The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-14

For The Post.
About the year 1910 a white man. pcnc
trated into the wilds OF Southwest Texas
aud built cabin on the banks Of the
Lecua river 100 miles west Of san Antonio
This solitary man, called by some in after
years the "Lcoua Hermit, was Edward
Dixon Westfan He came to san Antonio
In 1915. native OF Indiana, but came from
Missouri to Teysa, served through the Mex
lean war OF 1876 in the regiment OF Colonel
+. II. Bell and settled rs above noted on
the LeonR about 1S49,
Mr. Westfau, although educated and q
well informed man, had natural love for
the solitude and romance of the wild
woods, and like his erstwhle boon compan-
Ion, Big Foot Wallace, took more delight
Ia roaming over Il new country shooting
game, camping out and communiug with
nature In all her prlmeyul beauty than tie
society ana friendship Of his fellowmAn
Az THIS time no country Afforded more
Inviting Held for a man OF that turn than
great portion of the great state of Texas
The only settlement west Of san Antonio
al that time was the colony OF Henry Gas
tro, ana Westfall was FAR In advance OF
them. However, soon after the building of
the PERMITS cabin, Fort Inge was estab.
uslhed on the same stream, but thirty miles
ho"'e ~ Mhal Is now Uyulde county. RMS
was IN 1901, The cabin of Mcsttau was Ia
The present limits Of Zayalla county
Inc hermit soon became familiar with
the surrounding country and the WAYS ana
customs or the wild Indians who then held
sway In the Southwest, and ia fact I'm the
West and Northwest from the Rio Grande
% the Red river, the northern boundary OF
Texas. lie soon became a noted man along
the border as indian fighter, guide, trailer
etc, Tor soldiers, Rangers and settlers. The
building OF Fort Inge caused n spttlemcni
20 be made around Il In 1852 aud the TOWN
OF uyalde commenced three miles above M
the head springs OF the river. Hardly an
expedition went out against the Indians
without Westfall or the other two fanous
guides and scouts, Henry Robinson and
Big Foot Wallace. They looked 10 pithe,
OF these three to pilot them truly through
mountains, canyons and cedar brakes OF
the devious windings of pear ana chaparral
~
As the country began to settle stock wa,
brought In and Westfall having located ,
considerable tract of land, ana haviu,
plenty OF free grass and water, also com
menced raising stock. To do this success
fully he needed some one to help him ant
set out for San Antonio. after having mad
up his mind, 70 see what he could do ii
that direction. He had spent several year
alone except the company or his dogs AM
horse. and had spent the time very pleas
antly and to his own satisfaction as {
this way OF living. When not rambling q
the woods with his dogs and gun he spen
the time In his lonely little cabin reading
having brought books OF various kinds WIZ
him.
The Indians soon found him out in goin
and coming on raids 70 the settlement
further east, and gave him no little trouble
After the first few com6als with MN, nov
ever, they found out what manner OF ma
he was. and came around him very ear
tiorsly. SO well did they know him thin
sn one occasion the Rangers, while on
Rcout IN the Nueces mountains discovere
the picture Of Westfall painted on rocl
done BY the hand OF an Indian, the Out
Zines being 70 true that It was RECOGNIZES