The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-01-28

This strange inscription can be seen
upon a great wall ina wild, ,uninhabit-
ed region Of the mountains of west
ern Texas. 1t Is. OF course, a puzzle
to hunters who happen to run against
IL while in pursuit of antelope, but
there are yet living in the vicinity OF
Fort Davis a few old settlers capable
OF interpreting it. Some OF these
gray-haircd pioneers were well ac-
quaintcd with the deceased individual
whose peculiar death and character
some bold artist attempted to perpet-
uatc upon the eternal rock.
Mr. Hog Walling was certainly a
very extraordinary man and during
his short career in the mountains Of
western Texas his conduct furnished
those who knew him best with sub
| jcct for reflection and discussion that
never ceased to be interesting. Old
Uncle Bob Rollins, who lived for sew
eral years not far from the Walins
ranch, says that the proprietor Of that
accurscd slice OF real estate was one of
the ncancst' and, at the same time.
one of the strangest characters that
ever lived. 81 KNOW" he says, "who
wrote his critaph on the rocks, hut
the artist only hintcd ut the truth.
lie died IN Il stream while he was
standing on his feet, cursing like a
pirate. 1t Is supposed that he was
killed hy a thundcrbolt. A sheep
hcrdcr who witnessed the horrible
scene. says that this, incarnate devil
cursed GoM for sending a storm to XIII
his sheep, and cursed the earth foi
not furnishing grass. and swOrc llc
would not lie dead in Texas soil. Pun
iShment pursued his carcass after
death, for three times VIC buried him
f and three times the grave opened and
: threw the dccaylng body of the mon
ster out To the bowling wolves. i
5 would not stay buried. Texas earth
5 would not hold Its carcass"
Mortal ears never listened to
r stranger story, but Col. Wilmington
: Tola Thanct and Milky Sands. all re
liable cattlemcn OF the Rio Grand'
o country corrob0rate the statements o
IS Uncle Bob Rollins, and they add mucl
equally as startling and Incredible.
y Hog Wallins was a name given Il
e the man by the cowboys after the
became somewhat familiar with hi
is character. Ills real name was Johl
IL Wallins, and he claims to have com
to Texas direct from Liverpool. Whe
Up the cattlemen and cowboys in the y
'e cinity heard OF the death OF th
strange character, they went to til
e' place in the mountains where I'll
!" body was lying for the purpose
giving the deceased u decent buria
~ The grave was not easy to dig in tt
" hard mountain soil, and it was son
time after sundown when the last az
w. ~ In the sad rite had been performe
" Some of the cowboys had lit Il Il
. only a short distance from the gra
n and prepared little repast for u
party. The horses were already pic
.oo etcd and, after lighting cigarett
o,d they concluded to spread their blan
cts under the trees and remain un
morning. About midnight there "
Ms a low, rumbling sound that ca'ls
nd every man to spring to his feet. 4
!, trees were swayins, the horses VIC
NO, staggering and the earth was trcn
es. ling so violently that the frightcn
cattle were thrown to their knc
e,ic While cndcavoring to regain tn
the senses some one shouted, Loo
put Look" at the same time pointing
the grave. All eyes followed
ap. mans wild gesture, and every M
the present Is to this day ready to ma
ace. tain upon his oath that the gru
Der opened, and that the body Of the dc
"' man shot high 10 the air, 1T STIR
the earth upon its fcet,"siys \
aoo WhittIugts,n, .and ~ ccrtain ss l
',s IS standing horc, II staggered uprll
49,. 49, two or three steps toward our ca
MI NJ. ana fell on its face. Never did NJ
tai man witness . more horrible sig