Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1917-03-02
President Will Be Clothed With Authority
Texas DAY AND
SAM HOUSTON DAY
Texas Independence and San Hous.
toms Birthday Celebrated Jointly
Throughout Texas.


Dallas. Texas, March 2.--This was
~ 124th anniversary Of the birth Of
1Ineral Sam Houston, pioneer. scout
>porrior, general and political leader
md Sam Houston Memorial Day is
being observed throughout the slale
Of Texas. Observance Of this day was
officially sanctioned by Governor Fer
guson, who in q proclamation asked
that the public schools OF the state
hold exercises appropriate to the
memory Of General Houston.
Today also Is the S1st anniversary
OF the signing Of the Texas declara.
tion Of independence. A part of the
program in the schools observing this
day will consist Of the reading of this
historic document
Contributions also will be received
today for the proposed monument TO
be erected In memory Of General
Houston. This monument fund was
started some time ago by residents
Of Houston and was endorsed by the
governor in his proclamation calling
for Observance Of this day.
The Texas legislature held memo.
rial exercises In Joint session today,
and Captain s. J. p. Mcdowell. aged
90. OF Lockhart. said to be the only
living member Of the historic Ninth
legislature. attended AZ an honored
guest.
A history OF General Houston's life
Is closely woven with the history OF
Texas and even with the history Of
the United States. II includes prac-
tically all dealings Of the government
with the Indians and touches the
whole question Of expansion, slavery
and secession.
Houston began his career in 1906.
when II years OF age. by running
away from the home OF his widowed
mother In Tennessee to join the Cher
okee Indians. encamped eight miles |
away. Sought out by his older broth.
ers. he declined to return home and Il |
was only after his clothing was torn |
and tattered that he went back TO his
mother 10 be refItted.
From then on for several years he
divided his time between home and
the Indians, until, finding himself In
need OF money. he opened school In
the white settlement and succeeded
as schoolmaster.
In 1918 Houston enlisted In the
army. serving under Andrew Jackson
against the Creek Indians. Il was In
the battle Of Horseshoe Bend that his
courage attracted the attention o.
jackson. A comrade trying to scale a
stockade was shot and Houston took
HE place and was first over. lie rc.
esived an arrow In the lhIsh which he
could not pull out. and when a com.
panion tried twice and failed. Hous.
ton cried: IL you don't do Il I viii
Kill you" Tho arrow came out the
third pull.
when the army was reduced TO a
peace footing Houston was retained.
having been promoted to second lieu.
tenant In November. 1916. Houston
was detailed on extra duty as sub.
agent to his old friends. the chcro
hee Indians. In this capacity he tried
10 stop the smuggling OF African ne.
kroes from Spanish Florida into Dor.
der settlements. During the winter OF
this year Houston conducted a dele.
cation to Washington. where he found
himself accused Of completely In this
trade. His first offcnsc. however
was that. being an officer on duty. he
appeared before Secretary Of War
Calhoun In Indian costume. His treat.
ment. however. ansered him and after
bringing HIS Indians homo he rcsIru.
I'd from the army. after being promo,.
I'd to first lieutenant. (
In ISIS he went TO Nashville. s,ud. q
led law six months. passed tho rcouir.
I'd examinations and bcran pracs,r,,.
IN Lebanon. near Nashville. The fol-
loving year he was elected dIs,r,c, !
atiorcney at Nashville.
u was In Nashville that Houston
'0usns b. only duel. A. a reml, Of ,,