The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1896-12-18
Episode OF OLD TEXAS.
Government Set Up by Count
lA'> ST. Denis in 1714
.utto Fragment of Southwestern
%n,story-The Counts Meeting with
the Man lie Thought He
Had Slain.

r,,ro is much Observation-Disclosures ma
81 for the historian in the minds of
old veterans of the border that will
on mass beyond the reach of all writ
- Few people know anything of the
first settlements in Texas, and,
,onhtless. many will be astomshed to
Ioorn that the business of creating re-
",,hlics in that country commenced
FoorIv 200 years ago. There were fill
hrsters who dreamed of carving out for
themselves an empire in the great south
vest long before even Aaron Burr was
Lorr Others in the ranks of the most
careful readers of history will possibly
ia surprised to learn that the old San
Antonio road, which is one of the best
,.nown landmarks in the southwest,
ras laid off and carefully mapped just
100 wears ago. 1t was at one time re-
garded as the longest highway in the
world It was longer than any of the
aid Roman roads-longer than the great
military road that led from the gates of
the Eternal City to Constantinople and
tbe Asiatic provinces. The San An
tonic road proper ran from San Au-
custine to San Antonio, and the long
road extending south of the Alamo mis-
SION across the Rio Grande to the City
NJ Mexico. distance of more than 1000
miles. was also called the San Antonio
road. 1t was originally laid off 100 feet
wide 1t is a road yet. This great road,
over which Spanish viceroys and richly
laden caravans traveled-over which
countless thousands crowded their
wav to battle fields for more than 100
years, was laid off by men who were
talking of republican institutions be-
fore the idea of jefferson or the tri-
nmphs of Washington had ever en-
tered the minds of the widest dream
ers.
Spain and France both claimed the
country France based her claims on
the discoveries of La Sale. This great
explorer, in searching for the mouth of
the Mississippi, sailed too far west, and
inally landed on the shores of Mata-
yorda BAY. Here he built a fort, and
called it Fort ST. Louis, in honor of
Louis NV. of France. Realizing that
he had made mistake, La Sale ac-
,ompanied by his followers, attempted
% march across the country, hoping to
reach French fort on the Arkansas
river. where he had instructed De Tonti
10 keep a small body of soldiers. He
lost his life through the treachery of
his own comrades, and it is supposed
tbat his bones repose somewhere on
the shores Of the Neches river. EXag-
,D,,4r, inn hn TsIn
country west of the Mississippi river,
which bordered on the Gulf of Mexico,
reached France. The soil was said to
be the richest in the world, the climate
vas salubrious, like that of southern
Spain, the mountains were full CT gold
and silver. and the rivers ran over gold
N sand Among the hundreds of adj
.enturous and warlike spirits that sur
rounded the throne of Louis XIV. none
listened TO these stories with more ca
yerress than Count ST. Denis. He was
brave energetic. and handsome youth,
who had inherited "a great name and
many heavily mortgaged estates. The
opportunity which he eagerly sought
10 draw his sword and make an effort
10 fiji his purse on the plains of the
Rio Grande, soon presented itself.
The bare cold facts of the story OF
his young mans adventures read so
much like the dreams of a romancer
that they would be rejected by all his
Iorians if they were not supported by
ndubitable records. Count ST. Denis
aud young Frenchman of equal rank
Of the name of Belisle were both vlo-
lently in love with the same young
ady Their rivalry ended in quarrel
which led to duel. The antagonists
met and fought terrible battle with
swords which terminated, as st. Denis
supposed. in the death of his rival. He
at once fed from France, and after
series of narrow escapes from arrest
and death he finally landed in America
md joined the great Louisiana COM
pany. His countrymen received him
with open arms, and Immediately Of
fered him employment. All Spanish
territory at that time north of the Rlo
frande was ruled by governor APP
pointed by the viceroy of Mexico. The
louisiana company was anxious to pos
sess the country. and the authorities
sent Count ST. Denis at the head OF
little army of less than 100 men to plant
the flag of France upon the domes OF
the Spanish forts and missions. He
marched through a region of country
that literally swarmed with hostile saw
H1es and established himself in north
ern Texas without ever firing shot.
lie must have been an extraordinary
young man, possessing many OF the
traits of leader, not the least among
which were his mastery accomplish
ments as a diplomat. for he not only
mad an alliance offensive and defen-
Slve with the powerful. warlike Natchez.
hut he soon won the friendship of the
spanish settlers who lived in the terri
Tory. intoxicated with his success. ne
boldly cut loose from the Louisiana
rompany and set ND government OF MS
hwn. This was in the year l7l4, ana
It was the very first attempt to estabilsh
IN independent government ever mace
nm the North American continent.
It was a curious kind of a govern
ment. st. Denis was at the head OF y
under the modest title of governor. and
~ the provisions of the constitution,
which he drafted himself, he possessed
1r.L n