Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1917-03-02

dash down the harrOw cntrunce n Tell
With Two bullets in his shoulder. Nobody
had followed him and he was dragged away
az mortally wounded. Believed 10 be dy-
ing his wound received little attention and
nearly two months later when he reached
his mothers home he was so worn that she
scarcely recognized him. When the army
was reduced TO peace footing Houston was
retained, having been promoted to second
lieutenant.
III November, 1916, Houston was detail
cd on extra duty as s~ub-ascu. to his old
friends, the Cherokee Indians. In this ca
pacity he tried TO stop tho smuggling oi
African negroes from Spanish Florida IN
10 the border settlements. During the win
ter of this year Houston conducted u
delegation 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 be-
fore Secretary. Of War Calhoun in Indian
costume. His treatment, however, anger
cd him and after bringing his Indians home
he resigned from the army after being pro
noted to first lieutenant.
In 1918 he went Nashville, studied Law
six months, passed required examinations
and began practicing in Lebanon, near
Nashville. The following year he was
elected district attorney at Nashville.
II was in Nashville that Houston fought
his only duel. Asa result OF political en-
nifty lie was challenged by Postmaster Err
win, OF Nashville. Houston refused 10 ac-
ccpt the challenge. Later Houston learn
cd that a General White had said he had
not treated Erwin courtcously. Houston
then called upon Erwin saying: "sYou crit
iciscd my conduct: any message from you
will receive my attention a challenge
followed and several days later the duel
was fought. White fell at the first fire,
shot through the hip, though not mortally
wounded. Houston then went 10 White
and expressed sorrow for what he had
done.
Houston is said 10 have refused at least
a dozen challenges 10 fight ducls.
With numerous adventures, five years in
The army and tive terms in congress. Hous-
toms popularity increased and in 1927 he
was elected governor Of Tennessee. The
second term was practically within his
grasp and an unhappy catastrophe wreck
cd his life. uf.s
In january, 1929, Houston married Miss
Eliza Allen, but the honeymoon was
carcely over When Mrs. Houston return
I'd to her parents and Houston resigned
as governor. Houston's political enemies
attacked him and he made M defense. liz
said, however, ELIZA stands acquitted by
me-" Years later, after Hou~ton's death,
his widow. said that Houston had told her
that he had discovered his wife loved an
other, and that he thought the best thing
10 do was to leave her Tree to get a d.
.orcc on grounds Of abandonment.
Houston then rejoincd the Indians and
later married "a handsome half breed In
dian woman. Believing that the Indians
were Systematically >windled by agents, he
wcnt to Washington in 1880, reported his
belief to the government and several agents
we're dismissed. Houston then bid 10 sup
ply tho Indians ~rations at eighteen cents
Il day, each. and while President jackson
was anxious to give him the contract the
ofcr was declined a. the result Of oppo-
siiion. y.
Thi. incident, 1882, when Houston again
went 10 Washington. resulted IN a personal
encounter bel wrcn Houston and Repre-
sentative Stanbcrry Of Ohio, in which
Stanberry was bestcd. Stanbcrry chary-
cd TO the speaker Of the house that he had
hecn waylnid by Houston and an invc>tI-
CATION was held before the bar of the house.
Francis Scott Key was llouston's attor-
ncy. Houston was fined 1900 but the Zine
wa, rcnlittcd after President Jackson in
Licatcd he sided with Houston.
Houston, summing up the affair. said
Il was diving out once and IL they had tax
on me before a justice and fined me- ten
dollars for assault and battery il woul.
have killed me; but they gave me u nat
ionul tribunal for q theatre, and il set Inc
up again."
Houston camc 10 Texas in 1882 begin
ming a career that took him through his-
toric ~conquc>t-: through fight, and ulii-
mate victory over the invading Meyiean>
into the trying ordcalS of government for
nation: into the presidential chuir of the
republic of Texas: back Ia Washington a.
i senator and filled the remainder Of hi
active life with public service that ended
suddenly. after he had retired because Of
age, when. during the war between the
states he learned of the fall of Vicksburg
General Houston was the hero III thu
famous bnitlc az San ,~Jncinto and wounds
which he received in this encounter viii
the Mcxicans are said to have FASTENED
| his death. H