NEWS ITEMS
Major George W. Littlefield has established at the University of Texas a fund of $25,000 for the collection of material on Southern history. He was induced to make this gift by the fact that American history as it has usually been written fails to give due recognition to the South's part in the development of the nation, and by the conviction that this condition can only be remedied by the collection and exploitation of the mass of neglected historical material now scattered and unavailable throughout the South. What he wishes is to prepare the way “for a full and impartial study of the South and of its part in American history.” The fund yields $1500 a year, and the principal is to remain intact for twenty-five years. This is the first practical step that has ever been taken to establish in any Southern college or university adequate means for the study of Southern history. 264
Mr. J. F. Dufner, of Port Lavaca, Texas, has sent in the accompanying drawing of what he assumes to be a cross once in the possession of La Salle. Mr. Dufner enclosed the following sketch concerning the cross:
It is remarkable that the cross planted by La Salle in 1685 should ever have been discovered. While sailing up the Lavaca River nine miles from Port Lavaca in 1897, W. H. Huffaker noticed part of the cross sticking out of the ground where a recent rise in the river had caused several feet of the river bank to cave in. After some work he succeeded in excavating the cross. It is 5⅓ feet long, 3⅔ feet wide, and weighs 65 pounds. It is hand forged, and appears to be very old. From its antique look one would
think it several centuries old. The only marks on the cross were the letters “M” and “S,” which apepar to have been rudely cut with a cold chisel. A few old cannon balls have been found near where the cross was found. However, the only evidence of a fort was that the dirt seems to have been thrown up in a ridge on the bank of the river.
While Mr. Dufner concludes that the cross was of French origin, it would be very difficult to prove that such is the case. The spot where it was discovered would seem indeed to be in the neighborhood of the accepted site of La Salle's fort, some three or four miles up the Lavaca River, 265 which would be roughly nine miles from the town of Port Lavaca. The Spanish presidio of La Bahía, however, was constructed in 1722 upon exactly the same site as the French fort, and there is no evidence to show that the cross may not have been of Spanish origin. Further investigation as to the place of discovery and closer examination of the cross itself may give some clue as to its identity, but until some conclusive evidence is advanced, it will be impossible to say whether the cross belonged to the French or is a relic of the later Spanish occupation.
W. E. Dunn.
With an appropriation made by the Thirty-third Legislature, the State of Texas recently purchased a marble bust of General Memucan Hunt, by the famous American sculptor Hiram Powers. The bust was acquired from the widow of General Hunt, and has been placed in the State Library.
The “Diary of E. S. Dodd, Company D, Terry's Regiment, Texas Rangers,” is the title of an interesting Civil War relic that recently came into the possession of the Texas State Library. The diary covers the year 1863. Dodd was shot as a spy early in January, 1864.
“A miracle of faithfulness, being a biography of Mrs. Percy V. Pennybacker, President of the General Federation of Women's Clubs,” by Peter Molyneaux, was published in The Texas Club-woman (San Antonio), June 8, 1914.
On May 27, 1914, the San Jacinto Chapter, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, unveiled a bronze tablet at the east entrance of the Rice Hotel, Houston, marking the site of the capitol of the Republic. Great-grandchildren of Sam Houston and Anson Jones participated in the exercises.
E. H. Loughery, author of “Texas State Government: A volume of biographical sketches and passing comment,” died at Austin, March 31, 1914. While he did most of his writing as a newspaper man, he assisted in the compilation of a number of volumes, such as Raines' Year Books and Raines' Index to the Laws of Texas.
Mrs. Dilue Harris, whose reminiscences were published in The Quarterly, IV, 85-127 and 155-189, died at Eagle Lake, April 2, 1914. The Houston Chronicle of April 3, and the Post of April 4, contain brief notices.
Milton Park, editor of Southern Mercury (Dallas) when the Farmers' Alliance flourished, and chairman of the Populist National Executive Committee, 1896-1900, died at his home in Dallas, May 8, 1914. Biographical sketches are printed in the Dallas News of May 10 and in Who's Who in America, 1912-1913.
Dr. F. E. Daniel died at his home in Austin, May 14, 1914. He is the author of “Recollections of a Rebel Surgeon” and edited the Texas Medical Journal (Austin) from its beginning in July, 1885. Biographies are printed in Types of Successful Men of Texas and in Who's Who in America, 1912-1913.
Recently there were placed in the University of Texas Library portraits of the following men painted by the artists named: James B. Clark, by R. Le Grand Johnson; John C. Townes, by George M. Stone, and Thomas U. Taylor, by William M. Chase.
265. See Miss Buckey's article, “The Aguayo Expedition,” The Quarterly, XV, 58-59.
How to cite:
"NEWS ITEMS", Volume 018, Number 1, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 117 - 119. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v018/n1/back_10.html
[Accessed Sun Nov 23 2:39:29 CST 2008]
