Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-08-30
WINE WATER.
DE SOTO FOUGHT THE INDIANS
TITUS COUNTY.
Numerous Relics Bear Out the Assertion.
The Historian of De Soto's Party De-
scribes the Famous Springs
Correspondence Of the Gazette.

I
| MOUNT pleasant, Ten, Aug. 1e.-Dur-
| ing DeSotos adventures in this then wild
| country he made stop for some weeks
near the present site of this city, and after
| several trying engagements with the In
| dians turned his face towards the east,
| dying upon his arrival upon the Mississippi
| river, where his remains were placed in
rustic coffin and at midnight taken out into
| the center of the stream and sunk to the
| bottom
The old breastworks built by De Soto
and his men are still here and in fairly
good state of preservation. considering the
antiquity of their origin. He had several
very hazardous engagements while here,
| and for several weeks had a nearly constant
battle with the natives. He made
extensive breastworks west of the
city, and another about two miles
east of the city where they were driven
from the Indians sacred springs which are
situated just one mile southeast from the
courthouse square. The extensive breast
works are one mile east of these springs
and are clearly marked rs the work of war
riOrs. A single stately walnut tree rises
from their summit. The tree may have
been planted by some of DeSotos men, as
was red clay not intended to facilitate the
growth of vegetation, but this magnificent
specimen of the Slow-growing walnut tree
is about twenty inches in diameter.
Around these breastwOrks have been
found implements of war, consisting of
broken swords, etc. of the style in use at
the time of De Soto'S existence; also speci-
mems of the rude products used by the
Indians in their warfare. In the mounds
built here and there over this country have
been found many curious relics, consisting
mostly of earthenware, arrow-heads, sea-
shells etc. many of which are TO be gath
cred for an exhibition hall at the springs,
h,ni,, Il DC hn1
NJ. De Nionaunt, Catholic priest who ac-
Companied the daring De Soto on this occa-
sion as the historian of the party, gives
some very interesting data, describing the
country from the Red river to the springs
at this place. He speaks of the Red river
as being sluggish stream of red-colored
muddy water, crossed by the party while
passing southwark following Indian trails.
He then describes the landmarks crossing
Sulphur and on southwark until forced TO
build breastworks, of which his care
full description is completely filed
by the above referred TO.
As further evidence that there
can be no mistake about this matter, his
description of the springs to the west of the
last works thrown up just before their de-
parture for the Mississippi is sufficient
He says, 1.-The springs just west of our last
battle-ground are wonderful to behold
Some of them bear wine-colored water,
wine and are exceedingly refreshing. 9th
ers of these springs are as clear and as
sparkling as the dews of heaven, and
others are the color of clear sky, but
all are guarded with jealous care by
the savages who have legends that
these waters were given by the Great Spirit
to make warriors strong and to make old
men young"
The above account by the historian NJ
De Monaunt is good evidence that the
breastworks alluded to are the ones mado
by De Soto, as there is no other locality
containing such combination of springs as
these, though there are some containing the
wine-colOred water. but not so bold and at
tractive as the ones here. The historian re-
lates some strange DATA about these springs
too lengthy TO here relate, but
rs further evidence that this is the identi-
cal water, he said, 1--WE filled our vessels
with wine water and started eastward, but
had not gone far when to our surprise this
curious water had broken the vessels and
leaked out"
Now it has been frequently known to
break flask when experimental with by
the people who have, for amusement, car
ried a bottle of this water away with them
to play a joke on unSuspecting friends who
could not tell this water from wine and it
will break any ordinary flask at any time if
filed with this strange water and corked
tightly. Notwithstanding all this
account Of this water its virtues have never
been advertised to the world, though there
are men living here to-day VINO will make
oath that this water cured them of Bright's
disease, and will furnish the local physi-
clans certificate to attest the statement.