The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1890-09-12
col. rnoMAsr. ocHILTHEE.

joyed by Thomas p Ochiltree is somewhat
on TINT order The famous Texan, how
ever, has substantial claims to the ntten-
tion of the personal photographers,
In the Forty-eighth congress he served
as the first native representative of his
state, His appearance on the floor of the
house was always the cue for Il hearty
laugh. "Tom Ochiltrce," dignitcd repre-
sentatives used to say, lis better fun than
the minstlels' ....sm..-#. .....
He always had some side splitting joke
on himself to relate that cunningly bore
on the argument he wished to advance
and he generally got what he wanted. In
fact his representation OF his constituents
was satisfactory, the "Ited Headed Ranger
from Texas" as he dubbed himself, OBJ
taining for his state almost all the appro
printions he asked for. Ochiltree was
neither Punchiuelln nor Thersitcs, but
delightful mixture Of both. 4..aI.s,..4.2 2.... ...
Early III life his shrewd humor developed
itself and helped him forward, in a career
dashing and adventurous i'll the extreme.
lie WAS born at NacogCioches parish, Tex,
in 1910 4 stirring period that marked the
close of Texas career rs IN independent
republic His father. Judge William I'
Ochiltrce, Il distinguished lawyer and Q
itii'i ~ Ilit7lSlr anu tli'tSG ilitE
who carried the destiny of Texas Ill lher
hands. was dcsiro,!sui bringing the boy uE
III Il fashion to slit the qlietcr epoch lIc
imagined he forcsaw. TO this end lie
placed him i'll charge Of two Catholic
priests, who haze both since then won high
hollOra III the church.
But young Tom, while displaying a
bright intellect, also showed the liveiicst
signs of life. He abruptly broke off his
stndics in his fifteenth year, and volnn,
teered as a private in the Texas rangers
commanded by Capt. John G. Walker
against the Apache and Coman2he Iudians
in 1854 and 80. At the close Of the cam.
paigu he returned to his books, but his was
supremely youth Of action, and before be
had attained his majority he made him
self editor OF The JeiIcrsouiau, and iii trGt
attended as delegate the conventions oi
Charleston and Baltimore. Then cnsued
the civil war, during which Ochiltree
served with distinction OH the statfs o
Gen. Tom Green and Gen. Dick Taylor, o
the Confederate army. He also received
honorable mention while acting unlei
special orders from l4ongstreet, and was
rewarded by Il colonelcy After the cessa-
ton Of hostlitics Col. Ochiltree accepted
the situation in good faith and both by
NbId iiii l>til SS!iDIleti MS EOil u
stop crying and find solace in work.
During President Grants first admins.
tration he appointed the Texan to be
United States marshal Of his state. But
1906 and 81 saw him again in his editorial
phase. He conducted The Houston Daily
Telegraph, and was untrng in his efforts
to keep the resources Of Texas before the
world. Tile attention Of the state govern,
ment wis called to him. with the result
that he w;ts sent to Europe to act as com.
missioner Of emigration for Texas, and In
that capacity he paid several visits to the
continent as well AS to England Every
where he became Il man marked his ag,
gressirc but agreeable manner, his odd
but pleasing person, everything called at.
tention to Thomas Ochiltrce-;nd he knew
well how to keep it there, for he could tell
funny stories in Fren III, Spanish and En-,
glsh. AS 4 matter OF fact Col, Ochiltree
was better known in Europe at this tiEe
than in the Uuited States, outside OF Texas.
1t was his famous campaign in 1882 in
which he ran an the Independent ticket
and defeated the SO called most popular
Democrat in Texas, Mr.. FindIay, that
brought him into prominence. AT that era
the congressional district which he was
contesting embraced $1,000 square miles
Oh territory, contained twenty seven cOtn-
ties, and reached from Galveston on the
Gull to Eagle Pass on the Rio Grandc.
The great fight took place at Galveston,
where Ochiltree and his ndherents occupied
the armory us headquarters, and his oppo
nents the large fremont house. Ochiltree
kept everybody away from the speeches at
the latter place listening for hours at the
arnory to stories that he told on himself
stories that have gone the rounds of every
English periodical.
Among others he told how, when he be.
gan to practice law with his father, he
took advantage of the old gentleman's alb.
sence in San Antonio to have an immense
sign painted which read, Thomas p Och
iltree and father, attorneys" etc.
For the past five years Col. Ochiltree has
withdrawn from politics and lived at the
Hoffman house. New York city, in such re.
tirement as crowds of friends who love his
wit and brilliant conversation viii permit.
He is Il figure of the age in which We live
that survives from an age gone forever,
AS such he merits exploitation before he
disappears from the stage.
FRANCIS LIVINGSTON.