January 18, 1846 Article 2
Correspondence of the Picayune
Corpus Christi, Jan. 9, 1846.
The accounts about the “warnings” in
this section which appeared to me so incredible, I find were not at all
exaggerated. Few snakes, tarantulas, scorpions and the like are now
seen within the limits of the camp, owing to the rigid police which is
maintained, the grass, bushes and other vegetation having been cleared
away. We occasionally, however, see stranglers that remain concealed
under boxes, floors, old rubbish, &c. I always take the precaution to
shake out my boots well before putting them on, and we never think of
walking out for pleasure on the prairies, or among the chaparral
brush, on account of the snakes, particularly rattle-snakes, and other
smaller reptiles which abound there. I am collecting and pickling
specimens.
The bay is literally filled with
delicious fish of numerous varieties, and covered with sea fowl –
the pelicans being the tamest species. Plenty of geese, ducks, snipe,
curlews, plover, &c., can be and are shot every day, with no apparent
diminution of their numbers. Parties of officers are out constantly,
going into the back country on hunting and adventurous expeditions, or
amateur exploring excursions. They give glowing accounts of the
country. Within a few miles of us there are plenty of deer and wild
turkies, and a little farther back they are found in very large numbers,
with wild horses, mules, cattle and antelope, and not rarely a leopard,
panther, tiger, or Mexican lion is seen. I have thought repeatedly how
you would enjoy yourself here on one of these excursions. Come over and
see us and send along your friends. As for wolves, they are so numerous
and bold that their barking serves for my lullaby every night. They are
attracted by the slaughter-pens but a short distance off.
Next in order is our “natural
curiosities” come the Mexicans and Indians, who come in almost daily to
trade – the former bringing mules and horses — which the Government
still continues to purchase — and the latter skins of various
kinds. No wonder an organized government cannot exist among the
Mexicans! What a “rag-tail and bob-tail,” thievish, cut-throat set of
cowards they must be, according to some of the specimens I have seen;
but they are all unsurpassed in horsemanship.
Judging by the paper just started here,
you would think Corpus Christi is really “a place.” When the army
arrived, two or three houses constituted it; now there are about fity or
more, being mostly grog-shops, eating-houses, and gambling
establishments for Mexicans, Texans and soldiers. Not half of these are
frame, but canvas. There are also sores and shops of various kinds, a
hotel, billiard room, &c., all lately erected. Since I’ve been here, I
have been trying to get enough lumber for a floor for my tent, but cannot
procure it, so scarce is it, and at $60 per 100 feet even, which is the
price. Beef and venison are cheap, or reasonable – not so very, either,
considering the abundance of both — and of course we have the
latter at almost every meal. Potatoes are $5 per barrel, butter 37-1/2
cents per lb., milk 25 cents a quart, eggs $1 and $2 per dozen. So you
see almost everything is very high here.
Among the latest amusements, I will
mention a horse race on New Year’s Day, not mentioning the many “scrub”
ones, and a duel yesterday – but no one was kilt or wounded,
although two shots were exchanged at 12 paces.
Yours
&c., S.
Source: The Daily Picayune, January
18, 1846, p. 2, col. 3. |
