San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-02-08

Word has reached San Antonio of
the death of j. NJ. Nixon, over 50,
Confederate veteran, first agent of the
Wells Fargo Express company at San
Antonio, organizer of the express SER
vice of the National Lines of Mexico,
and for many years manager of the
service. He died at the home of his
son in Havana. Cuba last week. His
death marked the passing of one who
had figured prominently in the history
of San Antonio, Brownsville and Mata-
moros.
Not until he had passed his seventy
fifth year did this rugged Southerner
consider it time TO retire from active
duty. He was at that time head of
the express service of the Mexican
railways, with headquarters in Mata-
moros.
In 1914, when General Blanco, at
the head of his rebel troops, captured
L<siatamoros, Mr.. Nixon was one of the
last refugees to cross the international
bridge at Brownsville and seek refuge
in the United States. He remarked at
that time that he believed he was "too
old to fight any more wars" and a
few years later, when he saw there
were no prospects for immediate set
Element of Mexicos difficulties, he left
for Havana, Cuba. to spend his re-
naming years at the home of. his son.
Goes To Central America.
Mr.. Nixon was a native of Florida.
At the outbreak of the Civil War he
Joined a Confederate regiment and
fought with distinction throughout the
war. gaining many promotions through
his intrepid bravery. Shortly after the
surrender of Lee, Nixon still young,
Joined party of adventures and went
| to Central America, where he engaged
| in railroad building. Having an excel
lent education and some knowledge OF
| engineering. he succeeded in this profess
sion and assisted in planning and con-
structing the first railways in that
country.
In the early 70's he came to South
| Texas and was placed in charge of the
first Wells Fargo Express company
office opened in San Antonio. San An
| tonic at that time was Il typical frontier
| town, and train robbers and other out
| laws made the life Of the express COM
/ pany's employees extremely hazardous.
Nixon for several months was the
only express agent who would accept
| the run west from San Antonio, the
entire district at that time being ter
rorized by bandits or train robbers.
Battles with the robbers were frequent,
and Nixon virtually carried his life
in his hands for several months.
He was an expert pistol and rifle
shot, and in one of the most sanguinary
Encounters with train robbers, which
occurred about 80 miles west of San
Antonio, was reported TO have killed
three of the band. In this battle the
express car was riddled with bullets
before Nixon's deadly fire forced the
bandits to seek cover, but Nixon escap-
He'd unhurt. ....r. ...
~eeuring the months that he was act
ling as agent for the company and also
{guarding valuable shipments, he was
Frequently fired upon, and had numer-
|ous battles with the bandits, but never
received wound. Among a collection
of relics of early days in San Antonio,
(which Mr.. Nixon always retained, were
n number of old tintype pictures of
train robbers who had been killed in
battles in which he took part
Goes To Mexico
His bravery and fidelity to the inter
ests of the Wells Fargo company re-
suited in his promotion, and, after sew
,ral years of service with the company
n San Antonio, he accepted a proposal
rom the Mexican railways to organize
IN express service in Mexico. In this
work he was very successful, and dur
ne the Diaz regime, built up service
hat compared favoraby with that of