CHAMAL, MEXICO.  Mar. 7, ‘03
ED.  SUN-MONITOR:  -- Thursday night, February 19, found a busy crowd of people at the Rock Island depot in Mangum.  Men with lanterns were seen rushing here and there putting finishing touches to the loading of furniture, wagons, plows and almost every conceivable thing supposed to be needed in a new country.  Finally the order, “load your stock,” was given, then excitement prevailed.  Overton’s horses broke loose, choosing to remain in Mangum now that no more hard drives were to be made in following fugitives from justice or other sheriff’s work, but alas!  As back to their cozy barn was the only place they knew to go, they were speedily located and brought back to be loaded with the measly equine bunch of Blalock’s, which he contemplated beating the Mexican government out of duty on by their dying enroute.  Mr. Garrett got so excited he got his neighbor’s horse instead of his own, leaving his own well-fed roadster to the mercy of an unfriendly Oklahoma buzzard and bringing “Jackson’s best” to the land of sunshine and ticks.

“All aboard,” was called out at 3 a.m. Friday, February 20, and Blalock was somehow considered in charge – an office much to be admired at first, but later could have been bought cheap.

Mr. Duncan, of the Rock Island, was our first “charge de affairs.”  Mr. Duncan is a nice genial fellow and was found ever ready to do anything that would lead to the comfort or enjoyment of his passengers.  Mr. Duncan explained fully to our satisfaction the delay in getting cars.  This was the fault of the Rock Island, but not the local authorities as they were shown telegrams in which Duncan had endeavored to allow the cars first furnished to be used, but Mr. Cannon, the high mogul of the Rock Island, said “no,” and now it is up to Cannon to be “cussed.”  We cannot say very much in praise of the Rock Island except the eight mile an hour pace made by the road insured no great calamity from fast running.  Mr. Duncan was very liberal with our people when collecting fares and but few eight-year-old kid’s teeth were examined to see if the fond mothers had really forgotten their ages.  At Chickasha a telegram was handed the writer asking him to collect all fares due from Fort Worth to Escandon – a request he refused to comply with owing to the fact that he had no safe deposit vault on board and did not quite understand the law on absconding conductors but later receiving another appeal from the railroad officials to do this important piece of work and fearing a more critical examination of the aforesaid kid’s teeth he accepted the trust, and when Fort Worth was reached there was but little to do but change passenger coaches, shake hands with Duncan, thank him for courtesies shown on part of the Rock Island, inspect baggage, &e., &c.

Here we met Joe Miller, who had been sent ahead to get the Pullman sleeper ready for those who had the $3.50 per bunk to give up for the pleasure of inhabiting that antediluvian furniture to Escandon.  Yet with such an ancient affair the Pullman people got very tired of their bargain, owing to the fact we were three times as long on the road as they supposed we would be.  Also our porter, who, by-the-way, lives (thanks to the liberality of the great Pullman corporation) almost wholly by tips from those occupying his coach, got very sick of his job and quit us at Eagle Pass and for two or three days we did our own portering.  Leaving Fort Worth in charge of Mr. Smith, a brother of our own C.A. of Yeldell, we were soon enjoying a Texas downpour of rain which soon gave way for a Kansas norther and overcoats were in demand.  Mr. Smith accompanied us as far as Houston.  As it was an all night’s ride we saw but little of him, but what we did was to know him as a pleasant, accommodating gentleman, ready to show us at all times that his road appreciated our business.  From Houston to San Antonio we were just simply in charge of ourselves as no one except the conductor showed up.  At San Antonio we were met by our own Flanagan with his red vest on and were immediately take in charge of by him, who, while we were enjoying our first stop since leaving Mangum, busied himself showing us the interesting places of the historic Texas town.  Everybody from the boot black to the railroad magnate knew Flanagan and somehow he gets what he asks for, therefore our people fared well while in his charge.

Leaving San Antonio at 3 a.m. we arrived at Eagle Pass at 4 p.m.  Custom officials at once began preparations for the inspection of our belongings.  This work was taken up next morning at 8 a.m. and for three days there was more satisfaction and dissatisfaction in Eagle Pass than could possible be crowded into a city of double the size under any other circumstances.  Boxes, trunks, bags and grip sacks were ruthlessly opened, notwithstanding the owner would much prefer the public eye should not gaze on the contents.  Old faded shirts, whose style has long since gone out of date, but was thought to be good enough to be worn in the Tropics, were exhibited to admiring neighbors.  Pantaloons much bagged at the knees were critically examined by custom officials in their endeavors to decide it they were grain bags or receptacles for bologna sausage.  But this, like many other unpleasant affairs, came at last to an end and a glad goodbye was said to Eagle Pass by the Blalock Mexico Colony, and an equally glad “Audios” was waved to us by the custom officials who are only human beings like the rest of us, only they enjoy a nice fat job.  And while many were displeased as to duties collected, thinking them much too high, etc., we nevertheless realize they were public officials and did only their duty as such, but the thing we found the most difficult to understand was why all the work of inspection done on the Texas side of the river must be gone over again when we cross the river into Mexico.  While we do not attach any blame to the officials in charge, but if such is not done to furnish someone with a nice paying job, then we would like to be shown.

Two days were delightfully spent in C.P. Diaz, during which time our faded wearing apparel was thoroughly aired, both to the fast warming up Mexican sun and the gaze of the descendants of Montezuma.  A very liberal inspection was accorded us by the Mexican custom officials and everything done seemingly that could be done to make our stay as short and comfortable as possible, for which said officials have our thanks and assurance that should they every come our way we will show our appreciation.

Leaving C.P. Diaz February 28 at 8 p.m., via Mexican International railway, with Flanagan now on his own road, still in charge of the train, and more than ever ready to show us that the whole country belonged to him, and we could have the same only for the asking.  An hour and fifty minutes were taken up at Monclova by Mexican customer officials, twenty minutes at Reata for lunch, when we quit the main line, taking the branch to Monterrey, reaching that city at 2 p.m. and were delivered to the Mexican Central at 2:30 p.m., but were not pulled out until 6:30.  These four hours were not enjoyed very much, especially by the ladies, as a cold rain was falling, thus preventing them seeing this old but up-to-date city.  Here E.R. Fletcher, a former resident of Mangum, visited the train, meeting many familiar faces.  We were promised a four o’clock start by the train dispatcher, but for some cause unknown to us we did not start until 6:30 and the Central sent no one in charge of our train.  Flanagan had to insist on having water supplied our cars before leaving Monterey.  The yard master was very insulting when asked for coal and water for the cars.  We cannot believe this was the wish of the Central officials, but would suggest a general cleaning out and not stop with the yardmaster.  Do not know whose fault it was, but three of the coaches made one-half of the trip from Monterey to Escandon without any lights.  This may have been the fault of the slow train, as we were riding on a very slow one, and were laid out two hours meeting a freight train at a siding.  We waited one and a half hours for a passenger train at San Juan, nineteen hours at Montimorelos on account of a wreck, five hours at Victoria waiting for an engine.  Thirty miles back our furniture and stock train had a dead engine and did not overtake us even with the five hours wait.  At Forlorn a wait of two hours was made for a passenger train, here the freight caught up with us much to the delight of wives and mothers who are always anxious about those left behind.  Escandon was finally reached at 5 p.m., then a busy crowd began unloading stock and a camp outfit, as our sleeper and passenger coaches were given up, and our first real introduction to Mexico has begun,

In justice to all the roads we traveled over I will say the Mexican International made the best time by far, and gave us the best service.  The Mexican Central  made the poorest time and by far the worst service and appeared to not care a penny for us knowing it.

GEO. E. BLALOCK

A LATER LETTER FROM BLALOCK

CHAMAL, Saturday. March 14.

We were twelve days on train owing to some unlooked for delay.  No mishaps, however, enroute.  The trip out from Escandon was hard on our people and teams jumping from the frigid to the torrid zone was a little too much for even an Oklahoma hardened emigrant.  Many hardships were consequently in store for us, but about all have gotten out and are somewhat reconciled to their fate.  Every trip out to the country the more pleased our people.  Many nice farms not seen heretofore by the writer have been spied out and noted with much pleasure as a rent proposition.  Several nice farms that were supposed to have been the holdings of the natives have been pointed out as the individual property of the colony and will be used by them this year and will, we trust, be made to produce more than the wooden plow has been able to scratch out of the very liberal soil.

Several trips have been made in search of a town site. One has been located, the which cannot be excelled if water can be had.  A large body of land, semi-prairie, well drained and surrounded by palms except on one side, a creek on each side – the two largest streams on Chamal, very rich black soil, easily cleared and therefore easily put in cultivation.  This will be a great help to those putting in their 20 acre tracts around the town.  A party has gone out today to begin the prospect for a water supply.  When this shall be found we will give you a better description of the coming city.

Our people are reveling in venison and turkey.  Will Baker killed two deer today and two were killed by the boys who are camped on the river two miles south of Rancho Chamal.  This camp is held down by Messrs. Derr, Sweet, Elliott, Shafer and two or three other families.  Every house is filled, only one family to each room and there being two, three and five rooms to a building gives us near neighbors.  Joe Miller, Green Parmer and Geo. Blalock occupy a three-room plaster palm.  Overton, Rodgers, Dr. Porter and Mr. Thompson hold down the best building, the manager’s residence.  The writer was first on the ground but thought to show he was not selfish --  left those rooms to others.  Rest assured his wife does not approve of his magnanimity.  Uncle Talley and Bro. Gorham being considered in need of piety were stored in the church.  Mr. Cole and Nathan Byers being sorely in need of learning, especially Spanish, are housed in the school house. 1800 bushels of corn had been housed and much of this has been used by the management as they are still here and feed and eat. This will only continue a few days, however, as a letter received from George Ingram today says he will have a deed signed in a few days as his power of attorney from everywhere had been received and all would be fixed up as speedily as would be considered safe for a Mexican to transact business.  Will write you from time to time.

GEO. E. BLALOCK