This Date In Texas History - December 26

[joe817]

1820 - Moses Austin, who had met with the Baron de Bastrop in San Antonio, is introduced to the Spanish Governor of Texas, Antonio María Martínez, who gives his endorsement for Austin's plan to bring settlers into Texas. Martínez will pass Austin's plan on to a higher authority .

1836 - General Santa Anna, captured at the Battle of San Jacinto, departs Washington DC and will be taken to Vera Cruz. President Andrew Jackson has furnished a ship to Santa Anna following his eight days in Washington. He had been asked by Texas officials to speak to officials in Washington regarding the Union's recognition of Texas.

1842 - The expeditionary force called the Meir Expedition, outnumbered ten to one, 231Texans surrendered on the banks of the Rio Grande. The captured Texans were sentenced to execution, but Mexican Gen. Pedro de Ampudia reversed the execution decree the following day. For more on this ill fated raid into Mexico: http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/onli ... /qym2.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1874 - Joseph McComb led a party out from Fort Griffin on the first commercial buffalo hunt in Texas. The party consisted of McComb; two assistants, John Jacobs and John W. Poe; and teamsters, skinners, and an ox-drawn wagon. The season's kill brought 2,000 hides, which were marketed at Fort Griffin at $1.50 and $2.00 each. By 1878, the Texas herd was mostly destroyed. The remains of Fort Griffin are still standing in Shackelford county. Fort Griffin is 40 miles northeast of Abilene, and 140 miles west of Fort Worth.

1917 - Fredericksburg and Northern Railway Company was chartered. Because of near impossible grades and right-of-way problems with switchbacks, a 920 ft tunnel had to be built, adding over $130,000 to the cost, all of which was raised by local residents. Today the tunnel is abandoned, but is a favorite spot for watch bats.

1924 - A Houston judge grants Howard Hughes request to be declared a legal adult. Hughes father, Howard Robard Hughes, Sr., founder of Hughes Tool Company died on January 14, 1924 leading to Howard's uncle operating the business until Howard would become 21. Family quarrels led to attorney's for Howard Hughes buying out the other family member's interest in the Hughes Tool Company. Now, within a year of his father's death, and now officially an adult, Howard Hughes took over the lucrative Hughes Tool Company in Houston.