The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-05
"Father Time" Watts.
lsketohed trom lie By a Post Artlstl

"Tather Time" is an appellation ac-
corded to one Of Houston unique char
scers who may he seen almost any clear
day seated on the cuibstone around the
court house yard. His real name is
Watts and he tells stories about his
nomadic life that are full Of interest His
patrarchal figure attracts much atten-
ton from pedestrians MS he sits silently
on the curbstone apparently pondering
over some weighty problem, oblivious to
all things about him. Dozens of people
have been heard to say they wondered who
he was, how he managed to subsst, where
he slept and what caused him TO wander
about the streets without a roof to cover
bis head or a bed on which to rest his
tired body.
Post reporter found the old man yos-
terday afternoon in his accustomed haunt
on the west side Of the court house and
took seat beside him.
How are you today?' asked the re.
porter by way of breaking the ice and
paving the way to "a conversation that
should bring out story of the old mans
iie, with history of his wanderings
Pretty well for an old vagrant." was
the reply.
That Is rather frank admission" the
reporter observed.
reply
You sre really a vagrant. them"
W course; II would be "a waste OF words
assert that am anything else. besides.
ny garo would belle the statement"
N answer to questions the venerable
4 'ss[ant as ne had styled himself, said:
~ was horn May 8, 1s43 in Dallas
uouhiy' Ala, three miles east of the old
county seat, Cahaba, and though have
.een away from the old place eight years
sun consider myself a citizen OF Ala
vsns' Ay full name Is I.andon Garland
m,us' my father was Simeon A. watts
vau my mothers maiden name was Helen
rsin'a Garland, the middle name being
'or her native State.
WY ala ! come to Houston? Well,
aat involves quite a story. had a
Iosner living near Paris. this State. and
~, Alabama eight years ago intending
AZ lslt MIN. had lsrge plantation In
n.o. my fathers old place, which was
ueuE heavily encumherad and nv
brother had an interest in If. Nv routo
rAls lay through Houston, and when
.e4cned this CITY was taken from the
Nh 10 drugged condition and taken in
lake by eight men who were strangers
49,, Wnen ! recovered my senses suf-
Nplv 10 realize that something was
asked the men who we're detain-
me 10 explain their actions as to why
vas held by them and II there was q
ME- ME- OF any kind against me. They re .
h.. "st thev were not officers, and
tsn 'aey mad no charge against me. hut
n5n.. .nouEht That I might want 10 see
ma. ~, .or Few DAYS. I told them that
oisnt ",uereht circumstances 7 might not
~, 10 seeing the city. but that had
s a. on visit In my brother ana thot
mr.d To proceed to Paris. They do
d,z.s 70 mis-, and as was In n sami-
n,rs.,n,n from the influence of some
hls, orig thew said they would fur
fths o,. e WIN auide 10 show me- around
fer,, mis- they did and the guide
M, 4'uFa with me several DAYS vie rqme
aov" and see him occasionally
|,r.,, asked II he ever tried subse-
10 get to his brother the old fell
spNea that he was under spirit in
and that the influence guided his
- movement, but it had not vet taken
nsrLas orother why, sir" he re-
srn,u ! have often set out to 60 to a
he sni, pace right here in this town. but
10. ~. influence would not allow me to
enuis llVe made as many as dozen at
ssisctls 81 to place knowing the way
rect NJ oat this spirit influence would
pave ~ 10y steps to some other place.
(hils nnsn many pages of manuscript
J pa the ~ this influence, but some time
|, |lulsu t,d Dag Combining my writings was
"l,o. from me-.
sssn 40 40 you account for your being
itiea , vS the train in a drlgged con-
san ,s sHsn you rescued this city eight
u h,so the reporter asked him.
n elsrs enly theory as to that. Just
!, b v,a 4 rsi' Alabama a man approacaed
IN VIM, wnI; to buy my plantation. I told
i. s g not sell it unless fosced ia
4 pyss M ne was very persistent ana an.
b ths az considerably. ana il Is NV opin-
lceD ne drugging was pat Of a blot
y Qin.s.eILv' irsm reaching my brother aud
h n s,l % gain possession Of our urop-
y - nan said he did not know wha,