The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-17

{. he WuZ so allfre1 mean an Onry
| {: that the airth wouldn't hold his car
!: cass and fire eat it right here. Go :
slow
This strange inscription can be seen
upon a great rock in a wild, unin-
habited region of the mountains of
western Texas. 1t is, of course, puZ-
zle to hunters who happen to run up
against it while in pursuit of antelope.
but there are yet living in the vicinity
of Fort Davis few old settlers capa-
Bile of interpreting it. Some of these
gray haired pioneers were well
acquainted with the deceased indi-
vidual. whose peculiar death and char
acter some bold artist attempted to
perpetuate' upon the eternal rock.
Mr.. Hog WaiIins was certainly a
very extraordinary man, and during his
short career in the mountains of west
ern Texas his conduct furnished those
who knew him best with subject for
reflection and discussion that never
ceased to be interesting. Old Uncle
Bob Rollins, who lived for several
years not far from the Wallins' ranch,
says that the proprietor of that ac-
cursed slice of real estate was one of
the strangest characters that ever
lived. Il don't know ne says. who
wrote his epitaph on the rocks, but the
artist only limited at the truth He
died in a storm, while he was standing
on his feet. cursing like pirate. 1t is
supposed that he was killed by a
thunderboIt. A sheepherder who wit
messed the horrible scene says that this
incarnate devil cursed God for sending
a storm to kill his sheep. and cursed the
earth for not furnishing grass, and
swore he would not lie dead in Texas
soil. Punishment pursued his carcass
after death, for three times we buried
him, and three times the grave opened
and threw the decaying body of the
monster out to the bowling woveS- 1t
would not stay buried. Texas earth
would not hold his carcass"
Mortal ears never listened to
stranger story, but Cal Wilmington,
liable cattlemen of the Rio Grande
country, corroborate the statements of
Uncle Bob Rollins, and they add much
equally as startling and incredible.
Hog Wallins was name given to the
man by the cowboys after they became
somewhat familiar with his character.
His real name was John Wallins, and
he claimed to have come TO Texas di-
rect from Liverpool. When the cattle
men and cowboys in the vicinity heard
of the death of the strange character
they went to the place in the mountains
where his body was lying for the pur-
pose of giving the deceased decent
burial The grave was not easy to dig
in the hard mountain soil, and 1t was
some time after shutdown when the last
act in the sad rite had been performed.
Some of the cowboys had lit fire only
a short distance from the grave and
prepared a little repast for the party.
The horses were already picketed in
good grass, and after lighting cigar
cites they concluded to spread their
blankets under the trees and remain
until morning. About midnight there
was low, rumbling sound that caused
every man to spring to his feet. The
trees were swaying, the horses were
staggering, and the earth was tremb-
ling so violently that the frightened
cattle were thrown to their knees.
While endeavoring to regain their
senses some one shouted Look, Look
at the same time pointing toward the
grave. All eyes followed the mans
wild gesture, and every man present is
unto this day ready to maintain upon
his oath that the grave opened, and
that the body of the dead man shot
upon its feet says Mr.. Wilmington,
and as certain as 1 stand here it stag
gered upright two or three steps to-
ward our camp and fell on its face.
Never did mortal man witness more
horrible sight We could see the slar-
ing eye-balls and the white teeth,
while the long arms swung about
wildly"
After the shock had passed the cat
tlemen mounted their horses and rode
to the cabin of a Mexican herder, who
had been in the employ of the dead
man. Here old man DOlan, who was
graduate of Trinity college, Dublin,
made an attempt to explain the strange
scene that thew had witnessed. Mr.
Dolan had studied medicine in Paris,
and he was also something of a phil
osepher. Man." said he. lis a creature
of habit. Put a corpse on its feet and
ii will walk. The Greeks were we'll
acquainted with this startling fact
and the great Frenchmen were not
anything when they
demonstrated it by actual experiment
We have Just witnessed an earth-
quake" added the wise Irlshman,
and in its violence the grave was
opened and the dead man thrown upon
his feet. Being creature of habit, II
doubtless staggered a step or two be-
fore il fell The cowboys shook their
heads and pulled their cigarettes IN
silence until daylight. With the rising
sun they regained their courage, and
being somewhat ashamed of their
hurried flight they concluded to return
TO their camp and investigate the
strange occurrences of the previous
night. They found the shallow grave
open and the corpse lying on ITS FACE,
some ten feet away. Never says one
VINO was present, did mortals ever
wear on their faces such a look OF be-
wiIderment and CONSERVATION Scarce
" a word was spoken while they
dragged the body back to the open
grave and once more covered II with
that Texas soil which old Hog Wallins
nad cursed and swOre he would not lie
lead in. The cattlemen returned to
their various ranches. never dreaming
that they had not witnessed the end of
he strange affair
ON the very next morning a Mexican
galloped 'uD to the house OF Mr.. In2nSs
and shouted: The grave won hotu
him. He is out He is loose again. Mr.
Thanet could hardly believe the frighten-
"a mans story but he collected four or
five of his neighbors and returned TO the
mountains for the purpose OF interrlns
for the third time the remains OF the man
who had sworn " lille living that he would
aot lie dead in Texas soil 1hey 1ound
the body only few feet from the open
crave There was great. yaWninS crack
in the earth The grave made part OF
his crack which extended fo~ a consid-
cradle distance along the ie or the
mountain After looking for soma mo-
ments at this mound in the earth. eVl-
IDENTIFY made by recent seismic conVul-
sion. the cattlemen concluded that II
WAS useless to try to make Texas soll
contain the body of a man who had
cursed it. They induced Mexican 10
drag the now hideOus and repuisive object
to a deep gulch, and then in silence they
occupied = few moments in rolling rocks
and logs upon it. People were only gwen
two days and nights In wnicn 10 Wonoer
whether or not they would ever hear