The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
FIRST TEXAS REPUBLIC
INTERESTING AND ROMANTIC BIT OF
SOUTHWESTERN HISTORY.
The Count st. Denis, Who I'm 1714 Or
CANNED the First Independent Gov
eminent in North America.

Caldwell CTexas) Letter in st. Louis Globe
Democrat.
There is much welI-authenticated mate
rial for the historian III the minds of the
old veterans OF the border that will soon
pass beyond the reach of all writer's. Few
people know anything of the very first set
Elements in Texas, and doubtless many
will be astonished to learn that the bus
mess of creating republics in that country
commenced nearly 200 years ago. There
were hIibusters who dreamed OF carving
out for themselves an empire in the great
Southwest long before even Aaron Burr
was born. Others I'm the ranks of the most
careful readers of history will possibly be
surprised to learn that the old San Antonio
road which is one of the best known land
marks in the Southwest, was laid off and
carefully mapped just 1s2 years ago. 1t
was at one time regarded as the longest
highway in the world. 1t was longer than
any of the old Roman roads-longer than
the great military way that led from
the gates of the Eternal City to Constan-
tinoDle and the Asiatic provinces. The
San Antonio road proper ran from San
Augustine TO San Antonio, and the long
road extending south of the Alamo Mission
across the Rio Grande to the City of Mex
leo. a 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 way to Texas battIefelds for
more than 100 years, was laid off by men
whoEwere talking of republican institutions
oe1ore the ideas of Jefferson or the tri-
umBhs OF Washington had ever entered the
spain ana France both claimed the coun-
Try, france based her claims on the dis
In searching for the mouth of the Nissis-
sIp2l sailed 100 far west, and finally
landed on the shores OF Matagorda bay.
Here he built fort and called IL Fort ST
Louis. in honor of Louis XIV, of France
realizing that he had made a mistake La
sale, accompanied by a few followers at
tempted to march across the country hon
ing 10 reach a French fort on the Ar
kansas river. where he had instr lcted De
Fontt to keep a small body of soldiers He
lost his life through the treachery of his
own comrades, and it is supposed that his
the NacPes som SOme"nere on the shores Of
concerning the rich country west of the
MMlssssissiPpi river. which bordered on the
CUR or Mexico reached France. The soil
was said TO be the richest in the world
the climate was salubrious like that of
of gold and silver and tpa rilrnr were IuI
golden sands. Amongst the hundreds of
adventurous and warlike spirits that sur
~ Nv
tened 10 these stories with more eagerness
than Count st. Denis. He was a brave
energetic and handsome youth. who had
inherited a great name and many heavily
mortgaged estates. The opportunity which
ne eagerly sought to draw his sword and
make an effort to fill his purse on the
plains of the Rio Grande soon presented
itself
READS LIKE A ROMANCE
The bare cold facts OF the story of this
young mans adventures. sunadorned BIZ
dad r2I.
dreams Of a romancer that they would be
rejected by all historians if they were not
supported by indubitabIe records Count St
Denis and young Frenchman of equal
rank OF the name of Belise were both VIC
lently IN love with the same young lady.
Their rivalry ended in a quarrel which led
to duel. The antagonists met and fought
a terrible battle with swords. which ter
minated. as st. Denis supposed, in the death
of his rival. He at once fled from France,
arrest and death he finally landed in Amer
lea and joined the great Louisiana CON-
open arms and Immediately offered him en-
ployment. All Spanish territory at that
time north Of the Rio Grande was ruled
OF Mexico. The Louisiana company was
anxious to possess the country. and the
OF little army of less than one hun
dred men men, to to plant plant the flag Of
forts and missions Ie Marched p thron ahlS
region Of country that literally swarmed
with hostile savages and established him
self in northern Texas without ever firing
a shot. He must have been an extraor-
binary young man. possessing many of the
which were his mastery ACCOMPLISHMENTS
as diplomat. for he not only made an al
lance offensive and defensive with the
the friendship of the Spanish settlers who
lived In the territory. Intoxicated with his
success. he bodily cut Loose from the Lo'Iisi-
ana company and set up a government of
his own. This was in the year TIA. and it
Was the very nrss attempt to establish an
North American continent. II was a curl
Gus Kind OF goyernment St. Denis was
Governor. and by the provisions of the
Constitution. which he drafted himself. he
nncb ooaar ms ,h at len Just ST a ,b as
stas Leaving q trusted subaltern in COM
m manid 81, Denis set out out for the City of
thoroughly understood. He either hoped
through his shrewd powers of diplomacy to
government, or, falling in this, he expected
10 turn everything over TO Spain and get
himself appointed Governor of the terri
juan near the Rio Grande the Governor
received and entertained him in most hos
pitaole manner The polished address and
courtly military bearing of the bold young
adyenturer almost instantly won the head
of the old Governor. and at the same time
the heart of his beautiful daughter 1t was
a case OF mutual love at first sight. St.
Denis almost forgot the empire that he had
been dreaming of; while enjoying the hos
pitality of Senior Villesecas and basking i'm
the smiles OF Donna Maria.
FAITHFUL LOVER
There was another sutton for the hand OF
this young lady. and this was no less q
parsonage than Governor Anaya. of Coahui-
Ia This official no sooner heard of ST. Denis
and his attention to Donna Maria than he
ordered his arrest. st. Denis was loaded
with chains and thrown into the fortress OF
Monociava- Donna Maria continued TO as.
sure the young man or her devotion and
OF the friendship of her father After St
Denis had been confined month or more
his powerful rival appeared one fine day
at the door of his cell. followed by a file
OF his guards. and told ST. Denis that II he
would instantly surrender all claims tC
the hand of Donna Maria that he would re.
lease him and give him letters that would
assist him In the prosecution of his plans
IN the City Of Mexico. ST. Denis witt
flashing eyes, scorned the offer and his
reply was worthy of one OF the old knights
of chivalry. Tyrant. you may load me
with chains. but so long as Donna Maria