The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-05
A TEXAS MYSTERY.
John. Carleen, Monte Cristo OF the
Sac sa1a (gsz) ooresponaence Gaoo,-Ds,ascras

Texas one hears Of strange characters.
Bold and daring men come here to
make fortunes, others come TO escape
from the memory Of their misfortuncs
and others ;n search Of adventure.
No one ever knew what brought the
man Carleen to San Saba. He uas a
mystery and almost his every act was
elouded in mystery from the hour he
set his brogan shoes into the black
mud ofMenardville, until one 6ne day,
ten years later. when he bid his cow
boys farewell, and they said as the
stage disappeared over the hills to-
ward San Antonio: ssThere goes the
strangest character that ever struck
Texas. =
Mr. Carleen was a Frenchman, be-
traying his nationality in the pronun-
citation Of the score or more English
words he had picked up on the road
from New Orleans to the prairies Of
the Lone Star State. When he ap-
pearea for the first time in the streets
Of the little frontier village where be
afterward became so we'll known, he
was dressed as common laborer,
smoked a short pipe, and carried a
stout stick. The cowboys louhging
about the Brindle Steer saloon sized
him up and rendered verdict that a
good average job Of strengthening
would just about fit the degree Of ten
derfootedness that was manifested in
his language, manner and carriage.
After few moments conversation
the winks that were, exchanged be-
tween the loungers indicated the su-
perior satisfaction that they expert
enced over the correctness of their
Judgment, but their organs of vision
we're suddenly expanded beyond all
capacity by the action Of the new
conner, who with little ceremony and
few words invited the whole crowd to
refresh themselves at the bar Of the
Brindle Steer. He did want a job of
heraing sheep, and he began to ask
questions as to wages and about the
price Of lambs and ewes and rams,
while the barkeeper was giving him
change for the big yellow doubloon
that he had selected from handful of
loose coins to pay for the drinks.
Something like respectfuiness on the
part Of. the crowd toward the stranger,
which had succeeded the curiosity he
had aroused. grew into admiration
when Mr.. Carleen accidentally drop
ped silyer-mounted revolver from
his coat pocket and carelessly picked
1t up with the Indifference of an old
plaiIsman. All were apparently eager
to answer his questions and grant him
information upon every subject with
such Spromptness and pleasure as to
please the Frenchman immensely.
Garleen lounged about the hotel for
several days getting acquainted with
the people and making himself i'm
mensely popular by his liberality.
People thought it rather strange that
such man would go off into the
mountains to herd sheep for $40 per
month, but those who were most init
mate with the stranger said that they
thought he simply wanted to learn the
business. There were others, how
ever, who did not hesitate to express
the opinion that the Frenchman was a
stage robber and that he had come out
into the mountains to aide.
Mr.. Carleen soon demonstrated that
he was not slowe man. He devel-
eped and executed his plans with the
rapidity that distinguished the great
est Of all of his countrymen. While
everything about him appeared to be
shrouded in mystery, he acted as if he
had nothing to conceal. He appeared
to live for the purpose Of astounding
and mystifying those who were watch
ing him. In the course of eight or
ten days the news came to town that !
the mysterious Frenchman, after Il
few days herding, had expressed MIN
self as being tired of following the
flock for wages. He had purchased
10, 900 head Of sheep and paid for
them in good San Antonio paper, so
the story ran. Next he bought the
famous Los Floretas grant, containing
100 sections of grazing land, and soon
afterward Mr.. Carleen came to town.
all these stories and max !
ing arrangements to PUT barbed wire
fence around one of the largest pas
lures in western Texas. Could it be
possible that the man was going to ac
tually fence in $4,000 ..crcs of land?
This happened back in the carly 7O's,