San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-07-11

voyage, which lasted sixty three
days from Bremen to New Orleans,
to be on the sick list, caused by
sea sickness and the writer of this,
then the cabin boy, was detailed
to wait upon the sick lady and at
tend to her wants.
The tedious voyage came to an
end at last and the emigrants of
the "Ernestine" migrated still
further into the interior for their
respective "EldOradO's" of the flu
| ture.
About two weeks after landing
and the ship being mOOred at the
| foot of Jackson street, man APP
peared who might have been taken
for one of the last of Lafitte's Gal
weston Island band of rovers, or a
transmOgrified modern "Don
Quixote" but he turned out to be
our signor Chiapini; clad in
plantation suit with a white, soft,
broad trimmed hat and armed
with bowie knife and ''fOrty-five
shooters" fresh from his first
"war path"in theLouisiana swamps
The story's he told, of the sights
he had seen, were hair splitting
he told of a tramp on foot into the
then backwOOds of the country
west of the Mississippi river, where
on rivers and bayOus there dwelt
at the time some of the scattered
remnants of half-ciViliZed Indians,
who lived from fishing, hunting and
gathering herbs, plants and roots,
which they would bring to New
Orleans for sale. He told of the
crocodiles (aligatOrs) which he had
shot just after they had made their
monday meal off plantation dar-
key, of snakes and other reptiles
innumCrable. He promised to
come back and make arrangements
to return with the "Ernestine," but
she sailed without him and cleared
for Liverpool, England, with a
cargo of cotton, and from thence
with a load of salt back to Bremen.
In the year 1876 the writer at
tended the United States court at
Tyler, Smith county, the late Hon.
Judge Duval presiding. The court
had adjourned for the day and
there was no afternoon session,
Judge Duval, Judge A. j. Evans,
Prosecuting Attorney, c. Robards,
now of San Antonio, Marshal
Purnell, Mr.. Ed. Huppertz and
others were in the [. ;. MarShaPS
office speaking of the agricultural
possibilities of Texas in general
and Smith county in particular.
Judge Duval remarked that
there was a German, an old resi-
dent who was, and had been for
years making his own wine and it
seemed to be Of excellent quality"
said Judge Duval, and what
binders us from going and visiting
Mr.. WOldert and having a sample
of his "TeXas Wine" The Judge
in the lead, we went across the
square and entered large store in
the rear of which reposing on one
of the counters with bolt of
brown domestic for a pillow we
found the proprietor, upon hear
ing our approach he at once arose
and we were confronted by large
we'll built old man with a fine
head of gray hair, large
gray beard and a pair of
clear eyes under large eye
brOws; The greeting between
him and Judge Duval was cordial,
a general introduction followed,
also an explanation as to the OBJ
ject of the visit. The wine was at
once forthcoming and was found
excellent indeed.
took little or no part in the
conversation, | was struck, the
man. this Mr.. Woldert, where
should | put him, long forgotten
and cObweb covered pictures of
mind slowly cleared themselves. l
addressed our host: "Mr. WOldert,
how long have you been here in
Tyler" 60! it is long time, the
last time / came from Germany
was in 1852"
"Mr. WOldert, do you recollect
the name Of the vessel on which
you came over from Germany"
"NOt right now" he answered !;
"Was the ship named 'ErnestineT"
ayes yes and the captain was a
gray old manw Correct" / said
land his name was Frerichs."
"That is right ~ was Mr.. Woldert's
affirmation. "But," addressing
me, chow do you know all this?"
"Mr. Woldert, do you remember
a little cabin boy who was detailed
by the captain to.wait on your sick
wife during the voyage, a little