877
. THE AUSTIN PAPERS.
HARDSHIPS OF TRAVEL l
Sleeping on the Trinity R1~e~.· ~n.his retum wrapped·.in '~ Buffnlo robe in company with his negr~ servant Richmond a panther jumped upon him [Moses Austin] frorri a tree: . He jumped up threw off the robe and shouting· drove off the panther-KiTkham had previously deserted him in the night taking •off pack Mules and all the pro- visions· leaving. _him and Richmond to find their way to the settle- ments without ,f<>od-They had to raft the rivers swollen by rains and lived on berrie·s and roots-from which he contracted flux. with which he was long delayed .at },,fcGuffins and which ultimately ·con- tributed to carry him off at. the Residence of.his daughter Mra Bryan on Hazzel Run M 0 • Richmond was .also taken .sick and left by him at McGuffins. • • •
MosEs· AUSTIN TO GovERNoR MARTINEZ•
Hi~ Excellen.cy .
. The Governo~ of the Province of Texas .
May it pJease your Excellency Since leaving your City some cir- <:umstances o~ a vei.-y unpleasant nature have come to my knowledge which T consider it, my duty to ·communicate to your Excellency in Exoneration ,of any. ·blame .or .suspicion •of blame ,that might be attached t.Q me in consequence.of my .being in company With a man that may,-h~ve.cond,ucted.unwisely .and thereby..drawn disgrace on himself .and .endanger 4 . my reputation .. : • .' The day .before,Lleft St Antonio:for the United States, Kirld1am the man in whose company,.!. visited your Capital mentioned to me. tbat.µve Spaniards wciuld leave your city with us for,Nachitoches, but did not.say that.they.had any. intention to leave the City in a Clandestin manner.or to committ any act in violation of your orders or that oj Society. Nor .was there intentions made known to me untill af~er I.had arrived ii,t the Ri:ver St Marks, when I learned from Kirkham that.the Spaniards would come up with us at the River Colorado ~t which .place,he l\:irkham had agreed to delay for them. and .that they was to bring.with them a Number of .Mules which he. Kirkham had told them he would purchase and give them a safe conduct to .the Unit~d States., ,I objected to .have anything to do with the~..oi·. detain for them unless they brought with them a • Note by Colonel Gn:, M. Br;nn, grnndson of ~roses Austin, from recollections ot bl.a mother. In " Common Pince Book" In file of Augu!lt 1, 1701. • • From an autogrnph •copy by Moses Austin Lu his " Cowmon: Pince Boot,•• 1D llle of Aueust 1, 1791. 250G7°-24-VOL 2, PT 1--25
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