Tales from the Morgue

“The Liveliest Town in Texas” – A Visitor’s View of Us

April 1, 1891

A staff correspondent of the San Francisco Chronicle, writing to that paper from this city, has this to say of El Paso:

With the following morning comes El Paso, the terminus of the Pacific system of the Southern Pacific railroad, as well as several other lines leading through all sections of the great southwest, making El Paso a railroad center and decidedly the liveliest town in Texas. There is a day to spend here, the trains for Mexico not leaving till 6 p.m., and it may be a valuable one. The great American boomer has been here, and although the winds at some seasons do not leave much real estate permanently located, yet titles have nearly all passed out of their original Mexican or Texan hand and very substantial improvements have been made in the way of public buildings and commercial blocks. There still remains a large contingent of Mexican population, and the “panaderia” and the “French bakery” flourish side by side.

Horse cars – no, street cars – connect El Paso with the Mexican town on the opposite side of the Rio Grande, formerly called El Paso del Norte, but to avoid confusion the name of the Mexican town has been changed to Juarez City. Passengers enter the cars at El Paso and are trundled along by mule power along the Rio Grande over the bridge without any aid or interference from a conductor, but as the car reaches the Mexican side it is boarded by a brigand in appearance, and there is an involuntary movement anticipating the cry of “Hands up!” But notwithstanding his grizzled visage, the huge sombrero, his rich lined cloak and exposed revolver, this person is not a brigand, he is only a collector after the 10 cents for your passage, and that accrued he leaves the car, which then pursued its way to Juarez without further attention.

Texas Independence Day

Lone Star Facts

-Texas declared it's independence March 2, 1836

-The battle of the Alamo ended March 5, 1836. More than 180 Texas combatants died.

-The battle of San Jacinto was a major conflict in the fight for independence. On April 21, 783 troops led by Sam Houston encountered a Mexican army of some 1,400 and killed 630 of them. About 730 others were captured.

-El Paso County voted to join Texas Feb. 18, 1850. San Elizario became the first county seat. Before then, El Paso was part of the New Mexico territory.

El Paso Times Texas Quiz (1995 for 7th, 8th and 9th grade students)

1.__________ wrote the Texas Declaration of Independence?
2. _________ is known as the "Lexington of Texas."
3. Stephen F. Austin is known as the ______________.
4. The ____________ were Austin's first group of Texas colonists.
5. The Texas Constitution of 1836 was written in this Texas village.
6. Texas scouts at the grass fight were led by Tejano captain ________ and "_________" Smith.
7. The siege of the Alamo lasted _________ days.
8. The only adult Anglo to survive te Alamo was a woman named ____________.
9. Col James Fannin was in command of Texans at ___________ (later most of these Texans were __________.)
10.__________ is often called the "Betsy Ross of Texas."
11. The scramble for safety by Texans after the Alamo and Goliad is known as the __________.
12. The San Jacinto battle ground is just outside this major Texas city.
13. What name did the Texans give their cannons at San Jacinto?
14. The first president ot the Republic of Texas was?
15. The Republic of Texas existed about ________ years.

General Texas History

16. If you were a Mier Expedition prisoner and you drew a black bean, it meant __________.
17. On Dec. 29, 1845, Texas became the ______ state in the Union.
18. During the Civil War, Texas fought on the side of the North or South?
19. On June 19, 1865, African-American Texans were freed from Slavery. This holiday is called ___________.
20. The current state capitol building in Austin is constructed of this type of stone: _____________.

El Paso (West Texas) History

21. In April 1598, the __________ expedition crossed the Rio Grande, in the Pass of the North.
22. The highest point in Texas is __________________.
23. In 1682, Catholic Friars established this mission on the upper Rio Grande: _____________?
24. ___________ composed the hit song "El Paso."
25. In what year did the University of Texas at El Paso (then Texas Western) win the NCAA basketball championship?

Answers

1. George C. Childress wrote the Texas Declaration of Independence.
2. Gonzales is known as the "Lexington of Texas."
3. Stephen F. Austin is known as the Father of Texas.
4. The Old Three Hundred were Austin's first group of Texas colonist.
5. The Texas Constitution of 1836 was written in Washington-On-The-Brazos.
6. Texas scouts at the grass fight were led by Tejano captain Juan Seguin and "Deaf" Smith.
7. The siege of the Alamo lasted 13 days.
8. The only adult Anglo to survive the Alamo was a woman named Suzanna Dickinson.
9. Col. James Fannin was in command of Texans at Goliad, later most of these Texans were massacred.
10. Johanna Troutman or Susan Dodson is often called the "Betsy Ross of Texas."
11. The scramble for safety by Texans after the Alamo and Goliad is known as the Runaway Scrape.
12. The San Jacinto battle ground is located just outside of Houston.
13. The Twin Sisters was the name Texans gave their cannons at San Jacinto.
14. The first president of the Republic of Texas was Sam Houston.
15. The Republic of Texas existed about 9 (or 10) years.
16. If you were a Mier Expedition prisoner and you drew a black bean, it meant death by execution.
17. Texas became the 28th state in the Union Dec. 29, 1845.
18. During the U.S. Civil War, Texas fought on the side of the South.
19. African-American Texans were freed from slavery June 19, 1865. This holiday is called Juneteenth.
20. The current state capitol building in Austin is constructed of pink (or red) granite.
21. In April 1598, the Onate expedition crossed the Rio Grande, in the Pass of the North.
22. The highest point in the state of Texas is Guadalupe Peak.
23. In 1682, Catholic Friars established the Ysleta mission on the upper Rio Grande.
24. Marty Robbins composed the hit song "El Paso."
25. The University of Texas at El Paso (then Texas Western) won the 1966 NCAA basketball championship.