Today in Texas History – May 17

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From the Annals of the Outlaws –  In 2015, a deadly biker gang brawl broke out at the Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco.   The planned gathering of so-called motorcycle enthusiasts started peacefully but escalated into full-fledged gallegedang warfare after a member of the Cossacks ran over the foot of a Bandidos gang member.  The two rival gangs had been fighting over the very important issue of whether the Cossacks could wear the “Texas” rocker on bottom of their motorcycle jackets and vests.  The Waco fight was apparently the culmination of months of increasing hostility and random beatings of gang members.  Six Cossacks, two Bandidos, one Scimitar and one unaffiliated biker were killed, with it being likely that several were shot by police officers who had been monitoring the scene.  Another  18 were injured and at least 170 gang members and others were arrested at the scene.

Bail for most of those charged was set at $1 million.   McClennan County  prosecutor Michael Jarrett said videotape of the shootout shows “Bandidos executing Cossacks, and Cossacks executing Bandidos”. Arguing in favor of the high bonds, Jarrett said, “The facts and circumstances of this case are so extraordinary and so different from anything we have ever dealt with, we believe adequate bonds need to be in place to ensure the safety of this community.” Most of the bikers have since been released, and it seems likely that some innocent people were swept up in the hysteria following the shootout which received world-wide publicity.   And the criminal prosecutions have been on a slow track.  The Waco DA’s office seems overwhelmed and not up to the task of sorting out who actually was killed by who.

Clickbait of the Day – Houston Chronicle Ranks Texas Universities from Most to Least Conservative

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Red doesn’t truck much with clickbait, but recognizes that his readers just might.  The Houston Chronicle has ranked Texas Universities from the most to least conservative.  Dallas Baptist University bests some heavy competition to rank number 1 as the most conservative college in Texas.  Not surprisingly, Texas A&M comes in at number 2 and is considered to be the largest conservative school in the U.S. – mostly by virtue of it being one of the largest colleges around.   Red doesn’t have the patience to make it through the entire list, but is guessing that the least conservative school will be either Trinity in San Antonio or Austin College in Sherman.

Today in Texas History – May 16

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From the Annals of Jingoism – In 1898, Teddy Roosevelt arrived in San Antonio to recruit and train the First Volunteer Cavalry at the Menger Hotel.  The FVC known to history as the “Rough Riders” was comprised primarily of college athletes, cowboys, ranchers, miners, and other outdoorsmen who could ride and shoot.  Roosevelt recruited men from Texas and Oklahoma and the New Mexico and Arizona Territories thinking that they would be accustomed to the climate and terrain in parts of Cuba.   Although technically a cavalry unit, the RRs were unable to bring transport most of their horses and mule train to Cuba due to a shortage of transport ships.  All of their fighting in Cuba was done on foot. 

The unit is of course most famous for the charge up San Juan Hill initiated and led by Roosevelt.  The battle made TR a national figure and propelled the former Secretary of the Navy to become Governor of New York and ultimately President upon McKinley’s assassination.

 

Red is For Secession – of the GOP

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Today Texas Republicans will debate and vote on whether Texas should secede from the United States.  While the chances are slim that there are enough certifiably insane delegates to the GOP convention to pass a secession resolution, Red can’t wait to hear the arguments for it.  The less bat-shit crazy wing of the GOP wants nothing to do with this nonsense as they are too busy worrying about which bathroom someone might decide to use or that some woman somewhere in Texas might actually exercise her right to obtain an abortion or that minorities might be able to vote or that school textbooks don’t sufficiently laud the many benefits of slavery in the Old South.  But actual secession – once a topic only for the lunatic fringe –  is now within the mainstream for many of the GOP faithful.

In Red’s humble opinion, the resolution needs only a minor modification to make it palatable.  If the GOP wants to secede from Texas, Red is all for it.  They can have Dallas, East Texas and Midland-Odessa.

Today in Texas History – May 13

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From the Annals of Senseless Combat –  In 1865, the last battle of the Civil War was fought near Brownsville at Palmito Ranch.  Union and Confederate commanders had previously reached a local truce thinking that a confrontation in the what appeared to be the waning days of the war over non-strategic ground in south Texas would be a waste of time, ammunition and most importantly lives.  Despite this on May 11, Col. Theo. H Barrett sent 300 mostly Black troops to take possession of Brownsville.  The Union force surprised about 150 Confederate cavalrymen and quickly routed them.  However, later in the afternoon the Confederates engaged the Union in a skirmish.  The Union commanders assumed that the Confederates had received reinforcements and quickly withdrew.  On May 13, Col. John “Rip” Ford arrived with artillery and assumed command.  The Confederates opened up with the cannons and an ensuing cavalry charge.  The Union troops were quickly routed and fell back to Brazos Island.  Approximately 30 unfortunate Union soldiers were killed in the meaningless and unnecessary battle.  After capturing some Union troops, the Confederates learned of the surrender of Lee and Johnston.  This small battle is only remembered because it was the last actual battle of the Civil War.

Texas Has Education Priorities Straight – Millions for Football. Everything Else – Not so Much.

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The recent decision of the McKinney Independent School District to spend millions on a high school football stadium has drawn nation-wide attention.  After months of controversy and debate, more than two-thirds of McKinney voters approved spending $63 million as part of a $220 million bond package on a show-piece high school football stadium.  Yes, that’s $63 million.  By way of imperfect and time-challenged contrast, the Astrodome cost only $35 million to build in 1965 – that would be around $375 million today.

But the 12,000 seat McKinney stadium will hardly be alone in the on-going arms race to build bigger and swankier high school football stadiums in wealthy Texas suburbs.  Allen recently completed a $60 million stadium that seats 18,000 and is located about 3 miles from where McKinney will build its sports temple.  Another 12,000 seat edifice is under construction in Katy with a projected cost of more than $62 million.  The first $100 million high-school stadium cannot be far down the road.

For comparison, the $63 million  (financed by school bonds)  would be about 30% of the annual operating budget of McKinney ISD which was about $206 million for the 2015-16 school year.  Supporters claim that the stadium will be a source of local pride and bring tournaments and other business to the area.  Opponents look upon it as a case of completely misplaced priorities.   Red appreciates that, like it or not, football is king in Texas, but does it have to sit on a $63 million throne?    For the record, McKinney High School was 3-7 overall and 1-6 in district in 2015.  McKinney Boyd was 6-5, but did not make the playoffs, and McKinney North was 6-4 and also missed the playoffs. Even $63 million can’t buy you a winning football team.

Today in Texas History – May 12

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CAM-3

From the Annals of Aviation –   In 1926, the first commercial air mail service (known as CAM-3) to and from Texas was begun.  The initial route was between Dallas and Chicago.  The initial CAM-3 service was awarded to National Air Transport, Inc.  which had been founded in 1925 by Clement M. Keys.  CAM-3 air service was inaugurated with both north and south flights between Chicago and Dallas with interim stops in Moline Illinois, Saint Joseph & Kansas City Missouri, Wichita Kansas, Oklahoma City Oklahoma and Fort Worth.  NAT used Curtiss Carrier Pigeon bi-planes with Curtiss engines for this initial CAM-3 service. The Carrier Pigeon bi-planes were built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company founded by Glenn Curtiss and now controlled by Clement Keys.   Postal mail covers carried on the inaugural flight between each point of landing and take-off are collectible and are known as CAM-3 covers.

Photo from http://www.aerodacious.com.

A Texan Responds to the NY Times

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The New York Times recently published What Makes Texas Texas, and the article has received a lot of attention.  One Texan responds as follows:

I am a Texan. I was born in Texas and I grew up in Texas. I got my first pair of cowboy boots at the M. L. Leddy’s boot shop when I was 4.

I no longer live in Texas, and the Texas I read about and hear about does not seem like the Texas I knew. It does not seem like the Texas I keep close to my heart.

My Texas was the Texas of John Connally and Ann Richards. My Texas was the place where my grandfather, a windmill repairman and former ranch foreman, could wear a Stetson hat and cowboy boots and yet not believe in the death penalty or in the killing of animals for sport.

I am sad that I no longer recognize the Texas of today.

DAPHNE HAUBER

Killingworth, Conn.