The sun., 1898-01-02
STRANGE JOHN CARLEEN.
A CR0ssUs md OoJB-oIL J0HNNr
OF THE TEXTS FRONTIER,
Nobody Knew where re Came rrom or whith-
er re went, Hut He Knew All About
pauanderinE Moucy-somp or Bis Wars
or aeparnting HIunseir from NJ.


Frors the 81. Loufs Globe. Democrat.
SAN SABA, Tex. Dec. 17.--In the mountains
on tho frontier Of Texas ono hears of strange
characters. Bold and daring men como hcrc to
make fortunes, othors como to escape from tho
memory Of their misfortunos, and others In
search Of adventure. No one ever know what
brought the man Carlecn TO the San Saba. He
was a mystery, and almost his every act was
cloudcd In mystery from the hour that he set
his brogan shoes into the black mud of Mo
naidvllle until one fine day ten years later when
he bid his cowboys farewell, and they said as the
stage disappeared over the hills toward San
Antonio There goes the strangest character
that ever struck Texas"
Mr.. Carleen was Fronchman, botraying his
nationality in tho pronunciation of scoro or
more English words he had picked up on the
road from New Orleans to the prairies of tho
Lone Star tate. When he appeared for the
first time in the streets OF tho little frontier vii
laee where he aftcrward became SO well known,
he was dressed MS q common laborer, smoked u
short pipe, and carried q stout stick. The
cowboys 1ounging about tho Brindo Steer sa.
loon sized him up and rendered n verdict that
good average job of sheep herding would just
about at tho degree of tenderfootednoss that
was manifested in his language, manner, and
carriage. After q fow moments conversation
tho winks that wcro exchanged between the
loungers indicated the superior satisfaction
that they experienced over the correctness Of
their Judgment, but their organs of vision were
suddenly expanded beyond all capacity Of clos
ing without an extraordinary effort when the
newcomer, with little ceremony and few words,
invited tho whole crowd to refresh themselves
at tho bar Of tho Brindlc Steer. He did want u
job of herding sheep, and he began to ask qucs-
tions as to wages, and about the price of lambs
and ewes and rams while tho barkeeper was
giving him change for tho big yellow doubloon
that he had selected from tho handful Of loose
coins to pay for the drinks. Something like re-
spectfulness on the part Of the crowd toward
tho stranger, which had succeeded the curiosity
he had aroused, grew into admiration when MIR.
Carlecn accidentally dropped silver-mounted
revolver from his coat pocket and carelessly
picked 1t up with tho indifference Of an old
plainsman. All were apparently eager to an
swor his questions and grant him information
upon every subject with such promptness and
pleasure as to please the Frcnchman immensely.
Carleen lounged abouts the hotel for several days,
getting acquainted with the people and max
People thought 1t rather strange that such a
man would go off into the mountains to herd
sheep for $40 month, but those who . were ,,
thought he simply wanted to learn The business.
There were others, however, who did not hesi-
was a stage robber and that he had come out
into the mountains to hide.
not a slow man. He Developed and executed
his plans with the rapidity that distinguished
the greatest of all of his countrymen. While
in n mystery, ho acted as if he had nothing 10
conceal. He appeared to 1.-Two for the purpose
watching him. In the course, of eight or ten
days the news came to town that tho mysteri,
AZ bping following
the flock for wages. He had purchased 10000
head Of sheep and paid for them in good San
bought the famous Los Florctus grant, con.
tanning 100 sections of grazing lands, and soon
Ing ali these stories and making arrangements
to put barbed. wire fence around one Of tho
largest pastures in western Texas. Could it be
fence in G4, ZOO acres of landi This happened
buck in the early 70s, before the cattle kings
around whole counties. The Frenchmnn spent
the night in Monardvlle, and long before sun
rise on the next he H was & on dasD ms road TO
boys, driving q herd Of ponies in front OF them.
Ten days afterward a traveller reported on
the prairies of western Texas. 1t was an army,
but army of laborers, stoncnasons, carpen-
was rae aoo a
moro than 800 people. Menardvile went on n
boom. and the Los F1oretas ranch, only ten
miles away, presented scene OF hustle and
activity which made the natives stare in won.
der and amazement. Mr.. Carlcen had leased
grazing lands. and around all this vast scope
OF country no began to erect n wire fence. He
instantly broke ground for the purpose of es-
tablishing a home place on the banks of the San
Saba Hundreds of laborers We're set To work
quarrying rock, while other hundreds were en-
kcIse. 1t took him two years to complete
this immense structure. 1t covers at least half
of Ss and is y9 h nd and
founding pieces of architecture in America TO-
day; Tho walls are Of pure white marble.
magnificent porch extending around two sides
of tho entire structure. Artists came from
During i the time that he was building this palace
away out here on the frontier OF Texas Carlcen
never said word of his family, or; for that mat
like bell clapper on all subjects but one, and
that one was Garleen. His agents had pur-
conseuuence at the end OF year or more his
IMMENSE estate was, well stocked. At that
time he was regarded as one of the greatest
cattlemen tho frontier.
Tho strange man did not limit his extraor-
dinary improvements to tho palace that he
erected. He kept a large force in his guar;
for several years in building long lines of stone
fences These structures ~ lure o,S were h3s erected
fairs as one often sees In some OF the older
States. The walls were of did dressed stone.
cntabature of which were trailing vines. clus-
ters of grapes and festoons OF flowers. exhibit
Ing in tho highest style OF urt inc sklll OF tne
sculptor. Between thi sc pillars swung, massive
iron gates: These arc not yet ruins but here
on tho wild hills Of tho san Saba. where wolves
howl at night and deer sleep beneath the shade
of the oaks. miles and miles of these magnif-
cent lis may be seen winding over the undu-
lating prairieS and through the green valleys.
while zip there on the mountain stands white
against the western sky that gigantic pile of
stone and mortar Of which no man can say
whether IT is a monument to the genius or folly
of the Frcnchman Car,cen He was certainly
OF great advantage TO this particular. part OF
Texas, He brought an abundance OF money,
people employment, As. long as he prosecuted
his gigantic schemes this was tho most pros
porous portion Of the It to-. At one time more
than 900 people were employed on the ranch.
He kept tho road open to san Antonio IL dis
tance of nearly 800 miles. and relays Of horses
wcro established every ten or fifteen miles.
He had daily mail, and the road WAS lined
with teams hauling supplies and machinery to
the famous ranch Carlcen was very fond of
tho society of educated men and accomplished
women, and for q long time the big ranch house,
which he called the palace of 81: Cloud. was
crowded with people who appeared to be there
In search of pleasure to the exclusion of every
thing else.
Tho Frenchman liked San Antonio, delight
ing to call It "Old. Sanantone." and he went
fhnrn very fra0I emily. He IN intDl the placo