IL still exists" he answered
"but there has never been theory ad
yanccd that was In the least satisfactory o
that complied with the known facts
have heard the story told that shortly aile
his marriage he discovered that his wife
though true 10 him in all conscience, wa
cnGmorcd Of young doctor and had mar
ricd Houston merely for his social position
rs Governor OF Tennessee, and at thl
solicitation Of her family. but have neye
heard any really reliable subslnnlation o
II except once, by tho way. About thirt,
years ago q lady, Mnl Wilson OF Collil
County, who was ono Of the bridesmaid
at the first marriage Of Sam Houston, cam,
20 Dallas with the expectation OF meeting
the General. | made her acquaintance
aud We go, TO talking about his early life
when she told mo That ~ they were pre-
pairing the bride for the ceremony, an,
complimcnting her on having won IA,
Governor OF the State ~ we'll ~ the hand
soonest man m H., she said with an air O
bitterness that she would not give n snal
OF her little finger for all the Governors Il
the United statcs.
q "jut was Gen. Houston never qucs
toned about the matter himscllY' Wa
Z asked Of the Judge.
clio was, hut he would not give IN,
| 4
"A talk With Col. Henderson Ioakum,
, talented gentleman, one Of the historian
of Texas, who IN now dead, but who, n
,, the time Of lluuston's death aud prio
thereto, was living at Huntsville. nca
where Houston resided. lie WIS llous
toms most intimate friend, had know
him from boyhood mp, was his legal al
visor aud attorney. aud In fact ha,
come from Texas 10 Tennessee ut lh
earnest solicitation Of the tIencml.
Houston had been disposed 10 "a,
anything about his separation iron
his wife Col loakun was th
: man he would have said Il TO. lie use
10 come and sit In the lattcrs Office an,
talk Tor hours at time on all sorts 4
topics, aud one night when he had bee
= oven more confidential than usual. Iotkm
= took courage 10 u,k him boldly about II
: IL was very late Ia the night
. "Gencu,l, what WAS the cause Of You
separation from your first wife? said Col
y loakum.
Q Houston got up, turned his back 10 IA
= fire, and. looking Ioakum IN the face, said
. Col. Yoakum, nothing but pruricu
y curiosity ever tempts a man Ia raise IN
vol that conccals the secrets between
n man and his vile Tie pulled out hi
! watch and said: "Well, its nearly mid
= night must got homo or my wife vii
/. pour no, water down my back lie wen
q home.
. These" continued Judge Buriord. "ar
= the words ~ Noakum told them TO inc
- aud they cmbody about the substance q
: all anybody ever got out OF Gen. Houston
y about his separation