San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 64, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 5, 1911 Page: 9 of 76
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Texas Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Abilene Library Consortium.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
*>>
TELEGRAPHIC AND GENERAL NEWS
SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 1911 9 g
PfiM AUTONIAM/'IP
«
<2 11/ !f M i*
TTHED
Wm.
1
#
„»•. i. >
be Hfeph
'ohG*.^
1
i
S
urch-.
by this method
A NENT a bill Introduced In Con-
gress Decembw 6, last, by A. W.
Rucker of Colorado, for pensioning the
serving officers and enlicted men (or
their widows) who served In the Indian
wars of the Western frontiers of the
several States and Territories from the
year 1865 to 1883, there will be at
least eight San Antoniatis coming un-
der that clause. The men who are
now, or who will in years to come, be
entitled to a pension under the pro-
visions of the new bill are J. P. Mc-
Devitt, John Costello, L. D. Fallsbusch,
Fred Shalesdorf, John Cox, Phil Loos,
Miko Keplln and Mike McGeary. These
men served under Brig. Gen. John L.
Bullis of San Antonio, now retired,
and who, during the Indian campaigns,
was captain in command of the Sem-
inole Scouts.
The bill In full &■ introduced by Con-
gressman Rucker Is as follows:
"A bill pensioning the surviving offi-
cers and enlisted men (or their widows)
who served in the Indian wars of the
Western frontiers of the several States
and Territories from the year 1866 to
1883.
"Be It enacted by the Senate and the
House of *!epresentatlves of the United
States of America In Congress assembled,
that the provisions, limitations and bene-
fits of an act entitled: 'An act granting
pensions to the survivors of the Indian
wars of 1832 to 1842, inclusive, known as
the Black Hawk wars, the Cherokee dis-
turbances and the Seminole wars,' ap-
proved July 27, 1892, and amendments
"thereto, be, and the same are hereby ex-
tended from the date of the passago of
this act to the surviving officers and en-
listed men, or their widows. Including
all honorably discharged soldiers who
served ninety days or more in any of the
Indian wars on our Western frontiers
from the year 18GB to 1883, inclusive.
"That the Secretary of the Interior
fce, and he is hereby authorised and di-
rected to place on the pension roll, sub-
ject to the provisions and limitations of
this act and the pension laws, the name
of each survivor who has served In any
of the Indian wars and pay him a pen-
sion at th« rate of $12 per month from
the date of filing application for same,
and said pension shall continue at this
rata until the beneficiary shall oJiave
reached the age of TO years, when the
same shall be increased to $1£ per month
and shall continue at that rste until the
beneficiary shall have reached the age of
75 years, when It shall be Increased to
120 per month."
GENERAL BUI.<LIS' CAMPAIGN. y
The tribes of Indians that General Bul-
Us had to contend with during hit various
campaigns were the Apaches, Bloux,
Comanohes and the Apaches, who were
continually on the warpath and gave the
War Department no end of trouble by
reason of the man? raids end massacres
of people residing near the border.
The year following the Civil War, the
Fourth, Seventh and eighth Calvary, with
tha Tenth and Twentieth Regiments of
Infantry, were dispatched to the Mexi-
can border with Instructions to quell the
troublesome redskins at any oost twfl to
continue a relentless warfare on them
until It would be safe for any white man
to Inhabit thst eoctlon of tha oountry.
The troops were accordingly scattered
along the Mexican border from Port Dun-
can, which Is now the city of Eagle Pass,
to Yuma, Ariz* The work cut out for
the regiments named proved to be a very
difficult and tedious task for tha reason
that tba Indians, after one of tbelr raids.
would cross the Rio Grande into Mexico
and outwit the boys In blue. This mode
of warfare continued for some time until
the Mexican government, also being a
sufferer from trfe raids of the red mane
sent troops to fhe border in order to co-
operate with the American soldiers in
quelling the savages who were continu-
ally on the warpath. The mountain^ of
Mexico, however, afforded a safe refuse
for the Indian depredatcrs for some time
and it was many years before the Mexican
troops were able to make any showing
against the wily brave. The Mexican au-
thorities were finally able to drive the
enemy back to Texas soli and gave the
troops under General Bullis a chance to
strike the telling blow. For several
years all was quiet along the border un-
til the American troops were ordered back
to their old stations throughout the coun-
try and the Comanche tribe of Indians
again went on the warpath. The trouble
spread rapidly to the otTier tribes In
Texas. New Mexico and Arizona and
more soldiers were dispatched to the
scene of the new uprising. Frequent bat-
tles and skirtrhihes between the troops
artd the Indians took p'ace, In which the
redskins were always defeated with a
great loss in killed and wounded. The
causalties among the Americans were
only a few killed and wounded during
the entire second campaign.
YEARS f.F BATTLING.
After several years of hard battling
with the rebellious tribes the bands were
finally scattered and were driven far west
into California and thence Into the state
of Sonora, Mexico. Only remnants of
the tribes were laft In Texas and the ter-
ritories of New Mexico and Arizona, but
these were not effectively quelled until
the capture of Geronlmo, the Comanche
chief, and his band in 1886. This put an
end to the hoetllltlee for all time to come.
The Indian chief, with his followers, were
brought to Fort Sam Houston, where they
remained for some time and were later
transferred to a new reservation in Okla-
homa. Geronlmo after many years' liv-
ing a peaceful life on the new reserva-
tion, died In that State last year.
TALKS OF FRONTIER HARDSHIPS,
Jack MoDevltt, one of the veterans who
served with the different cavalry regi-
ments duilng the Indian rafWs on the
Texas-Mexican border during the early
'70c, speaking of the hardships of soldlef
life at that time, said: "During the
earlier days of the border troubles. It
was almost Impossible for a white man
to drive across the country west of 8aa
Antonio without being soalped by aa
Indian. Many immigrants braver than
otbsrs settled west of this cltjr and
sought to eke out a livelihood In that
section despite the wsmlng given that K
was worth their lives to mske their
homes in that hostile country, where In-
dians were continually on the warpath.
From the time that I arrived in the State
with the regiment there were calls corn-
log la at all tlmea for troops and reports
that tha redskins had made another raid
and In mnny cases had massacred whole
families. The troops from each regiment
were sent out In small detachments scout-
ing for tLie enemy and in many instances
the inen were in their saddles forty-eight
hours at a time without a wink of sleep.
This scouting duty would ^ake the sol-
diers away from their camp for weeks
at a time hunting for Indians and many
a trooper went hungry and thirsty dur-
ing those days. At times we would sight
the enemy In the distance and would
give chase, but only to be outwitted by
darkness overtaking us. We would then
pitch camp for the night In some shaded
grove, but there would be no sleep for
any of us, for the reason that the red
man was always hovering near the camp
to attempt a surprise or steal our horses
and supplies. These skirmishes and
brushes with the Indians continued until
188G, when a body of scouts under Gen-
eral Miles and the late -General Lawton (
follow Geronlmo and his band Into Mex-
ico and forced them to surrender to the
American troops.
"In 1877 there was no such thing as a
passable road across the Pecos canyons,
or even u trail over which a wagon could
pass west at that tlhe. This was reme-
died the same year by the troops trans-
forming thorn selves into road builders and
blasting solid rock through the canyons
and 1'ainted Cave for a distance of four
miles. Two regiments of soldiers were
engaged In blasting the road from Fort
Phllllpl, which at that time stood on the
present site of Del Rio and west of that
place. It required the soldiers to work
for several months with the aid of giant
powder in blasting the way for the new
roadway. At that time I also assisted
In measuring the distance between Fort
Clark and Fort Davis. To accomplish
this we used a chain and It took one
month In getting at the correct distance
AN INTERNATIONAL WEDDING.
"In the year 1879 I was stationed with
my regiment at Fort Duncan, which Is
now on the site occuplod by the city ot
Kaple Pass and across the river from
C. P. Diaz. Announcement wus made at
that time of the approaching wedding of
General Trevlno, commander-in-chief of
the Mexican army, to Miss Ord, daugh^.
ter of Gen. E. O. Oi*d, commanding the
Department of Texas, United States
Army. I was selected as sergeant In
charge of the escort of American troops
for the Mexican general and his party.
We traveled overland In ambulances from
Fort Duncan to Fort Sam Houston and
following the ceremony at the quarters
of'General Ord, the wedding party re-
turned to the Mexican border. When
General Trevlno and his bride stepped
on the ferry boat that was to take them
across tho Rio Grande, two regiments of
Mexican soldiers on their native land and
a regiment of American soldiers on the
Texas side saluted the happy couplo. That
*aino night there were great doings In
C. P. I)laz when the troops of two na-
tions intermingled to celebrate the nup-
tials and the Mexican soldiers officiated
as hosts for the Americans and would
allow them to pay for none of the hos-
pitalities extended on that great occa-
sion. It was a gala night. Indeed, with
the bands of both armies playing the
national airs of America and Mexico
and the flags of both nations Inter-
twined as decorations tov the streets and
business houses. The Mexican officers
entertained the American commanders
with a grand ball and the enlisted men
of the Mexican army did the same thing
for tho men who ware the blue. It was
a night of general rejoicing, and the In-
dian campaign in which the soldiers of
the two governments has been partici-
pating for years past were forgotten en-
tirely in the pleasures of that ever-me-
morable occasion."
Speaking of General Bullis, his former
commander, Mr. McDevltt said:
"Every man that served In th* com-
mand of General Bullis, our old Indian
fighter, wno Is now making San An-
tonio his home, honor and revere this
brave soldier, and no matter where wl
meet him. It Is always with a pleasant
recollection of the past when we served
under him, and we salute him accord-
ingly."
THE LAST BTT OF TUB ROAD.
Dearest Kitty—The other flay at a
crowded crossing I snw an old man get
off the car supporting himself w0th a
■tick In one hind and with the other lend-
ing tenderly a feeble little old woman.
Ff-ellr.g thnt they both neeil.1 taxing care
of, I offered my assistance to help her
to the sidewalk and down the street, thus
thinking to (Civ# him an opportunity to
devote his old strength all to htmaalf,
and aecretly hoping that I might walk
between and lend him a helping hand,
too.
Th, old Ia9y lookjd at m, with the
brightest and cheeriest of smiles, all un-
conscious that she wa, In need of any-
thing when she clung to that arm which
had teen her defense and her strengtn
for eo long and said, aweetly and gra-
ciously, "Never mind. Pf will help me."
And "Pa." planting his atlck mora firm-
ly still, ralaed hla fin* old head at tha
call and laying, "Com* thla war. old
woman," walked bravely on with hi,
prcdou* burden.
I followed them reverently, teara In
my heart and at my eyee, not of pity.
Ah. dear no! but of love and longing
and prayer that euch a thing might be
for me at the end of the long lane.
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL. THINO.
It to th* no* beautiful
whole world, this perfect love and com-
panionship, existing between two old peo-
ple who hnve weathered life's itormi to-
gether, who have outlived the day, whan
other things held vlial Interest for either
of them. Now they are all In all to each
other. Business no longer makea de-
mands upon the derelict, who once piled
hi, busy way along the rushing tide of
life, but who now seeks still water, and
sate ahores.
Family functions and dutlea make no
more demand, upon her who, etrong In
the days when her strength wa, th* bul-
wark of the home, Is now glad to fold
her tired, wrinkled hands, give over her
post at the tiller and float with the
stream, leaning on him whoa, only re-
maining duty Is to support and recom-
pense her with the laat strength of hla
llf, for all ah* haa been to him In that
Ufa. All ,ha haa dona and keen now
rlsea up and call, her blessed, after th*
nmoka of tattl* ha, cleared away and
lifting, reveala where waa the r*al eouro*
of every succea, and triumph, th* y*al
guiding hanrt In every hidden way.
All the corner, and rough place, have
been rounded off and worn smooth by
th, atrenuoua needs of life, any little In-
compatibilities and cross purposes lone
ago merged Into that "onenaas** which
la so muoh mora oomplete bow la aid
eg* than In th* vaunted honeymoon days.
He n* longer fee la called upon to ea-
se rt himself aa lord of creation to eecura
her admiration and awe. She long ago
has found out all hla weaknesses and
failings, and after fruitless^ trying to
cure tnem haa accepted them aa part of
the man ah* loves In spit* of them—per-
chano* to find that tb*y ar* cured after
There is no longer need for protenoe of
any kind and he \r free to be only a man
and not a demigod.
QUEEN IN HER OWN RKA T.M.
She. too, has long given over the little
sffectatlons and scenes with which sha
wss wont to test her supremacy In days
gone by. A queen now !n her own realm
and by divine right, ahe no longer gives
a care to her orown. It la ao easy, so
sweet, ao comfortable; so far better than
tie turbe *nt exquisite puslon of yo.ng-
er days.
Eauh aecretly fear* for tha other's
health and strength, and little ruses and
tender eervlcea lr. the Interesta of these
provide some actlv* Interest In life which
otherwise, tlasl would bs ber.il t of thla
mainspring of existence, for they are row
raaponalble for nothing but eaoh other.
Th* ton. who la th* prtd* of t'uelr heart*
la hla virile young manhood Is, they know
tender and affectionate, bat hla dallr
thought and ttm* ar* devoted to th* wife
and bablea who are aim oat aa dear to
their old heart* as to th* young man, and
to whom they gladly and willingly give
precedence. If trouble or Illness should
arts* they know he la there to atand by
them and thla la enough, and any little
lingering disappointments and longlnga
concerning him and tha hop** bulld*d on
hla *omp*nlona«i%|ara reaolutely kept la
abeyance.
lie always spends Sunday with them,
and as each recurring visit revenls some
new furrow laid by encroaching time, or
some newly sllverfd hair, his tenderness
and anxiety manifest themselves in an
increasing demonstratlveness which Is
different from the gay affection of the
boy who kissed mother good-bya with a
bearish bug or spoke with gruff, shy af-
fection of "the rid man." Now his kiss
on his mother's cheek is soft as that laid
on the brow of his sleeping baby girl
and the arm laid softly, yet strong and
firm around his father's shoulder speaks
of reverence and tender anxiety and a
longing to make amends for any suffer-
ing caused In reckless young manhood s
self-assertlveness. This Sunday visit Is
the golden event of life's wee*ts but It
is an event, not a part of the daily llfa
of these two.
The daughter, who hss the Inmost
her.rt of cxlster.ee for them both when
life was young and dreams would come,
about whom the tenderest hopes and
sweettst dreams were woven; who waa
the n.uslo of their lives and the balm of
their hearts; who blossomed Into their
days and filled them with a wondrous
rich perfume, hss gone on before them;
and tha one Jourrey they take alone Is out
where sha sleeps with bloom and bird-
•ong about her resting place. They do
not speak of her much, but as they sit
they recall sll the sweet witchery of her
girlish beauty snd the music of her young
laughter. The father loses all over again
the tender touch of her hand on his
brow at night, tha soft straying over the
keys of tha slender fingers In soma old
beloved tuna which was "father's.** And
tha mother, Uvlng over again all her sor-
row and her pain, renounces once again
her dream of the darling companionship
of a dsughter throughout all life's way.
For she had always looked forward to
living over again her own life in this
life and had consoled herself for the fu-
ture with the adage. "Tour daughter's
roar daughter the whole of her life.'*
Tha world want dark whan she laft them.
but they clung more closely together and
now the secret p»<ng which assails each
at the thought of the Inevitable parting
Is allayed by the thought that that one
who crosses over first will soonest see
her again, while t|kAfc;one left will have
two cabUi drcwiOg the frail oark toward
the haven.
AI.*L, IN ALali TO EACH OTHBR.
So that Is how now they are more all
In all to each other than ever before. That
la how the old woman In her feebleness
clings with the habit of a lifetime to that
arm which through the years has never
failed her, longing to feel all the sweet-
ness of its human strength and tender-
ness while yet it Is hers; and why Ira
■o guards the only precious oare left him
and which makes hira remember that ha
is a man. And they are happy, oh! eo
happy, tasting with a pathetic eager-
ness, almost childlike, the sweets of life
left to thom.
j Manlfeoting a keen Interest In all the
new wonders of science and progress
which have left them and the world they
knew so far behind, the new pleasures
have for them a fascination and a charm
which Is not less keen because they era
eo unfamiliar. They are almost mora
progressive than the younger generation
and plead for the children to be allowed
lltertles which In old days they thought
fraught with gravest dangers, moral and
physical, and gladly sit up with them
tt night !f their little stomachs or stone-
bruises pay the penalty of granny's leni-
ence. Tiiey look back over the years
with that divine gift of memory which
marks poignantly every sweet and bless-
ed thing and which smooths out ail tha
hard and bitter ones, as moss covers tha
angles of a wall with its soft mantle, and
look forward with that light which never
was yet on land or sea to llluminata
what lies beyond. Is It not worth whtla
to live and toll if it may be dona thus
side by side lo subdue difficulties and
bear sorrows together, if this perfect
peace which pas«€th understanding shall
l>o the end? It is the recompense of the
present for the sorrows of the past, the
crown of old age.
Again I say, C5od grant we all may walk
a little way along this peaceful sunset
road before the lane Is ended at the open
door. For you. uearest child, this wish*
and also, let ma whisper, for your loving
•Id aunt. - TABITHA.
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.
San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 46, No. 64, Ed. 1 Sunday, March 5, 1911, newspaper, March 5, 1911; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth431499/m1/9/?rotate=90: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.