Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-04-21
A HAPPY TRIO.
They Capture an Unfortunate Scribe and
Paralyze Him-A Character
istic Poem.

piest old chaps that have been observed
IN the city since the veterans began to
gather here When a GAZETTE man
dropped into the party he addressed
one whose name he knew.
'sExcuse me; is this not Mr.. high
smith?'' inquired the scribe.
"No, sir; this is not Mr.. Highsmith.
This is only ole Ben Highsmith-just
plain Ben is good enough for me. -
Ben Highsmith, it is proper to say, IS
seventy-three years of age, having come
to Texas in 1924, since which time he has
never left the state Cor republic) except
when he chased the Mexicans acrossftne
border. He has taken part in the war
of Texas independence, the American
war in Mexico, various Indian wars,
and would have been in the
civil war, only, as he ex-
planned, his eyesight was bad,
or, as Red explained, he thought the
dod-gasted Yankees were too careless
with their "weepons.
"Red'' was another of the party. His
full name is II. B. Redtield OF Lee
county, and he enjoys the dis
tinctlon of having come across the
gulf of Mexico into Texas on the same
schooner that bore William B. Travis,
the Alamo hero, in 1881. Red was feel
ing very gay last night.
The third man of the party was Robert
| Childress of Bell county, who has been
through all the fights.
| When the newspaper man fell IN with
the trio Mr.. Highsmith was relating III
an Accordingly interesting way some OF
| his experiences of historical sort. lie
was relating the story of the Velasco af-
fair.
"You see,' he proceeded, "santy-
ann, when he had wiped out Dusty
menty, wanted to do up the Americans
| in Texas. Down at Velasco they had an
| old iron gun (the history says it was an
old brass cannon, but it WASH t anything
but from, and Santyann told Cos to
get it away from there. -
''But he didn't do it by darned
sight, - interrupted Red. 81 was there
at the time, and I know
''Just you hush your CAB for minute
while gentleman talks. l want to hear
what lie has to say, - said Childress.
HYou don't get into gentlemen's COM
pany often enough to know how TO be-
have yourself. -
'.Well, but he didn't get that gun,
did he?"
$50 Cos, he sent message over to
Velasco from Santone to ask for the
gun, - continued Ben.
'WeIl, he didn't get it, did he, -
from Red.
"No, o'course he didn't Ben al
lowed ''Nobody said he did. And
when he got there he says, gentlemen,
Cos wants that there gun you've got, !
says he. And the Americans got to-
gether and answered. you can t get that
gun unless you get it by force.
land they didn't get it, broke IN
irrepressible Red.
'Can't you hush up minute?' ex-
postulated Childress. "We know they
didn Il get it, but 1 want to hear Ben
tell about. -
$50 the messenger he went back to
Cos and reported what the Americans
, told him, and Cos reported to Santyann.
!, And Santyann says to Cos, Then you go
and take that gun by force.
"He didn't do it, did -
"Can't you hush?'
''Cos he gets together all the men he
can, and every one of them was well
, ARMED and equipped, and down they
march to Velasoo.
''Look-a-here, boys, aim goin tc
-, be squelched no longer. l was there al
the time, and 1 want to state right now
from actual knowledge, that the do
> greasers never sot hands on that there
| gun
q Red 8 interruptions were too much fol
Ben, who was forced to discontinue the
, narrative at this point, but he handed
: the reporter piece of poetry OF his OWL
composition which he thought nigh
, supply the place of story. Following
] is the poetry verbatim:
''TExAs RANGERS
Come all you Texas Rangers,
, | Wherever you may be,
And will tell you of some troubles
, That happened unto me.
Ny name is nothing extra,
So that Will not tell,
j But here to all the rangers,
q ] am sure l wish them well.
At the age of sixteen
joined that jolly band,
And marched from San Antonio
Out to the Rio Grande.
Our captain he informed US,
Perhaps he thought it right,
J. Before you reach the station,
Said he, you will have to fight.
saw the smoke ascending;
= 1t seemed to reach the sky,
And the first thought that struck me
Is this my time 10 dle
Thought of my mother,
Is Who in tears to me did say:
d To YOU they are all strangers,
~ With me you had better stay.
J. I told her she was childish,
The best she did not know,
Nv mind was bent on rowing
Is And was bound to go.
saw the Indians coming,
). l heard them give the yell.
n My feelings at that moment
" Ny tongue can never tell.
lie Oh, then the bugle sounded,
4, Our captain gave command,
To arms, to arms, he shouted
}, And by your horses stand.
saw the Indians coming,
- Their arrows around me hailed,
And for moment boys
Ny courage almost failed.
I saw the glittering lances
The painted warriors pore,
And we fought them full two hours
N Before the strife was DER.
1T Five of the noblest rangers
+ That ever saw the West
Were buried by their comrades;
hope they are at rest.
Perhaps you have mother,
VI sister kind and true;
ut Perhaps you have sweetheart
To weep and mourn for you.