San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-04-25
IN REMINISCENT MOOD.
The Venerable Richard bowling
Discusses Sam Houston.


protracted illness, has suffered re-
lapse, and is again confined to his
bed. A friend who called on him
yesterday found him unable to sit
up, except for few moments
at time. He was in very
feeble state, having lost flesh during
his sickness, so that he is as he eX-
pressed it, reduced to mere skin
and bone" Yet. Notwithstanding
his debilitated condition, his mind is
as vigorous as ever, and his memory
of events, reaching back over the past
seventy years, has apparently suffered
no diminutiOn.
He said that when he came to ST.
Louis in 1917 he became acquainted
with hundreds of citizens who were
present in the town in 1902 when the
government was turned ever to the
United States. Now but one of those
persOnages, who was born here and
who was living in the place when
that famous historical event occurred,
is now alive, and that is Mr.. Henry
G.. SOulard, who will be 50 years old
OH the 9TH of May next.
| Mr.. Bowling says he can have no
expectation of being able to attend
the approaching opening of the Mer-
chants bridge, as when the great cell
ebration of the Eads bridge opening
| took place he was then one in the pro-
cessOn of old citizens, of which Gen.
Nathan Ranney was the marshal, who
crossed over the bridge in carriages.
With the exception of four or five, the
old citizens of that day are all gone,
and new generation is filling their
places.
After INDUCING in these reminis-
cences Of st. Louis, Mr.. Bowling re-
verified to visit which he made to
Mr.. Sam Houston, "the hero of San
JacintO." at his home in Huntsville,
Tex. in 1888. OF this visit he said
Il was introduced to Gen. Houston
by Capt. Simms, after having request
ed him to do so, though he remarked
that you could tell Gen. Houston
among a thousand l was received
very cordially by the General, and
Immediately felt as much at ease in
his company as if | had been nti-
mate with him for years. I was
struck with the pecullarities of
his appearance and dress He
wore shane-bellied or what
would be called now a cut-away
coat, dark-colored vest and pants
and black cloth CATERS over
his shoes. He had a brown beaver
hat, with a tremendous high crown
and broad brim, under which gleam-
ed pair of gold speCtacles. Struck
with the odd appearance of his pom
derOus hat, had the curiosity to in
qutre, Say, General, where did YOU
get that hat" And he informed me
that he had itmade to order in Austin. |
He seemed to take me, stranger to
him as was, into his confidence, and, |
without the appearance of any re-
serve, impaired during the cOnVersa-
ton little bits of his domestic sur
rOundings. He said his son and !
daughter were going to school at In !
dependence, and their mother was
with them to watch over and take |
care of them, leaving him very much !
alone.
The conversation then naturally !
drifted to his first wife and their sep |
aratiOn, and the resignation of the |
governOrship of Tennessee, and he |
said that after the marriage his wife |
told him that she didn't marry Sam |
Houston, but the governor of Ten
nessee.' 1t is easy to conceive how
such a fling would affect sensitive |
nature, and the world knows the re-
suit.
II then inquired of the general if |
he was not going to run for governor |
again. He answered, No; there are
only two offices in the world | want |
What are they" said |.
II want to be justice Of the peace
and road Overseer. One is to settle
all disputes between my neighbOrs
amicabIy and the other to give them
good roads. He said his intention
was then to 20 to raising sheep down
on the bay. But, as l remember now,
it was not over two months after that
he was nominated for governor and
was elected, beating his opponent by
some 1000 majority, the same MAORI
ty by which, in the election before,
Houston was beaten by his opponent.
speaking of the kattlc of San Ja-
ClntO, Gen. Houston told me that
when he got his men over the de-
strOyed bridge, he told them there was
no retreat, it was victory OF death.
While we were talking a big red
faced man from a labama, OF reputed
wealth, came and aCCcsted the gener-
al thus:
"The first time l saw you. General,
was at Vicksburg; you a victorious
general, | a boy. You had on a
splendid uniform, and when | saw
your brass buttons, thought I'd
like to be Gen. Houston" "Wen,
said the General, you may take my
name and give me your wealth."
After a short rest Mr.. bowling re-
sumed the Houston "Reminiscences,
thus: awe then di-cOuraed about
Col BENTON Whnrn [ nd lrnnrr.,1 I'm