The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-04-19
LAST OF TEXAS NAVY GONE.


Notable Career of the Late Major John E. Barrow.
New York Sun, March So
The sole survivor of the navy Of the Republic of Texas
passed away when Major John E. Barrow of New York,
died few days ago. He 70.
Fortyeght hours before he died he straight as
with hair white carded wool, and suave and
couty of He had in retirement
that only limited circle in New York knew of his inter-
esting and in respects unique history
General Sam Houston president of the Republic of
e and commander in chief Of the and navy OF the
Republic in 1890, when young Barrow then handed him
letter from his brother E Alexander Barrow, then a
United States from Louisiana and the intimate
friend OF Henry Clay Young Barrow had gone from Nash
Vile his birthplace Galveston to offer his services in
the navy Of the Lone Star Republic
The Texas navy even then was rather impressive At
least it kept the lIexicans in awe The feet consisted Of
the flagship Zaraa, Commodore Edward NJ. Moore; the
briggs of Austin and Metadora and the schooners San
Antonio and San Jacnto 1hc ships wooden, and
by order President Houston they painted black
They looked forbiddng' said Major Barrow in one
of his reminiscent moods not long before his death eve
used cruise mp and down the looking for recruits
and grcaser The latter showed up for engage
ment Whether they feared the navy because its black
colorcd bcokened no quarter whether they saw our
armament / knew.
Most OF our ships had been bought from ship owners
They not built for warfare Each ship carried four
small smooth-bore guns forward and one aft.
u midshipnan the Austin. 1t commanded by
Captain Gray afterward knew his daughter in New York
She the second wife OF Rufus Hatch.
II was in the Republics nearly two yearned
for the enemy but Never shot fired at
feet which coased up and down There no doubt
however that the knowledge Of the existence of such
navy kent the preascrs quiet That was President Hous
toms idea"
Major Barrow was firm believer in the nvncibity Of
the navy He loved it 10 the last and ,wentvfour hours
before he died in the home OF his daughter Mrs w Wad
bingham Of this city where he had been visiting with his
fchis home heinz IN Vasbinoto, Icebts oyerool;rr
the Hudsonhe applied nautical language to the situation
III must give no the shin"
Major Barrow was a Wing and came from, an old Whig
family He believed in the nrpcpes Of that party all his
life He died a Wing
He ,yas ~ The T1di,r so-,;oo ,,d.- p,s;do. TIL,
His brother General WASHINGTON Parrow vas ,nis+c 70
Portugal in the Harrison administration Of $40 and after
ward served in the lower house OF the United States con-
gress representing the Nashville district
Major Barrow was one Of the ORIGINAL frciobtes ~ h
plains lie sent trains Of wagons from Omaha to Cali
ornia in the beginning Of overland traf5c He devised tho
plan OF making IN trains of tventvfo,r wagons "a tb.t
better defense could be made to attacks Of indians This
plan was aftervard adopted by the regular .rv =; tb
West
He sent the first overland FREIGHT train N Movie. w.
a.as the 6rst co,tr,cf,r ~ 81. t d ~ - ~
Kansas City to Stockton Cal over what was known ne
the thirtyhfth parallel STAGES left Kansas civ d Stt
ton once q month II was q sxt,, days EN-, fro, 49,
City to Santa Fe
He was one of the ORIGINAL organizers If the T; &c
/ Nelracl.s ,,i J-,od 49, So. " ~: .e ie'tlo'y OF