Book 4 page 62
Temple Police Chief Sam J. HALL is pointing to one of the four brick treads on the Temple-Belton safety road. The space between the treads is filled with asphalt pavement. Cars driven on the treads are safe from collisions, according to HALL, who investigates what few traffic accidents there are on his end of the road. Brick Tread Highway is Safest in Texas, with not One Fatality in Six Years-Little Strip Between Belton and Temple is Heavily Traveled; It Was Costly, But It's Just as Good as New-by Dick VAUGHAN-Reporter for the Press-Temple, July 28.-Between this city and Belton there is a different kind of a road over which thousands of cars have passed daily for six years without a single fatal accident. The highway was paved with four brick treads by the Mrs. Miriam FERGUSON administration and the present highway department is planning to cover it up with asphalt, although six years' wear has left practically no marks on the working parts of the road. Hospital and undertaker reports from Temple and Belton do not Show a single life lost on the brick-tread pavement. Part of the highway between the cities is paved in plain brick and several people have been killed in auto wrecks on this ordinary pavement. The road was designed by S. B. MOORE and was paved under Mrs. FERGUSON'S administration as an experiment. It was not completed when Mrs. FERGUSON went out of office and the new administration finished it but never has paved another road like it. The highway is like a double track railway system with the rails 18 inches wide. Two treads of brick representing one set of rails, are laid on one side of the road an two other treads are laid four feet over on the other side. This gives the road four strips of bricks, two on each side, the pairs separated so that a car traveling one way on one set of stripes will pass at a safe distance from a machine going in the opposite direction on the other set. The gaps are filled with asphalt. Federal Engineer W. T. HAUNUM praised the highway as a safety road in his report to Senator Morris SHEPPARD. "The driver is provided with a smooth, definite track to follow, plainly outlined by day or night." HAUNUM wrote. At night except in rainy or misty weather, the path is plainly visible to the driver several hundred yards ahead. In rainy or misty weather the tracks make it possible to keep on the pavement, although speed must be reduced for safety. "Thus under all conditions the driver knows that an approaching car is on the proper side of the road and there is no danger of collision. At the same time he can pass a slower car moving in the same direction and do so without sounding his horn." Dr J. S. MCCELVEY, medical staff superintendent of the King's Daughters Hospital here. Praised the road. "Before this safety road was completed we had an average of two or three cases a week brought to this hospital after accidents between here and Belton," he said. "The road between these two towns has been heavily traveled, partly because they are so close together (eight Miles) and partly because it is the main road from Waco to Austin and San Angelo. "Now we rarely have an emergency case from auto accidents on the safety highway and our records do not show a single loss of life on the road, although cases from other state highways around here are constantly increasing." Miss Margaret Street, Belton Sanitarium superintendent, agree with Mr. MCCELVEY. We haven't had a single person killed on the safety part of the road," she said. "There was a boy killed just recently on the plain brick section, though." She said there were two accidents on the asphalt pavement south of town to one on the Temple-Belton road, although the latter carries a great local inter-city traffic which the former does not. "It's a good road," said county commissioner Otis BARNES, of Belton. "It'll be there when Gabriel tots because it was put down right. I don't guess it's practical though, 'cause the new highway commission said it cost a heap of money for Ma to build it." BARNES preferred to talk about the $1,500,000 worth of highways Bell County will build soon. The County voted $625,000 worth of road bonds and the highway commission promised to put up all the rest of the money needed an estimated $875,000. "They've run a line north of here leaving Troy off to the right," BARNES said. "But they ain't going to build the road there. When we voted our bonds we though of that and put it in that the road had to go down Waco Street in Troy. The commissioners won't put up one red cent if they go around Troy. "It's the same way on the south road. They want to leave Holland off but we put that in the bond issue. We can't do anything about their going around Flat on the west because it's not in the bond issue." Mayor T. E. SANFORD of Belton was county commissioner when the safety road was built. "It prevents accidents," he said. "If it could be built practically for about $18,000 a mile I'd say a lot of roads like it ought to be built but they say it cost a lot of money. "Jim (Mrs. FERGUSON'S husband) built it for an experiment and it was justified because there's every kind of soil on that little strip: rock, sand, gravel, clay, black land and everything. I don't think Jim would build any more though because of the expense. There was so much hand labor in it. It'll give a lot of people jobs. Maybe when they built a few more roads they could cut down some of the expense. They were just seeing what they could do out here. "The state highway department started to cover it up with asphalt but we went before them and told them that we had a good road between Belton and Temple and if they wanted to spend anything spend it on maintenance. Our other roads were just going to pieces then." "What's this about the new highways skipping your small towns?" SANFORD was asked. "Oh, that highway commission is the most autocratic bunch on earth," he said. "We didn't get anything from them after Ma gave us that highway until recently."" The state built the Temple-Belton road with its own forces and paid for it with state funds. "That's the reason I'd never vote for a state road bond issue," SANFORD continued. "Right now the legislature could abolish the highway commission and that serves as a check in a way. A bond issue would make them constitutional officers and then we'd be in the hands of a bunch of czars we couldn't run out if we wanted to. "I really don't think the commission has a fair chance, though. The members get only a small salary so they only spend about five days a month at Austin handling millions of dollars worth of work. That's too much work for that short a time." Mayor W. W. SELLARS of Temple praised the road." "It's the safest road in the world, I guess,: he said. The only thing bad I'd say is that a lot of drivers say that asphalt in the middle sucks their tires over. "We very seldom have an accident on the road." "You're about to put on a big road building program, aren't you?" SELLERS was asked. "Yes, if we ever get the highway department to go through our little towns," he answered. "There's no sense in their idea of running hog wild over the little fellows. It wouldn't hurt them to go through small towns. The towns are going to move over to the highway anyhow. It just ruins the people who have been there all their lives and have built the towns up and paid the taxes the roads are being built with and makes a fortune for the people whose land the new road goes through. "Look at Prairie Dell. They ran the Austin road around back of it and the town is building up on the new road already. The old timers just lost their businesses and that was all that was gained." W. A. SPENCER, Temple Chamber of Commerce secretary, said the highway commission was all right when a town had the right idea. "We used to go up there all the time and ask them to do something for us free," he said. "They couldn't even see us. "But when we did the right thing and voted $625,000 worth of bonds they were mighty nice to us." SPENCER passed over a question about the highway department skipping over roads in the county with a wave of his hand. "Oh, I think they'll build through Holland and we've got a fair road already to Troy," he said. "We can wait up there until they get a new set of commissioners, if necessary. "About that Belton road, it has decreased accidents remarkably and it's stood up where we had to build the old road over seems like every week, they tell me, but a lot of people don't like to drive it. They say their cars keep swerving in toward the center on account of the suction of balloon tires on the brick or something like that." G. C. EADS, Belton's only undertaker, said he's never heard of a fatal accident on the Temple-Belton safety road. John BOWERS of Troy , in whose precinct part of the safety road lies. Said the road has stood up well. "It'll be there forever, I guess," he said. "We ain't worried about that. Some say it's hard to drive. I believe the treads are too narrow." "Where is the new Waco road going?" he was asked. "Right through this town or the Commissioners' Court won't spend a dime on it.," he said. "They've set some stakes over to the west, but we can't have the road there." A. M. MOORE, state highway maintenance engineer, said the safety road needed less patching than the other roads, but it had to be repaired "some" every time the other roads were patched. "We're going to cover it up with asphalt," he said. "We've already laid a little on the Temple end as an experiment and it's all right." State highway department figures show that $460 per mile per year has been spent on maintaining the road for the last two and a half years. This includes cleaning ditches, cutting weeds on the roadside and graveling the shoulders occasionally. The road has two underpasses one of which was blasted through solid chalk. The underpasses together cost $74,000. Eliminating underpasses, the road cost more than $36,000 a mile, according to the state highway department. "It was built by the maintenance forces and the exact cost is unknown, but a tabulation of maintenance payrolls charged against the entire road,, underpasses and all, during that period totals $255,946.67," G. H. LLOYD, highway accountant, reported. The brick tread section of the road is five miles long. "On any highway provided with an unroughened surface over its full width and constructed with a nearly flat face, drivers of vehicles may roam at will over any longitudinal section of the road," HAUNUM'S report says. "It happens in spite of traffic regulations and the definite marking of the middle line of the road surface. This habit is a recognized danger increasing with the speed of passing vehicles. "These conditions have led to consideration of the advisability of increasing the width of highways. "Such conditions are practically eliminated in the highway between Temple and Belton."
Book 4 page 67 Bell County Is Named For Great Texas Governor-Man Removed to Austin Was Soldier, Ranger and Statesman-Governor P. HANSBOROUGH BELL, for whom Bell County was named and indirectly Belton was named, will be buried in the state cemetery at Austin Wednesday with appropriate ceremonies, the bodies of Bell and his wife being removed from Little, North Carolina. BELL was a brave soldier who fought as a private in Karnes company at the battle of San Jacinto. He was a lieutenant colonel in the war between the United States and Mexico, being before and after that time in the ranger service on the frontier in Texas. He was the governor of Texas from 1840 to 1853. After serving one term in congress he moved to North Carolina and spent the remainder of his life there. He signed the act that created Bell County, Jan. 22, 1850. Since the act part of Falls County has been added and the Williamson County line has been changed. The original town of Belton was "Nolanville" by the official post office directory. In 1851 there was a general movement in the legislature to secure uniformity of county and county seat names, the latter to be a modification of the former. The act recommending it was passed and among the few counties to respond was Bell and Nolansville was changed to Belton. Later a Santa Fe town west of Belton was given the name with a slight change-"Nolanville." Nolan Creek was named for Phillip NOLAN, first white man in Texas. It is disputed that he was in Bell County but tradition gave the creek his name anyhow. Ninety-Four Years Have Passed Since Texans Freed From Yoke-by J. K. N. (Note by submitter: Nannie hand dated this article April 1930)-(Editor's Note: Many of us would find the names of some of your ancestors if we would glance over the names of the brave men who took part in the Battle of San Jacinto. But whether or not our family name is represented in that roster, all who live and enjoy the blessings found in Texas today, should be eternally grateful to these men, who by their courage and bravery, saved Texas from the Mexican invasion. For this reason, March 21 has been set aside as a state holiday. We take this way of paying tribute to the men who fought for Texas. Because of this a brief account of the battle has been prepared for publication.)-Ninety-fours years ago today Texas was in turmoil; people were fleeing from their homes, some not stopping until they reached Louisiana: Sam HOUSTON was preparing his small, hungry, bedraggled army for a last stand against the invading Mexicans; the bold and victorious Santa Anna, with the blood of the Alamo yet on his hands, had left Harrisburg and was hastening to overtake HOUSTON'S army which was camped at the confluence of the bayou with the San Jacinto River. Four days later, what has been termed the sixteenth decisive battle of the world was fought between the Texans, and the Mexicans. HOSTON had delayed as long as possible in the hope that aid would come from the red lands, but on this day he made his stand and prepared to meet the enemy, come what may. The spot he had chosen was high ground on the banks of the river. It was in the edge of a woods which gave a commanding view of the prairies across which it was necessary for the Mexican army to approach. With Santa Anna were only six hundred of the thousands of men which he had brought to Texas. There was a holiday air about his men who were arrayed as if for dress parade. Santa Anna did not take this future battle seriously. But HOUSTON'S men were grim and determined. They had been defeated by the more numerous Mexican forces at every turn. Their homes had been taken from them and their relatives had been slain at the Alamo. The impatient soldiers were almost rebellious because of the delays which HOUSTON had made, and it had been warmly debated whether they should attack the enemy or await the enemy's attack. It was four o'clock on the afternoon of the 21 when HOUSTON finally gave the order to Co. John A. WHARTON, the Judge Advocate General, to form the army for an immediate offensive. The men were in a frenzy because of the enforced delay, and HOUSTON had given orders for the battle at the psychological moment. The Mexican camp was pitched about a mile from that of the Texans; the space between was open prairie. HOUSTON'S men had captured some messengers sent from one of Santa Anna's generals to the commander, and had learned that his forces were superior to those of the enemy. Santa Anna's account of the attack is as follows: "At two o'clock I had fallen asleep in the shade of an oak, hoping the heat would moderate so that I might begin the march, when the filibusters surprised my camp with admirable skill. Imagine my surprise, on opening my eyes, and finding my self surrounded by those people, threatening me with their rifles and over powering my person . "Samuel HOUSTON treated me in a way that could not have been hoped for. On recognizing me, he addressed me courteously, extending his hand. Despite his wounds, which he had received assaulting my camp, he interested himself with regard to my person, ordered my tent and cot to be prepared and placed near his. This is the flowery account of the Latin, Santa Anna. Five days after the battle, the Texas general wrote to no one in particular, a curt account of the battle. The message was written with a lead pencil on a sheet of paper no larger than the hand. It read: "San Jacinto, April 26, 1836. "Tell our friends all the news, that we have beat the enemy, killed 630 taken 570 prisoners. General Santa Anna and COS were taken three generals slain. Vast amount of property taken and about 1,500 standards of arms, many swords and one nine-pound brass cannon. Tell them to come on and let the people plant corn.-SAMUEL HOUSTON-Commander-in-Chief. This was the hero's account of the battle that saved for Texas one million square miles of river and forest, mountain and plain, and decided the fate, not only of the Texas colonies, but pointed the way to the Pacific Ocean. Book 4 page 68 County Pioneer Lived In Texas Before Independence Completed In The Senate-by Aubrey DUNCAN-For nearly six months, Mrs. Amanda FETTERLY, one of the State's old pioneers, lived in Texas under the Mexican flag...170 days before the declaration of independence. Mrs. FETTERLY lives in Bartlett today and cherishes memories of colorful events in Texas history, in which her family played an important part. Amanda BRYANT was born in 1835 at the settlement then known as Independence, on the Brazos River, in what is now Milam County. When she was three years old, her family moved seven miles southeast of Rogers on Little River. Here Bryant Station, or Bryant's Fort, as it is better known, was established. At that time the BRYANTS had the most strongly fortified place in the country...made necessary because of the many roving tribes of hostile Indians. Here, on the river bottom land, Amanda BRYANT'S father began farming. It was at BRYANT'S fort that the girl, then 15, was married to her cousin, Robert Joseph BRYANT. There were five children. One of these, J. B. BRYANT, with his mother makes his home with L. W. RAMSEL in Bartlett. Mrs. BRYANT was married a second time and became Mrs. FETTERLY in 1863. There were no children by this marriage. Mrs. FETTERLY has 13 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren. She recalls many stories of the hardships and strife of the pioneers in Texas. These were the days when the men kept their horses hitched to porch railing and their guns ready for instant use, because of fear of the Indians. Buffalo, deer and wild turkey were abundant, these people say. It was a matter barely worth notice to have a whole crop completely ground into the earth by the powerful hoofs of the buffalo. These old pioneers say they did not need a weather man in those days to tell them when a norther was coming . The buffalo always would stampede ahead of the north wind and in this way the people could get a pretty accurate weather report. J. B. BRYANT says the first house his father built was the ordinary settler type house, but the second one was a very modern structure. This house was built out of the purroak and whiteoak trees that grow along the river. These trees were split into 18 to 24 inch lengths six to 10 inches wide. And three quarters of an inch in thickness. The house was weather -boarded inside and outside with these boards and also covered with them. Then Joseph BRYANT went to Salado where he procured a load of rocks which he used to build a very substantial chimney. The husband of Amanda BRYANT, never partcipated in any important Indian or Mexican battles. However, Benjamin BRYANT was captain of the Seventh Company during the battle of San Jacinto. He also took part in the skirmish of the 20th during which battle, J. C. HALE, his first lieutenant was mortally wounded. Benjamin also was in several Indian fights. He was one time wounded by the Indians, but this injury did not prove fatal. It is related that one time the BRYANTS had an Indian scalp in their house. They saw a band of hostile Indians approaching and because of fear that the Indians would discover the scalp and seek revenge for it, one of the BRYANT boys tied a rock to the scalp and tossed it into the river. Later Benjamin BRYANT was made peacemaker among the Indians. When one tribe lost members through capture to another tribe, the losing tribe would come and get BRYANT to assist in recovering their men. He never failed the Indians. Major BRYANT, Jospeh BRYANT'S uncle, earned the title of major with the Texas Rangers. In those days the duties of the rangers were many and perilous. One time, Joseph's brother, Bill and several other men saw a band of indians passing through the country. The Indians camped over on Big Elm. The boys made their boast that they were going over there and clean the Indians out. At this time the major wore heavy mustache and beard that reached below his waist. He told the boys if they would kill every one of the Indians and capture their horses and not receive a wound themselves, he would let them shave off his mustache and beard. The men went over on Big Elm and accomplished this feat and when they returned the major told them to get the shears and razor and go to work. It is said that he never again wore long mustache or beard. One of the oldest living relatives of Mrs. FETTERLY is a nephew, J. P. MCKAY, who resides in Temple. MCKAY was born in 1847. He participated in several Indian fights, the most noted one occurring in the mountains near Salado. When MCKAY was a mere youth, he captured single-handed one of the most notorious outlaws of that time. He was offered one hundred dollars if he would accomplish this feat. He goes on to relate that it was 20 years later before he received anything and only $50 then. But at that time this was quite an appreciable sum of money. Daniel MCKAY, the father of J. P. MCKAY, participated in the battle of San Jacinto. He was present at the capture of Santa Anna. It is said that the only thing that saved the life of this great Mexican general at that time was the fact that he made the Masonic sign to HOUSTON. HOUSTON was a mason himself. HOUSTON let Santa Anna go, after extracting from him a promise that he would keep his men on the Mexican side. Histories tell the result of this___of mercy___-As for the much talked about Indian skirmish on Bird Creek, two of the BRYANT boys were present at this fight. This was a hand to hand encounter. One of the BRYANTS was near Bird when he was killed. BIRD and the Indian Chief killed each other and are reported to have been buried in the same grave. It has been said the BIRD'S remains have been moved, but MCKAY maintains this is untrue. Benjamin BRYANT is buried on Little River near Rogers. There has been considerable talk of moving his remains to the Confederate Veterans Cemetery at Austin. It is understood his relatives are opposed to the removal. As Grandpa MCKAY said: "They just want to build up Austin." Boy Who Came To Texas ON Lookout For Indains Now is Pioneer Rogers Resident-Seventy-one years ago, Frank WELLS, in company with his grandfather, gazed hopefully but fearfully at the ragged country he was to call his home, looking for an "injun." Little Frank, six years old, had heard there were still Indians, in Texas...and being a brave little fellow he was anxious to have mortal combat with one so he could tell his friends back in Choctaw County, Alabama. But the years went by and "Little Frank" as he was called, never saw an Indian. He grew into manhood and today is "Uncle" Frank Wells, 77, one of Rogers oldest citizens. No hair-raising tales can "Uncle" Frank tell... It was more peaceful then than now, he says. Everybody stayed at home, enjoyed pleasantries with his immediate neighbors and let the rest of the world go by. And they had much more fun. "Uncle" Frank made one long trip and that was enough. He was satisfied when a youth to be a "home boy" and he declares he is happy today just to sit at home and read. The most exciting thing in "Little Frank's" life was going to the mill. The mills were at Cameron, Salado and Lampasas. People had plenty to eat in those days and they didn't buy it. They raised it. The nearest depot to the community of Rogers, was at Millican, 70 miles away. Only a few ever went that far and then only once or twice a year. "Uncle" Frank bemoans the fact that near Rogers there were 11 leagues of unclaimed land that the neighbors used "in partnership." Land was worth the large sum of nothing in those days. "And now look how much it is, says "Uncle" Frank. It's a long jump from the "Magic Lantern Shows" of "Uncle Frank's time and the "talkie" of today but "uncle" Frank expects to see many more marvels in the coming years. In the early days, steer riding was the favorite sport, he said. And another thing. "Uncle" Frank never drank and still is a staunch prohibitionist. He has nine living children. Book 4 page 69
Temple, Texas, Sunday Morning, March 2, 1930-Texas Independence Leaders One of Greatest Groups in History-Many Hitherto Unpublished Facts In Texas History Recounted by Famous State Historian In Commenting On Events Leading to Formation of Republic; Manifest Destiny That Mexico and Canada Some Day Will Be Part Of United States As Texas Became Part; Stephen F. AUSTIN Texas Greatest Man-Texans who 96 yeas ago-March 2, 1836-signed the declaration of Texas Independence, had as their leaders one of the greatest groups of men in all history. Most were college graduates, all were men of valor and courage, many sent here for the express purpose of wrestling Texas from Mexico. Few men have risen in Texas to equal those produced in the great crisis in which Texas won her independence and made for Texas a history unequalled by any state. Dr. Alexander DIENST, president of the Texas Historical Society and close student of history for nearly half a century, says it was but manifest destiny that Texas should become a part of the United States. It was also a carefully laid plan of United States statesmen. Texas gave the nation part of New Mexico, Colorado and other states. The Mexican war added California and Arizona. The Gadsden purchase added other lands. "It is manifest destiny that some day Mexico will be part of the United States as well as Canada. Canada will probably come by vote. The only question is-will this be in one generation or 100 generations?" The anniversary of the signing of Texas independence calls to mind bits of Texas history not all of which is yet in book form. In the following article, prepared by DIENST, based on documents worth thousands of dollars and more authentic than any book or traditional story, is an account of events leading up to the declaration of independence and a valuable contribution: Stephen F. AUSTIN was and is the greatest man Texas ever had within her borders. Our declaration of Texas independence was not brought about by any treachery on the part of Stephen F. AUSTIN nor by any disloyalty on his part in his contract with the Mexican government. It was never his intention to establish an independent government in Texas. His work was to bring American farmers to Texas to cultivate the soil and to make the barren prairies fruitful. The building of a nation was an event not contemplated by him but that came to pass on account of frequent revolutionary changes in the Mexican government and the gradual hardening of the Mexican governmental attitude towards the great influx of Americans into the Austin settlements. For the first six years of AUSTIN'S impresario regime there were no dissentions. AUTSIN was the best liked man by the Mexican officials of any American that ever came in touch with them. But as the years went by American officers, lawyers, doctors, adventurers came to Texas with no to her object in view than to start something which would bring about a separation of Texas form the Mexican government with the ulterior motive to mind of later annexing Texas to the United States. As they became bolder in their schemes, they contributed articles to the American press along this line and even printed pamphlets as early as 1828 in the United States recommending to the people of the United States that Texas be secured and annexed to the United States. Of course, a Mexican minister stationed at Washington was alert and took cognizance of these various publications in the press of the United States and transmitted such newspapers and pamphlets to his home government. This made the Mexican government suspicious of the intent of the American colonizers in Texas and they commence to bear down hard on the infant American colony in Texas. One of the first oppressive laws they passed to curtail the influx of Americans to Texas was a law prohibiting the further importation of slaves into Texas and later a law to free all slaves. In 1830 they also passed a law prohibiting any further Americans coming into Texas. Of course, such drastic laws created great opposition amongst the settlers of Texas. South Texas was the land that was settled by AUSTIN and his colonists and all land in that part of the country was very difficult of cultivation on account of the pest, the galliniper mosquitoes bringing malaria excessive heat and poor drinking water which caused great sickness amongst Americans who were not acclimated. Which disadvantages did not affect the Negro slave and consequently the land owner was absolutely dependent on slavery for the cultivation of his plantation. As to prohibiting further Americans coming to Texas, this angered the great mass of immigrants because they were anxious to have their kinfolks and friends to join them in their new found homes, and to be cut off summarily by the edict of the Mexicans was one of the causes complained of by those clamoring for an independent nation. About this time Andrew Jackson, president of the United States, instructed Sam HOUSTON to establish his headquarters in 1832 in eastern Texas where he took up a land claim near Nacogdoches and became a citizen of Texas. He was sent as a delegate to a convention held in the fall of 1832 by the Texans asking for separate statehood for the Texas province. This was another complaint made by the Texan that they were lined up with Coahuila as one state when they had been guaranteed that when their numbers were sufficient they should have separate statehood which was never granted to them. This convention that assembled in the fall of 1832 passed resolutions demanding the fulfillment of this unfulfilled pledge and also had Sam HOUSTON to draft for them a constitution for the proposed separate state of Texas. It was this proposed separate constitution of Texas that Stephe F. AUSTIN in 1833 carried to Mexico City to ask its adoption by the Mexican government. The Mexican government already highly suspicious of the motives of the Texan and claiming AUSTIN was fomenting traitorous acts, cast him in prison where he languished for nearly a year and then was released from prison but remained under surveillance for three months longer, totaling an arrest of 15 months in Mexico. While in prison, he wrote a pamphlet of some 60 pages in Spanish published in the city of Mexico giving a full account of his loyalty to the Mexican government and defending himself against the charge of disloyalty. Immediately on his release he returned to Texas and found the country in a great ferment brought about by what was called the war party, that is , the men who had come to Texas with the avowed purpose of separating Texas from Mexico and had used every opportunity to strengthen their cause and were not slow to use as a pretext the unjust imprisonment of AUSTIN by the Mexicans. They had organized committees of safety in all the departments of Texas and assembled and published the results of their meetings in the form of broadsides on the two printing presses in Texas at that time-one located at Brazoria and the other at San Felipe de AUSTIN. Stephen F. AUSTIN was elected commander-in-chief of the volunteer forces that had come from Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, Mississippi and the Texas volunteers. This army had gathered to meet Santa Anna and his army which was reported marching overland from Mexico into Texas. Santa Anna had won a famous victory on May 11, 1835, at the battle of Zacatecas was also a revolutionary battle fought by the state of Zacatecas against the centralized government of Santa Anna,. He over whelmingly conquered the Zacatecans and styling himself the Napoleon of the west, marched upon Texas with the avowed purpose of annihilating the Texasn as he had done the Zacatecans. Previous to this arrival in Texas, AUTSIN;'S army of volunteers besieged San Antonio. But while in charge of the besieging force a commander-in-chief, another Texas convention convened and appointed Stephen F. AUSTIN as an agent to go to the United States and represent the cause of the Texans to the people of the United States and to win for the Texas cause the sympathy and moral support of the American people and to also secure their aid to the Texan volunteer forces, ammunition arms, navy vessels, food supplies and moneys. All these things AUSTIN with the help of the other two members of this commission, Dr. Branch T. ARCHER and William H. WHARTON, secured in great abundance. Without this help Texas could not at this time have won her independence. Those who besieged San Antonio (called Bexar) were successful. They conquered General COS, brother-in-law of Santa Anna and all the vast stores of ammunition, moneys and arms and food supplies which were an invaluable aid to them in their struggle for independence. The fall of the Alamo happened four days after the declaration of independence and those martyrs who made such a brave stand in the Thermopylae of Texas never knew that they were fighting under the flag of the independent republic of Texas. The declaration of independence was declared on March 2, 1936 The events immediately following such as the Goliad massacre and the Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, guaranteeing the solidity of the declaration of independence are so well known that it is not necessary to describe them in detail. That Texas should have so brilliantly achieved her independence with such a small army with only 30,000 Americans in Texas as against the millions living in Mexico was an unparalleled achievement. That ultimately this land we call Texas should have become annexed to the Untied States was manifest destiny and should Texas not have achieved her independence on March 2, 1836, it would have come at some future time. Those who study history and statesmen with a broad vision of the ultimate needs of their country can foresee events a hundred years before those events take place. It's a concrete example I would cite the act of the first treasurer of the United States confederation was consummated and he was appointed the first treasurer, he had made as the great seal of the treasury department of the United States (which has never been altered) the words Thesaur Amer Septi Sigli abbreviated Latin meaning: "The seal of the whole of North America." The men who signed the Texas declaration of independence were not ordinary men. They were most extraordinary. There was never in all history a new country formed which had such a brilliant galaxy of talented men to formulate and draft a declaration of independence and a constitution of Texas. The majority of them were college graduates, all were eager for land but there were no grafters among them. They were providentially on the ground as is true in a real crises. It has always been so from time immemorial. Great crises produce great men. God grant to us that a great crisis may come to us in the near future. Book r page 70
Governor Dan MOODY is shown leaving Alma Reeves Chapell at Baylor College following the Baccalaureate address, which he delivered Tuesday morning. Left to right: Governor MOODY, Miss Ruth ROBINSON, Dallas, president of the Senior Class and President J. C. HARDY, Baylor College.
(Left to right) Miss Alberta MCKELLOP, who as "Miss California," won second prize in the Miami Beauty Contest. Miss Janet EASTMAN as "Miss Texas." was adjudged "America's Sweetheart," carrying the highest honors to the Lone Star State, and Miss Margaret Ekdahl, as "Miss Florida," was awarded third place, They will journey to Rio De Janiro, where they will compete for the title of "Miss Universe." Book 4 page 71
They'll represent their states in the pageant of the Pasadena, Cal., Tournament of Roses on New Year's day. Ruth FREDERICKS of Texas and little Bernice SANDLER of Rhode Island are holding their portions of the biggest jig-saw map ever made. Indian Legend Gives Origin Of Texas State Blue Bonnet-by Trixie LOCKHART-(Editor's Note: This is a first of a series of articles on the legends concerning Texas wild flowers)-The blue bonnet soon to bloom so luxuriantly in Bell County was officially made the state flower of Texas, March 7, 1901 because it grows in such abundance on the graveled hillsides of central Texas. Around this flower the Indians have woven many beautiful legends. The one they believed to be most authentic is most popular. Once there lived a great tribe of Indians who were known as the Comanches. Game had been plentiful; the harvests, great, and the tribe had prospered. One year a great drought visited the country and all crops were killed. Then came the winter with its biting snows and there was no game. In desperation the braves and chieftains, lit big council fires and called the great medicine men to them. They prayed and prayed for relief but the great spirit did not seem to hear them. Finally the great spirit did speak, telling the chief that the pestilence would be lifted and the tribe prospered if its most treasured possession would be burned as a sacrifice and the ashes scattered to the four winds. The chief's little daughter had slipped away from the rest of the tribe and was listening to her father'' talk. When the wish of the great spirit was revealed she looked down to her lap where her most treasured possession lay. It was a doll with long black silky braids, and an little fann skin dress just like her own. The tiny beaded headband held in place tiny white and blue feathers and indeed it was a most beautiful doll. When the tribe was fast asleep she slipped form the folds of her warm blanket and crept up the rocky hill side with her doll in her arms. She climbed until she reached the top when she gathered twigs, set them afire and lay her doll upon it. Slowly she watched the ashes turn from rose to soft grey, then she let them sift slowly through her little brown fingers to the four winds. She crept back to her tent and the next morning the entire hillside was covered with beautiful flowers of exactly the same color as the little blue flowers on her doll's head dress. After that, strange to say, the tribe prospered; the harvest was plentiful and the wild deer once more roamed the forest all because one little Indian girl sacrificed her most treasured possession. Book 4 page 75 Houston Honors Texas-The bringing of the democratic national convention to Houston offers an opportunity for a general passing around of bouquets. Jesse JONES, of course, is entitled to received an armful of roses with the Bayou City's card attached for the important part he played in holding the attention of the national committeeman, but more significant is the honor which comes to Texas in general and Houston in particular because of the bringing of the convention to the Lone Star State. The democratic party, in fact, has honored all Texas by its decision to make up its presidential slate in this state, but more specifically HOUSTON has honored the rest of the state by putting up the game fight that landed the convention. For this reason all Texan are proud of HOUSTON today. The city itself is somewhat of a hummer, but it is the smallest city ever to entertain an national major party convention. To many the task of securing the affair must have loomed as a commendable but impossible undertaking. But where there's a will there's a way-and having the will, HOUSTON made the way. There need be no fear that HOUSTON will fail to arise to the opportunity of being a gracious, competent and hospitable host. The city has secured the convention and will not be in the awkward position of not knowing what to do with it. The delegates will be entertained, will have ample hotel facilities and an opportunity to accomplish their work with dispatch. What HOUSTON has done on a big scale, Temple can do on a smaller scale if we but pull together. The Chamber of Commerce should begin to plan and prepare not to entertain a number of important state conventions. Pretty soon we shall be able to take care of the delegates, and if we want the conventions we can go and get them. Dedication- Sam HOUSTON Hall- Houston, Texas-Sunday June 24, 1928- 4:00 p.m.-honor Guest-Mrs. Woodrow WILSON(Note by submitter: Nannie must have attended this dedication. The above is the front cover of the program which she pasted in the scrapbook. Following is the Order of Service for the dedication. Nannie also wrote comments on the program which will be indicated within brackets ( [ ] ) Order of Service (Note by submitter: More about this dedication can be found in Nannie's Scrapbook 4 page 79-80) Book 4 page 78 Indian Maid's Love For Sun Causes Yellow Dandelions-(Editor's Note: This is the second of series of articles on the legends concerning Texas wild flowers)-Spring in Texas brings fields of waving yellow plumes to make every dirty roadside beautiful by one of the commonest of Texas wild flowers, the Dandelion. When the Indians settled this country, these fields of graceful yellow flowers were every where, and about them grew many legends of how the Dandelion first came into existence. Long ago there was a graceful Indian maiden with flowing yellow hair. Although her face was very beautiful, she was loved most for her beautiful yellow hair. The other maidens of the tribe envied her and the bravest of the braves sought her hand. Many time she asked for her hand, but all in vain for the golden haired girl was in love with one other than the sun. At the first faint signs of the dawn, she would come form her teepee and watch him in his journey across the sky, never once would she take her eyes form her lover, El Sol. When the night finally came and she could no longer see the sun, she drooped her head and grieved because she could no longer see him. Day after day the yellow haired maid did this, but the mighty sun paid no attention to the upturned face of the adoring little Indian girl down on the earth. Gradually her face became wrinkled and her hair grew as white as snow and soft like the thistles that floated in the wind. All the tribe pitied her and often the old people would tell of how beautiful her golden hair had been. One day a playful South wind came and blew all her hair away so that she was left ugly and bald, just a poor wrinkled old woman watching the sun. Slower and slower she walked to greet El Sol each day and finally the poor maiden died of a broken heart. One morning the sun looked down and did not see the face of the Indian maid, then he began to feel very sorry for the sadness he had caused. It was too late, for her people had buried her soft ashes in the brown earth. Then the great spirit sent a flower to take the place of the maiden with the long yellow hair. Now every where these graceful yellow flowers nod their heads to the sun and after a little while they turn white with age and the children blow their hair away like white silk in the wind. Winter Grips All of Central Texas-Icicles Everywhere as Rain Freezes-Whole nation Feels King Winter-Freezing rain hung icicles on houses, trees, wires and automobiles in Temple and over central Texas Wednesday. A drop of about 40 degrees in less than 24 hours Tuesday made this latest assault of winter seem all the more severe. The driving cold first brought a great mist of condensing moisture form the warm air and then began to freeze a rain that fell slowly. Sub-freezing temperatures held here through Tuesday night, Wednesday and Wednesday night. Winter's icy talons closed over north and north-central Texas. Tuesday as a cold abetted by sleet, snow and freezing rain continued it slow southward march. Having staved off the predicted cold a day, southern and coastal cities hoped tonight that it would not penetrate that far although fog and rain presaged the probable advance of the cold. Ice crusted the state form Amarillo to Austin. One of the heaviest falls of sleet in years was reported from the section along the southern Oklahoma border. One death attributed to the ice, B. D. DEPRIEST, fireman of the Santa Fe railway, who slipped from the top of his ice coated engine at Coleman, died Tuesday. Livestock loss was feared on the plains where snow and sleet had formed a thick hard covering. Temperatures stood at freezing over most of west and north Texas. None lower than Pampa's 10 early Tuesday was reported. Winter entrenched itself more firmly in the United States tonight with the northern Atlantic seaboard due for a taste of the bitter weather holding sway in the entire west and threat of high water raised in the lower Mississippi valley due to heavy rains in the south. Book 4 page 79-80
THOUSANDS THRONG TO SAM HOUSTON HALL WHEN DEDICATION CEREMONY HELD- 20,000 Grasp Chance to See Houston Hall-Houstonians See Coliseum for First (and, Maybe, Last) Time; Butcher, Baker and Candlestick Maker-by Dudley DAVIS-Press Staff Writer-Grasping at a Dream That Burst, 20,000 enthusiastic Houstonians Sunday saw for the first (and perhaps the last) time the interior of the great coliseum that they built with their subscriptions for the convenience of democracy. An hour before the dedication ceremony was to have started Sunday afternoon virtually all of the seats at the hall were occupied and at 4 p.m. when the service did begin, there was no room. Having once thought that they would be given tickets to the convention sessions and now realizing that there are no admission cards for the hol pollot, it seemed that all Houston rushed to attend this the first formal gathering at the building. The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker......all were there. The mayor, the city manager and the mayors secretary...all were there. The butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker sat where they could. The mayor, the city manager and the mayor's secretary sat in choice seats near the speaker's stand. And standing far to the rear of the speaker's back where the telegraph keys will click, were many of the men who worked that others might find comfort. There were the men who installed the telephones and the telegraph wires, the carpenters who came not so much to hear what they knew would be said, but to point out prideful to the wife, the particular job that was theirs. The ceremony was characteristic of its kind...the mayor talked, ministers talked, Colonel A. J. HOUSTON , son of the man for whom the hall was named talked, Jesse JONES talked and...Mrs. Woodrow WILSON talked. And the capital letters don't exaggerate the ovation given her. She didn't say more that 50 words and she said them rapidly, but this heart of the crown beat with hers. Mrs. WILSON was introduced by JONES who himself was greeted widely when presented by Rev. William States JACOBS, JONES had talked of the greatness of democracy calling down such names as Thomas JEFFERSON, Andrew JACKSON and "the greatest of them all, Abraham LINCOLN, for he was a democrat after all.: Mention of each name set off a new outburst of applause and when the Houstonian recalled the man who "held the fate of the world in his hands in the fated days of 1916-17" the crowd rose and cheered. Mrs. WILSON then was presented as the "right hand the second self of Woodrow WILSON" and again the applause echoed through the great building. "In the name of him (Woodrow WILSON) I thank you," Mrs. WILSON said as JONES stepped away from her side, leaving her alone before the microphones. "I hope our convention this time will be a harmonious one." Stands that had been full when the ceremony started were deserted gradually as speaker after speaker talked of democracy, the country religious citizenship, etc. Popular hymnals supplied the religious and musical touch and the Kiwanis Glee Club entertained with several numbers. Reverend Bishop Sam HAY presided. Those who had arranged the dedication for 4 p.m. went through a nervous period when Mrs. WILSON'' train was three hours late. In as much as she was honor guest things looked pretty unpleasant for a while but her train rolled in finally and she was rushed to the meeting, accompanied by JONES. Houston Chapter of the War Mothers presented Mrs. WILSON with a beautiful basket of flowers. While the ceremony was the subject for much talk, the topic most discussed was the carnival spirit in which Houstonians obviously regard this serious business of naming a nominee for the presidency. Rusk Avenue, the walkway, was lined with soft drink concessions, souvenir booths, novelty hawkers and the city's picturesquely garbed traffic policemen. The crowd refused to thin of anything seriously. Even the heat in the coliseum didn't cause harsh words and youngsters took advantage of the temperature to peddle tiny souvenir fans. Walker Avenue too, looks like a midway, its bunting blowing and its concession dealers ballyhooing "sody pop" to the dry gullet. Sunday's crowd definitely uttered one thought and uttered it time and again both in action and in word: "Now the circus is here and the sideshows get a hand today." Thus was Sam Houston Hall dedicated to democracy and consecrated to political purposes.
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