125
PAPERS OF l\fIR.ABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
the negro girl called to her mistress that five sail were approaching. One of the sail proved to be a small sloop with fifteen men aboard. The three who had made their previous appearance were of the num- ber. They were. among the first of Austin's emigrants; they had heard that the soldiers at Bolivar had all been taken prisoners so they were affraid to approach the fort. An old wreck .of a vessel was near the fort, with great number of crows & other birds perched ,1pcn it, which these emigrants mistook for Indians. They kept focir dis- tance. Mrs. Long finally came from the fort with her 11egro girl & children to shew herself that the emigrants might approach; they saw that there was no danger and came to the fort. Two ventured first one very old fat man the other middle aged, but gray. You are Mrs. Long said one of them? Yes. What have you to eat & how do you get it? I have nothing but that Red fish you see drying in the sun; I have lived on birds until my amunition became exhausted & now I having recovered my hook & line, I catch fish. Then said one of the gentlemen, I will go to our vessel & bring you something. He went and brought a little meal & other things, the 'first bread she had eat in many a day. The other man at the same time said, ·well if there is a deer to be found in this prarie he would have one; he had not been gone 20 minutes before he brought in a fine fat buck. That evening they, the little sloop with the 15 men moored in the bay and sailed next morning up the Sanjacinto. The other four sail which m~de their appearance at the same time with this sloop, were bound to various points; one was wrecked on the Island of Galveston; one sailed for the Brazos ; one for some other point; and one which was bound for l\Iatamora,s having emigrants aboard destined for the San- jacinto, anchored at the Island to put the emigrants aboard. ·when the little sloop sailed, she had not gone scarcely out of sight when a little perogue made its appearance upon the waters. It contained a l\Ir. Smith & all his worldly effects; he came from Quelqushoo [Calcasieu 1 where Mrs. Long had once seen him. His family walked on the beach whilst he rowed the perogue. He came to Bolivar. _Was surprised to find Mrs. Long there in her desolate condition. '' I am better off sai<l the lady, than I have been for many a day, for I now h:1ve cornmeal & venison." Smith begged her to accompany him up the S'anjacinto whither he was bound; but she declined, saying that she would remain at the fort until the return of her husband. ·well then said Smith you shall not remain alone; I will leave my daughter Peggy with you; and on mv reaching place of destination will Fend my boy ,James down with the boat with provisions for you. The daughter Peggy was accordingly left with l\frs. Long. The next day the captain of the Yessel on the Island landing the emigrants, came in a small boat to Bolivar. He told l\Ir~. Long that he had read in N. 0. paper, that Genl. Long would not be ahle to settle his business in l\fexico & return short of twelve months• that his vernel ,rns bound for l\1atamoras; that if she thought she' coulil ret on to l\Iexico from that port, he would safely land her there & furnish her with money to prosecute her journey. After much debate she concluded to sail, provided he the Capt would send Miss Smith to her fathers up the Sanjacinto. This he accordingly done in his small boat. l\Irs. Lon_g wen~ aboar9- the vesrnl; but the very next day another vessel arrived with em1-
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