The daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1892-1897, 1897-04-07
WILLIAM KEALE.
The Texas pioneer Laid at Rest.
Sketch of His Life.

The funeral occurred this MORN
ing at nine o'clock, the burial SER
vices being under the auspices of
the Odd Fellows Lodge, and also
partly conducted by Rev. j. Port
mess of the Episcopal church. The
service used By the Odd Fellows
was composed in verse by Mr.. Neale
himself over twenty years ago, and
used at his request Numerous old
friends of the deceased followed the
remains to the cemetery and stood
reverently by as the earth was heap
ed over the grave covering from
view all that was left on earth of
one whom they had known and hon
cred for so many years.
William Neale was a native of
Bexhill, Sussex county, England,
and passed his youth in London.
Ills life was an eventful one, and
his long association with this place,
of which he was the oldest inhabi
tant, makes It of special interest to
our Brownsville readers. A long
account of his adventurous career is
contained in Lieut.. Chatfield's "Twin
Cities of the Border" from which
we excerpt the following account.
Mr.. Neale ran away from home
when quite young, becoming sea-
man. His career on this side of the
Atlantic began with his service on
board the first frigate in the Next
can Navy of 1921. The vessel was
purchased in England: the munitions
of waf and armament being placed
on board secretly; the boxes that
apparently contained dry goods were
opened after putting to sea, and
found to contain carronades, and
other articles for fitting out a war
like expedition. The ship was run
into Convenient but isolated har-i
bor where she was pierced for
forty-four guns, and in g short time
set sail for Mexico. The frigate
captured Castle Uloa, Spanish
fortress guarding the harbor of Vera
Cruz, and performed good service in
the cause Of Mexican independence.
He afterwards travelled very ex-l
tensively in Mexico and also in
Texas. UI on completing his travels
in Mexico he settled in New Or
leans, where he learned the trade Of
house, sign, and orn amental paint
ing, and pursued the business there
for several years after completing
his apprenticeship. In 1884, at the
request of the American Consul, he
came to Matamoros TO ply his trade
in the town which had been estab-
lished few years previously. He
made the journey from New Orleans
in schooner, there being at that
time only an occasional opportunity
to secure passage on a coasting yes
sci Brazos Santiago was then a fine
harbor in which twenty vessels
could ride at anchor, and swing With
the tide without interfering with
each other, while now ali ships have
to be moored, TO prevent them from
striking on one of the numerous bars
aud shoals which have been formed
BIZ the silt of more than Ialf a CEN
fury. Tie schooner landed him at
Point Isabel, where he saw, close to
high bank; another schooner dis.
charging her cargo a thing which
has not been done for many years.
Mr.. Neale lived in Matamoros for
seven years. When he arrived there;
in 1884, town was already laid out.
and number of substantial Luild-
ings erected, bat there was no habi-
tation of any kind on the present site
of Brownsville. In fact, as late as
1916 when Gen. Taylor occupied |
this point, there were only about a
dozen @jacales" scattered about this
vicinity. Mr.. Neale afterwards lived |
near the city of Bagdad at the mouth |
of the Rio Grande Many interesting
and exciting incidents befell him at |
this period. in consequences of the /