June
17th 1840
I
have just returned, after being absent all day on horseback--from an excursion
above Austin, more on account of endeavoring to find something to write about,
than any other pleasure for myself. Now having a little time to write, I
will give you as near as I can a slight description. Mr. Cranson, the
bearer of this & myself left our house for Austin 8 miles distant.
For nearly 4 miles it was over hilly ground--w miles from the house winds
Walnut Creek, named from the large quantity of walnuts which line its bank,
whose waters are as clear as any you ever saw. The balance of the road
was over a bottom prairie of the richest soil for cotton or corn. Within
two miles of Austin, can be see the president House which is on a high &
delightful situation. I numbered 8 or 9 farms on the route--having about
15 acres under ditch. as you have not had the pleasure of seeing this
description of fencing, I will state how they are made. A line is run,
laying off the field-on the outside of which for the width of about 4 feet a
ditch is made throwing the earth on the inside, forming an elevation of earth
of about 3 ft., the ditch is about 2 or 3 ft. deep. I cannot now give you
a description of Austin--while there I judged there were about 100 houses--are
several stores--2 printing offices & besides the public building mostly of
which are neat log houses, built like our dwelling--the president's house is a
frame of two stories--the House of Representatives is of one story & very
large--the latter is fortified with in a picketed fort, another which we
strayed & had the pleasure of seeing the "twin sisters," two
cannon from "Cincinnati. These canon will be looked upon some day
with the warmest feelings that ever entered the hearts of a brave people--They
were the only canon in & are said to have gained the day in the battle of
San Jacinto. I saw large piles of muskets, balls, bombshells, * besides a
few pieces of artillery. There has been a subscription in Austin "as
a premium" which will be given to a gentlemen if he will place in the
Colorado River, a Steam Boat measuring at least 50 tons. Whether it will
be effected I cannot say.
We concluded to cross the river &
visit the "Cave" & forded the river over one of its
"ripples" or falls & after half an hours ride came to a cornfield
which resembled a young cane-break. The cornstalks was about 15 feet
high; coming to the house we told them that we had a curiosity to see the cave,
& would like to be directed to it. They said it was some distance to
it & there was no one there that had been to it & told us that the
Indians had been about there & it was not safe to go unless we were
armed. I told them that were not & asked them positively if the
Indians had been seen. --he said that fresh Moccasin tracks had been seen &
the creek was muddy where they had crossed. The gentleman who was with me
was for backing out-but I got him to to Mr. Barton's about a mile
farther. Here our curiosity was baffled, not Indians --but for want of a
guide's candle. However we was pleased with our visit for at this place I
saw the greatest Springs that I ever saw in a creek close by the house, there
gushes out from a rocky bank several streams of water which run into a kind of
basin of various depths from the deepest about 20 feet in which flows the water
as clear as a crystal. They were a fishing here but shortly after our
arrival one of the boys could not resist the temptation, so in he dove. I
followed his example & it was much "wana" as the Indians would
say signifying "much good." The land in that section is very
rocky, more so than any I have yet seen here.
If you have read all that I have
written you must be tired, for I am--and me thinks I hear you exclaim in the
language of Burn "well done--Curry Sark" & so I will be off like
you.
Yours,
G.W. Grover
There is nearly ready for operation a
saw mill about 300 yards below the above springs--there is plenty of water to
run the mill.
I have no time at present to write to
Mr. Haskle. Father wrote him by Mr. Brashear who has returned to new
Orleans. Say to him that "Melbourne" who lives across from
Columbia--that on his "Fiftieth Birthday"--in the height of jollity,
over a bucket of champagne--died.