West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-02-25

l~VheT-in law IorgaVe him. IL was
Ten. Taylor. or "Old Rough and
Ready, as his soldiers called him.
aud soon after that he became
PRESIDENT. Later OF his scape grace
son. m-law became President Of the
Southern Confederaey, and a more
historic figure than the old man
who held the fort, but lost his
daughter.
The old fort is now used as q
Government prison, aud it is said
that more murdesers have been
hanged here than at any place in
the United States. The place Is
situated right in the northwest
corner of Arkansas and OH the
border of Indian Territory. All
the criminals from that whole sec
ton have been brought to Fort
Smith for trial and execution. Only
the Federal authorities had control
In the territories, and they made
the Government prison here a kind
OF jumping off place. examined
the seaffold carefully where so
many criminals have shuffisd off
this mortal coil. Recently five men
were hanged at one time. The exc.
cutions have been 80 common that
the citizens pay but little attention
to them. | met ex- Gov. Fishback,
who was at the depot to help re-
ceiye US. The population is about
10000. We crossed over into the
Cherokee Strip. We didn't exactly
see any Of the Cherokee strip, but
some Of them came very near it.
We passed down through Indian
Territory, seeing many civilized
Indians who are doing we'll and
living like the pale faces.
We got supper at Paris, Texas.
Here is where they burned a negro
at the stake some time ago for out
raging and numbering little four.
year old girl. The papers were full
of it at the time. The fellow had
escaped and gotten up in the Ter
rltory, where they arrested him and
brought him back. A mob, headed
by the father of the child, took
him to the outskirts Of the town,
where they worked the old Indian
racket. They haven't had any
trouble since with the darkies.
Monday we travelled all day get
ting through the State of Texas.
and arrived hero that night. We
passed through some of the finest
farming country in the world.
Thousands and thousands of acres
as level as floor. The sunset was
magnificent and exhibited enough
gold to ransom a king, or run
another Mark Hanna campaign. /
was surprised to find such an exhi-
bition down here in Texas, after
the 100000 majority for Bryan and
free silver. But golden sunset on
the broad prairies can only be seen
to be appreciated. However, the
sliVery moon makes up for the treas
enable appearance Of the sun, as it
is full and looks much larger down
here than OF home. The moon
locks tonight like it had been ont
With the boys. In fact, / am in
formed that 1T gets full every month
and stays out all night down here.
But of course Texas is not a proh.
bition State.
Well, we are quartered comforta.
bly, at the Beach Hotel, famous
summer resort on Gulf shore. This
IS headquarters for the Association,
although many members are stop
ping at the fremont, which is
under the same management. The
sessions are held in Harmony Hall.
or "Tammany Hail." as some of
as call it. There are from FIVE to
six hundred delegates aRd members
Of the Association, as many are
accompanied by some member of
their family. We are having a
very pleasant stay in this beautiful
island city and regular round Of
entertainmentsn and hospitality, while
the sessions have been very profta.
bic to the pen and pencil pushers.
as many splendid papers have been
read and some brilliant addresses
delivered.
Well, this letter is long enough.
and / will head myself off now and
put my little shoes away aud allow
Morpheus to get in bis Tor herl
IL -