San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-21
One Tells Of Riding Wild
Buffalo Across Alamo
Plaza.
PICNIC. AT SAN PEDRO
Grand Ball Will Be Given
Monday Night at the
Gunter.

state one-day convention in San An
tonic. DIR. Frank Paschal presided
ct the morning meeting, calling an il
lustrious roll of famous veterans of
many wars. Follow ing the morning SEES
sion, the delegates and officials of the
Texas Pioneers formed a parade from
Travis Park. and proceeded TO San
Pedro Springs in San Pedro Park for
celebration, followed by a dedication
ceremony to the Pioneer Freighters.
Frank II. Bushick made the out
standing address at the morning meet
ing. recalling old times in Texas and
stressing the beauty of an assembly
of pioneers and their children.
Texas pioneers were strong hearted
and ambitious men who tore them
selves up by the roots, and leaving
friends and civilized environments be-
hind, braved the uncertainties OF
new life in wild country" Mr..
Bushick stated After her entrance
into the Union as state that had Won
her land by fire and blood, Texas be-
came synonym for bravery. and
Texas names. such as Houston. De
Zavala, Crockett, Fannin, Bowie.
Travis. Maverick and Castro became
inspiring heroes that were not coined
from the cleaning pages of border
tales. but from real life. 1t is fine
thing for us to- meet on occasions
like this. to brush up on American
ideals of our pioneers.
Tribute 10 FrOntiersmen.
Mr.. Bushick' paid tribute to the
women of the frontier who braved the
dangers and endured he hardships in
cident to life in the frontier cabin. and
stated that without them the men
could never have been the brave sol
diers or the fine characters that they
are.
"Old wagon trails and COW paths
have grown over with grass, or have
been converted into plowed lands.
Mr.. Bushick stated, "and the buffa-
loes and wild horses are gone. Con-
cord stages and wagon trains are relics
of the past. Our prairies and plains
are now one of the richest. most
prosperous and fortunate regions in
the world. 1t is good for us to be
reminded OF what our heritage is. and
of what it cost us, that we may I'M
derstand it, appreciate it and defend
it,"
Rev. B. s. Johnson pronounced the
invocation, at the opening of the
morning meeting. Mayor John W.
Tobin gave the welcome address from
the city to the visiting delegates. The
response was made by Frank Bushick,
first president Of the Pioneers Asso-
citation of Texas. Dr. Frank Paschal
gave the annual presidents address,
Reports of officers were read and ac-
cepted, and new business was trans
acted.
A Famous Ride.
DIR. Paschal stated in his address
that the association is comparative
ly new organization but that il is in
creasing materially each year. $50 new
members having been added during ne
last two years. DIR. Paschal urged that
the organization should be perpetua.ed,
in membership and in ideals, according
to the present constitution.
The Gunter ballroom was decorated
in flags. and the stage was filled with
distinguished pioneers. including Col.
Il. b. Buck. speaker for the afternoon,
Judge ]. o. Luby. William Atkinson
VI OOUEaltS. Eduh II. DuNHith, Tsu-
win Chamberlin. George Elgin and
Chaplain J. S. Pearce.
Miss Emma Bell. chairman of the
registration committee. stated that sew
eral hundred pioneers and their de-
scendants from all parts of the state
had registered at the booth i'll the Gun
ter during the morning session, and
others were arriving Mt noon. The
annual ball will be given Monday
night at the Gunter.
Two comrades of 1878 met at the
Pioneers convention Monday. and
shared again the experiences of Indian
and Mexican War days in Texas. A.
H. Policy of San Antonio and John
s.. Furling Of Company ID. Fifth In
fantry. of San Antonio. knew San An
tonic 80 years ago. when the village
was in its infancy. Mr.. Policy en-
listed in the Civil War at the age of
IL. and Mr.. Furling is the only man
alive who rode a wild buffalo across
Alamo plaza.
Bed Over Shallow Graves.
At the old Policy home, 30 miles
east of San Antonio. General Robert
L. Lee. Albert Sydney Johnston and
General Hood were entertained at
various times during the recollection
of Mr.. Policy. 1t was there that Pol
ley and Furling. both pioneer cattle
men, met and were boyhood friends.
On one famous trip into Mexico,
in October. 1878. Mr.. Policy and Mr..
Furling slept on ton of two murder
cd Texans who had been killed by
the Mexican bandits in their uprising
along the border. Camp was always
made in a sandy hollow. Mr. Fur
ling said. on account of expected at
tacks from the Indians and Mexicans
who were jointly on the warpath at
that time. and the weary soldiers
pitched camp on the evening of Octo-
Der II. rs. without investigation or
ceremony. Next morning when they
awoke at dawn. they discovered that
they had silent Oh two murdered white
men who had been partly buried in
the sand beneath their beds.
Mr.. Furling rode a wild 3-year-o'd
buffalo across Alamo plaza. in 1873,
in order to win bet from Gen. f.. O.
G. Ord. commander of the post of San
Antonio at that time. He won his
$25 and turned his wild broncho loose
after the ride. and went down in
history as the only man ever to ride
one of the original wild buffaloes
through San Antonio.
Coin Saved His Life.
One. of Mr.. Furling's Indian foes To
be killed by his trusty rifle in 1858,
was q Pegin chief from Canada. who
wore a coal of solid gold buttons or
circles. Mr.. Furling wears the coin