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Tired
of today’s news? From foul balls to murder most foul, here’s a sampling of what
was going on in Texas in the summer of 1894:
Long before the Astros
and Lance Armstrong . . .
“Base ball and bicycling riding are now the
prevailing crazes in Marfa. Each evening about twelve or fifteen lovers of the
national game can be found on the grounds where an hour or two is spent in the
rather violent but healthful exercise, while numerous bicycles flit about over
the town. We have quite a number of lady bicycle riders now, and more are learning.”
– Marfa New Era in Eagle Pass Guide, July 28, 1894
Bear facts . . .
“Jim Wilson and Henry Lease had quite an exciting chase after a bear in the
mountains near the Rio Grande a few days since. They roped the animal and then
shot it. Jim says it was a daisy and would gamble on its weighing over 500 pounds.”
– Alpine Avalanche in Eagle Pass Guide, July 28, 1894
Monster veggies . . .
“Two gigantic cucumbers were brought to town the
other day by Mr. X. Wantz, who lives a few miles north of here. One was sixteen
inches long and the other twelve inches long and the same in circumference. These
huge specimens were the admiration of all who saw them, and all declared that
they were the largest ever raised. Mr. Wantz informed us that he raised a mushmellon
seventeen inches long. He is certainly a model farmer and we need more like him.
Such results as these prove that the capabilities of this country are practically
unlimited.” – Hondo Herald in Eagle Pass Guide, July 28, 1894
Lions and tigers, oh my . . .
“Jno. Stillwell relates that near
the Rio Grande a few days since he found where a panther had just killed a two-year-old
steer, and that, too, while appearances indicated that several head of cattle
were fighting it. The panther filled up on good fresh beef and went away a short
distance where Mr. Stillwell trailed it and found it asleep in a thick clump of
brush. He was within a few feet of the animal and attempted to shoot it while
asleep, but the gun failed to fire he having been mistaken as to its being loaded,
and the panther with a deep growl bounded away and escaped.” – Alpine Avalanche
in Eagle Pass Guide, July 28, 1894
Extreme newspaper criticism
. . .
“A dispatch from Pearsall says: ‘The killing of W.A. Carpenter,
editor of the Southwest Vindicator, by J.W. Durbin, sheriff of Frio County, occurred
here today at about 12:30 p.m. For several weeks there has existed ill feeling
between the men, owing to Mr. Carpenter’s attack through his paper on Mr. Durbin’s
official character. Mr. Carpenter has been absent from Pearsall for three or four
days, being at San Antonio; but returned home to-day on the southbound International
& Great Northern train. When the train stopped he got off and walked across the
street and up into the sheriff’s office. In a few minutes shot were heard, and
on men running into the office Mr. Carpenter was found on the floor dead. There
were several shots passed between the men, Carpenter’s pistol shooting twice and
snapping three times. Three or more shots had taken effect in his body, and he
was quite dead when found. Mr. Durbin is in jail. Much sympathy is felt for the
families of both men, Mrs. Carpenter and Mrs. Durbin both being critically ill
from the shock. The matter is deeply regretted by all our citizens, though a like
result has long been feared.” – Eagle Pass Guide, July 28, 1894 |
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