Arizona republican., 1898-10-04
HOUSTONS LOYALTY.
His Last Public Act Was fc Aid Union
 Prisoners.

The authorities have been busy Of late, perhaps prematurely, in destroy ing the newly-laid mines in Galveston harbor and it is put natural that the thoughts Of Texans should revert to the last visit of hostile ships, now more than thirty years ago.
 It was during the battle of Galveston, when General J. B. Magruder (who now sleeps in the Island city) was the hero of the hour, that the Harriet Lane and Morning Light passed from federal to confederate hands After some hesi- tation it was decided to send the off cers and men from these two boats to the interior Of Texas, and, as the best means of safe keeping, to confine them to the state penitentiary at Huntsville. So to Huntsville they were taken, se- curely guarded, and duly placed in con- vict cells. Years afterward one of the prisoners wrote that he and his com panions were in hourly expectation Of the prison barbers paying them pro- fessional visit in accordance with the rules of the prison for the treatment of convicts. Their position must have been humiliating beyond expression, especially to the officers, who repre- sented the bluest blood of all New York, and, they one and all declared that they would never touch food until removed from the convict cells
 Colonel Thomas J. Carothers was then the superintendent of the peni- tentiary, having been reappointed by Governor Lubbock, who was then the chief magistrate Of Texas. Colonel Carothers had meant no unkindness to the prisoners Of war; for no warmer To h sl simply obeyed orders by keeping his prisoners in a safe place. He told his unhappy charges that he would send for General Houston and abide by his advice The prisoners had forgotten, It seems. that General Houston was at that time resident of Huntsville, but when reminded of the fact they begged that he should be sent for to see Ehem at once.
 General Houston came It was hard ly necessary for the superintendent to present the case or explain his dilem- ma. As General Houston passed down the corridor in front of the cells the Yankee prisoners began to tell their own story and appeal to him to use his influence for bettering their condition. Some Of them were deeply moved. They felt they had found q friend in a far-away hostile land. One young lieu tenant from New York proved to be the son of an old friend of General Houston's, and the others had seen him when he was senator from Texas.
 No personal consideration was need ed, however, to assist General Hous- ton in shaping his course. No longer an office holder, the only avoWed Union man within hundreds of miles, he ex- tended his hand to the federal soldiers and promised them he would do all that could be done. On that day he put the love of his people to it's severest test Only a year and half before, he had resigned his office as governor of Texas rather than sign the ordi- nance of secession, and many Of his closest friends and associates were now openly estranged from him. But the masses loved him, and he stood fear lessly in the midst Of them, knowing his hold upon their hearts. Upon his devoted friend, Colonel Carcthers, his grasp was peculiarly strong. It was Governor Sam Houston who first ap- pointed Colonel Carothers to be super intendent Of the penitentiary; and when Governor Lubbock came into power General Houston wrote him at Colonel Carcther's request, asking him to retain the superintendent iD office;