The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-01-07
EPISODE OF OLD TEXAS.
Tho Government Set Up by Count
st. Denis in TIA
A Romantic Fragment OF Southwestern
History-The Counts Meeting with
the Man He Thought He
Had Slain.

terial for the historian in the minds OF
the old veterans of the border that will
soon pass beyond the reach of all writ
very first settlements in Texas, and,
doubtless, many will be astonished to
learn that the business of creating re-
publics in that country commenced
nearly 200 years ago. There were fili-
busters who dreamed of carving out for
themselves an empire in the great south
west long before even Aaron Burr was
born. Others in 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 landmarks in the southwest,
was laid off and carefully mapped just
1872 years ago. 1t was at one time re-
garded as the longest highway in the
world. 1t was longer than any Of the
old Roman roads-longer than the great
military road that led from the gates Of
the Eternal City to Constantinople and
the Asiatic provinces. The San An
tonic road proper ran from San Au-
gustine to San Antonio, and the long
road extending south of the Alamo mis-
sion across the Rio Grande to the City
of Mexico. distance of more than 1000
miles, was also called the San Antonio
road. 1t was originally laid of 100 feet
wide. 1t is road yet. This great road,
over which Spanish viceroys and richly
laden caravans traveled-over which
countless thousands crowded their
way 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-
umphs 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
finally landed on the shores of Mata-
gorda bay. Here he built a fort, and
called it Fort st. Louis, in honor of
Louis XIV. of France. Realizing that
he had made mistake, La Sale &C
companied by his followers, attempted
to march across the country, hoping to
reach a French fort on the Arkansas
river, where he had instructed De Tonti
to keep small body of soldiers. He
lost his life through the treachery Of
his own comrades, and it is supposed
that his bones repose somewhere on
the shores of the Neches river. Exag-
gerated reports concerning the rich
country west Of the Mississippi river,
which bordered on the Gulf of Mexico,
reached France. The soil was said to
he the richest in the world, the climate
was saaubrious, like that of southern
Spain, the mountains were full of gold
and silver, and the rivers ran over gold
en- sand. Among the hundreds of ad-
venturous and warlike spirits that sur
rounded the throne of Louis XIV. none
listened to these stories with more ca
gerness than Count St. Denis. He was
brave, energetic, and handsome youth,
who had inherited great name and
many heavily mortgaged estates. The
opportunity which he eagerly sought,
TO draw his sword and make an effort
to fill his purse on the plains of the
Rio Grande, soon presented itself.
The bare cold facts of the story of
this young mans adventures read so
much like the dreams of a romancer
that they would be rejected by all his
torians if they were not supported by
indubitable records. Count St. Denis
and young Frenchman of equal rank
of the name of Belisle were both vio-
lently in love with the same young
lady. 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
and 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 Rio
Grande was ruled by governor ap-
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
ages and established himself in north
ern Texas without ever firing shot.
He must have been an extraordinary
young man, possessing many of the
traits of a leader, not the least among
which were his mastery accomplish
ments as diplomat, for he not only
made an alliance offensive and defen-
rive with the powerful, warlike Natchez.
but he soon won the friendship Of the
Spanish settlers who lived in the terri
tory. Intoxicated with his success, he
boldly cut loose from the Louisiana
company and set up government of his
own. This was in the year TIA, and