Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1911-08-11
HOW HOGS WRECKED
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS
Diplomatic Agent Shot Razor
backs Which Wandered
Into His Domicile.
From the New York Press.


II is within the range of possibilities
that Texas would still be a republic but
TOR the annoying d~epredations of a bunch
III razorback hogs upon the gardens OF
Count Duboise de Saligny, who was the
French charge d'affaires in Texas in 1889
and lS41, and again In 1874 and 1S45. These
prying, voraciOus hogs caused such
ftrained diplomatic relations between
France and Texas that the loan for S.
pOOVO which this new republic was nego-
Hating In Paris at the time was blocked,
and the credit OF the government went
from had to worse, until annexation TO the
United States was brought about as the
ultimate consequence Had that loan
been obtained the financial footing OF the
republic would have been on such a firm
foundation that the annexation agitation
might never have been started.
Not only did this particular drove OF
hogs prevent General James Hamilton,
Texas charge d'affaires to France, from
floating a 100000 loan in France, but the
pesky animals caused a severance OF all
diplomatic relations between the two
countries, and war was narrowly averted.
1T is a matter Of history that France had
dispatched a feet Of war vessels to the
Texas coast following the recall of Count
Saligny, and that the program of making
q war!ikc demonstration In Texas waters
was interfered with by the United States
rushing a squadron Of vessels to gulf
PORTS.
Pigs Made History.
These Austin pigs have had their fame
! -refpctu4ted In Texas history. The diplo-
iatic colony in this frontier town was
"a interesting one IN those early days.
england, Germany, United States and
other countries We're represented here by
Han OF political prominence. Count SAL
igry, the French diplomatic representa-
tive, was a chevaiier OF the Legion Of
l1onor. This foreign diplomatic colony
managed TO get considerable excitement
ana enjoyment out Of the life that they
led acre, Wild game was plentiful, but
they could not go far from town on their
hunting excursions without running the
RISK OF being scalpcd or chased by In
Clans.
The Bullock hotel was the chief hotel
OF the town In those days. In this hos
telry the charge d'affaires of the United
Ctates had his office. Mr.. Bullock, the
proprietor of the hotel, owned a number
Of hogs that ran at large upon the streets,
i short distance from the hotel was the
home or Count ~Saiigny, who cultivated a
garden rs one OF his diversions. This
%@.GG1 was surrounded by a high picket
fercc. One day a drove OF Mr.. Bullock's
hogs poked their shouts through the fence
and pred Off the palings. They were
$50 81 AAAN NJ VI Il uDOI Iu0
tender vegetables Of Count Saligny, and,
til2a with righteous Indignation, the d.
pl"matic representative OF the French
government shot and killed a few of the
a~ainIals.
Makes Formal Complaint.
This act Of Count Saligny made Mr..
Bullock furious. He made formal COM
paint TO James S. Mayfeld, secretary of
state OF Texas, informing the latter that
l tho French. IhsrOa G'u ffo Ire rra, ,nueozo |
3ca Srata to him. and demanding that
fteps be taken looking TO his recall. Mr..
MtHield gave official recognition OF Mr.,
Bu.tcck's complaint and addressed a for
nal note to Count Saligny demanding an
exclamation. The latter's reply is still
en- lie among the papers of the republic
in the capitol building here. 1t reads:
to tae complaint of Mr.. Bullock
with reference TO his pigs. this is the
truth: have q long time suffered, and
] SIN suffer every day, in common with
nanJ of us, from the many hogs with
| which this town is infested. Every morn
Ing one OF nay domestics spends two hours
n putting up and mailing the palings Of
The fence which these animals have
thrown down for the purpose Of eating
t1e corn OF my horses and destroying my
Carden. One hundred and forty pounds
as nails have been used for this purpose.
One day these hogs entered even to my
very chamber and ate my towels and de-
ltroyed my papers. On another occasion |
dozen of these very animals precipi-
llted themselves in the midst of my
gorses for the purpose of eating their
corn. The horses, frightened. upset the
stable and trampled under foot one Of my
somestics, who was dragged from under
lAeir heels with a great deal Of difficulty
ind half dead. 1t was then that, following
The example of many o. my ~neighbors, I
directed the domcstics to kill all the hogs
that came into my yard; but this order
Ras particularly applicable to the hogs OF
ldr. Bullock, which do not carry the name
,f their master upon their backs, and
| which 1t Is impossible to distinguish from
other hogs"
Other diplomatic correspondence on the
fubject passed between MIR. Mayfield and
rount Saligny and between the latter and
IS home government. Mr.. Bullock also
wrote a few letters In which he said many
iarsh things about Count Saligny. Fin
lilly the situation reached a climax when
LIr. Bullock assaulted Count Saligny.
The Texas government sided with Mr..
Bullock in the controversy, and this and
pther alleged indlgnities that had been
heaped upon hin as a result OF the RAID OK
Jaligny to be recalled by his government.
He demanded and was given his passports
ind went to New Orleans where ne await,
Texas. He freely stated at the time he
left Austin that france was preparing to
| attack Texas as a result of his mistreat-
The implied protection OF the United
states prevented the threatened outbreak.
rhree years passed and new officers of
| the republic were elected. The seat of the
aexas government was removed from
| Austin to Washington-on-thc-Brazos d.
| nlomatic relations with France were re-
| stored and Count Saligny came back as
| charge d'affaires OF the government. He
never visited Austin during his second
| etay in the republic. Mr.. Bullock felt
| proud over the victory hat he had won
| over the French government. He con-
| tinued to raise pigs and they roamed the
| streets with their wonted freedom.
kean's Wonderful OtheIIo.