Some Early Texas History

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

MULE ORDNANCE

"Martin De Leon had settled his grant with Mexicans, most of them being his peons and vaqueros. He had a large stock of both horses and cattle, and between the Comanches, who stole his horses, and the Cronks, as the Karankawas were called, who killed his cattle, he had a troublous time of it. Becoming exasperated at the constant depredations of the Cronks, he determined to take matters into his own hands. He organized his retainers into an army, and mounting a four-pounder swivel gun on a jackass, set out to annihilate the tribe. He ran them to cover, brought his artillery to bear and touched it off, but he did not take the precaution to brace up the jackass, and the recoil turned him a flying somersault, landing him on top of the gun with his feet in the air, a position from which he was unable to extricate himself. The Mexicans got around him and tried to boost him, but the jackass had had enough of that kind of fun and philosophically declined to rise until released from his burden, so they had to dismount the jackass. By that time the Indians had disappeared and if any were killed they were taken off the field."

This account is taken from "Evolution of a State", by Noah Smithwick. You'll find the entire book online at

http://www.oldcardboard.com/lsj/olbooks/smithwic/otd.htm

[Delmonico]

There has to be a lesson here, but I must think about it for a while!

I have seen pictures (wood cuts, not photos) of the small pistol caliber Gatling Guns, mounted to the front of a camel saddle.  Always wondered how they worked.

[Brazos Bucky Smith]

   heh heh heh!

It would seem the moral of this story is get the gun off your "ass" before you fire it!

Oh yeah, thanks Capt. for this little bit of history, a good laugh for the day!

hehe heh heh

BB

[Silver Creek Slim]

It is amazing that it didn't break it's neck. 

Slim

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Burnet Bulletin September 8, 1876

MORE BLOOD

At 9 o'clock yesterday [Thursday] morning, Sheriff J.J. Strickland came in town and reported that Dept. Sheriff S.B. Martin and Wilson Rowntree were shot by Joseph Olney, while they were attempting to arrest him. A party of citizens soon gathered and went to the scene of blood, which was on the other side of the Colorado, in Llano county, twelve miles west of Burnet. The facts, as far as we can learn, are as follows:

Martin and Rowntree went to Olney's house to arrest him, but being unacquainted with him, talked with him awhile and passed on, intending to cross the Colorado river and return to Burnet. Olney, suspecting that something was wrong, picked up his gun, buckled on his six-shooter, and remarked that he would see whether they crossed the river or not. Martin and Rowntree noticed him following, and at once concluded he was Olney. They rode back, met him, and ordered him to surrender. Olney quickly drew his pistol and fired, missing his aim. Martin and Rowntree then fired, when Olney, who was on foot, jumped behind a tree and shot Martin, breaking his left arm above the elbow. Martin then spoke to Rowntree and told him to shoot Olney. Rowntree ran up, put his gun very close to Olney and pulled the trigger, but the gun snapped. Rowntree then attempted to draw his pistol, when Olney shot him. Martin's horse had turned around, and was trying to run away, when Olney shot him again. The fight then ceased.

Martin and Rowntree came across the Colorado river and stopped at an old vacant house where Rowntree assisted Martin to dismount and get into the house. Rowntree then sent in search of Sheriff Strickland, who was three miles away, watching for some one whom he wished to arrest. Rowntree stopped at a house and laid down. Dr. J.G. McFarland examined and dressed his wound about twelve o'clock, being about six hours after it was inflicted. The ball entered the left side just below the stomach, and, passing through a portion of the lungs, came out on the same side, about seven inches from where it entered. The Doctor thinks his recovery probable.

Dr. McFarland then went to Martin and with ______ Grandstaff, succeeded in removing a ball, which they found had entered near the left side of the backbone, ranged upward, passing under the shoulder blade, and lodging under the main artery of the neck. It is thought his recovery is doubtful. Both men have numerous relatives and friends and will receive the closest attention.

The relatives of Mr. Martin and Mr. Rowntree are very grateful to those who rendered their assistance. The Rev. Mr. Blakely very kindly furnished his ambulance and team, besides driving it to Burnet himself. Olney is still at large.

[From The Handbook of Texas Online]

JOSEPH GRAVES OLNEY was born on 9 Oct 1849, in Burleson County, Texas, the son of Joseph Olney and Mary Katherine Tanner. In 1860 the Olneys moved to the Colorado River in Burnet County. Joseph Olney has been called a rancher, feudist, and outlaw. On 30 Nov 1870, he married Agnes Jane Arnold; they had five children. He enlisted in Co O, Minute Men, under John Ross Alexander in September 1872 and served through January 1873. During the spring of 1874, he became involved in a dispute over cattle that resulted in his shooting a man in Llano County. He was indicted for theft of cattle and assault with intent to murder. In 1875 he was drawn into the Mason County War by the killing of Moses Baird. During the rest of 1875 and 1876 he was opposed to the "mob" faction of Mason and Llano counties. After the gunfight described in this newspaper article, Olney fled to New Mexico and established a ranch near Mimbres under the alias of Joe Hill. In the fall of 1881 Olney moved to Bowie. There he was killed on 3 Dec 1884, when his horse fell on him.

Burnet Bulletin Friday, September 15, 1876

IN MEMORIAM...With painful regret, we record the death of our young and much beloved friend, S. B. Martin, who passed to everlasting rest in Burnet, at 4 o'clock p.m. on the 11th inst. From the effects of wounds received while in the discharge of his duties as an officer.

This Christian man, surrounded by his brothers and sisters, said that he was not afraid to die&emdash;for he had an abiding hope that his sins were forgiven, and angels awaited his release from earthly bondage to welcome him to the land of rest. Thus in the glory of early manhood, he has departed, leaving behind a wide circle of devoted and sorrowing friends. The everlasting gates that were lifted for him are now closed, and those who admired and loved him, await with patience and hope the reunion which shall know no parting.

At 3 o'clock p.m. on Tuesday the 12th, he was followed to his last resting place in the cemetery, by a larger funeral procession than was ever known to assemble in our little village.