This is part one of a two part episode, involving El Gringo Viejo and his daughter's Father-in-law

Consuegro,

     We had thought that we could be back in communication earlier, but it seems that I am confounded at every turn.  We were hoping to be able to pick up more confinable information about San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato....which finally, we have.  But, your communique' from the day before yesterday about being involved, as was I, with the activities surrounding the really big pair of earthquakes of 1985.   You recall probably that there were two massive quakes, one during the early morning (for Chilangos) of the first day, and then another about 26 hours later of only slightly lesser magnitude.   I remember clearly that the first estimates of intensity were almost all in the area of 9.1 or a little higher.  Over the years, for some reason, that measurement seems to have diminished to more "reasonable" impossible levels, such as 8.2 - 8.5 or thereabouts.   It was pretty well agreed that the second temblor was slightly less intense than the first.

     My arrival was on the train, in the morning of the day after the first shock.  Unbeknownst to those of us travelling on the train from Monterrey, the second event occurred about an hour before our arrival.    The train, EL REGIOMONTANO, normally arrived about 30 to 40 minutes late, but on this day, we went in about 90 to 100 minutes late.   Frankly, I was surprised that we were that timely.   I transferred over to the Hotel Emporio area, looking for any sign of the condition of that hotel on the Paseo de la Reforma.   That is when I managed to begin my search for the brother of the Bellman at the Hotel Ancira in Monterrey, who had given me a considerable amount of money to deliver to his brother, if possible.   It still astounds me that the first person I asked about being able to find Sr. So-an-So, just happened to be Sr. So-and-So.  I had to ask him if he could give me (a) the name of his brother in Monterrey and (b) his own telephone number and place of employment.   (It is best to include here that the Mexico City brother was adopted into the family and therefore had no resemblance to his Monterrey brother.   The Monterrey brother had told me about that)

     I delivered the money to the Hotel Emporio bellman - brother, and on my return to Monterrey later had to refuse a gratuity from the Monterrey brother for complying with my duty.   After walking away from the Hotel Emporio about four blocks I finally grabbed a cab to the Hotel Alameda where I had my reservations.  While paying the taxi-driver, the first taxi-driver honked from his place at the stop light in the mix of traffic, and I recognised him and waved.   The light changed and he came over, with a fare in the back, and said "If you need anything, just call this number and ask for "Roberto"....I told him that I was going to change and shower and find a bite to eat, and then it would be nice if he could stop at this same place at 15:00 hours, en punto, and give me a drive around the centre of the city.    He assured me he would be at the front door waiting.

    All those things transpired, and incredibly enough, at 15:00 hours, I presented myself at the front of the Hotel Aristos, briefcase in hand, and armed with a camera, of all things.   My driver arrived with almost exact precision.  I told him that it would be appreciated if we could go where crews were digging out and trying to locate survivors and casualties, and to the Nuevo Leon Condo federal housing project....where there were four very high, ugly, stylistic public housing / apartment buildings.   I think they were about 30 stories each.   One collapsed totally, with an estimated 2,000 people killed inside.   The others remained standing, with only minor, superficial damage. 

     Even after driving around for about three hours, stopping here and there to take pictures, and bear witness.....even helping to carry concrete blocks in the "block brigade" volunteer groups several times....it began to dawn on me that, in reality, 97% of the very centre of Mexico City, the worst hit part of the metropolis, was still intact.  Much was still functioning....water, electricity, even traffic lights and such.   As we made our way back to the Hotel Alameda, for instance, we came to a stop at the base of the Torre LatinoAmerica, the Empire State Building of Mexico so to speak.  It is about 44 stories of steel and glass, with another 600 feet of antennas and lighting on top, and since the mid-1950s until fairly recently, was the tallest building in Mexico and Latin America.  It has survived with essentially no damage, four very major earthquakes.

     While stopped, and waiting for a traffic light to change, I noticed a manila folder that had been Scotch-taped to the inside of a ground-floor heavy glass wall-window.    On the manila folder had been written "ANTES" (before).   The window had a small amount of damage, apparently from an errant automobile that had jumped the curb somehow and struck a glancing blow at the very thick glass.   My driver confirmed this, stating that it had been a collision between a motorcyclist and a "pesero" (jitney cab) three days before.    I thought it to be a noble thing that the staff of one of the tenants of the illustrious building felt moved to protect the honour of the "Old Girl".

 MY LAMENT:

     The problem with all of this is that upon return to Texas, I needed to talk to some folks who ran a nice little weekly newspaper a few miles from McAllen.  When I showed them the pictures of my "adventure in the ruins" of Mexico City, they asked me to write up an article about my observations and experiences.   I complied, and was awarded a few copies to take to family and friends.   The only thing wrong with all of that is I cannot find any copies here.   It is a real shame that I did not take better care of the copy.   Perhaps it will turn up some day....

To-morrow, the rest of the story.

DCN I

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Just saying

     Why haven’t we heard more about them? National Park Service historian, Ed Bearrs, stated,  “I don’t want to call it a conspiracy to ignore the role of Blacks both above and below the Mason-Dixon line, but it was definitely a tendency,  which began around 1910.”  Historian, Erwin L. Jordan, Jr., calls it a “cover-up” which started back in 1865. He writes, “During my research, I came across instances where Black men stated they were soldiers, but you can plainly see where ‘soldier’ is crossed out and ‘body servant’ inserted, or ‘teamster’ on pension applications.” Another black historian, Roland Young, says he is not surprised that blacks fought. He explains that “…some, if not most, Black southerners would support their country” and that by doing so they were “demonstrating it’s possible to hate the system of slavery and love one’s country.” This is the very same reaction that most African Americans showed during the American Revolution, where they fought for the colonies, even though the British offered them freedom if they fought for them. 

    It has been estimated that over 65,000 Southern blacks were in the Confederate ranks.  Over 13,000 of these, “saw the elephant” also known as meeting the enemy in combat. These Black Confederates included both slave and free.  The Confederate Congress did not approve blacks to be officially enlisted as soldiers (except as musicians), until late in the war.  But in the ranks it was a different story.  Many Confederate officers did not obey the mandates of politicians, they frequently enlisted blacks with the simple criteria; “Will you fight?”   Historian Ervin Jordan, explains that “biracial units” were frequently organized “by local Confederate and State militia Commanders in response to immediate threats in the form of Union raids…”.  Dr. Leonard Haynes,  an African-American professor at Southern University, stated, “When you eliminate the black Confederate soldier, you’ve eliminated the history of the South.”

1. The “Richmond Howitzers” were partially manned by black militiamen. They saw action at 1st Manassas (or 1st Battle of Bull Run) where they operated battery no. 2. In addition two black “regiments”, one free and one slave, participated in the battle on behalf of the South.   “Many colored people were killed in the action”, recorded John Parker, a former slave.

2. At least one Black Confederate was a non-commissioned officer. James Washington, Co. D 34^th Texas Cavalry, “Terrell’s Texas Cavalry” became it’s 3^rd Sergeant. In comparison, The highest-ranking Black Union soldier during the war was a Sergeant Major.

3. Free black musicians, cooks, soldiers and teamsters earned the same pay as white confederate privates. This was not the case in the Union army where blacks did not receive equal pay. At the Confederate Buffalo Forge in Rockbridge County, Virginia, skilled black workers “earned on average three times the wages of white Confederate soldiers and more than most Confederate army officers ($350-$600 a year).

4. Dr. Lewis Steiner, Chief Inspector of the United States Sanitary Commission while observing Gen. “Stonewall” Jackson’s occupation of Frederick, Maryland, in 1862: “Over 3,000 Negroes must be included in this number [Confederate troops]. These were clad in all kinds of uniforms, not only in cast-off or
   captured United States uniforms, but in coats with Southern buttons, State buttons, etc.
   These were shabby, but not shabbier or seedier than those worn by white men in the rebel
   ranks. Most of the Negroes had arms, rifles, muskets, sabers, bowie-knives, dirks, etc.,
   and were manifestly an integral portion of the Southern Confederate Army.
   
   

5. Frederick Douglas reported, “There are at the present moment many Colored men in the Confederate Army doing duty not only as cooks, servants and laborers, but real soldiers, having musket on their shoulders, and bullets in their pockets, ready to shoot down any loyal troops and do all that soldiers may do to destroy the Federal government and build up that of the rebels.”

6. Black and white militiamen returned heavy fire on Union troops at the Battle of Griswoldsville (near Macon, GA). Approximately 600 boys and elderly men were killed in this skirmish.

7. In 1864, President Jefferson Davis approved a plan that proposed the emancipation of slaves, in return for the official recognition of the Confederacy by Britain and France. France showed interest but Britain refused.

8. The Jackson Battalion included two companies of black soldiers. They saw combat at Petersburg under Col. Shipp. “My men acted with utmost promptness and goodwill…Allow me to state sir that they behaved in an extraordinary acceptable manner.”

9. Recently the National Park Service, with a recent discovery, recognized that blacks were asked to help defend the city of Petersburg, Virginia and were offered their freedom if they did so. Regardless of their official classification, black Americans performed support functions that in today’s army many would be classified as official military service. The successes of white Confederate troops in battle, could only have been achieved with the support these loyal black Southerners." 
10.   Confederate General John B. Gordon (Army of Northern Virginia) reported that all of his troops were in favor of Colored troops and that it’s adoption would have “greatly encouraged the army”. Gen. Lee was anxious to receive regiments of black soldiers. The Richmond Sentinel reported on 24 Mar 1864, “None…will deny that our servants are more worthy of respect than the motley hordes, which come against us.” “Bad faith [to black Confederates] must be avoided as an indelible dishonor.”

11. In March 1865, Judah P. Benjamin, Confederate Secretary Of State, promised freedom for blacks that served from the State of Virginia. Authority for this was finally received from the State of Virginia and on April 1st 1865, $100 bounties were offered to black soldiers. Benjamin exclaimed, “Let us say to every Negro who wants to go into the ranks, go and fight, and you are free…Fight for your masters and you shall have your freedom.” Confederate Officers were ordered to treat them humanely and protect them from “injustice and oppression”.

12. A quota was set for 300,000 black soldiers for the Confederate States Colored Troops. 83% of Richmond’s male slave population volunteered for duty. A special ball was held in Richmond to raise money for uniforms for these men. Before Richmond fell, black Confederates in gray uniforms drilled in the streets. Due to the war ending, it is believed only companies or squads of these troops ever saw any action. Many more black soldiers fought for the North, but that difference was simply a difference because the North instituted this progressive policy more soon than the more conservative South. Black soldiers from both sides received discrimination from whites that opposed the concept.

13. Union General U.S. Grant in Feb 1865, ordered the capture of “all the Negro men… before the enemy can put them in their ranks.” Frederick Douglas warned Lincoln that unless slaves were guaranteed freedom (those in Union controlled areas were still slaves) and land bounties, “they would take up arms for the rebels”.

14. On April 4, 1865 (Amelia County, VA), a Confederate supply train was exclusively manned and guarded by black Infantry. When attacked by Federal Cavalry, they stood their ground and fought off the charge, but on the second charge they were overwhelmed. These soldiers are believed to be from “Major Turner’s” Confederate command.

15. A Black Confederate, George _____, when captured by Federals was bribed to desert to the other side. He defiantly spoke, “Sir, you want me to desert, and I ain’t no deserter. Down South, deserters disgrace their families and I am never going to do that.”
16. Former slave, Horace King, accumulated great wealth as a contractor to the Confederate Navy. He was also an expert engineer and became known as the “Bridge builder of the Confederacy.” One of his bridges was burned in a Yankee raid. His home was pillaged by Union troops, as his wife pleaded for mercy.

17. As of Feb. 1865 1,150 black seamen served in the Confederate Navy. One of these was among the last Confederates to surrender, aboard the CSS Shenandoah, six months after the war ended. This surrender took place in England.

18. Nearly 180,000 Black Southerners, from Virginia alone, provided logistical support for the Confederate military. Many were highly skilled workers. These included a wide range of jobs: nurses, military engineers, teamsters, ordnance department workers, brakemen, firemen, harness makers, blacksmiths, wagonmakers, boatmen, mechanics, wheelwrights, etc. In the 1920’S Confederate pensions were finally allowed to those workers that were still living.  Many thousands more served in other Confederate States.

19. During the early 1900’s, many members of the United Confederate Veterans (UCV) advocated awarding former slaves rural acreage and a home. There was hope that justice could be given those slaves that were once promised “forty acres and a mule” but never received any. In the 1913 Confederate Veteran magazine published by the UCV, it was printed that this plan “If not Democratic, it is [the] Confederate” thing to do. There was much gratitude toward former slaves, which “thousands were loyal, to the last degree”, now living with total poverty of the big cities.   Unfortunately, their proposal fell on deaf ears on Capitol Hill.

20. During the 5oth Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1913, arrangements were made for a joint reunion of Union and Confederate veterans. The commission in charge of the event made sure they had enough accommodations for the black Union veterans, but were completely surprised when unexpected black Confederates arrived. The white Confederates immediately welcomed their old comrades, gave them one of their tents, and “saw to their every need”. Nearly every Confederate reunion including those blacks that served with them, wearing the grey.

21. The first military monument in the US Capitol that honors an African-American soldier is the Confederate monument at Arlington National cemetery. The monument was designed 1914 by Moses Ezekiel, a Jewish Confederate, who wanted to correctly portray the “racial makeup” in the Confederate Army. A black Confederate soldier is depicted marching in step with white Confederate soldiers.  Also shown is one “white soldier giving his child to a black woman for protection”. – Source: Edward Smith, African American professor at the American University, Washington DC.

22. Black Confederate heritage is beginning to receive the attention it deserves. For instance, Terri Williams, a black journalist for the Suffolk “Virginia Pilot” newspaper, writes: “I’ve had to re-examine my feelings toward the [Confederate] flag…It started when I read a newspaper article about an elderly black man whose ancestor worked with the Confederate forces. The man spoke with pride about his family member’s contribution to the cause, was photographed with the [Confederate] flag draped over his lap…that’s why I now have no definite stand on just what the flag symbolizes, because it no longer is their history, or my history, but our history.”

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    This listing is partial, and does not include other lore and fact.  For instance, the fact that the much maligned Lt. Gen. (retired) Nathan Bedford Forrest, while roundly condemned by present-day pontificators about things Confederate and Southern, was the principal donor to the establishment of the first Law School especially for the "coloured" in Tennessee.  Forrest was also somewhat vilified by various members of Memphis and western Tennessee society as being what we would call to-day, a liberal do-gooder.   These complaints did not deter the General from his activities in the area of social and cultural improvement for the Black Folks .

     The OROGs may remember Forrest, also, from my accounts about his 42 member "Praetorian Guard" who were recruited from among Forrest's own slaves.  They all volunteered and served through the duration, incredibly, without one fatal casualty.   Such a record is probably not repeated among the ranks of Corp Level commands of light cavalry units.

Thanks as usual for your time and attention.

El Gringo Viejo

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(001) 1960 Floyd Cramer / Last Date

    This is one of the very most important, unsung influences that guided El Gringo Viejo during his days as a pre-delinquent, preppie, and self-consumed pseudo-pianist.

     We have placed this here because the mother of our daughter-in-law has a son who is succeeding in becoming an accomplished gentleman.  He is accomplished and very civilised on many fronts, and will be the cause of scores of heartaches among the gentler sex. He is...like my son-in-law and son in many ways....very handsome.

Thanks for your time and interest.
El Gringo Viejo

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A Fellow Anglican of the Orthodox persuasion forwarded this to the attention of the Girngo Viejo. It's publication positively implies positive endorsement

Thought you might like to read this letter to the editor of a British national newspaper. Ever notice how some people just seem to know how to write a letter? 

Here is a woman who should run for Prime Minister! 

   The above introduction comes from a woman who has always backed the dull  and boring notions expressed in the ancient Anglican Rites and the ancient expressions of Human Values as noted in the 1556 English Book of Common Prayer and the preamble of the Constitution  of the United States of America, and the Declaration of Independence of the American Colonists en contra of the whims and notions of a popular and brilliant and really bad King of the British Empire, King George III.   Had he left us alone, I and all of mine, save for my Spanish Queen and mother and grandmother of our pod, we would have been all speaking with a very British accent.  

Written by a British housewife to her daily newspaper: 

    Are we fighting a war on terror or aren't we? Was it or was it not started by Islamic people who brought it to our shores in July 2002, and in  New York Sept 11, 2001 and have continually threatened to do so since?

  

    Were people from all over the world, not brutally murdered that day in  Washington , and in downtown  Manhattan , and in a field in Pennsylvania ?

I DO NOT CARE!!!!!!

           

Did nearly three thousand men, women and children die a horrible, burning or crushing death that day, or didn't they? 

I DO NOT CARE!!!

    And I'm supposed to care that a few Taliban were claiming to be tortured by a justice system of the nation they come from and are fighting against in a brutal insurgency.

 GUESS WHAT?   I DO NOT CARE!!!! 

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    I'll care about the Koran when the fanatics in the Middle East start caring about the Holy Bible, the mere belief of which is a crime punishable by beheading in  Afghanistan !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

  

     I'll care when these thugs tell the world they are sorry for hacking off Nick Berg's head while Berg screamed through his gurgling slashed throat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  

    I'll care when the cowardly so-called 'insurgents' in  Afghanistan come out and fight like men instead of disrespecting their own religion by hiding in mosques and behind women and children.!!!!!!

 

  

    I'll care when the mindless zealots who blow themselves up in search of Nirvana care about the innocent children within range of their suicide bombs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

  

    I'll care when the British media stops pretending that their freedom of speech on stories is more important than the lives of the soldiers on the ground or their families waiting at home to hear about them when something happens. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

    In the mean-time, when I hear a story about a British soldier roughing up an Insurgent terrorist to obtain information, know this: 

  

I don't care. 

  

When I see a wounded terrorist get shot in the head when he is told not to move because he might be booby-trapped, you can take this to the bank: 

  

I don't care. 

  

When I hear that a prisoner - who was issued a Koran and a prayer mat, and 'fed special food' that is paid for by my taxes - is complaining that his holy book is being 'mishandled,' you can absolutely believe in your heart of hearts: 

  

I don't care. 

  

And oh, by the way, I've noticed that sometimes it's spelled 'Koran' and other times 'Quran..' Well, believe me!! you guessed it ............. 

  

I don't care!! 

  

If you agree with this viewpoint, pass this on to all your E-mail friends. Sooner or later, it'll get to the people responsible for this ridiculous behaviour! 

  

If you don't agree, then by all means hit the delete button. Should you choose the latter, then please don't complain when more atrocities committed by radical Muslims happen here in our great country! And may I add: 

  

'Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. Our soldiers don't have that problem.' 

  

I have another quote that I would like to add, AND........ I hope you forward all this. 

  

Only six defining forces have ever offered to die for you: 

  

1. Jesus Christ 

  

2. The British Soldier. 

  

3. The Canadian Soldier. 

  

4. The  US Soldier 

  

5. The  New Zealand Soldier, and 

  

6. The Australian Soldier 

  

One died for your soul, the other 5 for your freedom!!!

 

  

YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET ABOUT ALL OF THEM.  

AMEN!’

GIVE THIS LADY A STANDING OVATION. 

Isn't it interesting that so many people in the Western World feel this way, but not one of our politicians, who are supposed to represent us, ever have the guts to state the situation like it is?

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     The British Lady forgets, and perhaps misunderstands the need, even in our ire, to recruit and welcome,  those of the third group of the three Abrahamic Religions...such as the doctor who advised the Americans that Usama bin Laden was at such and such a place in Pakistan.   He died because of this....as have many Moslems for similar "offences".   Obama released the information that allowed him to be imprisoned and murdered. 

       This takes nothing away from what the British lady, and our friend at the ANGLICAN CURMUDGEON's  site, because it is a 97 - 103 per cent  reflection of my own sincerest beliefs and knowledge.  The woman who forwarded this above-included transmission is a great-niece of William  Barret Travis and no admirer of her uncle.  She is a very serious Christian woman and thinker of clear and profound mind. 

      As a student and warrior....please understand...the time for "choice" has long passed.    The radical Islamic terrorists will kill any Jew, Christian, and perhaps even more especially, the Moslem who cleaves upon the word of the ancient Faith.  Remember that the "Moslem Apostle and Prophet" most mentioned in the Koran is a Jew carpenter from  Nazareth who was also a physician and rabbi.   The highest Saint in the Islamic orders among females  is a woman named Mary who birthed out that most mentioned Saint, Jesus of Nazareth.

     To my Moslem friends....you have a home...not here....but in your homeland.....and you have my respect.   All who accept the Word, rendered and fulfilled by the prophets, should be accepted by the union of believers.  Let us argue, laugh, cry, move to the next time when we can again argue, laugh, cry without having had our daughters mutilated, women massacred, and Jews / Christians treated as garbage.

AS DO THE CONSERVATIVE, TRADITIONAL ORTHODOX CHRISTIANS OF THE NOT DISTANT TIME WOULD SAY, UPON A SNEEZE, "GOD BLESS YOU"!!  AND THE ANCIENT ROMAN CATHOLIC AND OTHER ORTHODOX WOULD SAY, "INTERVENGA JESUS!!!!"  (intervene you, Jesus), YOUR humble servant retires to write a bit more about things ephemeral and physical.  Thanks to Maxine, a sainted person, and to the rest of the now-considerable OROG community.

El Gringo Viejo

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Back Home Again

We are recovering from a fairly boring and uneventful stay at our "little mud hut" in Nowhere, Mexico, adjacent to the the Sierra Madre Oriental.   The recent stay began with our drive down, I believe on the 9th of September, 2017. Everything went in good order until my having a blowout of the right-rear tire of my little run-about KIA after completing 91.5% of the journey to our home in Nowhere.   This was a bit of an inconvenience, but luckily, we were less than one kilometre (about 5/8ths of a mile) from an OXXO (private) convenience store and PEMEX gasoline and diesel  dispenser (still government owned).   So your humble servant decided to continue to the beacon in the distance, instead of stopping on the side of the major Frontier - Capital City highway connection.

     As we motored in....with the right-rear area of the motor-car making all nature of protests and  loud "clappity, clappity, clappity" sounds, a couple of young fellows took note of the matter and began to approach.  One....the very rotund one....declared, "Ay! Señor, tiene Usted tiene un problema con la llanta tracera!!!:   (Hey! Sir! You have a really bad rear flat tire!)"

     I confirmed my knowledge of the blowout, and also suggested that it would be good to find a "vulcanizadora" (a Mexicanality, found throughout Mexico, who fix tires at very low cost, for travellers, truckers, and extraterrestrials), although the boys immediately declared....."Well, until Ciudad  Victoria....but here, there are none."   That immediately left the issue to "THE DOUGHNUT".  Most OROGs know that the "doughnut" is a useless spare of very inadequate strength which is used when the iceberg has floated away and the Titanic is already hopelessly sinking.    And before the OROG begins to think  that the boys were trying to "gain" me, there really is no good, reliable "vulcanizador" in the Old Guemez (first capital of Tamaulipas) area.

     But your humble servant is a Texian, and the Mexican boys confronting me, as usual, seemed concerned.  With my familiarity with the people of the area and with my own inadequacies, it was deemed necessary to advance with a tire change.   To-morrow would be the time to send for a "real tire" in Ciudad Victoria and have it brought to the Quinta Tesoro de la Sierra Madre.   Of course, the Hacendado (owner) of the Hacienda de la Vega happened to be available, took my "ultra-preferred" card and bought the necessary replacement, had it rimmed, balanced, and blessed and then brought it to the Quinta Tesoro de la Sierra Madre.

     We had a bit of any issue when I suggested that I had given the fat-boy (5'-11" - 300 pounds) who did all the work of extracting the "dough-nut" etc. and putting me back in motion, 100 pesos. The Hacendado was distressed because the work could be valued at 50 or 60 pesos, at the most.   Such is the nature of the traditional, and white, extreme upper-middle class and aristocracy of Mexico....whose blood is found in abundance in the veins of my neighbour.  And, of this, I would not change a thing.

     As a Southerner and Confederate, I would hope that the boy who did the work on my right-rear wheel area could make 2,000 pesos a day....because his work was clean, correct, and he replaced all of the implements in the correct place, after wiping them down with a cleaning agent.   He also refused payment because "no tenemos letrero...fue mi obligacion"- (we have no sign, it was our obligation as a friend).  All of which was true, but he saved me....and his friend saved me...from having to spend 2,000 pesos to find a taxi to take me to and from Cd. Victoria to find, buy, and return to mount a new tire.

     There will be more about this story in the coming week's "Relaciones de Aventuras in Mexico Rural"  (Tales about Adventures in Rural Mexico).    By the way...the "doughnut failed 3 miles from the Quinta, but another "boy" came to the rescue and a family put me up for an hour or so, and, once on my way, I arrived at the Quinta just an hour and fourty-five minutes later than normal.   Such is Mexico.

More in a little while....we are making a special supper because I cannot remember the date of our anniversary, but it is coming up shortly.  Also, all OROGs, please communicate with us via e-mail, so that we can notify you first....and last.  Our circulation has been peculiarly brisk, lamentably with Red Chinese figures composing about 16% of our contacts,  but we have a serious cyber razor-wire and 14, 000 - volt barbed wire fence around your data and communications. 

El Gringo Viejo

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A Further Statement Concerning Heroes and Veterans......"Benavides Crosses the Rio Grande...." ....heading south?

Benavides crosses Rio Grande in pursuit of Mexican "Unionists"

(one of many of Benavides's military successes)

September 1st, 1863

On this day in 1863, Maj. Santos Benavides, the highest-ranking Mexican American to serve in the Confederacy, led seventy-nine men of the predominantly Tejano Thirty-third Texas Cavalry across the Rio Grande in pursuit of the bandit Octaviano Zapata. Union agents had recruited Zapata, a former associate of Juan N. Cortina, to lead raids into Texas and thus force Confederate troops to remain in the Rio Grande valley rather than participate in military campaigns in the east. Zapata was also associated with Edmund J. Davis, who was conducting Northern-sponsored military activities in the vicinity of Brownsville and Matamoros. For these reasons, and because his men often flew the American flag during their raids, Zapata's band was often referred to as the "First Regiment of Union Troops." Benavides caught up with Zapata on September 2 near Mier, Tamaulipas. After a brief exchange of gunfire, the Zapatistas dispersed, leaving ten men dead, including Zapata. Benavides later defended Laredo against Davis's First Texas Cavalry, and arranged for the safe passage of Texas cotton to Matamoros during the Union occupation of Brownsville. He died at his Laredo home in 1891.

    El Gringo Viejo has always been a big fan of General Benavides and his family.  The town that he founded in the middle of deep South Texas remains to this day a prosperous little place.  It is the scene of considerable oil and gas activity, during boom time and bust.   We shall be doing more tidbits about this famous Texian and Southern hero.

Thanks, as usual, for your time, patience, and interest.

El Gringo Viejo

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