The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 29, July 1925 - April, 1926 Page: 62

Soullthweslern Historical Quarterly

very large capital, and will, we understand, prosecute the work on
a large scale. The country he has selected is well adapted not only
to cotton, but the grains, and stock growing; but the company will
not confine itself to planting and agricultural pursuits. Manu-
facturies, on an extensive scale, will be established and from the
facilities afforded by the country, will doubtless be highly success-
ful.-Texas State Gazelle (Austin) December 28, 1850, from Gal-
veston Civilian.
Manufacturies on an extensive scale! Poor colonists! Poor
colony! The company failed late in 1851, the emigrants losing
everything. Many of them were no longer alive to lose. The bar-
ren hillsides were studded here and there with lone graves or little
groups of graves. These are forgotten now. Frank Frazier, young-
est son of J. C. Frazier, remembers them when he hunted about
the hills in his boyhood, but there is not one of them marked in
this day.
Many are the causes assigned for the failure of the colony.
Alistair Mackenzie, the youn gest son of the gallant lieutenant and
Isabella Pideocke Mackenzie, lays the failure at the door of mis-
management in England of the English Immigration Company.
Mr. Frazier, who is of Scotch descent, attributes the failure in
part to local mismanagement.
"Adjoining the City of Kent," Mr. Frazier writes, "Mackenzie
had one hundred acres planted in corn. This made an excellent
crop. But alas, to show how the English could not meet condi-
tions as they were, just as the corn was in roasting ear, Captain
Mackenzie bought a number of horses and cattle (on the recom-
mendation of their Texas friends who were eager to annex the
Englishman's coin) and turned the stock loose on the range. The
stock very promptly invaded the unfenced corn fields and destroyed
the crop.
"Another evidence of the unpractical way in which they farmed,
when Captain Mackenzie had a log house near the big spring, he
had many hired hands to work for him. When he got ready to
work every morning, he would have his men all stand in line and
answer roll-call. Then they would march in file to work. Captain
Mackenzie, escorted by his valet, who always carried his gun, all
being in readiness, would call out 'Forward,' and just as the enemy
would start to march, Captain Mackenzie's beautiful wife would
call out 'Captain, that hen refuses to set.' Then he'd holler 'Halt.'