Soy de Duval

While Pan de Campo has had a long and successful run, it is no longer at the end of San Diego’s long hot summers. As it turns out, fiestas in San Diego have come and gone for years. In fact, Pan de Campo was a recreation of earlier fiestas . Those early fiestas were not too different from those of today. In 1889, the Fiesta was scheduled to start in San Diego on August 1 and would run for two weeks, “or as long as they can make it pay.” Three men and boys cut weeds and high grass that was growing at the plaza which looked more like a cow pasture. If nothing else, the fiestas got the plaza cleaned up.  The workers put up lottery and refreshment booths, and “carcaman or chucklelock” tables, which most likely were tubs to ice down beer and refreshments. Four weeks later, the fiesta was still going strong as the cotton picking was in full swing. Cotton farming in the area was strong enough to give rise to a second gin and mill in San Diego; it was quite a sight as folks came int...

The New York Times of February 14, 1889 reported that a wealthy Spaniard died a suspicious death in San Diego. James E. W. Herrera, who came to Duval County from northern Texas, died on February 13 because of poisoning. Authorities ruled-out suicide and were investigating the death as a murder, but had no suspects. The newspaper made no mention as to why or whom Herrera was visiting in San Diego. Not all the news from the spring of 1889 was as ominous. Father Pedro Bard officiated at a church wedding between Benjamin Everett, the youngest son of the late Capt. Jack Everett, and Amanda Oliveira, the daughter of Antonio Oliveira. Padrino John Buckley and madrina Maria Lina Carter led the bridal party. The Oliveiras’ hosted a wedding supper at their residence. Father Bard had two more weddings scheduled and George Bodet returned from Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The local economy, meanwhile, was undergoing a shift. The sheep industry had been the underpinning of the Duval County economy,...

The Botas and G uaraches continued to be active for some time in Duval County. It should be noted that this movement was not peculiar to Duval County. Similar parties existed in Webb and Zapata Counties and perhaps others. In 1912, a significant event occurred in Duval County in which three Anglos shut and killed three Mexican Americans outside the courthouse. Many attribute this incident to the birth of the Parr machine. The Botas and Guaraches were probably no longer active, but the Conjunto La Suerte De Sam Y Martina recorded a corridor entitled “ Una Injusticia En Duval” , which relates the events of 1912 and attributed them to the Botas and Guaraches. This is probably a stretch but the depiction of events is generally in keeping with history and the song is entertaining. The song is available from Amazon for 89 ¢ and it is well worth it. Thanks to Armando Gonzalez for putting me on to this corridor .

The election of 1888 continued to rile folks long after Election Day. But in December the community took a deep breath to enjoy the Christmas season. Father Bard celebrated the midnight Mass or misa de gallo to a full church with more than half of the town in attendance and many standing outside of church because it was packed. After Mass, the people enjoyed some eggnog and a fireworks display of shooting rockets, Roman candles, and firecrackers. There was also plenty of drinking, but no one got into trouble. The next day, on Christmas, the Gun Club held a shooting match in which Juan Puig was the subject of everyone’s jokes after he missed all his shots. Townspeople also enjoyed some horse races and had the choice of two or three dances, one put on by John Buckley, Jr. for the young people and another by Willie Rallston at the old Spann Building. Bad weather did not keep people away from a New Year’s dance at the Garfield House. Even though the streets were in terrible condition, m...

The 1888 election was not the first controversial election in the county, and certainly not the last. It set out important markers for future politicians, and no doubt provided important lessons to an aspiring politician named Archie Parr who had recently arrived in the county. Newspaper accounts and the public record are somewhat confusing as to what ultimately transpired with the legal challenges. Take, for example, the office of county judge. In the summer, when the Botas were first organized, newspapers reported that the new party had nominated J. W. Parkham for county judge. After the election, Juan Zardiente reported to the Laredo Daily Times that Bota candidate Julian Palacios was elected county judge. The commissioners court certified the incumbent Guarache James Luby as county judge. The Handbook of Texas says that J. W. Moses contested the election all the way to the Supreme Court and was named county judge. The election records at the state archives have corrected retur...