San Antonio de Bexar: A Guide and History Page: 105
vi, 166 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 27 cm.View a full description of this book.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
MEMOIRS OF MRS. M. A. MAVERICK.
An eccentric character of those days was a Doctor Weidemann,-his memory
is worth keeping green as showing that the present cosmopolitan characteristics
of San Antonio are congenital, so to speak. . . . "He was a Russian scholar
and naturalist, and an excellent physician and surgeon ; a highly cultivated man
and spoke many languages, and he had been a great traveler. He lived on the
old Chavez place on Acequia street. I remember that on the night of the Indian
fight of March 19th, 1840, I visited Mrs. Higginbotham, as I have before stated.
While I was there Dr. Weidemann came up to her grated front window and
placed a severed Indian head upon the sill. The good Doctor bowed courteously,
and saying: 'With your permission, Madam,' disappeared. Presently he
returned with another bloody head, when he explained to us that he had exam-
ined all the dead Indians and had selected these heads, male and female, for the
skulls, besides two entire bodies, to preserve as skeletons. He said, 'I have
been longing exceedingly to secure such specimens, and now, ladies, I must get
a cart to take them home.' Dr. Weidemann had taken an active part in the
fight, and done good service mounted on his fine horse, and now he was all
begrimed, bloody and dirty, the result of his labors as a warrior, surgeon and
scientist. He soon returned with the cart loaded with his magnificent speci-
mens, took the two heads from the window and departed.........
That night he stewed the bodies in a soap boiler, and when the flesh was com-
pletely dessicated, emptied the cauldron into the Acequia. Now, this ditch
furnished the drinking water generally for the town ; it being understood that
the River and the San Pedro were reserved for bathing and washing. There was
a city ordinance to this effect coupled with a heavy fine. On the 21st it dawned
upon the dwellers on the banks of the ditch that the I)octor had defiled the
drinking water, and that probably they had taken in particles of Indian in their fluid.
The people, very properly, gathered in indignation, a mob rushed to the Mayor's
office, the men talked in loud and excited tones, the women shrieked and cried,
they rolled up their eyes in horror, they vomited, and some of them were so
frightened that they suffered mis-carriage. Many thought they were poisoned
and would die. Dr. Weidemann was arrested and brought to trial; they
overwhelmed him with abuse, and called him 'diablo,' ' demonio,'
'sin verguenza,' and so forth. He took it calmly, assured them the
Indians had all sailed by in the night, paid his fine, and went away
laughing. Once the Doctor lost his watch. He suspected one of his
servants-Jos6; and after waiting in vain for him to confess and give
up the property, he determined to get his own again by magic. He invited
a party to see the fiun, and arraying himself in a figured gown and a
conical hat, and preparing a fire and cauldron on the roof of his house, he
summoned all his servants to his presence and announced that they were all to
dip their hands into the pot; the pot; at the same time informing them that the hand of
the guilty one would turn black. The conscience-stricken Jos6 waited till the
last, all the others had come through the ordeal with clean hands. He at last
approached, plunged in his hand, and when le withdrew it, lo, it was black !
The wretched man confessed in terror, and ilnmediately gave up the watch.
Thereafter no Mexican passed Dr. Weidemann without crossing himself, for they
all firmly believed he was in league with the Devil. The Doctor told them that the105
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Corner, William. San Antonio de Bexar: A Guide and History, book, 1890; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth143549/m1/159/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas Health Science Center Libraries.