From the Annals of Depredations – In 1865, a band of about 100 Indians raided a new settlement in Cooke County near the border with the Indian Territory. The war party killed nine people and rode off with numerous stolen horses. The raid is considered to be the last Indian raid in Cooke County.
From the Annals of the Governors – In 1847, George Tyler Wood took office as the second governor of the state of Texas. Wood was a relative newcomer to the state having arrived in 1839 from Georgia. He established a plantation near Point Blank in San Jacinto County. He was elected to the House of Representatives of the Republic in 1841 and later to the State Senate. He ran for the open seat after Gov. James Pinckney Henderson decided to not seek a second term. His cause was aided by the death of candidate Isaac Van Zandt with most of Van Zandt’s support migrated to Wood.
Wood’s major accomplishment as governor was working to effective organization of local governments and the establishment of court houses. He failed in Texas’ efforts to claim New Mexico as part of Texas and to convince the Federal government to fortify the Texas frontier. As a result, he was a one term governor. He lost his bid for reelection to Peter Bell in 1849. He twice sought to return to the Governor’s mansion but was unsuccessful.
From the Annals of Remonstrances – In 1832, San Antonio de Bexar presented a list of grievances to the legislature of Coahuila y Tejas. The document known as the Bexar Remonstrance was signed by José Ángel Navarro, alcalde of San Antonio. It sought repeal of that part of the Law of April 6, 1830, banning immigration from the United States. It also sought the separation of Texas from Coahuila.
The flag of Coahuila y Tejas is shown.
From the Annals of the Big Leagues – In 1964, the Houston Colt .45s changed their name to the Astros. Supporters of the Second Amendment gnashed their teeth and rent their garments.
From the Annals of Screwing – In 1882, the Screwmen’s Benevolent Association called a general holiday (actually a strike) for its members in opposition to the appearance of black workers in the cotton-screwing trade. The SBA was a trade union of specialized longshoremen who used screwjacks to stow and pack cotton bales into the holds of ships. The screwmen were almost entirely whites of various European origins and opposed allowing blacks to practice their trade. The SBA used an apprenticeship system to exclude blacks and gain a virtual monopoly of the work at the port of Galveston. After the invention of the high density cotton compress in 1910, the need for screwmen was gone and the SBA faded into history.
From the Annals of Overeating – In 1964, Dr. Michael DeBakey and his team performed the world’s first successful coronary artery bypass graft surgery in Houston. Debakey developed the concept behind the coronary bypass after noting that in many forms of arterial disease, the portions above and below a diseased or blocked segment of artery were normal. He theorized that the damaged portion could be bypassed to restore blood flow and prevent a fatal heart attack. In the first successful coronary bypass he used a large vein from the patient’s leg to bypass the blocked or damaged area between the aorta and coronary arteries. The surgery has now become common-place performed at hospitals around the world.
So enjoy your Thanksgiving meal.
From the Annals of Girl Power – In 1981, Kathy Whitmire was elected as the first female mayor of Houston. She defeated Sheriff Jack Heard with 62% of the vote- who was never heard from again (Red just couldn’t resist that one). The unexpected rise of Whitmire put a temporary end to the good ‘ol boy network that had run Houston since – well forever. Whitmire served five terms finally losing to Bob Lanier in 1991. She has never run for office again.
From the Annals of Revolution – In 1835, an expedition led by George Fisher and José Antonio Mexía unsuccessfully assaulted the Mexican garrison at Tampico. The Tampico Expedition was launched in response to Antonio López de Santa Anna’s repudiation of the Constitution of 1824. The expedition sailed from New Orleans on the schooner Mary Jane on November 6. The Mary Jane ran aground off Tampico on November 14. Mexía attacked the city on November 15 and was soundly defeated. The remaining rebels retreated aboard the American schooner Halcyon , which arrived back in Texas on December 3. Thirty-one prisoners were left at Tampico. All either died from wounds or were executed.
Photo of George Fisher from Texas A&M.
From the Annals of the Revolution – In 1835, Texians and a Mexican Army contingent met at the battle of Lipantitlán on the east bank of the Nueces River three miles above San Patricio in San Patricio County, directly across from Fort Lipantitlán. A Texas force of around seventy men under Adjutant Ira J. Westover engaged a Mexican force of about ninety men under Capt. Nicolás Rodríguez. Reports were that the battle lasted thirty-two minutes, leaving twenty-eight Mexicans dead, including Lt. Marcellino García, second in command. The Texans suffered only one casualty, when a rifle ball cut off three of the fingers on William Bracken’s right hand. Red always questions these lop-sided reports of results, but then again the victors write history.
From the Annals of School Financing – In 1920, voters ratified the Better Schools Amendment to the Constitution of 1876. The amendment removed limits on school district tax rates and was intended to ease the state’s share of school financing. Supporters of the Amendment also hoped it would increase equality in school conditions by enabling each district to improve its facilities. The impact of the amendment was erratic. By 1923, there was a 51 percent increase in overall local taxes for school districts support for public schools. Yet, many school districts refused to increase tax rates and continued to rely on the state as their primary source of financing. The problems caused by the Amendment persist today as the reliance on local property taxes for the majority of public school financing has created great inequity between rich and poor school districts leading the Legislature to enact the very controversial Robin Hood school financing plan.
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