Tales of Old Time Texas, J. Frank Dobie

[Elwood]

Found this Book listed on Amazon, looked interesting so I purchased it.   Only read a couple of chapters but it's proving quite enjoyable.   Mix of old "tall tales" with actual history.   First chapter deals, in part, with San Jacinto Corn.   Dobie writes that on the day after the battle of SJ, Santa Anna was brought to a wounded Sam Houston as he lay under a live oak tree.   It seems that Santa Anna talked of Mexican reinforcements that were on the way to the area.    Houston replied and I quote from Dobie, 

"It matters not how many reinforcements you have, you can never conquer freemen.'"  Taking from his pocket an ear of dry corn, Houston held it up and said, "Sir, how do you ever expect to conquer men fighting for freedom who can march for 4 days with one ear of corn as their rations.?"

Houston's men crowded around the tree and several spoke up, "Give us that ear of corn and we'll plant it and call it Houston corn."   Apparently, that's what happened although Houston asked them to call it San Jacinto corn instead to remind the men of their own bravery.  

Dobie writes that in 1935 a reader wrote him and confirmed the story of the corn.   He said his father had served under Houston at San Jacinto and had secured a few kernels of corn that he indeed planted along the Brazos river in Burleson County.  

Dobie could write a story as good as any.    I recommend this book if you enjoy Texas/western history.
  

[quincannon]

Never read that one Mr. E but will look for it. Another you would enjoy, (I know you would. That's a direct order in case you are wondering) is "Coronado's Children" by Dobie. Full of tales of lost silver and gold mines including the illusive, but I still think has some basis in fact, San Saba Silver Mine of the Lipan Apache.

Happy Easter to you and all here.

[Elwood]

Happy Easter to you and everyone else around these parts!

I have read a couple of small books on Texas treasures and gold mines but not that Dobie book. I’ll look for it.

Sam Bass the Texas bandit used to prowl around my neck of the woods in North Texas. They say there’s still lots of gold, money he left stashed somewhere.

Our farm is in north Texas, just north of Ft. Worth. Small town named Era, pop. about 700 maybe, is just north of our farm. We go there to buy feed for our beef cows, about 30. Anyway, I had read somewhere that Sam Bass, who had hideouts all over north Texas, had one just west of Era. So one day I’m talking to a couple of local old timers there at feed store. I bring up Sam Bass. They both say yes, they know the creek and roughly the area where he used to stay. All on private land now. No one allowed to look around. Fascinating stuff tho.