The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-06-15
TEXAS IN 1878.

mainly incidents of the many like trips
which followed. AS before said, it was
the rule in Texas to cross stream be-
fore camping, but on two occasions this
was impossible as the streams when
reached were bankfull. We had many
times crossed the dry bed of stream
some five or six miles distant from Fort
Inge, the road passing over slight
elevation of gravel, with shallow pools a
short distance above and below. 1t was,
therefore, something of surprise to
find on one trip up-country swift-run-
ming stream, with the water at least Is
feet deep where we had been accustom-
ed to cross dry.shod. There was moth
ing to do but camp and wait for the
flood to subside, and level plateau be-
side the river made an excellent camp
ing ground. Here we were destined to
spend several days. One day big, bur-
" member of our military escort came
into camp white as sheet and declared
he had been bitten by rattlesnake. He
was cruising about when he came upon a
snake coiled for a spring and it struck at
him. but on investigation it was found
that its fangs had struck his leather
belt. Another member of the escort
had an unpleasant experience. When
the teamster of the baggage wagon took
the mules to the river to water them the
''boy in blue" used to beg for permits
sion to ride one One day his request was
granted and he was mounted on one of
the wheel mules. No sooner was he
seated than the mule started for the
river on the double quick, and on reach
ing the top of the bank, which was COM
posed of loose stones with bushes grow
ing I'D among them, brought all four
feet together, threw up its back
Ssbumped'- and his rider went up in the
air. described curve, and came crash
ing down on the slope of the bank. The
bushes must have broken his fall, for he
escaped serious injury, but he was lame
and sore for many days after.
The flood soon began subsiding, but
very slowly, and as provisions were get
ting low and our stay in camp decidedly
monotonous we concluded to attempt
crossing in the ambulance. We slowed
such of our effects as we could on the
seats or lashed them to the supports of
the top and one of our escort volunteered
to swim across with the end of line
made of lariats tied together. Starting
some distance up stream he made the
other side all right, and driving our four
mule team to the waters edge, one end
of the line was made fast to the lead
mules. We had not gone far before the
water came into the ambulance, and at
times the mules were off their feet, but
the man on the opposite shore kept the
line taut and we made the crossing with
out mishap and proceeded to Fort lnge,
leaving the man to swim back to camp.
Two days later the escort with the bag
gage wagon crossed without difficulty.
Our next experience was even more
trying, but furnished material for mag
azine article some time later-"Christ-
mas on Texas Prairie.'' We had been
on long trip up-country and had timed
our journey so as to reach San Antonio
on or before Christmas Eve, and early
on the morning of the oath reached the
Medina river, some 30 miles from the
city and found, to our dismay, that it
was bankfull and the ford impossible.
We could only turn our teams down river
yond the few buildings which comprised
the town of Castroville. Having seen
the tents pitched, the mules cared for,
and our little camp in order there was
nothing for US to do but gaze at the tur-
bulent stream dashing wildly along be-
tween its banks and indulge in vain re-
pinings at our unpleasant predicament.
San Antonio and the anticipated festiVi>
tives were not for US, and we sat in SOL
emn silence on our respective campstools
before the tent. A few yards away was
the tent of our escort. the soldiers sitting
around fire. happy as kings over a
canteen Of whiskey. 1t was a dull.
dreary, disgusting, disheartening day,
and cherries night.
The next afternoon we forded the
river, not without much difficulty, and
the following morning our mule teams
crossed the Grand Plaza at brisk trot,
and turning down one of the narrow
streets, fanked on either side by Mexi-
can iacals, their low roofs matched with
grass, by old Spanish buildings with
loopholes along their front, by modern
stores and dwellings,, we crossed one of
the many bridges over the beautiful San
Antonio river and our journey was at an
end.
Devils river at this time was great
resort for the hostile Indians; IN part no
doubt because there was always water
there-and it was in a region where
water was a scarce article-and then it
was on their trail to Mexico, where they
disposed of their stolen horses and cattle.
So company was sent there and post
established near where the Ell Paso trail