Moments in Time is a collection of recovered newspaper briefs and other publications, compiled by local historian, Steve Hathcock, offering a look back at the history of the Rio Grande Valley.
Steve Hathcock is a local historian and a regular columnist for the Port Isabel South Padre Press. He has spent many years collecting and sharing the history of the Rio Grande Valley, as well as treasure hunting and formerly owning an Island-based bookstore.
Treaty With England?
The Republic of Texas has concluded a treaty with England, in which it has been agreed: that in the event that through the mediation of Her Britannic Majesty, thirty days after this agreement shall have been brought to the attention of the Mexican government by England, an indefinite armistice between Mexico and Texas takes place, and if within the period of six months after notification thereof has been given to Mexico, a peace treaty were to be concluded with Texas, that the Republic of Texas will then assume and pay a portion of the foreign debt of the Republic of Mexico, contracted before January 1, 1835, this portion amounting to the sum of one million pounds sterling.
According to the latest reports from Texas, all fear of an invasion by the Mexicans seemed to have disappeared. A certain Mr. Webb has been dispatched to Mexico by the government to negotiate the independence of Texas.
(De Curaçaosche Courant · Sat, Jul 24, 1841 · (Willemstad, Punda, Curaçao)
Editor’s Note: This third and final attempt by President Mirabeau B. Lamar’s administration to secure Mexican recognition of Texas independence ended in complete failure. James Webb, newly appointed Minister Plenipotentiary, entered the port of Veracruz aboard the Texas Navy schooner San Bernard in an attempt to initiate a permanent peace treaty that would acknowledge the Rio Grande as Texas’s southern boundary, Webb was authorized to offer as much as $5,000,000 for the disputed territory. But a group of centralist Mexican officials not only refused to meet him, but they also denied him permission to land ignoring all overtures of peace. Webb returned to Texas empty-handed. The issue dragged on for several years until a war was fought.
The New York Herald says:—”All the trade restrictions of the war having been removed from the late rebellious States, including Arkansas, Western Louisiana, and Texas, we may soon expect large arrivals of cotton on the seaboard en route for England. There are probably about as many as 2,000,000 bales of cotton scattered about in holes and corners throughout the South, and those who have it to sell and those who are seeking to buy should assist each other in bringing it out; and for the relief of the Southern people the government in every available way should assist them in getting their cotton to market, and every other staple of Southern produce they may have to exchange for bread and clothing. The necessities of the suffering Southern people are urgent and call for immediate relief. Thousands of those people are famishing while the means of relief are all around them, needing only purchasers and bread and clothing in exchange.”
(The Bangkok Recorder · Sep 01, 1865 · (Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand))
Port Isabel’s Gulf Cafeteria Shifted
PORT ISABEL—Gulf Cafe, operated for the past five years by Alfred Kampik in the building on Powers street near the city pier, was moved Friday to the modern building just completed across the street. A hardwood dance floor and fluorescent lighting throughout are interesting features of the new building, constructed by J. M. Sullivan, contractor. Valley (Morning Star Mon, Mar 02, 1942)
Editor’s Note: The original building was eventually demolished to make way for the Queen Isabella Causeway. Locals remembered it fondly as a community hangout before its removal.