Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-22

"a NhE hAeAtAN NtANNetf IAAaNA wv
ton, conducted this year by the
Valley Federation Of Women's
clubs, and was awarded first prize
IN that competition. IL was writ
ten by Limo Perez, Jr, a student
in the Rio Grande City schools.
The Herald does not assume re-
sponsibility for the facts con
tanned herein.
During the reign or that pictur-
esque character, Charles Ill, King OF
Spain, b. means Of n royal ediCt he
appointed his ENcellency, Marquis dc
Croix, then Niceroy OF New Spain,
Licenciado Don Jose De Ossorio u
Llamas and Don Juan Fernando dc
Palacio, then governor Of the Prov
ince Of Nuevo Santander, to sit as a
royal council and distribute crown
lands among loyal Spanish subjects
as a reward for the hardships and
privations which they had suffered
and undergone in settling on and
colonizing SPANS territorial acqui-
sitions in the Western Hemisphere.
On application Of Don Juan Cis-
ncros. Porcion 40 then within ter
r~itorial jurisdiction Of Camargo,
(McXico) was granted 70 him on
August 13. 1867. On the same day
the application of Captain Jose An
tonic de Ia CARA Falcon vas heard
and Porcion so, adjacent to Porcion
10 on the east. was granted TO him.
a committee OF four surveyors, to lay
out and survey these lands. was APP
pointed in the persons OF Don Jose
l. g. Lw1nnn 1nA hon Inns
Lopez. representing the Spanish
Crown; and Don Bartolome Irevlno
and Don Pedro Jose lgnacio de Sal
dana, representing the original set
tiers.
Although Senior CisneTos and Cap
tain de Ia Cara Falcon, had settled
on these porciones as early as 1867,
the first records Of title 20 and con
corning the land on which the town Of
Rio Grande City IS now situated were
the above grants.
After the death Of Captain de L.
CARA Falcon VINO died at CSmArgo
on August 20, 1891, Don Francisco dc
"a CARA MARTINEZ on March ~, 1873,
acquired BY purchase from the heirs
az the former Porcion SO. On this
land. and approximately IN what IS
now the southeastern extremity q
the town, stood "Carnestolendas
Ranch founded by Captain de IN
CARA Martinez lived at Camargo,
when he purchased this land, making
daily trips to "Carnestolendas y
fate, as usual, played her worldly
pranks and early on the morning q
June ~. 1921, while he and two
daughters. who had accompanied him
were milking some COW hostile IN
dams ntade a raid on his ranch car
rvjng away Senior de ia GarZas scalp
as a tronhy, and taking into captivity
his two young daughters who were
held captlves for several years, but
who were finally released on payment
Of high ransom.
IN quest Of the adventurous and TO-
mantle life Of the West Henry Clay
Davis. founder Of the Rio Grsnde
civ We know. roamed from Georgia
~ the frontier town az Camargo.
across the river from Rio Grance
Citv. and there. on March "a. 1876,
married the fair ~senOrita Of his
dreams Miss Maria Hilaria dc la
Cara. and granddaughter off Don
Francisco de Ia Cara Martinez; but
fate and destiny had decreed that
Davis give services to his country IN
4 war with the country Of winch rs
had married one Of its fairest daugh-
tersA-Mexico.
While on a leave OF absence during
the war. he came across the no
Grande bringing his wife with him'
and stretching a tent, settled temper
srilv on the north bank Of the lver
u, what II now Water Street here.
The exact spot TO this day IS marked
bv An old ebony tree. This was MS
first stop toward Undertaking. ms
dreams of founding and colonizing a
,own in the ne~iChborhood or the ma
tive town Of his wife.
To him and his wife was born. on
March II. lS47. their first child. q
girl baby. whom they named. At the
baptismaI front. Louisiana Georgia
Davis. 10 whom goes the honor OF
being the first child born IN Rio
Grande City.
when his financial condition wa
bettered. Davis built. in 1913. ths
Davis homestead on Britton avenue.
which has the distinction OF being
the first house ever built IN Rl'
Grande CITY. IN the meantime 40
Grande City had heretofore been
known as Rancho Davis" but u n
ficially became Rio Grande CITY
upon the organization Of Starr
county in 1s4s. Of which il then be-
came the county scat.
On December p. 1859. juan Cor
tina made an unsuccessful raid OF
Rio Grande City. with a force ~
men recruited on Mexican soil. he
was routed nv .he American forces
then carrisoning AZ Fort RinTgold,
adjacent to Rio Grande CITY on the
coast. Cortina was lured to make
this raid ~ tales or his snies who
had rcnorted 70 him that there was
several thousands 81 dollars in Mex
lean gold coin boarded by the mer-
chants and other wealthy people OF
Rio Graude CITY. and which they
reported was kept IN trunks. Learn
inr Of Cortina's shrewd rlans e.
thunder the towns Golfers. Monsieur
Jean Decker. an old French immi-
grant and merchant here. decided 10
hide his vast amount Of gold specie
by placing IL IN strong canvas sacks
and lowering them into = c~istern
half full Of water. This ~cistern Is
the one in the patio" Of the Plaza
hotel here.