THE AUSTIN PAPERS, 779 a man as·mate and sailing-master at $40 pr month who has acted like a deranged man n.nd in conjunction with some deck passengers have suffered much by it we left the southwest pass of the Missis- sippi on the pt day of Aprail toward night it began to blow very fresh approatching to a gale I desired him to closs reeff all sails for the night which he refused to do by cursing and swearing that he was sailing master and he would do as he thought proper he therefore carried all sail on the schooner and she deeply loaded run- ning almost under water at the rate of nine miles an hour abc:fut the middle of the night it was disco-vered there was a good deal of water in the hold Instantly the pump and bailing from a hatchway in the cabin was had recourse to and we gained on the water in the meantime this mate of mine in consist with his Irish countrymen and two deck passengers Americans without my lmowledge or con- sent opened my latches and threw a great part of the cargoe all my property overboard what my loss is I cannot at present asser- tain but is not less 3000 $ at sailing I did not intend to see the Brazos until I had first seen Rio Grande and disposed of my Spanish goods but the above Circumstance brought me in here excuse my imper- fect letter as it is wrot in a hurry by a straing gentleman (Mr Mitchell) who has promised to forward it to you This river is a vcrry fine stream and excellent for steam boat navigation which I shall try to have one on it within two years-not one shilling of my prop- erty was insured either on ship or goods but it will be necessary to enter a protest before you as I have been threatened by a deck pas- senger-I know not for what except it be for the vessel springing a leak a circumstance I could not account for-relying on your at- tention Gro. H. RoBB Brazos near :Mr. Bell 24 th April 18 MARRIAGE BoND Be it known by these presents that we John Crownover and Nancy Castleman of lawfull age inhabitants of Austin's Colony in the Pr9vince of Texas wishing to unite ourselves in the bonds of Matri- mony, each of our Parents having given their Consent to our Union,. and there being no Catholic Priest in the Colony to perform the Ceri- mony-therefore I the said John Crowno.ver do agree to take the said Nancy Castleman for my legal and lawfull wife and as such to cherish support and protect her, forsaking all others and keeping myself true and faithfull to her alone, and I the said Nancy Castle- man do agree to take the said John Crownover for my legal and lu.w- full husband and as such to love honor [and] obey him forsaking all
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