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Stories by Kelley (Texas) .............
- Thread starter Kelley (Texas)
- Start date
Wayne in BC
New member
I will add it to your folder
Wayne in BC
New member
Thank you Fred! [attachment 169899 Texas.gif]
[attachment 169899 Texas.gif]Kelley (Texas)
New member
In a few minutes I will be on the bike enroute to a small town named Sutherland Springs, Texas. There are so many good historical places to visit down here in South Texas...difficult to choose where to explore next. This should be a fun ride and I hope to get a few good pictures for use in a future story to be posted on the Forum. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas)
This was found on the Internet and will give you some insight on some of the history associated with Sutherland Springs, Texas.
TYRANT'S GOLD
by Mike Cox
When General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna came to Texas in 1836 he left behind death and destruction -- and possibly gold.
Napoleon said an army travels on its stomach, but soldiers have to be paid. Santa Anna was a dictator, to be sure, but even conscripts received coins for their service. Officers netted more.
Beyond having to meet a payroll, Santa Anna was a man of refined tastes. Then, as now, the better things of life did not come inexpensively. No one questions that Santa Anna would have come to Texas with an ample supply of coin.
After Santa Anna's defeat at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, the remnants of his army fled south. In their haste to leave Texas, they may have opted to lighten their load by burying silver and gold. Or perhaps they lost it crossing some stream swollen by spring rains.
"How many chests of 'pay money' designed for Spanish and Mexican troops were dropped into Texas streams and left there," wrote J. Frank Dobie in his classic book, "Coronado's Children," "it would be impossible to say."
One of several places in Texas with a story of Santa Anna's gold is Sutherland Springs, a ghost town in Wilson County about 20 miles from San Antonio. The place was named for Dr. John Sutherland, who operated a post office and stage coach stop there beginning in 1851. For a time, Sutherland Springs was county seat, but it lost that distinction to Floresville.
"There has long been a tradition in the Sutherland Springs neighborhood that Gen. Santa Anna's army buried their treasure there on their retreat after defeat at the battle of San Jacinto," the Austin Daily Statesman reported on Aug. 10, 1891. "Various parties have hunted for it."
No matter the rumors of lost gold, the most tangible thing of value coming from the ground was the water bubbling from an estimated 100 sulphur springs in the area. That gave Sutherland Springs a measure of economic vitality as a health resort, especially after the railroad came through in 1877.
Though some residents made money off people looking for a water cure, a young man named Edwards earned his living in a more traditional manner as a farmer. In the summer of 1891, however, he may have realized a different kind of return from the good earth.
According to the article in the Austin newspaper, "a few days since a young farmer named Edwards, while plowing near Sutherland Springs, struck an iron pot, whose top projected a half-inch above the surface."
The farmer thought at first it was nothing but an old cooking utensil, but when he pulled it out of the ground, he realized it was inordinately heavy.
"Under an inch of dust," the story continued, "were many rouleaux of gold. The leather in which they were wrapped was rotten, but save for a greenish mold the coins were uninjured."
Edwards, confronted with the most bounteous possible gift from the soil, loaded the coins into his two-horse wagon and took his find to San Antonio. He made the trip at night, then quickly deposited the coins in the bank.
The find was reported as $17,000. To put the significance of that purported amount into perspective, a Web site run by an academically-supported entity called Economic History Services calculated that $17,000 in 1891 would be worth $335,571.21 in 2002 dollars.
Who knows whether Edwards really found a fortune in his field? Maybe a bored country correspondent for the Austin daily manufactured the story on a slow news day, or perhaps the piece was a plant to bring more guests to the 52-room Hotel Sutherland, a resort that stayed in business until 1923. Or just maybe a young man named Edwards suddenly gave up farming.
This was found on the Internet and will give you some insight on some of the history associated with Sutherland Springs, Texas.
TYRANT'S GOLD
by Mike Cox
When General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna came to Texas in 1836 he left behind death and destruction -- and possibly gold.
Napoleon said an army travels on its stomach, but soldiers have to be paid. Santa Anna was a dictator, to be sure, but even conscripts received coins for their service. Officers netted more.
Beyond having to meet a payroll, Santa Anna was a man of refined tastes. Then, as now, the better things of life did not come inexpensively. No one questions that Santa Anna would have come to Texas with an ample supply of coin.
After Santa Anna's defeat at San Jacinto on April 21, 1836, the remnants of his army fled south. In their haste to leave Texas, they may have opted to lighten their load by burying silver and gold. Or perhaps they lost it crossing some stream swollen by spring rains.
"How many chests of 'pay money' designed for Spanish and Mexican troops were dropped into Texas streams and left there," wrote J. Frank Dobie in his classic book, "Coronado's Children," "it would be impossible to say."
One of several places in Texas with a story of Santa Anna's gold is Sutherland Springs, a ghost town in Wilson County about 20 miles from San Antonio. The place was named for Dr. John Sutherland, who operated a post office and stage coach stop there beginning in 1851. For a time, Sutherland Springs was county seat, but it lost that distinction to Floresville.
"There has long been a tradition in the Sutherland Springs neighborhood that Gen. Santa Anna's army buried their treasure there on their retreat after defeat at the battle of San Jacinto," the Austin Daily Statesman reported on Aug. 10, 1891. "Various parties have hunted for it."
No matter the rumors of lost gold, the most tangible thing of value coming from the ground was the water bubbling from an estimated 100 sulphur springs in the area. That gave Sutherland Springs a measure of economic vitality as a health resort, especially after the railroad came through in 1877.
Though some residents made money off people looking for a water cure, a young man named Edwards earned his living in a more traditional manner as a farmer. In the summer of 1891, however, he may have realized a different kind of return from the good earth.
According to the article in the Austin newspaper, "a few days since a young farmer named Edwards, while plowing near Sutherland Springs, struck an iron pot, whose top projected a half-inch above the surface."
The farmer thought at first it was nothing but an old cooking utensil, but when he pulled it out of the ground, he realized it was inordinately heavy.
"Under an inch of dust," the story continued, "were many rouleaux of gold. The leather in which they were wrapped was rotten, but save for a greenish mold the coins were uninjured."
Edwards, confronted with the most bounteous possible gift from the soil, loaded the coins into his two-horse wagon and took his find to San Antonio. He made the trip at night, then quickly deposited the coins in the bank.
The find was reported as $17,000. To put the significance of that purported amount into perspective, a Web site run by an academically-supported entity called Economic History Services calculated that $17,000 in 1891 would be worth $335,571.21 in 2002 dollars.
Who knows whether Edwards really found a fortune in his field? Maybe a bored country correspondent for the Austin daily manufactured the story on a slow news day, or perhaps the piece was a plant to bring more guests to the 52-room Hotel Sutherland, a resort that stayed in business until 1923. Or just maybe a young man named Edwards suddenly gave up farming.
Wayne in BC
New member
you have so much opportunity near where you live. It is plain that you do much research and what a super way to spend time on your bike following up! More cool pics coming?
Arkie John
Active member
It would have had to have been the highlight of his life.
Thanks for the story, Fred.
aj
Thanks for the story, Fred.
aj
Kelley (Texas)
New member
One of the many things that you learn in the Marines while attending boot camp is guard duty. They teach you to challenge folks by saying "Halt! Who goes there?" When the person tells you, you then tell them "Advance and be recognized." At this time you check their I.D. and send them on their way or you call for the Officer of the Deck for assistance if something is not quite right.
Well, the first time that I had guard duty, I was nervous and really wanted to do a good job. After an hour or so, I saw the Officer of the Deck approaching my guard station. For some reason, my mind went blank and I shouted "Who might you be?" instead of "Halt, who goes there?" Needless to say, that was not the impression that someone would want to make to the Officer of the Deck. He chewed me out and then some. For a minute or two, I figured that he was going to relieve me of duty and send me to the brig...he really scared me. He asked me where I was from and then told me that he did not like Texas. This was going down hill fast! He finally cut me some slack, but told me that next time I better challenge him properly. He left and it took me about twenty minutes to settle down and stop shaking and thinking about going to the brig.
About an hour later I spotted him way across the parade grounds. I thought to myself, now is my chance to impress him, make amends for screwing up earlier. I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled to the top of my lungs clear across the parade field, "Halt, who goes there?" He yelled back "What?" Thinking that he was testing me to see if I would do it right a second time, I again cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled as loud as I could, "Halt, who goes there?" I almost wet my trousers when I clearly heard him say "Not now you dumb Texas Hillbilly, I am too far away!" As he headed in my direction I had visions of spending the next thirty days in the brig. After chewing me out again, he instructed me to tell my Drill Instructor what I had done when we mustered in the morning. This entire guard duty had turned into my worst nightmare.
The next morning, I took a gamble and did not tell my Senior Drill Instructor what had happened when I was on guard duty. It worked...he never found out about it. However a few weeks later while we were doing some close order drills, that Officer of the Deck came by and visited with the Drill Instructor for a few minutes while we stood at attention. As he was leaving, he spotted me and in a low voice said "you that dumb texas hillbilly?" I said "Sir, yes sir," He just laughed as he was walking off. I never saw that Marine Officer again and often wondered what happened to him. Needless to say, I survived and graduated from boot camp. We started with 72 recruits and 51 of us made it, the others washed out or went somewhere, but they did not graduate with us. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas)
Well, the first time that I had guard duty, I was nervous and really wanted to do a good job. After an hour or so, I saw the Officer of the Deck approaching my guard station. For some reason, my mind went blank and I shouted "Who might you be?" instead of "Halt, who goes there?" Needless to say, that was not the impression that someone would want to make to the Officer of the Deck. He chewed me out and then some. For a minute or two, I figured that he was going to relieve me of duty and send me to the brig...he really scared me. He asked me where I was from and then told me that he did not like Texas. This was going down hill fast! He finally cut me some slack, but told me that next time I better challenge him properly. He left and it took me about twenty minutes to settle down and stop shaking and thinking about going to the brig.
About an hour later I spotted him way across the parade grounds. I thought to myself, now is my chance to impress him, make amends for screwing up earlier. I cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled to the top of my lungs clear across the parade field, "Halt, who goes there?" He yelled back "What?" Thinking that he was testing me to see if I would do it right a second time, I again cupped my hands around my mouth and yelled as loud as I could, "Halt, who goes there?" I almost wet my trousers when I clearly heard him say "Not now you dumb Texas Hillbilly, I am too far away!" As he headed in my direction I had visions of spending the next thirty days in the brig. After chewing me out again, he instructed me to tell my Drill Instructor what I had done when we mustered in the morning. This entire guard duty had turned into my worst nightmare.
The next morning, I took a gamble and did not tell my Senior Drill Instructor what had happened when I was on guard duty. It worked...he never found out about it. However a few weeks later while we were doing some close order drills, that Officer of the Deck came by and visited with the Drill Instructor for a few minutes while we stood at attention. As he was leaving, he spotted me and in a low voice said "you that dumb texas hillbilly?" I said "Sir, yes sir," He just laughed as he was walking off. I never saw that Marine Officer again and often wondered what happened to him. Needless to say, I survived and graduated from boot camp. We started with 72 recruits and 51 of us made it, the others washed out or went somewhere, but they did not graduate with us. Please have a great day! Kelley (Texas)
OH MY GOD I can relate!! Those suckers can terrify a boot!! I was a 17 year old Puzzy and they sure put the fear in me. I was a scrawny little 6 ft 140 lb punk when I entered and 15 weeks later I was 165 and two years later 196 and wore the same trousers as when I went in. Need I say I can not fit in them now days?
Did I ever tell the story about my buddy Al, from Boston, when he was caught walking leasurly to the head in the middle of the night? The senior DI was walking his dog?? Did I tell that story?
I was in a little before you and never saw combat. I know you did in Nam and I am sorta in awe of you guys. Tough SOB's for sure!
Hey by the way, I miss that old bastud Rob!
Did I ever tell the story about my buddy Al, from Boston, when he was caught walking leasurly to the head in the middle of the night? The senior DI was walking his dog?? Did I tell that story?
I was in a little before you and never saw combat. I know you did in Nam and I am sorta in awe of you guys. Tough SOB's for sure!
Hey by the way, I miss that old bastud Rob!
Wayne in BC
New member
that it is a good memory now. I'm thinking there are more stories about bootcamp that you could "sanitize" a bit and entertain your friends with