The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-12-12

behalf OF recognition and annexation.
was met rear Velasco by two Mexi-
can war vessels with 2i0 men. A
severe engagement followed. but the
Independence was outclassed and was
overpowerod. The crew Of the indie
pendence were taken into Matamoras
and placed IN prison.
The depredations By the Mexican
feet aroused the Texans, and May 10.
1887. the Texas navy set sail and pro
coeded along the coast as far as the
mouth Of the Mississippi in search OF
the enemy. but failing 10 find any
sign Of him they tarned around and
headed for the coast OF Mexico. taking
one or two small prizes en- route. Pro
ceeding to Yucatan they cannonaded
the town OF Sisal for three hours
with no p%erceptiblc effect. The Irwin
chile captured all alone the Mexican
steamer Alispa OF so tons, and the
Brutus took the Telegraph. a small
steamer with a rich cargo. During the
cruise along the coast the Texans land
ed frequently and terrorized the ma
tives till they ran ia dr0ves to the in
terror. They burned eight OF nine
towns, wiping them completely on the
map,
On the 25th Of August the Brutus
and Inyineible arrived at Galveston.
having In tow a Mexican war vessel
that they had captured. The Brutus
entered the harbor with the prize. but
the Invincible could not enter on &C
count of shallow water. in this posi-
ton she was attacked by two armed
briggs Of the enemy the next morning.
The Brutus In attempting 10 so TO her
assistance. ran aground and the In
vincible was obliged to fight II out
alone. All day long the battle waged.
and in the night the crew landed and
the vessel was beaten 10 pieces on
the breakers. The loss of this, the
finest ship OF the Texas navy. was
greatly regretted.
With the independence and ~Invinci-
bic lost and the Brutus aground and
umseaworthy, the first Texas navy
practically ceased to exist And there
we're no other means with which to
secure another. The government was
bankrupt Yes. worse than bankrupt.
It's paper was not worth 20 cents on
the dollar. and the paper currency
had run all the coin out Of the coun-
try. But just at this stage in her pre-
carious career. e happened that there
was no need Of a navy. for France
blockaded the ports Of Mexico TO col
lect a claim OF $500. 600. and for sew
eral months there was a condition of
absolute peace upon the western Dor
der Of Texas and along the coast.
in November. 1887. the congress Of
Texas by resolution appointed Samuel
Williams as special navy commission
er and instructed him TO go into the
markets OF the world and buy a fleet
OF ships for use in defending the coast
Accordingly be contracted with a Bal
umore ship builder 60 construct "one
ship. two brlEs and three schooners
10 be fully armed. furnished with pro.
visions and munitions. and TO be deliv
/ cred at the port Of Galveston" In
accordance with this contract. June
20, 1889. the vessel san Jaciuto. Aug.
ust Z the San Antonio. August 81 the
/ san Bernard and October rs the Colo
RADIO were delivered. and these with
/ the Charleston and Potomac. secured
somehow otherwise. and the Zayala.
[ purchased by Gen. Hamilton. cousu,
tuted tho second Texas navy-a rath.
eg imposing one compared with the
first For this splendid group Of yes
I Gala 4h. FfHsf. ss.v-a-,v.rut sra.s. de-
bonds for the sum % SS00, 600. and the
secretary OF the navy stated. when the
/ feet was delivered and was ready for
action. that 90 IS confidently believed
that I'm a very short time after the
navy receives orders Tor capture and
reprisal it viii afford n source OF
revenue to the government equal TO
I the amount expended IN its creation
Il would have been well II these an.
ucipauons had been realized. but they
we're not.
Eight hundred thousand dollars was
an enormous sum IN the eyes OF the
economical Texans of those days
$500 600 FOR a navyi
Then. too. Tor the first six months
congress appropriated AOo,ooe for the
support OF the navy These amounts,
| expended IN the spirit ~ patriotism.
were regarded by the people as 40 out
%rageously %cXtrayaEant that Il well
nigh p%rccipitated an Internal revolu.
uol Politicians took advantage OF tho
| critical financial situation 60 inaame
the minds 90 the people Lamar. who
was president became very unpopular
ON account OF these expenditures
What added fuel 20 the flame OF lndig-
nation was the state OF perfect peace
on sea as wen az land Mexico had
called IN her warships a. well as arm.
les, and so Texas had a useless navy
on its hands
Hut Lamar suffered from the cam
paiEn In which his extrayaganee vas
preached from the stump. aud Hous-
ton succeeded him.
Amtum NF~nHafnnha H-rH nMefnH nafa