This Week in Duval County History, May 6 — May 12
POSTED BY: CARDENAS.AE@GMAIL.COM MAY 6, 2019
May 6
On May 6, the Corpus Christi Caller reported on Cinco de Mayo in Benavides, including a twenty-one gun salute and sounds of artillery reverberated and U. S. and Mexican flags were raised in the center of the main plaza and shouts of the multitude assembled were heard in celebration of Cinco de Mayo. Speeches were made about heroism and valor of Mexican troops.
Grand Marshall led the parade, following grand marshall was the Benavides silver cornet band; Benavides Rifle Club; in uniform as color guards, two benevolent associations, Mexican veterans, Piedras Pinta’s brass band, citizens in carriages and on foot. The procession moved along principal streets. All businesses and residents decorated with flowers, laurels, and bunting. The parade stopped at the main plaza. Magnificent repast served upon long tables – venison, ham, turkey, beef, mutton, and many others. Delicious wine flowed freely.
May 7
Because of extreme drought, sheep raisers in the vicinity of San Diego moved their flocks to the Nueces and at water holes nearer to the coast. Between Las Borregas and Concepcion there was 50,000 head of sheep congregated at several watering holes. San Diego and Piedra Pintas had been without rain for some months and many of the sheep and cattle raisers were watering their stocks from wells.
Galveston Daily News, May 7, 1876
May 8
Rumors that rocks taken from Piedras Pintas Valley has silver and lead driving up land prices. Rock being broken by oil well drilling covered with oil, raising hopes for the find.
Corpus Christi Caller, May 17, 1901
May 9
At Piedras Pintas Lili Molina and Sam Longoria, cousins, came to blows and Lili was getting best of the fight, knocked Sam to ground with a left hand, Sam took out a knife from his pocket and stabbed Lili twice. Dr. Feuille came from San Diego and dressed the wound. Lili is up and around and joking as usual. He thought they were joking around. Thought to be the best workers in Pct. 2. Always treat each other like brothers. No charges. Have been hoeing cotton all day.
Corpus Christi Caller, May 11, 1900
May 10
On May 10, the Corpus Christi Caller reported that Fiestas in San Diego opened to a drum beat, horns tooting and cannonball fire. Continued all day with a grand ball that night. Professor Pueblo’s academy performed speeches, music, essays, etc. Long Hall was decorated at each end with pictures of great man, Gen. Ygnacio Zaragoza, victor at Puebla on May 5, 1862; President Benito Juarez, Hidalgo, and Washington. The afternoon program at Plaza grounds included speeches – one by Sr. Garza “Brother Editor” of Corpus Christi. Viva Mexico and Viva Mexicanos heard all day. No drinks, no alcohol, no fight, no one hurt, no one cheated, no disturbance.
May 11
On May 10, as bells rang “throngs of white-robed girls were seen emerging from every part of town and flocking towards the church already filled.” A new mission chapel was blessed in Falfurrias (Starr County) bringing the number of missions under San Diego to 10.
The Southern Messenger, May 11, 1905
May 12
On May 12, 1860, The Ranchero of Corpus Christi reported that San Diego had running streams only during wet seasons. At ordinary times they furnish a succession of watering holes, fed by springs, affording sufficient supply of water for large droves of horses and meat cattle, grazing near their banks, which are generally skirted with a belt of elm, ash, live oak, hackberry, and mesquite. Water can generally be had by digging wells and building water tanks. Good sheep raising country as well as cattle. High and rolling country. Interesting fossil remains have been found. It is possible that valuable minerals may exist in Duval County. There are a number of large stock raising establishments called ranchos, all prosperous. Large carts are arriving from the interior of Mexico laden with wool and returning with merchandise. Unobstructed roads to all points on Rio Grande, Eagle Pass, Rio Grande City, Laredo. Provides enough water and pasture for travelers.
4 COMMENTSON "THIS WEEK IN DUVAL COUNTY HISTORY, MAY 6 — MAY 12"
Lauro Garza | May 8, 2019 at 3:33 am | Reply
Much gratitude for your historical research and it’s very valuable insight into the daily events of the past.cardenas.ae@gmail.com | May 8, 2019 at 11:49 am | Reply
Thank you, Lauro. Glad you are enjoying them.Marco A Pineyro | May 8, 2019 at 12:58 am | Reply
Can you find out what the interesting fossils were?
Marco, I will have a chapter in my upcoming book, Soy de Duval, the Nineteenth Century History of Duval County, Texas, on the Prehistory of Duval County. I will address what I know about this. Be on the lookout for its release late this year or early 2020. Thanks.
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