Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-08-10
HOW HOGS WRECKED
REPUBLIC OF TEXAS
Diplomatic Agent Shot Razor.
backs Which Wandered
Into His Domicile.
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
IL is within the range of possibilities
that Texas would still be a republic but
Ior the annoying depredations of a bunch
of razorback hogs upon the gardens of
Count Duboise de Saligny, who was the
French charge d'affaires in Texas in 1889
and 1S4l, and again in 1874 and 1915. These
prying. voracious hogs caused such
strained diplomatic relations between
France and Texas that the loan for $5.-
10000 which this new republic was nego-
tiat.ng In Paris at the time was blocked,
and the credit of the government went
from bad to worse. until annexation to the
United States was brought about as the
uutimate consequence. Had that loan
been obtained tte financial footing OF the
republic would have been on such a firm
foundation that the annexation agitation
might never nave been started.
Not only did this particular drove of
hogs prevent General James Hamilton.
Texas charge d'affaires to France, from
floating q 1900, 600 loan in France, but the
cesky 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 a
dispatched a fleet OF war vessels to the
Texas coast following the recall of Count
Sallshy. and that the program of making
9 warl.ke 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
perpetuated IN Texas history. The diplo-
matte colony in this frontier town was
an interesting one IN those early days.
England. Germany, United States and
olher countries We're represented here BY
men OF political prominence. Count Sal
igny, the French diplomatic representa-
tive. was a cheva.ier of the Legion Of
Honor. This foreign diplomatic colony
managed to get considerable excitement
and enjoyment out of the life that they
led here. Wild game was plentiful, but
they could not go far from town on their
hunting excursions without running the
fisk of Being scalpcd or chased by In
dams.
The Bullock hotel was the chief hote!
OF the town in those days. In this hos
teiry the charge d'affaires of the United
states had his office. Mr.. Bullock, the
proprietor of the hotel. owned a number
OF hogs that ran at large upon the streets.
a short distance from the hotel was the
nome OF Count Saligny. who cultivated q
garden as one of his diversions. This
garden was surrounded by a high picket
fence. One day a drove of Mr.. Bullock.s
moss polled their shouts through the fence
and pred off the palings. They were
caught IN the act of foraging upon the
tender vegetables of Count Saligny. and.
hlled with righteous indignation, the d.
plomatic representative of the French
government shot and killed a few of the
ANIMALS.
Makes Formal Complaint.
This act of Count Saligny made MIR.
Bullock furious. He made formal COM
plain. to James s. Mayfeld, secretary OF
state Of Texas. informing the latter that
the French charge d'atfairs was persona
non grata to him, and demanding that
steps be taken looking to his recall. Mr..
Mayfieid gave Official recognition of Mr..
Brliock's complaint and addressed a for
NAL note to Count saligny demanding an
explanation. The latter's reply is still
on file among the papers of the republic
In the capitol building here. 1t reads:
AS to the complaint OF Mr.. Bullock
with reference to his pigs. this Is the
truth: have a long time suffered. and
j still suffer every day. in common with
many CT us, from the many hogs with
which tails town is infested. Every MORN
ing ons Of my domestics spends two hours
80 up AN oAittI Liz O0llIlkS VI
The fence which these animals have
thrown down for the purpose Of eating
lne core OF my horses and destroying my
garden. One hundred n forty pounds
At na.ia have been used for this purpose.
One day these hogs entered even to my
very chamber and ate my towels and de-
troyed any papers. On another occasion
:. dozei. of these very animals precipi-
tated themselves in the midst of my
horses for the purpose Of eating their
corn. The horses. frightened. upset the
table asd trampled under foot one Of my
. omestic:. who was dragged from under
their heels with a great deal of difficulty
! nd half Mead. 1t was then that, following
The example of many of my n%eighbors, I
directed the domestics to kill all the hogs
that cams into my yard: but this order
Mr.. Bullock. which do not carry the name
Vf their master upon their backs, and
which 1T 10 impossible to distinguish from
.ther hogs.''
Other diplomatic correspondence on the
subject passed between Mr.. Mayfield and
his home government. Mr.. Bullock also
wrote a few letters In which he said many
harsh things about Count Saligny. Fin
el!y the situation reacned e CLIMAX when
n The s9 Tssa. a sovs4n%en S0a sided se WITH Mr..
Bullock in the controversy. and this and
sther alleged indignities that had been
heaped upon him as q result Of the raid OF
the pigs upon his garden caused Coun,
Salifny to b recalled by his government
He demanded and was given his passports
and went to New Orleans where he await
ed the expected war between France and
Texas. He freely stated at the time he
left Austin that France was preparing to
attack Texaa ~ q result OF his mistroat-
The implied protection OF the United
States prevented the threatened outbreak.
Three years nassed and new officers OF