The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-05-14

authorized 20 settle 400 families In Texas
few days after he received the news that
his petition had been granted, he died.
His dying request was that his sen should
carry out his plans. stephen +. Austin
came to Texas in 1921. BY 1925 he had
introduced the 800 families called for In
the contract. He brought into Texas
1900 families. Austin ruled with such
mildness that he was called 'the father
Of his colony" Never marrying, he de-
voted himself to each and all of HIS coll
onists. In 1882 he was elected president or
the FIRST convention ever held on Texas
soil. When advised by some OF the Next
can officials to take no part in the matter.
he replied; Texas Is lost II she does noth-H
| ing for herself. l must follow the dictates
of my conscience" He was ono of three
commissioners appointed to present the
memorial showing why Texas and Coahuila
should be separated. But he alone went.
June, 1899, he reached the capital OF Mex
| leo. October 2 worn out by waiting. he
wrote to the officials at San Antonio, adj
| vsng the Texans to prepare for distinct
| State government. In December he start
| ed home In the meantime his letter had
been sent to Vice President Fareas, who
deemed Il reasonable. ordered Austin's
arrest. February IA. 1884. the noble Aus
| tin was brought back to Mexico as a
| traitor and lodged In tho Old Inquisltion,
! where for three or four months he was
| deprived of all comforts He was then
moved TO a larger prison. and allowed
more liberty. September l, 1888, Austin
returned home He was elected command
er In chief of the volunteer troops as
| sembled at Gonzales. Austin was one or
| the men appointed to appeal to the United
States for aid. He Was appointed Seere-
tary of state under Sam Houston, Tho
| capitol at Columbus lacked many COM
! forts Austin labored for three days and
\ nights in a room without FIRE. lie con-
tracted a severe cold. which quickly de-
veloped into pneumonia. He died De-
! cember q, 1896. His body was borne to
| Peach Point where, with military honors.
/ was laid TO rest "the father OF Texas
! Yours for stephen F. Austin,
Ellen Smith.
Ellinger, Texas-Dear Haphammer. 1t
! is with great pleasure that ! once more
| seek my pen and paper and write TO our
much improved page, My favorite hero
OF the Texas revolution seems 70 be not SO
| popular and ia not so much favored by
our band of careful debaters. But II my
! respective favorite should get defeated ~
the present debate ! shall be loyal TO our
! gallant hero who fought so vigorously
and desperately at San Jacinto on April u,
/ 1896, namely. General Sam Houston. Hons-
/ ton was indeed a patriotic hero, ana IN ms
honor some patriotic people named the
| metropolis of the grand Lone Star state
Although my feeble imagination conyinces
me that Colonel Travis and his men We're
! greater heroes than any others OF our war
! for Independence. But be that as " may,
IL the Hans select Houston as their Ia
yorite hero ! shall not dare to oppose
my trustworthy friends and perhaps enter
into a bitter debate. am well aware OF
the fact that the Haps know better than
| do My school days ended when | was
lust IA years OF age and since then | have
been kept quite busy on our cotton planta-
ton. cultivating It's fertile soil. In fact.
the life OF a farmer boy Is quite simple.
often frightened by taking In" exour~
sions to large cities. where, of course, he
learns a great deal. About two years ago
had the pleasure and permission 10 take
a small trip to San Antonio ] shall ever
remember the pleasant spring morning
when we left for that famous city. we
left Elllnger very early In the morning
and arrived safely at our desired destina-
ton at about IL 80 o'clock. That day l
learned a great many things which were
entirely new to me. While there per-
ambulated at least dozen times through
the old Alamo. reading dates which were
written on its gloomy walls years years
ago There was one date written about
the year 1917 which looked quite odd In
the corner of that noble structure An
otLer remarkable sight were the holes
pierced into the walls Of the fort by the
. Mexican artillery during the revolution
, which are still plainly visible. After we
left tho Alamo we boarded street car
, for Government Hill. where the United
States troops were stationed. There sew
, eral of my friends. including myself. as
cended the high and elevated tower. The
tower seemed to nae that II must have been
q thousand feet for l walked around the
steps a dozen times and at last began tc
, fancy that its summit could never be
! ~ he'd In w
at last. From its gallery we could over
, look the beautiful Alamo City. 1t wa'
! beyond doubt very pleasant view OF tht
. city. Tho hot sun now began getting
, little uncomfortable and we again took
, street car for the business portion Of tn,
I city. Now began the gorgeous parade O.
, decorated wagons. vehicles bicycles nnt
: even donkeYs were decorated GU witt
: lclowns. ] can most assuredly say that 1
, was a grand occasion. The sun now be-
! gan sinking In the far west and soor
J reached the horizon and we were com
PEELED to hurry down TO the depot. WI
reached there lust in time to board thu
] train which had carried us there. For sew
, eral months | did not take trip until
the 9th of December. 1897, / visited Hous
) ton TO witness the grand Fruit Flower ant
J Vegetable Festival That day | contem
r plated meeting some Of the numerous Haps
but did not succeed. Mr.. Haphammer
wouldn't you be delighted TO hear from
: our old timers who used to always con
/ tribute interesting letters, poetry etc.
/ They must have forgotten us. hope L
, see letter from the following prominen
members: Emma Clifton. Ida !. lakewood
Lottie Adams. ArRenta A. Belding Lilliai
J Kimpton. Carrie Thomas. Hannah MAJ
, Lewis. Perline Clark. Hernia Burns, Will
/ Wheeless and Edgar b. Clark. Your we'll
] wisher. II. r Boyer.
Ell Paso.-Dear Haphammeri Here ]
S come again TO take part In the discussion
Of Texas heroes. ! read Philip Webster
letter and think It very good letter IL
: favor Of Houston. But let us stop min
ute and think the matter over. We hay'
Travis. Bowie and Crockett. Bonham an'
: Fannin. | think they should all be places
. side by side with Houston. When Travis
! took San Antonio he only had IA mel
) with him. When they were In the Alamo
{ surrounded by 1000 chat was the nnmbe
9 Of the Merieans when they made the lna
2 attack, what could they do? Travis drew
: line In front OF his men with his swori
d and said: Those who wish to die Tx
q heroes and patriots, come over 70 me
n There was only one man who did no
(; cross over to him His name was Rose
d and he was the only one that escaped
: Even to Colonel Bowie. who was too i'll L
r. leavA his cot said. Lads. / can't get owe