The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-09-15


this direction, accom- panied by few very
leading questions. suddenly developed
the fact that Mr.. Buzzard was not the
man to be easily cornered. He drew the
old rusty sword. aud after lntimating
that lie had been "born all along up and
down the Mississippi" and that lana
pirates, Indians, wild cats. hurricanes
and cyclones had been his playmates he
politely intimated that he would cut off
the head OF the next man who asked him
an uncivii question.
Mrs. Buzzard and the children fell IN
love with a steamboat that was lying in
the bayou. and, a result, the whole
family concluded to take a ride. Leaving
the horses and carriage at stable in
Houston, they embarked on board of a
Buffalo bayou steam boat for little trip
down to Galveston. During the night
Mr.. Buzzard fell in with the river sharks
and played poker and lost, according to
the captain story. at least $25, 900. While
rounding in at the wharf at Galveston Mr..
Buzzard SAID he had been delighted with
the trip and said he believed he would
buy steam boat to run on the Brazos, as
that famous stream was navigable up to
Buzzard's five-acre plantation.
Let me sell you mine, said the cap
tain of tho Silver Spray.
"All right; what will you take for
herr"
twenty-five thousand dollars"
''Ill take her, and will be down hers
at y o'clock to pay you the money"
The captain regarded the affair as a
joke, but just at noon, when he saw Mr..
Buzzard coming along the gangplank
with buckskIn sack in either hand. he
was glad that the had added about $4,000
to the real value of the boat. Mr.. Buz-
zard counted out to the captain $25 900,
nearly all of it in gold coin, and then he
went up OH the roof and gave vent to
10 inn hu fntO
manche warwhoop, and proclaiming him.
self the owner of the Silver Spray,
bound for Buzzardsville, away up the
Brazos."
The voyage was continued up the river
until Buzzard actually had the satisfac-
ton of tying up tie fine steamboat al
m Jst at his own doorstep.
Late in the fall Buzzard and his family
again appeared IN Houston. circus
and travelling menagerie had Just been
stranded in the city, and the sheriff was
selling off the show property under an
execution. Buzzard was just about
drunk enough to be fascinated by thing
Of that sort. and he commenced bidding
on everything that was offered for sale.
A big snake II feet long was knocked
down to him for $500. Next he bid $4,000
for Bengal tiger and got him. big
elephant brought $4,000, and Buzzard be-
came the owner. He bid on everything
ard the show people were in an ecstacy
OF delight. The Judgment was soon salts
fled, and the show people had more sur
plus money coming to them than their
whole outfit originally cost. Buzzard
paid for everything, and, being troubled
with an irresistible desire to treat every
body. he soon had tine show people and
everyone else who would drink with
him as drunk as he was. A big crowd
was following the strange character from
place to place, and the saloons were reap
ing rich harvest. Finally Buzzard con-
grand procession instantly. The men,
bers of the brass band were full of en-
tn usiasm and everything supplied by the
average Houston bar. The circus horses
were hitched to the wagons and cages.
and the big elephant was brought out and
with doubt as to whether his proper
place was on the back of the elephant or
in the cage with the lions. The circus
people. discovering that he was an APP
parently lnexhaustable mine of gold.
whisky and fun. were not disposed to
feed him to the lions yet awhile, and they
persuaded MIN that the post OF honor
and danger was on the back of the royal
elephant. Dressed like an Arab shiek.
with turban and sword, followed by Mrs,
Buzzsrd and the children, arranged IN q
manner that suggested painted Co.
manche souaws or wild Circassians he
mounted the big elephant. Down near
Buffalo bayou the elephant stopped.
Then he made straight for the water and
plunged IN. Finally the elephant lay
down and rolled over. Buzzard was a
good swimmer and he managed to get
10 the opposite shore with his wife ami
children. Seated on the bank. with the
muddy water dripping from them, they
presented a picture to excite pity. but
| the spectators laughed until everybody
was hoarse.
Now comes the strangest part Of the