USA > Texas > A pictorial history of Texas, from the earliest visits of European adventurers, to A.D. 1879. Embracing the periods of missions, colonization, the revolution the republic, and the state; also, a topographical description of the country together with its Indian tribes and their wars, and biographical sketches of hundreds of its leading historical characters. Also, a list of the countries, with historical and topical notes, and descriptions of the public institutions of the state > Part 5
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Red river, at the mouth of the Big Wichita, has an
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
elevation of about 900 feet ; San Antonio, 600 feet ; Aus- tin, 600; Castroville, 767 ; Fort Duncan, 800; Fort Lincoln, 900; Fort Inge, 845 ; Fort Clark, 1,000; Round Rock, 1,145 ; Fort Chadburn, 2,120; Phantom Hill, 2,300 ; Fredricksburg 1,500; Valley of the Pecos 2,350; Jacks- boro, 2,000 ; El Paso, 3,750 ; highest point on the San Antonio and El Paso road, 5,765; Llano Estacada, about 2,400; Fort Worth 629; Dallas 481 feet.
MINERALS .- So far as the geological surveys of Texas have been very meager and superficial. The office of State Geologist was created in 1858. In 1859, B. F. Shumard commenced operations, as State Geologist; but was superseded in that office the next year by Dr. Francis Moore, Jr., who had hardly commenced field-work when the war broke up his operations. John W. Glenn held the office for a short time in 1873 ; and S. B. Buckley, in 1874. The following summary is from the pen of Prof. A. R. Rossler, who was assistant geologist under Dr. Shumard.
" COPPER-Copper, covering at it does a large area of country, is almost inexhaustible, and will afford a vast fund of wealth for generations to come. A large portion of the counties of Archer, Wichita, Clay, Haskell, Terri- tory of Bexar, counties of Pecos and Presidio-extending to the Rio Grande-is filled with immense hills of copper ore, some of which has been thoroughly tested and will yield on the average 55.44 per cent. of metal; though some particular localities have produced specimens even as rich as 68 per cent., containing, besides, some silver, oxide of iron, etc.
"The first intelligence I received of the existence of this unexampled deposit of copper ore, was through M. D. Bullion, of Hunt county, Texas, who sent me a small piece of this ore in an envelope, for examination, with the
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VALUABLE COPPER DEPOSITS.
remark, 'If this stuff is of any account, I can load up five hundred wagons, without digging, from a 320-acre tract.' Upon examination, I found it to be a highly interesting specimen of copper glance, (nearly a pure sulphuret), containing 55.44 per cent. of metal. Its geological con- nections are of the highest interest and proved that this metalliferous tract is a portion of the Permian formation, which stretches from Kansas down into Texas, and is the only example of this formation in the United States.
" In 1870, after traversing the cretaceous and carbon- iferous series northward of Weatherford, Parker county, I was very agreeably surprised by a grand panorama of outcropping of this formation. This system (Permian), is extensively developed in Russia, between the Ural Mountains and the river Volga, in the north of England, and also in Germany, where it is mined for its treasures of copper, silver, nickel and cobalt ores. In Texas the ore is found on the hillsides and also on the surface, giving no trouble for mining or drainage. Four persons in ten hours took out six thousand pounds, averaging sixty per cent. Coal, timber, limestone, soapstone, and all the requisites for building furnaces and smelting ores are in the vicinity, and the projected line of the Southern Pacific railroad passes over the locality. At present, mining operations cannot be safely prosecuted, owing to the prox- imity of bands of prowling Indians.
" The hills which I have traced throughout Archer, Wichita, Haskell and Clay counties, are nearly barren- towering above the most beautiful and fertile Mesquite prairies, fringed by the finely timbered bottoms of the tributaries of Red River, and are exceedingly picturesque.
"Explorations of the copper veins, over the summits and sides of the hills, justify the conclusion that within the extent of one degree of longitude along the Little
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Wichita River, hardly a tract of 160 acres could be found without large accumulations of ore upon the surface. The vein lodes are parallel with the strata, but there is sufficient evidence that they partake of the nature of true veins.
" MANGANESE, COBALT, NICKEL AND BISMUTH .- Leads of manganese, cobalt, nickle and bismuth are often met with. The copper ore contains only 25 per cent of im- purities, is far superior to the ferro sulphuret of copper or copper pyrites generally worked for in England, and in native copper ore as found at Lake Superior. It is easily smelted, and the strata in which it is found is more easily excavated than any other in which copper ores occur.
" LEAD AND SILVER .- These two metals are always as- sociated together in this State. The calciferous sandrock -which is the lead-bearing rock of Missouri-abounds in Texas, and the varieties found in it here are carbonate of lead, sulphuret of lead and molybdate of lead. The former two always contain such large quantities of silver as to be considered silver ore. A sample from a three feet vein in Llano county, gave a yield of 286 ounces of silver and 74.45 per cent. lead. It is the carbonate of lead in combination with the sulphuret, and owing to the large percentage of the former will be very easily reduced. The indications are very favorable for a very large quan- tity and excellent quality of ore. At present, lands in this section of the State are of very little value notwith- standing the abundance of minerals and timber. With a well developed mining industry established here, no other country could compete with this region, so far as regards fuel, construction timber and materials for building and sustaining a railroad. There are about 10,000 acres of vacant land, and the lands already located can be had for a trifle-the rocks of which are silver and gold bearing.
L
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IMMENSE IRON DEPOSITS.
" The examination of shafts to a depth of fifty feet, chisel and drill marks, and other unmistakable evidences, leave no doubt that the Spaniards formerly worked these mines, and remains of the ore worked, show it to have been very rich.
"IRON .- The iron deposits of Northwestern Texas are of the most remarkable character, equalling in extent and richness those of Sweden, Missouri, New Jersey and New York. They include almost every variety-magnetic, spathic, specular and hematite ores. The largest deposits of magnetic iron ores occur in Mason, Llano and more Western counties. Immense loose masses of ore lie scattered over the surface, which have been upheaved by ingenious agencies from unknown depths below. Most of these are in true veins. As no true metallic vein has ever been traced downward to its termination, the supply is inexhaustible. The analysis of an average specimen gave 96.890 per cent. of per-oxide of iron, with 2.818 per cent. of isoluble silicious substances-proving it to be a mag- netic oxide, which will yield 74.93 pounds of metallic iron to 100 pounds of ore.
" The prevailing rocks are red feldspathic granite, gneiss, quartz, talcose and chloritic shists. Granite ridge sur- rounds the deposits, and veins of quartz traverse it in all directions, The limestone of the palezoic and cretaceous rocks are in the immediate vicinity, from which materials for flux can be easily obtained. A most remarkable de- velopment of hematite and limonite occurs on the waters of Red River. It is found in regular layers of from fifty to sixty feet in thickness. Associated with these ores are various oxides of iron, suitable for pigments of red, yellow and brown colors distributed, forming regular layers of several feet in thickness. The largest amount is on vacant lands-subject to location by certificates.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
"COAL .- The coal-bearing rocks of Texas occupy an area of not less than 6,000 square miles, embracing the counties of Young, Jack, Palo Pinto, Eastland, Brown, Comanche, Callahan, Coleman, and extending to the Ter- ritory of Bexar. The rocks contain the characteristics belonging to the coal measures of Missouri and other Western States. In general appearance, this coal resem- bles that from Belleville, Illinois. The analysis gives, fixed carbon, 52 per cent .; volatile matter, 36 per cent .; ashes, 3 per cent.
" This coal cokes with a great flame, without changing its form, and the development of this valuable mineral is destined to be of the greatest importance to the State.
" ANTHRACITE COAL, lighter and more brittle than the anthracites of Pennsylvania, has been found in various parts of the State, but I had no opportunity to visit the localities.
" Lignites, Tertiary, and other coals of more recent origin, occupy an area of some 10,000 square miles-in connection with the true coal formation-on many points of the Rio Grande, in Webb, Atascosa and Frio counties. They are mostly soft, sulphurous and ashy, but superior to German brown coals.
" ASPHALTUM .- Asphaltum has been found in Hardin, Travis, Burnet, Llano and many counties on Red River. The earth for some distance around certain acid springs is charged with it, and may be employed for the purpose of illumination. For pavements, roofing and other uses, this material is too well known to require further mention.
" GYPSUM .- In the northwestern portion of the State is the largest deposit of gypsum known to exist in the world, spreading over two hundred miles on the upper Red River and its tributaries. This will be of great value as a fertilizer. Some of the specimens are as trans- parent as the purest glass, easily split into thin layers.
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THE FAMOUS BAT CAVE.
"SALT .- There are a great many salt springs and salt lakes in this formation. Salt is manufactured in the great laboratory of Nature by solar evaporation. The most important locality producing almost an inexhaustible amount of salt, is Sal Del Rey, the greatest Salt Lake in Hidalgo county, and at the Horsehead crossing on Pecos River, Pecos county. The salt here is ready formed, and need only be shoveled up and taken to market. The water is so strongly impregnated that the human body cannot be made to sink in it. The salt is very pure and fit for table use, without refining.
" Petroleum springs occur over a space of about fifty square yards, in Hardin county, and it is highly probable that larger supplies may be obtained by boring. The surface indications are certainly as favorable as those of the now famous oil wells of Pennsylvania and northern Ohio, prior to the discovery by deep boring. Extensive quarries of marble, roofing slate, grindstone, soapstone and asbestos, with a large class of metallic substances usually present in highly metalliferous regions-such as alum, cobalt, nickel, manganese, arsenic, etc .- are abundant."
GUANO .- It is only a short time since this important article of commerce has been discovered in Texas; and though only a few caves have been examined, there can be no question but there is an inexhaustible supply of guano concealed in our mountain caves. One has been found in Bexar county, twenty miles northeast of San Antonio, containing many acres ; forty feet under ground, with an unknown depth of Guano. Another immense deposit exists in a cave eight miles south-west of Bandera; and another in Williamson county, three miles from Georgetown. There can be no doubt that a thorough geological survey of our State will develop inexhaustible mines of wealth.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
The following is from a newspaper published in the county in which the cave mentioned is located :
" The Uvalde Umpire describes the famous bat cave in that county, and the operations of the Texas Guano Company, formed about nine months or one year ago, by Mr. Huertzall, of Galveston, for the removal of the guano. The Umpire says :
"The company have been making very satisfactory headway, removing from three to ten tons each day, which they immediately ship to Galveston, thence to Scotland, where use is made of it for different purposes, but princi- pally in the manufacture of ammonia and other medicals. The mountains where the bat cave is situated are about twenty miles north of Uvalde. Near the top of one of the highest in the range are the several openings of the cave. These entrances are facing north, the largest being about fifty feet in width, and twenty in height, the others being smaller, decreasing to a size not large enough to allow a man to get through. The cave increases in dimensions inside, and extends a considerable distance beyond where the workmen are engaged removing the guano, at a point 450 or 500 feet from the entrance. There is a tram- way constructed upon which are run cars or carts, with a carrying capacity of about one ton each. The motive power is a 'jack,' run by the same engine used in the operations of drying. The drying operation is a very ingenious construction, originated by Mr. Huertzall. It is an iron cylinder about 3 1-2 feet in diameter, resting upon a stone foundation, and directly beneath it is placed the fire; in this cylinder runs a shaft to which are at- tached a number of small arms or paddles. The revolving of this shaft and paddles causes the guano to pass entirely through the cylinder, after which it is sufficiently dry to pack for shipment. It is expected that an improvement
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BATS INNUMERABLE.
will be made in all the machinery used, so as to enable them to prepare 20 or 30 tons per day for shipment. It is supposed that the amount of guano in this cave is so great that, at the present rate of removing it, it will be years before the more accessible portions of it are re- moved. It would be utterly impossible for one to make even a fairly correct estimate of the number of bats inhab- iting the cave ; but that an idea may be given, we would state that for more than three hours they were passing out in a flock or continual flying procession, occupying the entire width of the openings of the entrance."
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PART II. TEXAS UNDER SPANISH 4 DOMINATION.
FROM 1685 TO 1820.
7
CHAPTER I.
LANDING OF LA SALLE-MISFORTUNES-FORT ST. LOUIS, ON THE LAVACA RIVER-LA SALLE ASSASSINATED ON THE NECHEZ RIVER BY HIS OWN MEN- FORT ST. LOUIS IN RUINS.
LTHOUGH Spanish adventurers had, during the latter part of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, passed through the interior of Texas, historians usually begin its history with the landing of the French under La Salle, on its soil, in the year 1685. After having descended the great river of the continent, and having planted the standard of France at its mouth, La Salle returned to France to procure the men and means for planting a colony at the mouth of the Mississippi in order to open a new route for commerce between France and her Canadian colonies. He was successful in his applica- tion at the court of Louis XIV. The king granted all that the great discoverer desired, and in a manner suitable to the importance of the enterprise and the dignity and munificence of the greatest of French kings. A commis- sion was issued, giving him authority to establish colonies in Louisiana, and placing him in command of the expedi- tion. A squadron of four vessels was provided and furnished by the king. The Joil, a frigate of thirty-six guns ; the Belle, of six guns, a present from the king to La Salle; the Amiable, a ship of some two hundred tons burden; and a small vessel, the St. Francis, carrying munitions. Beaujeau, who commanded the Joil, was also commander or sailing master of the squadron, but under
SCENE ON THE MISSISSIPPI In the time of La Salle.
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INDIAN DIFFICULTIES.
the direction of La Salle, except in the business of navigating the ships at sea, until they should arrive in America. There were seven missionaries, one hundred soldiers, thirty volunteers, and mechanics, girls, etc., making about three hundred in all. Among these were two nephews of La Salle.
The squadron sailed from Rochelle, July 24, 1684. Disputes arose between La Salle and his naval commander on the outward voyage, which was a tedious one. The St. Francis was captured by the Spaniards. Land was discovered on the 26th of December, which they supposed to be the coast of Florida, and this induced them to change their course to the south-west. La Salle had miscalculated the latitude of the mouth of the river, and had been driven too far west by the winds. According to Joutel, the historian of the expedition, a landing was first effected near Corpus Christi, early in January, 1685. Becoming satisfied that they had passed the mouth of the river, they re-embarked, and sailed up the coast, making an occasional landing, until February 13, (says Joutel-other accounts say 18th,) when the Belle crossed the bar at Pass Cavallo, into a bay named by them San Bernardo-since Matagorda. On the 20th, the Amiable was lost in trying to enter the harbor. Two temporary camps were established; one on Matagorda Island, near the present light-house, and the other on the main-land, up towards Indianola. At first the Indians were friendly and hospitable, but difficulties arose between some of the privates and inferior officers and the Indians, and on the 5th of March, Ory and Desloges were killed by them.
After landing, the Naval Commander became more and more quarrelsome, and finally, in a pet, sailed with the Amiable for France, taking with him her crew, and a considerable portion of the ammunition and supplies
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
intended for the colony. La Salle was thus left with but one small vessel, the Belle, and in the summer she was sent across the bay on an excursion, and was lost near Dog Island. This left the colony without the means of leaving the country by water. They crossed the bay to secure a better location for a permanent fort, and entered a river, which, from the number of buffaloes on the banks, they named Las Veches, or river of Beeves. (Joutel calls the buffaloes wild cattle, and the deer wild goats.) The summer was occupied in erecting the nec- essary buildings, and removing the stores to the new fort at Dimitt's Point on the Lavaca River; with occas- inal excursions in various directions, in hopes of finding the great river. The company now consisted of about 180 persons. «
In January, 1686, leaving Joutel in charge of the fort, La Salle, with twenty companions, started upon an excursion to hunt for the Mississippi River. He traveled as far as the Brazos River, where he had the misfortune to lose one of his men, who was either drowned or de- voured by an alligator. Becoming satisfied that he was entirely too far to the west, he returned to the fort, having lost five of his men.
While in Canada, La Salle had in his service a faithful lieutenant, De Tonti, the iron-handed. (He had lost one of his hands in battle, and had substituted one of iron.) De Tonti had been instructed by La Salle to descend the Mississippi River to the mouth of the Arkansas, and establish a fort, and collect supplies for the colony he was bringing out from France.
Believing that his lieutenant would be found at the designated place, La Salle, about the last of April, with twenty companions, started, intending to discover the river at the point occupied by his faithful De Tonti. The
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LA SALLE AND HIS COMPANIONS.
streams were swollen, and progress was difficult, but he finally reached the villages of the friendly Nassonite and Cennis Indians, on the Trinity and Neches Rivers. While camped on the latter stream, he and, his nephew were prostrated by a fever. When they had sufficiently recovered to resume their journey, they found that the improvident hunters had nearly exhausted their ammu- nition, and it would be necessary to return to their fort for a fresh supply. Between deaths and desertions, La Salle now had but eight, of the twenty men with whom he started. These, with five horses procured from the Indians, reached the fort in August. They found the number in the fort also greatly reduced, so that there were now but thirty-four remaining alive.
Again, on the 12th of January, 1687, La Salle, with seventeen companions, started to the northeast. This time he took Joutel, leaving the fort with seventeen per- sons, including seven women, in charge of Sieur Barbier, who had just married one of the maidens brought out from France. In giving dates and the route of travel, we follow the journal of Joutel, though he tells us that he is not certain as to many of them. On Joutel's map there is a place laid down, called Bucon, about where the Texana and Victoria road crosses the Lavaca River. This is the point where La Salle camped on the night he left the fort. The next day they crossed a plain two leagues, to the Prince's (Navidad) River ; this they found swollen, and for two days traveled up its west bank. On the third day, by felling a tree, they succeeded in crossing their baggage. On Skull Creek they found an Indian village ; (probably Tonkawas) the French called it Habe- mos. On the 21st they crossed the river of Canes, (Colorado, about Eagle Lake). Heavy rains delayed them, and they crossed the river of Sand Banks, (San
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Bernard) on the 26th. On Joutel's map are laid down successively, though under French names, Skull Creek, New Year's Creek, the Maligne, or Brazos River ; the Eure (San Jacinto), River of Canoes, so called because in his former voyage, La Salle had to procure canoes to cross it (the Trinity), the Neches, the Angelina and the Sabine. The streams between the San Bernard and Red Rivers are marked as having unknown mouths. In La Salle's first trip he had buried some provisions near his camp on the Neches River. These were found, but in a condition unfit for use, and they halted for a few days to procure a fresh supply. A party was sent out to kill meat. Some of the party had previously manifested a quarrelsome and insubordinate disposition. The leader of this party was Duhaut, who had persuaded Heins, a former buccaneer, Liotot and two others to join him in the conspiracy. It so happened that the five conspirators were out with the party killing and drying meat. They had a special spite towards Moragnet, La Salle's nephew. La Salle dispatched his nephew and two others to the camp for dried meat. Duhaut and Moragnet quarreled about some nice bits of meat, which the hunters claimed as a special perquisite, and Duhaut determined upon re- venge. That night, while the most of the men were asleep, Duhaut, Hiens and Liotot, with their axes, killed Moragnet and his friend Saget, and La Salle's faithful hunter, Nika, who had followed him from Canada. The conspirators next resolved upon the death of La Salle, and an opportunity to execute their purpose was soon afforded. He, uneasy at the long absence of his nephew, with Father Ansatase, the priest, and two Indians for guides, went to hunt the party, and after a few miles travel he found the bloody cravat of Saget, and saw buzzards flying in the air. He concluded the hunters were not far distant, and fired his gun. The conspirators
HARLEY
INDIANS.
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DEATH OF LA SALLE.
heard it and supposed it was La Salle. Duhaut and L'Archeveque, seeing La Salle approaching the place where they were, stopped, and Duhaut hid himself in the grass. Just as La Salle inquired of the other where his nephew was, Duhaut, from his concealment, shot the great captain in the head. He fell in the arms of the faithful priest ; he never spoke, but pressed the father's hand in token of recognition, and expired. The good father, with his own hands, dug his grave and erected over it a rude cross. The chief conspirators did not long survive. Duhaut was shot by Hiens, and Liotot by Rutel, a Frenchman who had been lost during La Salle's first journey, and had now rejoined his companions. Joutel, who succeeded to the command, with six compan- ions, after some delay, resumed their journey. Crossing Red River, June 16th, and pursuing their journey, they were gratified, on the 20th of July, by the sight of the French flag, floating over the fort erected by the faithful De Tonti at the mouth of the Arkansas River.
. Soon after the departure of La Salle's party from Fort Saint Louis, that place, so weakened, fell before the blood- thirsty Caranchuas,* though it is said that De Leon the
* Jacob Grollet and John L'Archeveque, who were subsequently taken from among the Indians by De Leon, gave the following account of the destruc- tion of the fort. The Indians referred to were another band of Caran- chuas, or possibly a band of the Lipans, from the west. The two French- men made in substance to the Governor the following statement: "That while the Indians in the vicinity of the fort appeared to be friendly with the French, and they had no reason to suspect any bad intentions or treachery from them, and at a time when the French were scattered about the bay constructing their fort, which they had named Saint Louis, and engaged in other peaceable pursuits, they were surprised and assailed by a large body of Indians, who had been watching them for some time, and all were killed except five, who only owed their salvation to the promptitude of their flight to the friendly Asinais."
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next year found a few of the survivors among the Indians, and restored them to their countrymen.
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