Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-08-28
TEXAS CYPRESS CAMP.
Fact and Fancy in Connection with
an Important Industry.

A Colmesneil. Tex, dispatch says;
There is an extra deal Of interest mani
tested In cypress timber just now.
Twenty years ago the annual run of
cypress RATS down the Neches. Angelina
and Sabine rivers to Beaumont aud
Orange was looked forward to by mer-
chants aud laborers in the vicinity of
the great cypress brakes with as much
concern as that now attaching in many
localities to the gathering and marketing
of the cotton crop. The man who direct
cd the rafting was denominated run
ner," and upon his return home after a
successful float there was a general set
ting Of accounts in which hundreds and
sometimes thousands of dollars changed
hands, and thus only was the medium of
exchange placed among the people OF
these rural surroundings, The runner,
executive ability sufficient TO ut him to
be governor of Texas. or even a higher
place. should worst come to worst"
Fortunes were often made In a single
season by runners on these rivers, and
again they were squandered as quickly.
Ten years ago, at n point near Burr's
ferry, on the Texas side Of the Sabine,
They had prepared small raft for an
autumn run. when from many miles
above them came three Young men with
run of 100 sticks. Reaching the old
mans boom. they tied up. one Of their
number having fallen victim 10 fever,
and he was carried 10 the old nuns
abode for shelter and attention. The
good wife nursed him tenderly, while her
husband and the two strangers went
hunting and fishing. sometimes indulging
in a small game Of poker.
However, with all the good nursing.
the yonng man died. After bordering
over what should be done with his inter
est the woman was called upon to
suggest. She readily advised that She
was entitled to u part of the ownings
for services rendered, and added that
she was willing to put 1t up as disputed
property and all join in a game of poker,
The highest hand to own It all, The boys
the husband and wife, won. The old
lady then proposed that the timber own.
ed by her husband ard that belonging
TO the young men become the property
of one or the other in similar nmnner
Agreed to, the game resulted favonhly
10 the old people, who employed Il rela-
tive to make the run for them, while
the two young men returned home to tell
the sad story of death and the privation
and ruin that had settled down upon
them.
Back in the COS. there were no saw
mills OF note In either Beaumont or Or.
ange, hut the manufacture of shngle.
WIS a thriving industry at each of these
| places. and with tire rude appliances In
use, the then product Of tn hammer and
| knife had big name and fair sale
though the coast cities and towns were
| the principal markets, an occasional car
| 20 going to Mexico or the West mdins
During all these years thcre has beer
an almost fabulous volume Of cypress
! timber going down to Beaumont ant
| Orange from as high as 100 mile,
above, and made into shingles with which
| were covered soon after structures from
Maine TO Mexico, aud homes in all part.
| of the West, besides thousands of build
| ings In foreign countries
Cypress being Of slow growth. 1t /,
rltler unexpected that much of the ar
tielc should remain in the swamps OF
these rivers, yet II is now known thai
several thousand trees have lately beer
purchased for n '94 spring run, and mos
Of the timber is less than 100 mile,
from Its market places. Whatever MAY
he the tendency of prices just now it i,
evident that manufacturers expect better
rates later, and are preparing to prof
by the same the coming spring.