Jerry Flemmons' more Texas siftings: another bold and uncommon celebration of the Lone Star State

403 Pages·1997·5.46 MB·English

by  Jerry Flemmons

Jerry Flemmons' More Texas Siftings :
title: Another Bold and Uncommon Celebration
of the Lone Star State
author: Flemmons, Jerry.
publisher: Texas Christian University Press
isbn10 | asin: 0875651798
print isbn13: 9780875651798
ebook isbn13: 9780585032023
language: English
subject Texas--Miscellanea.
publication date: 1997
lcc: F386.5.F57 1997eb
ddc: 976.4
subject: Texas--Miscellanea.
Jerry Flemmons' MORE TEXAS SIFTINGS
ANOTHER BOLD AND UNCOMMON CELEBRATION OF THE LONE STAR STATE
TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY PRESS * FORT WORTH
Page vi
Acknowledgments
Original Fort Worth Star-Telegram illustrations and design by
Don Cook, Dean Eubank, Bronc Sears, Bob Davis, and Drew White.
Computer documentation transfer by Mike Gerst.
Book & cover design by Margie Adkins Graphic Design.
Entries are for the most part in their original form. In a few instances,
slight editing
has been done for the reader's convenience.
Copyright © 1997 Jerry Flemmons
Library of Congress CataloginginPublication Data
Flemmons, Jerry.
Jerry Flemmons' more Texas Siftings : another bold and uncommon
celebration of the Lone Star State by Jerry Flemmons
p. cm.
ISBN 0-87565-179-8
1. Texas--Miscellanea. I. Title
F386.5.F57 1997
976.4 -- dc21 97-26829
CIP
Page vii
Contents
Texans ignore 'better,' long ago forgot the useless word 1
'good.' Everything in Texas is 'best.'
Edward Smith, Account of a Journey Through North-
Eastern Texas, 1849
What's become of the punchers we rode with long ago The 33
hundreds and hundreds of cowboys We all of us used to
know.
Traditional, attributed to N. Howard Thorp, circa 1910
A most delicious country; fertile, bountiful prairies covered 53
with grass and flowers.
Senator Thomas Benton, circa 1829
When our own land forsakes us Texas takes us. 93
Traditional 19th century couplet
It had a thousand verses to itthe more whiskey, the more 133
verses.
Traditionally said of the classic Longhorn herding song,
"The Chisholm Trail"
Page ix
Alexander Sweet's original Texas Siftings, circa 1881.
Courtesy the University of Texas at Arlington Libraries,
Special Collections
Texans ignore 'better,' long ago forgot the useless word 'good.' Everything in Texas is 'best.'
Edward Smith, Account of a Journey Through North-Eastern Texas, 1849
Page 1
LIFE IN THE WILDERNESS
I remember, upon one occasion, after riding all day through a dense
forest region in Northwestern Texas, in the winter of 1850-1, without
the slightest indication of a road or even trail to guide me, and during
a severe storm of snow and rain, and without having met with a single
human being during the entire day, that I suddenly came out into a
small clearing in the center of which was a very diminutive log cabin,
from which arose a cheerful smoke, indicating the presence of
occupants. . . I therefore gladly turned my jaded horse toward the hut,
and, on my approach, a woman, some half a dozen children, and about
as many dogs emerged there from. . . I begged to inquire if I could be
accommodated with lodgings for the night, to which the woman very
obligingly replied, "Wall, now, stranger, my ole man he ar out on a bar
track, but I sorto-reckon maybe you mought git to stay," [and after
dinner] I lighted my pipe, seating myself before a cheerful log fire, for
the first time since my arrival took a survey of the establishment.
It consisted of one room about fourteen feet square, with the intervals
between the logs not chinked, and wide enough in places to allow the
dogs to pass in and out at their pleasure. There was an opening for the
door, which was closed with a greasy old beef's hide, but there were
no windows, and no floor excepting the native earth.
The household furniture consisted of two small benches of the most
primitive construction imaginable, and two bedsteads, each made by
driving four forked stakes into the ground, across which poles were
placed, and then covered transversely by flour-barrel staves, the whole
structure surmounted by a sack of prairie hay, upon which I observed
the remains of an antiquated coverlid that had evidently seen much
service.
The table furniture consisted of one tin milk-pan, three tin cups, two
knives and three forks, two of the latter having but one prong each.
The tout ensemble gave every indication of the most abject destitution
and poverty; indeed, the hostess informed me that she had not,
previous to my arrival, tasted sugar, tea, or coffee for three months;
yet, as strange as it may appear, she seemed contented with her
situation, and considered herself about as well to do in the world as
most of her neighbors...
Before I left the house my hostess inquired of me If I knew how to
write; and, upon learning that my education had extended that far, she
desired me to act as her amanuensis, while she dictated a letter to a
friend, "way down in ole Massasip [Mississippi]." Having a pencil
and some old letters in my pocket, I told her I would take down what
she desired to communicate, copy it in ink on my return to the fort,
and send it for her through the post, which seemed to give her great
pleasure, whereupon I seated myself, and asked her what she wished
me to write. She said:
"Tell um, stranger, thar's narry fevern'agur down this-a-way... Tell um,
stranger, Davy he raised a powerful heap o' corn and taters this year. .
. Tell um, stranger, thar's a mighty smart chance o'varmints in these
yere diggins."
And thus she went on throughout the entire letter, which she "'lowed
was a peart hand write." I translated it literally in her own words on
my return home, and forwarded it to its destination in Mississippi, and
I sincerely hope the good woman has received an answer ere this.
Randolph B. Marcy,
Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border, 1866
SAM BASS HITS A FEW STAGECOACHES
On his return from San Antonio to Cove Hollow, on or about the 20th of December, 1877, Sam Bass and his gang conceived the plan of robbing
the stage running from Fort Worth to Cleburne, Texas. They took their positions on the roadside, about ten miles from Fort Worth, and awaited the
approach of the stage, which reached that point late in the evening, bearing two passengers. They threw their guns on the driver and ordered him to
throw up his "props" [slang for "hands"], which he did promptly. They then called to the passengers to come forth and hold up their hands, while
Bass examined their finances. The others held their guns on the victims, while Sam proceeded very coolly through their pockets. The results of his
search was only eleven dollars. After some complaint about the meager state of the purses, and giving it as their opinion that there ought to be a
law to prohibit such poor trash from traveling on the highway...
... [A]bout the middle of February [Bass decided to rob] the stage running between Fort Worth and Weatherford. Passing the former place, they
proceeded to look for a suitable spot for their operations, which they found at a gulch near Mary's Creek, about midway between Marysville and
Fort Worth. They tied their horses, and masking themselves, they laid in wait by the roadside. In due time the stage came up, having on board three
passengers. They presented their guns on the driver, saying they wanted some money. Bass called for the passengers to step out, which was
promptly obeyed. No resistance was offered, and Bass went through them as usual, getting about $70 in money and three watches.
This gave Bass considerable encouragement. He remarked, with evident satisfaction, "Well, this is the best haul I ever made out of a stage, and I've
tapped nine of 'em so far. There's mighty poor pay in stages, generally, though."
COWBOYS GO ON STRIKE
We, the undersigned cowboys of Canadian River, do these presents agree to bind ourselves into the following obligations, viz:
First: That we will not work for less than $50 per mo. and we further more agree no one shall work for less than $50 per mo. after the 31st of Mch.
Second: Good cooks shall also receive $50 per mo.
Third: Any one running an outfit [foreman] shall not work for less than $75 per mo.
Any one violating the above obligations shall suffer the consequences. Those not having funds to pay board after March 31 will be provided for 30
days at Tascosa.