Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 5, Ed. 1, Thursday, January 31, 1850 Page: 1 of 4
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TIIJ?IS 8 in advance.
Published Weekly
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BY CRUGER & MOORE.
HOUSTON, THURSDAY, JAJNUARY 31, 1850.
YOL. XY. NO. 5.--WHOLE NO. 736
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Telegraph, and Register,
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office, 1
tsss&x
REPORT
Of Mr Kinney of the Senate and Mr. Williams of
the House. Chairman of the Joint Committee on
Indian Affairs, Submitted Jan. 11th, 1850,
tico Houses vf the' State Legislature.
Committee Room,
A January lltht lt50
To the Hon. C. G. Keenan,
. Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Tho Committee on Indian Affairs, to whom was
refe -re4 a rwsolutiou, authorizing and instructing said
Committee to enquire and ascertain, if possible what
number of persons have been killed or captured, du-
ring the past year, within the settlements of Texas ;
by "what tribe, or tribes of Indian-?, if to be ascertained
tho ntmj, age, and sex of the persons killed or cap-
tured, if kno.vn ; also, to enquire and ascertain what
other depredations have been committed by the In-
l?i d;an? ; and the value ol property, stolen or carried away
hi. ! itiam ifiinu All nf nrhir-fi vniir nnmmillPB. in
I TV " " conjunction with a like Committee on the part of the
oenate, u.ive nau uuuer cuusiueruuuu, auu uni giv-
ing the subject the most mature deliberation, relative
to all matters and tilings therein contained, together
with a full investigation of all the evidence within
their reach, beg leave to -make ths following Re-
port: -lu
the investigation of a subject of such a compli-
'cated character, your Committee, to be enabled to
give a clear aud full exposition of all the facts connec-
ted with their dniy have spared no exertion on their
part, to ascertain and procure the most correct infor-
mation relativo to Tudian Affairs on our frontier. In
adopting such a course they found themselves labo-
ring under many disadvantages, which .to a certain ex-
tent, have procrastinated their investigations, and may
be assigned as some of tho reasons why their report
has not beea completed at an earlier day. Through
the prompt and kiud aid of Major Gen. Brooke, com-
manding the 8th Military Department, your Commit-
tee have been furnished by that officer with much val-
" uab'.c information rolativo to lato Indian depredations,
committed ou our frontier; this together with other
statements, obtained from'sevoral of the members of
this Legislature, constitute, and wiir form the basis of
Ibis "report.
A subject of ) mnch importance, aud one involv-
ing so manylulerest of the highest couiJf ration, both
to the citizens located oaourborder, and to the Gen-
eral government, tihould not be treated with a mere
pissing notice, but ought to receive that attrntiou
worthy of its character and in accordance to its mag-
nitude. AloDg an extended frontier, such as that
on the confines of Texas, it is not very probable that
every incident which has occurred duriug the past
year, can be enumerated, nor shall we attempt to
portray the reckless and daring atrocities perpetrated
by Indians, or recapitulate those distressingscenes that
have desolated Borne of the fairest portions of our
State, thus casting a gloom over tho home3 of many
families that w ire Jiappy and prosperous, rendering
them destitute, and without the ordinary means of
subsistence, besides retarding the progress of the conn-
try, both tit agricultural and commercial advance-
ment. Weshall confine ourselves, principally to the
history aud condition of the frontier during . tho past
year, aud bhall endeavor to give in detail, all promi-
nent aud leading events, that have faken place with-
in that time.
YourCojimittee.to comply fully with the require-
ments of the resolution, so its to make their report com -prehensive
and satisfactory, mibmit tho following
Htaterneut, as obtained officially, aud voluntarily, from
various sources, as will be seen by rcferenco thereto,
which in the opinion of your Committee, can be re-
lied upon. It will be seen that the first aggressions
committed by Indians, on our settlements on the fron
tier, happened in the early part of the spring of the
past year, and have been repealed, as has heretofore
been the custom of the Prairie Indians during the
. warm season or summer months. The greatest des-
truction of life aud lo3s of property which our frontier
has been visited with, has occurred on the East bank
of the Rio Grande river, audin the vicinity of Corpus
Chribti. The following list will exhibit the names of
those citizens of Texas, who have been either killed,
wounded, or carried into captivity, residents of Corpus
Cbristi, or persons moving to that place or going there
on business, See document A.
In April, James Welch, (a teamster,') killed on his
way to Corpus Christi, from Maine, age about 40 years
iu the employ of H. L. Kinney ; also, another team-
ster, at the same time and place, an American, name
unknown, Leoucia Gonzales, Fraucisco Vela, Juan
Yela and Julian Ortiz, killed while escorting a team
from Mier to Corpus Christi. Clement Garcia, a
herdsman, killed at Casa Blauca Mr. Carline and &
Mex'cau whose name is unknown, killed at the Sau-
tt Teresa, on their way to Corpus Christi, Cecelo,
Balero, wounded at the San Jetrudes, Tomas Gomez,
wounded at the Alarao, Juau Balero, carried into caz-
livity from the San Jetrudes; Tereia Gonzales, Josefa
Gonzales, aud Maria Gonzales, killed or captured
while on their way from Mier to Corpus Cbristi.
In May aud June : Jose Zupato, Juan Cnalies and
Anatacio Wavino, herdsman, killed at tho Barauca
Blanco. Augel Guzman, a herdsmen, killed in bight
of Corpus Chisti, Joaquin Zamora, Antonio Cabazos,
Tomas Barero, Felipe Zalaza and Acquipeto Marti-
nez, herdsman, killed at the Alazan. Two Amen-
caus, names unknown, found killed iu the neighbor-
hood of Casa Blauca. Two Mexicans, names nu-
fenown, found killed at Baranco Blanco.
In July and August: Anastacio Flores wounded
at Baranco Blanco, William Stewart, Felipe Pezuela,
Antonio Pena and Ambrozia Vasquez, laborers killed
near Corpus Chtisti. Guadalupe Redouris killed on
his way to Corpus Christi from Guerero. Juan Zal-
azan. wounded in sight of Corpus Christi. Raphael
Nillael, wounded on his way from Guerrero to Cor-
pus Christi. John Welder, a German boy, made cap-
tive at Black Point, Refugio county, not a great dis-
tance from Corpus Christi, he was about 12 years of
age, and was recaptured by Lt. Andrew Walker, of
Captain Blackwell s company of Rangers, from the
Commanche Indians, on the 2nd August, 1849, sev-
eral Indians being killed in the fight. There was al-
so three children, names unknown, taken into captiv-
ity by the Indians, the parents of whom were on their
way, moving from Guerrero to Corpus Christi, and
are supposed to havo been killed by' the same party.
There la no data before your Committeo, by which
the age of the persons above named, can bo ascer-
tained. The tribe of Indians who are supposed to have com-
mitted the murders aud depredations just mentioned
from the arrows found and taken from the bodies of
the killed and wounded, and "which are now in the
possession of one of the Committee, are similar to
those used by the Commanches, and are generally be
lieved to belong to that tnbe.
Bylreference to a communication from the Hon.
H. ClayTDavis, ac-ompanying this report, addressed
to the Chairman of the Chairman ou the part of the
Seuate, it will be seen to what extent the outrages
upon citizens and property havo been cajied by the In-
dians at and near Rio Grande city, Starr county, tho
following of which is an extrt cl.
"About thn latter part of March last, the Indians
made a foray down the Rio Grande, aud encamped
80 miles from Rio Grande city, at a place called "JJn-
cinal," where they remained until August, dtirng
which time they were committing depredations daily,
such as murdering all tiavellers going from or to Rio
Grande, sending into the river, stealing horses and
capturing females, murdering tho men, and infants
whom they found on the east bank of the Rio Grande
The first atroiity they committed, was on the 2nd day
of April, when they made ajdescent upon a rancho
abov e Rio Grande city, and killed the owner mid an
old woman and infant took into captivity two b autj-
ful girls, after using them three days, cut off their
hair and turned them loose, one of whom returned,
aud the other, it is supposed committed suicide from
shame, as her corpse w a found a few days after-
wards. The Indians remained in the limber a con-
siderable time, killing all they came across, and
driving ofF all the horses aud mules in that vicinity.
I havo summed up the number of killed and car-
ried into captivity, in the county of Starr, and from
the best of my recollection, I fiud that it amounts to
upwurdsof eighty souls. See document B.
Ina communication from the Hon. II. P. Bee, ad-
drpssed to the Chuinnau of the Committt-e on Indian
Affairs on the part of the House, to which reference
maybe had, the number of killed iu Webb county,
his placo of residence, is estimated by him to be
about twenty persons, besides a number of women
and children carried into captivity, almost equal in
number to thoso that have been murdered estimated
at ten or fifteen persons. See docume t G.
Mr. Bee's communication contuins othrr valuablo
and interesting information, which will be noticed in
another p irt of this report.
Lieut. Viele of the 1st regiment of Infautry, under
a communication, dated Camp Crawford, Laredo, Ju-
ly 10, 1849, addressed to M'ljor Geoige Deas, As"u-
tant Adj't. General 8th Military department, contaii s
further information, relative to Indian murders in
Webb county, which wo presume is contained iu tho
libt furnished by Mr. Bee; he says: 1 he murders to
which I referred occurred seme time since; the one a
boy, at a rancho, about 25 or 30 miles above here, on
this side of the river; the other a woman at a rancho
about the same distance below, on the other side of
tho river." Ho further states, that "a p-irty of mus-
tang runners from this place were attacked by the In-
dians, in the prairie about the 20th of June, and two of
their number killed.
The same officer in a subsequent report to -Major
Deas, dated same place, August 18th, 1849, from
which Tve take the following extracts. This report
after giving an account of an attack upon a boat
under charge of some Mexicans. on the 2lst July
last, though without doing any damage, says:
"They had crossed the night before, and during the
day following attacked a train of pack mules, killed
and scalped one man, and drove off all the animals."
He further states, that "on the 12th of August, a
large party of Indians were seen at San Jnanite, on
the Corpus Christi road, and traveled down the riv-
er." On their route they are reported to havo taken
throe children from a raucho opposite Guerrero-, to
have outraged ! ! tho persons ol three women, at a
rancho opposite Mier, and to have shot a womau iu
the town of Roma. See documents C. and D.
Neither of these reports designates or contains auy
inf irmation relative to the tribe of Indians by whom
these depredatious wore committed.
Again we observe a communication from Brevet
Major James Longstreet, 8th Infantry, to Major De-
as, that a private in his command, was killed ou the
night of the 21sl November last, at Fort Lincoln, on
the RiVSeco, Bexar county, by a party of Indians
tribe uukuown See document E J
In a statement made by John F. McKinney, Esq.,
of Goliad to your committee, the undersigned as-
certain that four different forays have been made by
Indians upon the settlements in the neighborhood of
Goliad, during the years 1848 and 1849, which re-
sulted in the stealing of horses and other property be-
longing to the citizens of Goliad county. At ono
lime they were met by a party of citizens of Goliad
and DeWitt counties, and routed, leaving several of
their comrads dead on the ground; though unfortu-
nately, Capt-York who commanded the party, his
sou-iu-Iaw, Mr. Bell, and a man by the name ol Sykes
were killed in the fight. In May, 1849, they made
another descent upon the settlements on tho West
bank of tho San Autouio river, in the couuly of Go-
liad, stealing horses aud other property; thoy were
pursued byCapt. Johnson of Goliad, with a lew men,
overtaken aud a portion of the property recaptured.
See document M.
This statement is corroborated by the Hon. Edward
Burleson, who in 'addition to the death of York aud
his party, gives a further stalemeut of the murder of
two young men, brothers, named Davis, residing on
the Sandies, a western tributary of the Gaudaloupe
river, in DcWilt county. He uho mentions that Dr.
Baructt was killed by Indians, near his home, West
of tho Gaudaioupo river, aud at the lime of his death
he was Chief Justice of Gonzales county.
All of the above persons were killed during the sum-
mer and fall of 1848, nd wero citizens of DeWitt
count', with the exception of Dr. Barnett, who was
a citizen of Gonzales county. It is not known by
what tribe of Indians these murders were committed.
riee document N.
By reference to a communication dated, Head
Quarters, 8th Military Department, San Antonio, De-
cember 4th, 1849;" addressed to the chairman of the
committee on the part of the Senate, the writer says ;
"It is also known officially that seven Mexicans were
killed by Indians in the mouth of June last on the
road between Caslroville and the Leoua. See docu-
ment F.
These Mexicans, your committee havo been infor-
med, were citizens of San Antonio, Bexar county,
and were ou their return homo, having been engaged
iu carting Government supplies from San Antonio to
the post on the Leona.
The Hon. R. E. Clements, in a note addressed to
this committee, states that: "In the county of Cam-
eron where I have resided for tho last three years, I
am sorry to ay that the Indians have visited ns fre-
quently, and never without committing a number of
bloody murders, as well as carrying off a number of
women aud children, and driving with them hundreds
of head of animal?. There has seldom been one month
in the last two years, that the people of this county
have not had a visit from Indians. In the month of
May last a large party visited Palo Alto, within ten
or twelve miles of the town of Brownsville, whero
they took Rome twenty-five wagons and carts, loaded
with merchandise!, killed several of the teamsters, and
destroyed and carried away abont 400 worth of
good. On the morning following they visited a largo
rauchn, and carried into captivity the wife aud two
sisters-in-law of the owner of the raucho, piercing his
mother-in-law with spears and arrows, leaving her
supposed to be dead." The undersigned have no evi-
deuce before them of the number of persons killed in
Cameron county, but from the most reliable source
it is supposed (hat not less than t.venly persons have
been killed.
Sinco writing the forpgoing the undersigned have
received further information relative to Indian depre-
datious, committed recently iu the neighborhood of
Castroville, in Medina county. Mr. Castro, our in-
formant, states in his note, addressed to this commit-
tee, that about a week ago tho Indians made their
appearance seven miles from Castroville ou the Sau
Geranimo. They killed four men of the Colony, and
carried away a number of hones. 1 hey proceeded
from San Geranimo to Kuihi villago, one of my set-
tlements attacked a house, killed two oxen and a
co.v. Kuihiisteu miles from Castroville. See doc-
ument O.
Iu addition to the above your committee havo ob-
tained other facts from San Antonio corroborating the
above statement, besides communicating further intel-
ligence relative to Indian outragps. We make tho
following extract from a letter dated, "Sau Antouio,
January 1, 1850." See document P.
"Mrs. Rea and family, formerly of Port Lavaca,
arrived here last evening, from Leona Camp. She
was attacked by Indians, while encamped on Friday
night last, a few miles beyond Castroville, and sever-
al arrows were shot into the oxen, but no persons
were killed or wounded. She was accompanied by
an escort of a corporal and oue man, furnished by the
commanding officer at Leona Camp, who probably
prevented any further injury to the party. Two In-
dians were seen while discharging their arrows at tho
distance of one hundred yards from the encampment.
From the arrows in the oxen, they were believed to
he Comanches. A ronort hn.q nfon nnn,nA I.n thnt
r0Ur Germans were killed near CnRtrntrilln h Tn,i;nnil
jast night, and one made prisoner."
your committeo could not do justice to tho subject
before them bv auy other mode than the onn which
thoy have adopted, as by such a course it will beseen
from what source their information has emeuated.
They have received various verbal reports relative
to Indian outrages, committed in several of the Wes-
tern counties, not heretofore enumerated, but which
they consider unnecessary to mention at this time.
Tho statomeul hslow will show tho number of per-
sons who havo been killed, wounded or carried into
captivity, within the last year. It has been impos-
sible for your committee to ascerlaiu the names, age
and sex of thoso who were murdered, or tho tribe of
Indians who committed the offeuco.
r.
T ?
COUNTY
tchere depre
dations were
committed.
REMARKS.
Nueces,
Starr,
l!41
8C
SO
This includes
those carried
into captivity
aud killed.
This is report-
ed by U. S.
officer, not
known by
your com-
mittee who-
th er includ-
ed in the list
of Mr. Bee.
Three escap-
ed. Webb,
Do.
Bexar,
Gonzales,
Cameron,
tioliad & De-
Witt, Medina,
20
Total.
171 7 25 2 204
Thus it will bo soeu by the above table that two
tundred-and four persons havo been killed, wound-
id, or carried into c.tptivity by the Indiaus, besides a
(real many more which caumt at this time be ascer-
tained by your committee. The accompanying doc-
imonts from which the above estimate has been made
iro respectfully submitted for the inspection and ex-
imination of the House.
Tue undersigned iu asccrtainiug the losses sustain-
d by our citizens ou the frontier, havo not been ablo
u several instances, to procure the exact amount, or
the value thereof, but have enieavored to estimate
the same as accurately as possible. The following is
inab3tracl of property taken by the Indians from the
counties of Nueces and San Patricio, contained in
statements, accompanying this Report. See docn-
Tieuts numbered 1 to 14, inclusive.
No OF
An i
Names ofowner. Residence. mals Value.
Stol-
en. ' R. D. Love, 3au Patricio Co.l 150 3515 00
, Samuel B Millor Nueces " 20 635 00
H. L. Kinney, " " 777 1508500
1 8 Mex. Citizens, " " 345 6990 00
David Djwsou, San Patricio " 14 1200 00
Thomas Pew, do. 3 90 00
Andrew Timon, " t 97 00
John Ross, " 4 100 00
Pat Fadden, " 2 80 00
Peter Maloney, " 3 70 00
Timothy Hart, " 7 80 00
Juan Garcia, " 14 415 00
David Craven, " 4 40 00
Win. Gamble, ( " & 170 00
Total.
1353 28567 00
J The abovo includes wagons a-id other property.
It is estimated that tho number of horses and
mules, which hnve been stolen or destroyed by Indi-
ans, in Starr county, is upwards of four thousand
head. See document B.
Although this large number of animals was princi-
pally Spanish, vet at the lowest rates of value placed
-.ipon that character of slock, on the Rio Grande, say
l10 per head, tho valuo of the property lost to the
i.it.zen of btarr county, would amount to the enor-
mous sum of forty thousand dollars.
Agiin, we find on referring to a communication ad-
dressed to his Excellency. Geo. T. Wood, from tho
Hon.Josiah M. Smith, member of the present Legisla-
ture, dated Kaufman station, March 6th, 1849, that
similardepredalious have been committed ou our Nor-
thern Frontier by tho Indians, See communication,
This writer was formerly commander of one of our
ranging companies, and gives the following state-
ment: "I fiud (he says) from the best information I
can obtain, that near five hundred horses havo been
stolon from our citizons by tho Indiaus in tho distance
of 85 miles, on this end of the line alone, since the
discharge of my company, besides a large number of
cattle killed or driven off." Now estimate tho above
I at 25 dollars per head, being at a much less rate than
their real value in that section of the State, as the
greatest portion of these horses were of the American
stock, and we find the sum of 12,500 00.
In addition to this, ho states, "that the citizens of
fhi3 vic.nityare already speaking of leaving the fron-
tier in great numbers ; many who have expended all
their means in moving here, and opening farms, have
t horse left to make broad for their children."
'. In a communication from the Hon. Sam'l Bogart,
5 addressed to tho Chairman of the Committee on In-
' diau Affairs, on the part of the House ; he says that
! ''within the'bounds of the couutie3 of Navarro, Den-
ton, Cooke, Grayson aud Collin, there have been sto-
leu by the Indians somo 75 horses and Eome cattle
i killed" See Document 1.1 We also notice iu oilier
communications addressed to the same Chairman,
that upwards of one hundred horses havo been stolen
from the settlers on the frontier North of this place,
1 aud South of the counties abovo named See Docu
ment J . ana H.J mat about JU horses of the above
number are represented as having been stolen by Wa-
cos and Wichita Indians.
In the county of Goliad, horses have been frequent-
ly stolen by Indians, besides other property to a consid-
erable amount, estimated at about four thousand dol-
lars in value. See Document M. In DeWitt, Gon-
zales a jd Guudalupe counties, property of tho same
character have been stolen at different times. In tho
twoYurmsr counties, the quantity or value is uukuown,
but in the latter county, the loy is estimated at 5,-
560, as appraised iu the following list of property ta-
ken from the county of Guadalupe, iu tho years 1848
and 1849, by Indians.
From whom Stolen. No. and kind. Value.
Abner Harris, now dec. 7 Horses. 600 00
J. L. Calvert, 1 " 40 00
J. A. Johnson, 13 " 1500 00
J. L. Odeu, 4 " 375 00
Jos. H. Polly, 3 " 270 00 .
R. H. Hunter, 2 " 90 00 "
Wm. C. Wjnters, 14 " 1200 00
E. B. Pettus, 6 " 350 00
M. Erskin, 5 ". 255 00
James Muuford, 3 " 300 00
Asa.J. Lovel, 1 " 80 00
Andrew J. Lovvol, 2 " . 100 00
Price ami Johnson, 3 " 245 00
J. L. Calvert, 1 ' 90 00
Juo. W. Berrv, 1 " 65 00
Total 6G 5560 00
See Document N.
. In tho counties of Webb and Cameron property to
an immense amount has been destroyed orstolcu, but
there being no evidence before your committee by
which they can estimate tho sum correctly, the com-
mittee have only given thoj statements as they have
received them. In the county of Webb, ono citizen
alone has lost 260 auimals, including horses and mules
worth ou an nverago, 15 per head, togelhor with
other stock stolen or killed where no account can ev-
er be ascertained. See Documents C. and D.
In Cameron county tho lamo things havo occurred ;
numbers of horees have been stolen by tho Indians,
indopoudcnt of depredations committed upon other
.iroperty of various kinds, Sco Documents L. and G,
your committee havo carefully examined tho several
, documents accompanying this report, and have sumed
'.in all tho losses sustained by various person in the
lifferent coaul.c. i.oui the best information before them
i And find the result 'as follows, viz :
Animals. Value.
In Nuccc3 aud San Patricio, 1553 28557 00
In Starr 4000 40000 00
Iu Northern aud North-Wes-tern
Cos. 500 12500 00
In Navarro, Denton, Cooke,
Gravson and Collin, 75 2250 00
Iu counties further South, 100 2500 00
Iu Webb county, 290 3900 00
In Goliad, (number not known) ' 4000 00
In Guadalupe, ' 130 blooded 5560 00
Iu Cameron, losses besides slock, 4000 00
Total 103,277 0.)
TnojHouvo is as near correct asMt is possible for your
committee under the circumstances, to arrive at, un-
less longer time is taken to ascertain minutely every
fact connected with Indiau depredations upon our
frontier, which could only be acquired with great diffi-
culty aud at considerable expense to the Siate. Your
committee are fully convinced and satisfied that the
losses on our frontier far exceed that herein enumera-
ted, from the fact that many of our citizens have lost
property in counties, where the committee have hud
no opportunity of procuring information from those
counties, for instance ; the couuties of Medina, Gil-
lespie, Comal and Bexar, have suffered more or less
in the last two years by the Iudians. Neither do we
include the loss of horses and other property stolen
from the Salt Lakes by Iudians, and iu the vicinity
of Brownsville, Cameron county, with the exception
of the cases evidently known to some of your commit-
teo, although we have no statement in writing of the
value.
Your committee having carefully collected the fore-
going facts, authenticated as they are from official re-
ports, and other reliable sources, and being fully im-
pressed with the high duly which they owe their coun-
try, are impelled by every cousideratiou and obligation
imposed upon them, and iu commemoration of those
of ourcountrymeu, who hove fallen the victims of the
scalping knife, aud cruelties of the savage, as also
those whose property has been stolen or destroyed ;
are forced to the conclusion that a due regard for the
lives and property of our citizens has not been enter-
tained by the authorities and Government of the Uni-
ted Stales. All of which your committee are forced
to believe arises from a want of information upon this
subject, or neglect of the Governmeut or iu authorities,
who have had our Indian Relations in charge and un-
der their control.
The subject therefore, having been considered by
your committee, accompanied by all the evidenco
and official documents set forth in this Report, it is
confidently desired and expected that the Genera
Government will no longerdelay to place a"n adequate
and efficient force upon our frontier, for the protec-
tion of the lives aud properly of our citizens, not only
in conformity to overysentiment of humanity, but as
a right guarantied to the people of this State, by the
sacred obligations imposed by the Articles of Annex-
ation, that made Texas a member of the Americau
Union. Hence your committee forbear to indulge
further on this subject ;' though having suffered much
and greviously, for the want of that effective protec-
tion, to which the citizens of this State were entitled;
yet trnst'ugiu the inttgrity and fidelity of the Gene-
ral Government, who have in all times past, when in
her power, given protection to the lives, and security
to the property of" her citizens of other States, and
whose spocial duty it now is to restrain the nomadic
habits of the Indiaus, and to give that permanent
protection to our citizens on the border of our State, as
is manifest from the treaty of 1833, and I84H, bo-
tweeu Mexico and the United States, the former of
which was made obligatory upon this State or Repub-
lic, previous to Annexation.
Having gone through all the investigation as re-
quired by the Resolution uuder which the Committee
have acted, beg leave to report the accompanying
Joint Resolution ad of which is respectfully sub-
mitted. H. L. KINNEY,
Chairman Com. on Indian Affairs.
WM. M. WILLIAMS,
Chairman Com. on Indian Affairs
House of Representatives.
SUPPLEMENT REPORT.
Yo ir Committee would further report, 'That since
the loregoing investigations were clcsed, we have re-
ceived a communication from the Hon. Gecrge E.
Buruey of the House. See document O. from which
we are informed that depridatious havo been commit-
ted during the last few days in Milam county ; and
that much excitement prevails on that part of our fron-
tier. The entire extent of their depredatious are not
fully known, 5ot we havo abundant testimony that
some thirty head of valuable horses have been carried
off; and these horses were stolen below the line of
posts now occupied by the troops upon onr frontier.
H. L. KINNEY,
Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs.
WM. M. WILLIAMS,
Chairman Com. on Indian Affaira,
House of Represevtatives,
Tnn Hungarian Exiles. A Beautiful
Touch of Nature. On Monday morn.ng,
three Germans, evidently working men, went
to the Astor House and asked to see the Hun-
garians. They were immediately introduc-
ed and remained some time in conversation
with Gov. Ujhazy and family. Finally, two
of them withdrew and left the third, who con-
tinues to talk, but seemed to havo something
to say which he could not easily get out. At
last, addressing Mile Clara, the daughter of
Mr. Ujhazy, he said, that as exiles, who
were remote from country and friends, and
whose property had been confiscated in con-
sequence of their devotion to freedom and the
people's rights, they must be in an embarrass-
ed. condition. Then drawing from his pock-
et a bank note, he said : "Fraulein, this is but
little, fori am a poor man and have only what
I earn, but I could not refrain from, giving the
tribute of my mite to you. Receive this, I
beg you, as the heart-offering of a workman
to the defenders of liberty."
Mile. Ujhazy, who had not expected any-
thing of this kind and was rather embarrass-
ed, replied in a tone of emotion that she was
deeply grateful for such kindness, but that
they were not in a condition to ask it, when
her father said : "Take it, my daughter, and
feel thyself, and us all, more honored than if
a monarch had bestowed millions upon thee!"
at the same time warmly pressing the hand
of the noble laborer and assuring him that
they could never forget him. We leave our
readers to imagine the scene, only remarking
that if there were a dry eye in the room we
could not say whose it was. New York Tri-
bune. Incident at Whale's Back Light House.
Near the entrance of Portsmouth harbor,
about a mile and a half south-east of Fort
Constitution, this light house rises amid the
waves, showing nothing of the rocky basis
upon which it is reared, except at low water.
Being open to the ocean, the storms beat
heavily against it, at times throwing the spray
over the lantern, and sweeping the sheath-
ing from its side. In one of these storms,
even the stout heart of Joseph L. Locke, a
former keeper, quailed, as he told us after-
wards, when he hoard the waves dashing
furiously around his isolated tenement, the
madjocean forbidding his departure and threat-
ning every moment to engulph the whole con-
cern. This Light house, however, is never
without its tenant, or without numerous ap-
plicants when a vacancy is expected.
A few months since, Capt. Jedediah Rand,
of Rye, was appointed keeper. It not being
a desirable place for a family, he has usually
kept one of his children with him, making a
change every few weeks, each desirous for
an opportunity to visit the romantic resort.
Early in September, came the turn of his
only daughter, Elizabeth Jane, a young lady
who had been three years in her teens.
After spending three weeks with her fatb
er, on the 25th of September they prepared
to go to the main land. The boat was low-
ered, in which they purposed to go to New
Castle, and the daughter seated awaiting hor
father, when a high sea upset the boat and
she was thrown into the ocean. Her father
sprang in, swam to his daughter, caught her,
got on the bottom of thtboat, and drow her
up by his side. In-aev moments another
sea turned the boat over right side up, and
threw them again into ocean. The daughter
sank her anxious father caught her as she
came up, swam with her to the boat, got in
himself, and while endeavoring to get her in,
another sea again turned the boat bottom
up leaving them in the orean. Again the
young lady sank, and when her father reach-
ed her as she come up, was so exhausted that .
she could make no further effort to sustain
herself. Once more on the bottom of the
boat her father held her by the right arm and
kept her head above the water, but was
unable to prevent the surf continually beat-
ing over her. Her hope of rescue depart-
ed from her, and she looked upon death as
inevitable. "Father, do I not love you,''
said she at this moment; and "I want to go
to heaven" were her last expresssions be-
fore she became insensible. The cry for help
was heard on board a schooner which was
going at that critical hour, out of the harbor.
A boat was instantly despatched from the
schooner by Capt. Frisbee and in a short time
the father and daughter were relieved from
their perilous position, taken into the boat,
and brought to Newcastle. The father sit-
ting on the side of the boat, laid his appar-
antly lifeless child across his knees, with
her fitce down, and as the boat proceeded
she vomited and revived so as to speak be-
fore reaching the land. Aud notwithstand-
ing the perils she had undergone, her attach-
ment to her father led her to choose to.return
with him to his post of duty that afternoon,
rather than remain with strangers separated
from him.
- Cap. Rand expres-es' great gratitude to
Capt. Frisbee, of Kittery, and his men for
their prompt and efficient aid, in that hour of
peril. Portsmouth Journal.
For the Telegraph.
A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA.
Ho ! ho ! for California.
Across the wide, wide sea;
Unfurl our canvass to the breeze,
Our gallant ship rides free.
Like a swan upon the water,
Her white wings spread on high ;
We'll laugh at fancied danger.
As the breeze blows merrily by.
What tho' black tempest threaten,
And toss the billows wide ;
While raging winds assail our bark,
And onward still we ride.
A guardian angel sits aloft,
To cheer and bless oar crew ;
With halcyon dreams tho' tempest tost,
And thoughts both kind and true.
What tho' the ocean monsters,
Leviathans at play;
Are seen upon oar vessel's track.
As on our course we lay.
Around Cape Horn -ve'll gaily ride,
And coast along e 6hore ;
Whose mountain's xrown looks streaming
down,
Upon old ocean's roar. '
But now we near the portals,
That guard this noble fcay,
Where all the navies of the earth,
Their thousand keels might lay.
Guarded by snowy mountains,
With smiling vales between ;
Whose rivers gently flowing,
O'er golden sands are seen.
Ho ! ho ! for Sacramento,
We'll dig the golden ore ;
To bless our homes across the wave,
And pine for want no more.
A. R. H.
Jan. 9th. 1850.
DEATH OF NELSON T. DA-VIS.
At a regular meeting of Ruthven Encampment
No. 2, U. D., of Knight Templars, held in the city of
Houston, on Friday, the 11th day of January, 1850,
Sir Knights J. C. Harrison, A. S. Ruthven and E.
W. Taylor, were appointed a committee to draught
resolutions expressive of the feelings of this Encamp-
ment upon the demise of our late M. E. Grand Com-
mander, Sir Nelsou T. Davis. Whereupon the Com-
mittee reported the followiug preamble and Resolu-
tions, which were unauimously adopted.
Whereas, by the dispesation of an all wise Provi-
dence, we are deprived of our late Most Eminent
Grand Commander, Sir Nelson T. Davis, who on
yesterday passed from Earth to, we trust, a more ex-
cellent Encampment above, where the Supreme
Grand Commander of the Universe presides.
And Whereas, The dee'd. was one of the brightest
ornaments of our Order, possessing in an eminent de-
gree, those qualities which adorn anddiguify tho char-
acter of a Magnanimous Knight.
Therefore, Be it Resolved, That we sincerely
mourn the loss we have sustained in the demise of our
beloved M- E. Grand Commander, Sir Nelson T.
Davis.
Resolved 2d, That our warmest sympathies are enV
listed in behalf of the bereaved family, and that we
most sincerely condole with them in their loss of a
Husband and a Father, who was their only earthly
solaco aud support.
Resolved, 3d, That the members of this Encamp-
ment wear the usual badgj of mourning for thirty
days.
Resolved, 4th, That a copy of these resolutions
be furnished to the Houston Gazette, for publication,
aud that the other papers published tu the city, togeth-
er with the "Zodiac" at New Orleans aud the Au-
gusta (Ga.) papers be requested to copy.
Resolved, olh, That the Recorder bo required to
transmit a copy of these resolutions to tho Family of
the deceased.
J. C. HARRISON.
A S. RUTHVEN.
E. W. TAYLOR.
AtteL J. N. REED,
Recorder Ruthven Encampment,
No. 2, U.D.
CONFAB.
"Sambo, what your ompiuionob de bankrupt law?"
"Tink him fust rale, Pompey. I imply for do ap-
plication miuself."
"Just explain him principles."
"Why you see he now; just lend mo dat half dol-
lar you got forwhite-washin."
(Pompey hands him the money, and Sambo delib-
erately pockets it.)
"Dore, den, now I owesde shoomaker three shillin,
and you half a dollar, besides de grocer's bill ; now
dis half a dollar is all de property I got ; I divides
him accordin to de debts."
Sambo (with amazement,) "Do you tink dis
child gieeu? I'm a bankrupt; you gels your share -jf .,
with do oder creditors?' . ,
Heavy Snows in Germany. A letter from Vien-
na, dated Nov. 30, says: "The snow continuesIrn-
mense heaps encumber all the streets aud squares.
The fall seems to have been generaUhroaghont Cen
tral Europe. Tho Northern railroad Is buried iti
many places by deep drifts, and communication, with.
Prague and Berlin completely cat of Tnquanlity
of vessels on the Danube frozen up is imjnensoThb'J
reflection is so brilliant as to make night look fiEera
clouded day. Even with a feebl, muffled moon one"
can read a paper qai:e plain by the snowlight.
A Sckupulous Witness. An eminent,
lawyer was employed in the action against
the proprietors of the Rockingham Coach.--
On the part of the defendant ,the coachman '.
was called.' Hisexamimtion in chief-Boinjr---
ended, he was subjected to the leadersfcross j
L-Aaimiiauuii. r living oeiu up me ioreunger
of his right hand to the witness, and warned
him to give a "precise answer" to every ques-
tion put, he proceeded thus:
"You drive the RockiughamcoacbJ"
"No, sir, I do not." ' '""..
"Why, man, did you .not tell my learned, t
friend so this moment?"
""No sir, I did not." ., -
"Now,.s!r, I put it to j-ou I put it to you
on your oath do you not drive the Rocking- J
ham coach?" ' , -
"No, sir, I drive the horses!" '
Too Smart to Live Long. A teacher of one.
of the Sunday Schools was lecturing a class'of
little girls on the influence of pious example and
pious instruction, in the formation 'of youthful
character.
'Ah, Miss Caroline," said he, to one enjthe
class, "what would you have been wUHoatyoufl' v
good father and pious mother'?". . '
"I suppose, sir," answered Miss Carolttte,"""! . .
would have been an orphan." x'-i
Carrots for Coffer. Wash and scrape the
outside off, then cut them in peices .-'the size'of
about half an inch square ; then dry on astoveir1
Parch and grind like coffee ; or mix equal j.qijjjfVJjt a
tions of carrot and cofiue and grmdf'and-makeJ ' g.
your coffee as usual. " - r
If you knowjit to be mixed, yon may say that
it tastes a little sweeter than coffee generally.
We got our information from our neighbors who,
say in their country there are large, factories
where it is packed in pound papers and soldi
Prairie Farmer.
Cheap Paint. Inside furniture may by pain-
ted without oil, very cheaply in thi3 manner
Of course it will not stand the weather,- and is
used for ornament alone : Bruise curds, mix
with lime stiff enough to be kneaded. Color
with ochre or Armenian bole, and apply with a
brush. No water will likely be' needed. -Should
it be too thick use milk.
To Set Colors. An oss gall will sei any col-
or silk, cotton, or woolen. I have seen the
colors of calico, which faded at one washing
nxea Dy ic.
LAYING PLANS FOR WORK.
The comparatively leisure season of winter, affords .
a peculiar opportuuily for the cultivator of fruit to look. . .
over his practice and system of culture, and see where ,
he may not introduce material improvements. - .-Hl;
In the first place, every land owner may ask him- ,
self the qnestiou, Have I trees enough planted? Can-
not I get a heavier or moro profitable return from, my
land, by extending my orchard, or improving the
chir-'erof ifa products? ?
Many .lirmers have lately discovered that ten acres
of crch.rd afford them more than 290 acres iu com,
wheat, potatoes aud grass. One hundred to five hnn- - .
dred dollars per acre are not unusual, where unusual
pains have been taken to get the very best sorts. Are 3
we not losing by delay ? Remember, a market in I
Europe is beginning'to open for fine apples and pears".
1 Evea the owner of a single square rod in a village
uos giiujcicu aovcioi uunac ui giarca uuiua oiugio
vine one year. .
Have those about to plant selected the best ground?
Remember that in most locations hills or-eIevated
grounds are belter than low and frosty valleys ton-
der fruits may bear i ell in the former, and bo cut off
in the latter and that, however dry the surface, a wet 4
subsoil is very bad for all tender fruit trees. ?l
Let every person who has or expects to have a fine
fruit garden, remember that a peculiar sin of yagrant
boys is fruit stealiug that the circle of idle village v
boy's rambles has a radius of atleasta mile and a half
and that a terrific hedge of osago orange Is a more
quiet aud secure protection than spring guns, eme'tc-
tartar, or bull dogs. Let the hedge aud fruit-tree3 ad-
vance in growth together.
Has the soil for receiving the yonng orchards- been
sufficiently prepared ? Sabsoiled? Trench ploughed?
Deeply mtermtxed with manure and tempered wlcq$
ashos? This Iarfer Snay jfiEtdrupIe thorcfop in five
Uyears. and improve its qiRlity beyond any scale of
measurement.
Is the new fruit-garden laid out to admit the future
fencing off of the smooth stoue-fruit, for enclosing pigs
and geese ? Remember that these animals, are the --
great destroyers of the curculio, and will eminently -
assist all other remedies-
Have the most delicious sorts been selected? A
Doyenne or Tyson pear, a Black Eagle or Downton"-
cherry, grow as freely in a rich soil and a free air-"'
as the most austere and repulsive wildings. Have the?
most productive for market been chose 7 i en trees
of the Baldwin and Rhodo Island Greening will yield. '
moro thau fifty trees of some other sorts. One square
rod of the Cincinnati Hudsou strawberry, will sooner --
fill a half bushel basket, than twenty rods of the Bnt- ,.
ish Queen or Myall's Eliza.
Care in these particulars will give ns a great addi
tion to rural comforts. But while the palate is graU-
fied, do not forget another and higher kind of taste,
through tho eye, gratified by ornamentals and shade
trees around the dwelling. These have another use,
sheltering from severe winds. A friend whoso
house is well surrounded by ever-green trees, tninks.
he saves several cords of fuel in this way in each
year, still another motive snouia inauce ornamen-.
tal planting. Adding to the comforts aud attractions
of home, is a strong inducement to prevent boys and
young men from seeking amusement at the tavern,
and grogshop.
Evergreens for ornamenting grounds about dwel-
lings are well removed in winter, by qarrying with- '
the roots a largo cake of earth, whether frozen or unr
frozen, (tho latter is easiest,) which will almost insure
I the cortaiuty of their growth. Albany Cultivator.
EL PASO ROUTE.
Extract of a letter from a gentleman of
San Antonio.
Sax Axtoio, January 13th, 1850.
"Mr. Aubery, the celebrated "Santa Fe"
trader, hasjust arrived by the Government
route, having left Santa Fe on the first day
of Dec. he started with 250 mules (and
wagons, I know not how many) and came
thro' without the loss of a single man, saw
no Indians and lost only four mules he is
accompanied by Mr. Stone, a largo mer-
chant f Independence, Mo., who will leave
to-morrow for New Orleans and return
this way in thirty days. It is their confirm-
ed opinion that this route is the only one that
can be permanently established, without nat-
ural improvements ; they found a good ford
across the Pecos, and by it shortened the
distance nearly 35 miles Mr. Aubery says
1 the water did not come up to the horses
' ia
JU
'53.'-. .
-
4-XSI--
4!
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Moore, Francis, Jr. Democratic Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 15, No. 5, Ed. 1, Thursday, January 31, 1850, newspaper, January 31, 1850; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth48575/m1/1/?q=%22Josiah+M.+Smith%22: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.