Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 28, 1985 Page: 1 of 16
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Rains County Leader and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Rains County Library.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
ESTABLISHED JUNE 10, 1887 VOLUME LXXXXVII EMORY, TEXAS THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1985 ISSUE NO. 39 PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY
Kt/ WHO FIRST EXPLORED TEXAS?
‘S* KATMl«n NHL
THAT THUNDER WAS A BIT
of bolt and Jar Friday
morn, wasn't it?.., a few
lights round town were
knocked out for a short
time...
WE HAVE A PAGE AD in
this week's LEADER with
business and professional
well-wishers for the
Rains School Open House,
which is Monday eve-
ning., • we hope you read
each signature and ex-
press appreciation to the
sponsors.,.
DAVID BAY5 Of DALLAS
was handing out compli-
ments going and coming
when tie was by the office
last week.,, "The oil arid
gas records you print in
the LEADER as well as
other courthouse news is
really appreciated, that
alone is worth the
$10.51," he said,,.
DID YOU CATCH IDUS LAIR
on the TV news the other
evenirig when the firemen
were fighting that Mg
Dallas fire Monday?,,,
TRAVIS LEE POTTS IS
learning to walk on his
wooden legs (crutches)
after his accident last
fall and came by the of-
fice... he is doing OK,
tho we wonder how he can
walk at all after all the
bones broken in so many
different places... and
lie is able to drive his
car, which is a big help
to him...
BILLY FREEZE SIDEWALK
talking to Else Wacaster,
Chile native, and Gladys
Ivie... Billy, retired
pilot, is most familiar
with Chi la...
WE HAVE A POSTER IN the
LEADER office window we
asked Connie Fenter to
share with us... one of
her school assignments on
Texas ttfiich we think
very interesting... she
is a fourth grador and
daughter of Ronnie &
Nancy Fenter... and by
the way, among all of
Nancy'8 employment, she's
one at the LEADER of-
fice. ., she has been with
us a year now...
WANT TO SEE YOURSELF on
TV?... you can in the
Sunbelt Savings office
here...
MARGARET BRANHAM & MIL-
DRED MacMasters. Garland,
were here last week...
they reported their mo-
ther, Mrs. Ester McDan-
iel, resident of Anderson
Nursing Home, Grand Sa-
line, is doing fine...
BRIARS HIP
Mrs. Frank (Tess) Ryiant is
recovering In Hopkins County
Memorloi Hospital, Sulphur
Springs, from hip surgery.
She Is a resident of Green
Acres Nursing Home, where
she fell Monday, breaking her
hip.
Her husbond, Frank Ryiant,
and sister, Mrs. Blanch Iman,
hove been with her. She Is re-
ported to be doing well.
The year 1519 Is usually the
date textbooks give for the
first European exploration of
the land that Is new Texas.
Alonso Alvarez de Pineda, o
Spanish sea captain under Uie
command of Gov, Francisco
Garay of Jamaica, was dls—
pot c tied to reconnolter ttie
northern coast of the Gulf of
Mexico. His voyage was to
cover ttie coastline from Flor-
ida to ttie limits of Hernando
Cortez's colony of Villa Rica,
about 35 miles north of pres-
ent-dqy Veracruz, Mexclo.
The goal was to find a sea
passage to ttie Poclflc Ocean,
but Alvarez de Pineda also
was ordered to find a suitable
site for a colony.
In ttie autumn of 1519, ac-
cording to ttiese accounts, Al-
varez de Pineda found ttie
mouth of a lorge, fluent river,
which tie explored for a dis-
tance of 20 miles Inland, He
troded with friendly Indians
and later returned to establish
a colony. Until recent histori-
cal research raised questions,
ttie river that the explorer
surveyed was said to be the
Rio Grande, also colled the
"Rio de las Palmas" by early
Texas historians. Hence, Al-
varez de Pineda was consid-
ered the first European ex-
plorer of Texas.
Subsequent visits were mode
by others after Alvarez de
Pineda's discovery, according
to ttiese versions of the ex-
ploration, Ulego de Lamargo,
cHso under ttie command of
Gov. Goroy, reportedly Jour-
neyed to ttie Rio de las Palmas
- ttie Rio Gronde In these ver-
sions - In the summer of 1520,
and a third group came later
In ttie same year.
Therefore the Rio Grande
and the Rio de las Palmas ore
Inexorably entwined In Texos
history. But they should not
be, occordlng to recent his-
torical research. They are two
distinct rivers, about 160 miles
apart. And Alvarez de Pineda,
though the first to map the
coast of Texas, may never
have set foot on ttie state's
soil. Af least tie did not ex-
plore ttie Rio Grande as ttie
popular versions of history
contend,
Alvarez dr: Pineda Is an elus-
ive figure In Spanish history.
He Is mentioned by name only
by Bernal Diaz del Castillo, an
aide to Cortez and an early
Spanish historian of the con-
quest of Mexico. Dlez del Cas-
tillo reported ttiat Alvarez de
Pineda took his ships to Cor-
tez's colony of Villa Rico.
Cortez took four of ttie cap-
tain's men captive arid learned
that Alvarez de Pineda t»od
established friendly relations
with Indians on the Rio
Panuco, which ttie prisoners
said was about 70 leagues
north of Villa Rico.
With ttie loss of his men to
Cortez, Alvarez de Pineda
beat a quick retreat, returning
to ttie supposedly friendly en-
virons of the larqe, fluent
river. Up this river tie traveled
20 miles, finding 40 Indian vil-
lages In ttie process. Here Al-
varez de Pineda and his men
spent 40 days careening ttielr
ships. Historian Dlez del Cas-
tillo said Alvarez de Pineda
later lost his life In an Indian
uprising ot the colony the ex-
plorer had founded In 1520.
Other historians have credited
ttie founding to Diego de Co-
margo. Upon returning to ttie
colony with supplies, Camargo
found the Indians In revolt. Al-
varez de Pineda, among
others, was slain, and Ca-
morgo later died of wounds
suffered In the uprising. But
both men were mortally
wounded on the Rio Panuco.
Then came Goroy, who after
reverses In Jamaica, was des-
perate to found a colony. He
learned that Cortez hod es-
tablished a settlement at the
Rio Panuco. Garay then brief-
ly visited ttie Rio '.oto la
Marino In 1523, finding ttie
land Inhospitable, before mor-
ctilnq south to Cortez's colony
on ttie Rio Ponuto. Ttere
Goroy was token Into custody
by Cortez. But this twlsti The
Rio Soto la Marina was called
ttie "Rio de las Palma'," until
the 10th century when it was
renamed In tionor of colonizer
Jose de Escandori's home vil-
lage In Spain. A tributary Is
still known as the Plo de las
Palmas.
Texas historians have often
confused ttie various rivers,
flesplte the fact the water-
ways ore clearly located, If
not named, on a map presum-
ably drawn by Alvarez de
Pineda, Recent research by
Robert S. Weddle, an authority
on Sporilsh exploration of
Texas, has attempted to cor-
rect nany misconceptions
about Alvarez de Pineda's ex-
ploration* and ttie confusion
that has developed about ttie
Rio Grande and tt>e Rio de los
Palmas. Indeed, later mops
roted the location of both the
Rio de las Palmas and the Rio
Bravo, which was ttie Spanish
ond Mexican name for the Rio
Grande.
Despite efforts by Weddle
and Donald E. Chlpman to cor-
rect ttie mlsldentlficatlon of
the Rio Gronde as ttie Rio de
las Pntmas, the problem per-
sists.
Weddle attributes the confu-
sion to early Texas historians'
lock of knowledge of Mexlcon
geography. They seemed un-
aware of a lorge river - Lite
Soto la Morlno - between the
Rio Ponuco and Uie Rio
Grande. The assumption was
that when Garay landed at the
Soto lo Morlno, he hod re-
turned to the river where Al-
vorez de Pineda hod settled
tils colony.
This Is purely o construction
of Texos historians, Weddle
points out. Eastern historians
Rains ISD Open House
Monday, March 4th
Texas Public Schools Week Is
March 4-8, Rains Independent
School District will host Open
House on Monday, March 4th,
from 6tX to 8i00 p.m,
Refreshments will be served
In the cofetorlum compliments
of ttie Food Services person-
nel.
There will be a bond concert
Immediately after Open House
(ot BtOO p.m.) In the big gym.
All parents ore urged to visit
the school to see special proj-
Sign-Up
Deadline
March 1st
Friday, March 1st, 1985, Is the
•final day to sign up for the
1985 farm program. Detolls
are available at ttie RcHns
County ASCS Office.
JOHN L. WATKINS
Executive Director
BIBLE VERSE
The love of God Is shed
abroad In our hearts 'by the
Holy Ghost which Is given unto
us.
—Romans 5i5
PUBLISHER'S NOTICE
Any erroneous reflection upon ttie churocter, standing or
reputation of ony person, firm or corporation which may
appear In the columns of this newspaper will be glodly
corrected upon due notice being given to the manager of
the RAINS COUNTY LEADER at Its business office located
on the square, Emory, Texas, However, the management
reserves the right to reject or edit any article, letter or
advertising submitted for publication.
Opinions by staff writers or contributors to the LEADER
by signed Items do not necessarily reflect the opinion of
the LEADER.
CITY OF EMORY
TO HOLD
FMFRGFHCY MEET
The City Council of the City
of Emory will meet In special
emergency meeting Feb, 26th
ot 700 p.m, with the following
ogendat
1. City council to hove a
workshop for the water study.
2. City council to discuss lay-
ing sewer Urn to the oppralsa!
district building.
RAINS WILDCAT
BOOSTER CLUB
There will be a Booster Club
meeting on Thursday, Feb.
28th, ot 7i00 p.m.
Our annual baseball tourna-
ment Is Just around the corner
and there ore plans to be
made.
All Interested supporters of
our kids please come.
—Reported
WILLIS BULL WIHS
GRAHD CHAMPION
WAlls Polled Herefords Estle
A Mite WRIlc received tin
Grond Champion trophy on a
20-month-old bull WPH G 538
Magnum 03 at the Northeast
Texas Polled Hereford Assn,
Show and Sale at Mt, Pleasant
Feb. 23rd.
—Reported
ects ond workbooks the stu-
dents have prepared ond to
become better acquainted
with our foculty and em-
ployees. Pleose plan to attend
and show your support for our
school.
NOT Ei Open House is not the
appropriate time for teoch-
er/porent conferences to dis-
cuss student problems. Con-
ference periods ore scheduled
for all teaching staff during
the school day, and student
problems should be discussed
during the conference periods.
RAINS SCHOOL
the weather.
Dote
Mox
Min
Rain
Other
2-19
70
48
2-20
55
44
.02
fog
2-21
72
44
2-22
72
60
.17
2-23
75
57
2.06
2-24
65
45
.93
2-25
52
36
WOODROW MORRIS
Officio! Observer
Move to Hew Home
The Wayne Melton family
has moved to their new home
just off Hwy, 35.
They sold their place on N.
Ravine St, *here they had
resided to Mrs. Edith
Barns,
Memorial to
Colony Cemetery
A memorial contribution to
the Colony Cemetery Associa-
tion has been made by Clyde
Moody In memory of Mrs.
Lillie Moe McAree.
—Reported
hove long contended that Ai
varez de Pineda careened his
ships ond stayed 40 days on
the Mississippi River. "Iri or./
event, there has never been
any direct connection be-
tween Alvarez de Pineda arid
the Rio de las Palmas, and
certainly none between Uie
Rio de las Palmas arid ttie Rio
Grande," Weddle asserts, bas-
ing tils argument on the Span-
ish records and accounts by
historian Diaz del Costlllo.
But another element wos In-
jected Into the debate In 1974.
Ray Penrod, an amateur
urchaeologlst from ban
Benito, excavated a site at
Boca Chlca near the mouth of
ttie Rio Grande. At a depth of
five to six feet, below ttie
strata In which Penrod said tie
usually found Civil War and
historical Indian moterlats,
several old bricks or plaques
were found. At first, the damp
masonry blocks did not seem
unusual, and ttiey were
stocked next to the excava-
tion, as the dlqqinq continued.
When dried, however, one
glazed block told a different
story. It was Inscribed with
Alvarez de Pineda’s name, ttie
date 1519 and on apparent
reference to 270 soldiers, ttie
number ttie explorer was
thought to have brought with
him. Were ttie bricks o monu-
ment left by Alvarez de
Pineda to commemorote his
visit to the mouth of the Rio
Grande ?
The Inscribed plaque, though
broken, apparently was about
one foot square when wtiole.
It wos taken to ttie Rio Gronde
Valley Museum In Harlingen
and placed on display. Exami-
nations have been conducted
by severol scientists. Robert
Rogers, a geologist at Pan
American University In Edin-
burg, determined that the ob-
ject wos mon-mpde and ap-
peared to be deeply weath-
ered. The material used In
construction of ttie fired
plaque also did not appear to
be from the Immediate region.
And the ploque appeared to
hove fingerprints ond mark-
ings from some type of cloth
wropplng Imprinted on tt»e
damp cloy before It was
gtazed.
Dr. Nancy Troike, a paleog-
raphologer at the Institute of
Latin American Studies at the
University of Texas ot Austin,
viewed a picture of the ploque
ond determined that the writ-
ing style was not of 16th cen-
tury vlntoge. The use of o
slash across the stem of the
numerul 7, for example, did
not come Into vogue In Europe
until the 19th century. A tilde,
such ns thot over the "n" in
"Pineda" on the plaque was
not used In this period. In ad-
dition, the style of printing on
the ploque was not In use until
long after Alvnrpz de Pineda
was thought to have mode his
voyage of explorotlon.
Although museum officials
wont to authenticate the
plaque, arrangements have
not been mode for testing It
either through thermolumi-
nescence or chemlco! meth-
ods. The former technique
could determine In which time
period the ploque wos fired.
Thot, however, might riot
settle the argument about
whether Alvarez de Pinedo
explored the mouth of the Rio
Gronde. Historian Weddle or-
gues that "even if the ploque
was made 500 years ogo,
ttiere is no evidence that It
wos Inscribed ot that some
time," And other authorities
agree.
Even with the questions that
hove or I sen, few people think
the roughly engroved ploque is
o futile ottempt to perpetrote
o hoax. Weddle, for example,
believes thot It might be the
work of 19th century con-
servotlonlsts who wanted to
denote the spot where some
early historians held thot Al-
varez de Pinedo hod londed on
the Rio Gronde.
While the Spanish records
seem clear that Alvarez de
Pineda did not venture up the
Rio Gronde, legends die hard.
And authentic or not, the
plaque only deepens the mys-
tery.
Taken from the
TEXAS ALMANAC 1984-1985
Lost: One Drug Lab
Found: Sho Nuff!
LOST, ONE DRUG LAB - FpUNDj SHO NUFF — T^« highly suped
up Chevrolet pictured above was Impounded by the Rolr.s Coun-
ty Sheriff's office- Wednesday after If was discovered to contain
a complete drug lab, Ttie automobile, found just off FM 3272
with a flat tire, according to Sheriff Andrew Roberts hod some
five or six thousnnd dollars worth of equipment locked In Uie
trunk.
by BFT T Y DFA TOff - Photo by None y Fenter
SHERtFF ANDREW ROBERTS Is seen with U*e $5,000 to $6,000
drug lob found last week. This Is the third Wile It drug lob found In
Rains County In the past couple of yeors. One of U>e first was
found hidden along o rood In the Dunbor Community. Officers
are checking severol leods In this case, ond In ttie meantime,
somewhere, someone Is wondering "Who* r>appe*^d to our lab,
boys?"
by BETTY DEATON - Photo by Nancy Fenter
Board Hires Financial
Advisor, Bond Attorneys
The Rolns ISD Board of Trus-
tees met In special session
Feb, 18th with the following
members present! Jerry Jen-
sen, Kenneth >.ipp, Eorl
Barnes, Poul Cason, Don Rus-
sell, Lorry Hooter.. Johnny
Northcutt wos obsent.
Others present! Jerry Gideon,
A. C, McMillan, James AUcorn,
Emery Cathey, Hughlene
Hoyes, Mory Davis, nnd Jim
Kline.
The meeting was called to
order by Poul Cason at 7il1
p.m. Mr, Gideon gave the in-
vocation.
The first ogenda item, Com-
puter Science Controct for
85-86, was discussed. The
consensus wos to discontinue
the program as It currently
exists, ond to reassign existing
school personnel to Instruct
the computer science progrom
for tt*-. 1985-86 sci«x»l ye or.
Agendo Item #2, Building
Program Needs, wos dis-
cussed. Noel Johnson, financial
odvisor, then oddressed the
board regarding the school's
budget projections ond the
possibility of a bond election
for school facilities,
A motion was mode to em-
ploy Noel Johnson 4 Associates
as financial adviso-, and Mc-
Call, Park-Hurst and Horton
os bond attorneys on contin-
gency Dosis, Motion cor Ned
unanimously.
No action wos token on
Agendo Item #4, Consider
Possoge of on Order for o
Bond Election. It wos decided
thot o special board meeting
would be called for Monda>,
Feb. 25, ot liM p.m. to meet
with the county commis-
sioners regarding school Fa-
cilities need.
Mr. Gideon reported the
school hod two non-Eogllsh-
speoklng students ond that we
ore setting up ESI services.
Motion carried unanimously
to employ Donna HornIIton in
the maintenance deportment
effective Feb. 18,1985.
Board voted unonlmously to
reduce Robert Welch to
part-time employment ond to
employ Roy Boy os part-time
security guard effective Feb.
18,1985.
Motion carried to odjoum ot
9?40 p.m,
Motion carried unanimously
to rescind the motion to od-
journ.
The board accepted the res-
ignation of H. L. Beasley, Jr.
effective ot the end of the
1984-85 school year. Motion
corried unanimously.
Poul Cason declored the
meeting adjourned at 9*41
p.m,
RllATIYF DIFS
IN CALIFORNIA
Word hos bee*' received here
of the death of Mrs. Martha
Page McCleory In Bakersfield,
Calif, on Feb, 22nd.
She is survived by doughter,
De Von, Los Angeles; son, Kurt
Jr. of Bokersfield; o sister,
Betty Horn 11 ton, Bakersfield.
Cousins here Include Mrs.
Gladys Nix, Mrs, Virginia Tay-
lor, Mrs. Doris Bentley, ond
Neoi Settle; In Dallas: Mrs.
Emma >o uannon, Mrs. Bid
Frick.
When information is avail-
able, or obituary will be print-
ed.
Young life Creep
To Meet Set.
The Young Life Ministry
will meet Ir the home of
Diana and Wayne Wolfe Sat.,
evening at 6:00 to go bowl-
ing.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue 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 Newspaper.
Becknell, Kathleen Hill. Rains County Leader (Emory, Tex.), Vol. 97, No. 39, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 28, 1985, newspaper, February 28, 1985; Emory, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth764956/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rains County Library.