The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-08

world over for the vast strides which
/ this commonwealth, as large as all New
England, has been making in wealth
and population.
The Texas ranger is a born fighter,
brought up from babyhood almost in the
saddle, a quick, dead shot, cool, daring,
temperate, Injured to all kinds of hard
ship, and ready at all times to uphold
justice and defend the weak against the
| law breakers,
| When the Alamo had fallen and the
frightful massacre there had occurred,
General Sam Houston organized among
the settlers in the territory troop of
sixteen hundred mounted rihemen.
Their object was to accomplish the i'm
possible-free Texas and avenge their
fallen martyr patriot, kinsmen and
friends. They did wonders. Their bat
! tie cry was Remember the Alamo" and
wherever they rode and fought the enc
my expected no quarter" and If fortu-
nate enough to survive the onslaught
never gave any If the members of that
| devoted band fell into their hands.
| With the fall of the Alamo fate seemed
against the Texans gaining their liberty,
but on Houston's call to arms volunteers
tlocked to him from all directions. Only
the best men We're taken, and only the
brave men who We're not afraid to die IL
need be. The very mention of their
name spread terror to the hearts of the
"Greasers,' and when in the silent
watches of the night the Mexican guards
heard the oncoming thunder of horses
hoofs and the dreaded cry, Remember
the Alamo" in terror they threw away
their arms and rushed to safety, crying
out with fear, while the little band
would sweep through the encampment,
leaving a wide swath of dead and dying
behind them, and be away on the track
less prairie again before the enemy
knew what had happened to them. BY
this means the flame of liberty was
famed .nto a bright glow again until
at the battle of San Jacinto, they routed
the Mexican army under Santa Ana and
obliged the Mexican government to ac-
knowledge their independence.
Organized In 1886 during the spring of
that year they were continued in service
after the war; and constituted sort of
standing army for this unique republic.
They repealed hordes of murderous Mex
lean marauders from the Rio Grande,
fought into submission the fierce Apach-
es, Comanches and Kiowas and admin
istered justice on a wholesale plan to a
reat number of the red-handed ruffians
and outlaws who flocked into the new
republic from all parts of the United
States.
They became so much of an institu-
ton for the protection of life and prop
erty Of the settlers and lonely ranchmen
of the territory that when Texas became
a state twelve hundred of the Rangers
were retained as mounted police along
the Mexican border and for holding in
check the almost intractable Indian
tribes of the southwest. Until 1854 the
Texas Rangers were almost constantly
in the field. At times there were reserve
Rangers to the number of three thou
sand among the frontiersmen, who were
called out many times to aid in quelling
uprisngs of one sor or another
AT the breaking out of hostilities be-
tween the north and the south General
con Terry, an old Ranger organized the
famous command known as Terrys
Texas Rangers, composed almost entire
ly of former Texas Rangers and from
tiersmen, the bark Of whose rifle meant
death to the enemy upon whom a bead |
had been drawn. They fought from
Bull Run to Appomattox and lost seven
ty-fve per cent. of their original muster |
roll, sharing honors with the celebrated |
Louisiana Tigers as to which organiza- /
ton proved the best fighters and most |
daring While they were away fighting
for the lost cause the Indians grew rest |
less upon the frontier again, and soon
after the war the Texas legislature pro-
vided for calling out twelve hundred
Rangers to protect the frontier once
more against hostile Indians. Then as
the country quieted down once more the
Rangers were gradually reduced to a
and then by easy stages to
three hundred men. and for the last ten
years there has been no legally consti-
Iuted force of Rangers.
In the summer of 1S47 the Rangers /
followed the Comanches, numbering
over three thousand for three months,
and during that time scarcely left the
saddle sleeping If need be, on horse
pack, and never leaving their clothes for
IN instant Several times there were
of several hours length,
had to turn their attention
o crush the even more dangerous and
hostile Apaches on the west. This took
hree months more of their time, but with
hese Indians the United States troops
llso took a hand, and bore their share of
he hardships and danger. In October
If the same year hostile bands of ma
auding Mexicans that had crossed the
rontier with the avowed purpose of
Killing all defenceless settlers had to be
searched out amid vast stretches and
rackless foothills, and fought under all
imaginable hazardous circumstances.
n one week twenty-five Rangers were
Tiled by the intrenched half breed ban
Its to the number of three hundred
Altogether, the campaigning against Co
nanches, Apaches and marauders lasted
en- months, and there was not a rest day,
10 time when the Rangers felt secure
rom danger, no time when they were
rec from the danger of a rifle shot from
ONE skulking foe, in all those months. |
seventeen per cent. more were wound 1
d by poisoned arrows and bullets, so 4
hat they became invaids for life No
anger was too risky. They thought |
othing of attacking twice their num- ..
err and even went so far as to catch | I