The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-09-12

His courage was of that commanding
kind which men instincuvely recog
nize and naturally love to follow. HI
faced death a thousand times ant
never flashed the white feather.
Born in Virginia in the latter decade
of the eighteenth century, his parents
were early pioneer emigrants to Ten
nessee. He had no schooling, compar
ed with the advantages Vouchsafed th'
boys now adays, because there were M
such schools, in the first place, and be
cause he had no taste for such institu
tions for instruction as there wtre
Clerking store was too prosaic fol
one of his nature, SO be ran away and
made his home for some time with the
Cherokee Indians.
about the next thing Of consequence
in his career was when n well grown
lad, he attracted the attention of Jack.
son in the battle of the Horse Shoe, a
fight with the Indians in 1872.
Some seventeen years later Che occu-
pied the Tennessee governors chair.
His career in this sphere was brief, be-
being voluntarily terminated by him
on account Of inexpicable domestic
affairs. He had married Miss Allen
of Sumner county, and she left him
and returned home shortly after the
wedding. No adequate explanation
of this domestic dissolution was ever
given the public by either of the part
les, and to this day it is mystery un-
fathomed, though variously speculated
u pom then and ever since.
Houston Immediately resigned the
governorship, the only man who ever
did such thing, and plunged into the
wilderness of Arkansas, being wei
coined by the old Indian chief who
was the friend Of his boyhood. Here
he took to wife an Indian maiden, by
whom he had family. His life here
for three years was one of degradation
and bestiality, for he was known and
derided by the Indians as "Big
Drunk" However dissolute his per-
sonal course may have been, he could
not tolerate the dishonest practices of
the Indian agents toward the red men,
and he set out for Washington and
laid the matter before President Jack
son. This trip must have had sober
ing effect upon him, for he shortly af-
went to Texas and became
figure in that empire I'M
til the day of his death.
When Tevas Joined issue with Mex
leo, lighting for independence, Hous-
ton was made communicating chief of
The military forces of the nascent re-
public. The heroic tragedy of the Ala
mo occurred in December 1885. Re-
ceiving their request for assistance,
Houston almost single-handed started |
20 the relief OF Travers, Bowie, Crock
1T and their compatriots. Their blood
cried from the ground, and they were
soon to be avenged. Railying force
If 700 or 500 men, Houston some four
months later engaged at San Jacinto
he 5000 soldiers under Santa Anna in
me of the most memorial conflicts
hat ever occurred upon this continent
Men were sent 10 The rear TO cut the
BRIDGES and then were instructed 10
,ear their axes aloft aud inform the
leroic band what had been done.
With an impossible stream behind
hem and an implacable foe Cutnum-
'erng them six 10 one in front, tie
,attle for life and liberty began. With
he Texans it was "Remember the
"Remember GoliadW The
leXieans are fighters, but they were
10 match for the demons in human
orm they that day encountered. The
attic resulted in slaughter and
out for the MeXicans. Santa Anna
srely escaped with his life. Houston
ecame president of the republic and S
,ould have been made dictator for life
he had not peremptorily refused. i
When Texas was admitted into the
MON, in lS45, Houston was one of the '
rst United States senators. He was I
overnor of the state when the war I
oud lowered. His heart and iudg- (
lent were with the union and he c
the state in opposition 10 /
lie secession movement. Though 7
[ouston was the idol of his people, t
le hot heads were in the saddle and
le old mans council was rejected. He 1