Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-14
BROWNSVILLE, TEX. SEE MAP
One Of the Interesting Spots on This
Globe Is Going Into Fast
Decay Near Border.
GOSSIP OF THE FRONTIER
ny EDWARD BLACK.

I
the western coast OF the Gulf of Mexico.
IN the southwestern part OF Texas, ami
YOU will see the name Of a town known
as Brownsville. This out-of-the-way
place was little known 20 the world until
a few years ago when United States negro
troopers stationed at Fort Brown shot
up the town. Then Brownsville was put
on the map. The people are not proud
of that event; It clings to them as a sort
Of a nightmare.
Brownsville lie one Of the most unique
towns of the country. There are about
1900 residents, with approximately 5000
Mexicans and 5000 Americans. II rests
on the Rio Grande river and from the |
edge OF town one may look across the
river and see the trees of old Mexico in
the distance. The town is as level as a
table and II Is built right up TO the river
bank. Fort Brown 10 within few blocks |
of tho business district. There are nov
about 100 United States solders-cavalry-
men. field battery and coast artillery men
at the fort in charge of Colonel A. p.
Blocksorn, who has part of the border
control.
This town Is a typical border town. I |
was talking one day to Chief of Police
Billy Linton, who said: This is one of
the toughest towns along the border. 1t
is in the free state of Cameron" He
meant Brownsville is in Cameron county |
and between the lines he meant that in
a sense IL can hardly be regarded as be-
ing in the United States.
Place to He quiet.
Brownsville is not healthy place to |
start anything" The men there know
how to fondle blue-steel hardware with
precision. They do not believe In wasting
ammunition. Conditions have been inn
proving OF late. 1t is not many years
since the first railroad was built into
Brownsville. The only real line now en-
tering the town is the st. Louis, Browns
willie & Mexico, which now is in the hands
of a receiver. There is a twenty-mile
narrow gauge line running to Point Isa-
bel, on the gulf
This town has the most execrable
streets of any town of the size in the
country. During the rainy season the
main streets leading to the new court
house are a foot deep with black; sticky
mud which is churned up by the Mexi-
can hacks" which are the chief means
OF conveyance. The fine new court house
was built about half a mile from the main
street, and at times 1t is hardly possible
TO walk TO this court house without get
ting into mud up to ones shoe tops.
The American residence section includes
some beautiful homes, but the Mexican
quarters are typical of old Mexico, with
small dingy structures along dismal
streets. I asked an editor why the streets
were not improved 30 as to drain the
moisture during the rainy season. and he
"a Y.x, a. -
possible from an engineering standpoint
because part of the town Is lower than
the river.
R0wboat Ferry.
From one of the main streets IL a board
walk which leads to the United States
immigration and customs houses at the
river. At this point is what is known as
a, Terry" consisting OF swarthy Mexicans
With row boats. For cents one may be
taken across the river and on Che other
side Is the terminus Of a street car line
which goes up to Matamoros in the state
OF TanaulipaS, Old Mexico The street
cars are drawn by little Mexican horses.
After ride through an uninvfting
waste OF country, the street car enters
Matamoros, which today Is a relic of what
once was q prosperous Mexican city of
5000 people Today the population IL
about 1b0o0 Poverty and gloom are seen
on every hand. The visitor may see Next
can soldiers here and there. peering under
large hats with oninous giances. They
are q nondescript lot, with all sorts of
garments and taking a seeming delight
in exposing their loaded belts.
People Frightened Away.
year ago last May Matamoros was
enjoying prosperity under the villa
regime. but the constitutionalists came
In and took the town, burned the bull ring
and scared most of the people away.
They crossed to the American side BY
thousands There was a fine band OF
thirty-ffve men and that is all gone. Gone
are the bull fights ana the social life of
the city. The Carranzistas have estab-
lished q so-called military headquarters
uptown. with General =. p Naferrata in
command. visited the headquarters and
saw many machine guns stored and ready
for immediate use. The soldiers have
built earthworks south OF the town.
Some OF the well-to-do Spanish families
still maintain their residence there.
met Elisabeth Chandler Hendrix OF At.
Ianta. Ga, in Matamoros and she told
me the poverty there Just now is almost
unspeakable. Last Christmas time she
succeeded in getting a carload of pres
ents and clothing from people in Texas
for the children OF Matamoros. She hai
written MY Brothers Keeper" a story
OF Mexican life, which will be out soor
from a Chicago press. She has spent q
year studying Mexican life as It really
exists and she believes the Mexicans art
a benighted lot, with invaluable natura
resources at their very door and yet the!