SS Independence Wreck
Period drawing from an advertisement for metal life boats showing attempts to rescue the passengers and crew from the Morgan Steamship SS Independence wrecked at the entrance to Pass Cavallo in 1852, the depiction of the surrounding terrain is not accurate.
Picture Source Francis’ Metallic Life-Boat Company Advertisement

In Part II of my Pass Cavallo history series, I will briefly describe the history of Pass Cavallo and the surrounding area from 1840 through the Civil War to the late 1800’s.

The town of Indianola was established around 1844 and became one of the most important Ports along the Texas Coast in the 1800’s. Indianola was located along Matagorda Bay near present day Magnolia Beach. Ships regularly passed through Pass Cavallo to reach Indianola, which grew to become the largest city in Calhoun County.

In 1847, on the Western side of Pass Cavallo on Matagorda Island, several hundred acres were sectioned off to form the town of Saluria. The Town of Saluria was on the Southeast side of present day Saluria Bayou. At Indianola, Warehouses were built along with ship docks, which were used primarily by well-known Morgan Ship Lines. The Morgan Lines was the first Steamship Company in Texas and was founded by Charles Morgan. Most of the Steamships that sailed from New Orleans to Galveston and Indianola were owned by the Morgan Lines. Ships would enter Pass Cavallo and unload at Saluria or Indianola. In Saluria, the cargo from the ships would be loaded onto smaller ships and taken into Matagorda Bay. The Saluria Post Office was opened in 1848, and an 1850 census showed 164 residents of Saluria.

In 1852, a lighthouse was built on Matagorda Island near Pass Cavallo. The 55-foot cast iron lighthouse was originally erected on the northeast end of Matagorda Island at the entrance to Pass Cavallo. It was painted with red, white, and black horizontal stripes to make it visible at the time. The lighthouse was raised 24 feet by adding a section to the middle of the structure in 1857.

One notable shipwreck before the Civil War was the brand new Morgan Steamship SS Independence, which wrecked at the entrance to Pass Cavallo on March 26, 1852. The Independence was carrying cargo and 120 passengers plus the crew. After becoming stuck on the sandbar at the entrance to Pass Cavallo, a rescue operation was launched. After several smaller wooden boats were smashed to pieces in the waves attempting to rescue the passengers, the U.S. Mail Steamship Louisiana launched two metal lifeboats which managed to rescue a majority of the remaining passengers before the Independence broke up in the surf.

The Civil War was fought from April 12, 1861 to May 26, 1865. The Civil War started after eleven of the then thirty-four states withdrew from the United States and formed their own country. Texas was one of the eleven “Southern” states, and a new country was formed known as the “Confederate States of America”. The remaining states in the United States were known as the “Union”. While I’m not going to go into the causes or reasons behind the Civil War, it was a bloody conflict, with over 850,000 troops on both sides killed. In some instances brothers, fathers, sons, and other family members fought against each other on the opposing sides. When the war ended, the Union had won and the United States was changed forever.

During the Civil War, Confederate Forces built Fort Esperanza on the Western Side of the Pass Cavallo channel to guard against any Union Ships that might attempt to sail through the Pass. The Fort consisted of nine foot high earthen / dirt walls which were around twenty foot thick at the base of the walls. Fort Esperanza was equipped with nine cannons, and trenches / rifle pits for troops were also added farther south along the channel. One cannon was positioned on the North side of Saluria Bayou in its own earthen position.

Pass Cavallo Civil War:
Satellite Picture of the Pass Cavallo Area in 2016 with labels added showing the present day locations of the town of Saluria and Fort Esperanza – Picture Source Google Earth

After Galveston was captured by Union Troops, Union Forces turned their attention to Calhoun County. Most of the residents of Saluria had already evacuated when news arrived that Union troops had gone ashore in Corpus Christi. Confederate troops at Fort Esperanza attempted to blow up the Matagorda Lighthouse, but only succeeded in damaging the lower section. In October of 1862, Union Ships landed troops on the South West end of Matagorda Island; these troops attacked Fort Esperanza from the rear and drove out the Confederate defenders. Union Ships then sailed up the Pass and shelled Indianola and Port Lavaca. After Confederate Forces recaptured Galveston in December 1862, the Union Forces lacked the troops to hold the area and withdrew, Confederate Troops then re-occupied and repaired Fort Esperanza.

In November of 1863, Union forces once again attacked Fort Esperanza. This time a Confederate Gunboat named the John F. Carr participated in the defense. The Carr was operated by the Texas Marine Department, also called the Texas Marine Brigade, which was organized by the Confederate Government early in the war to defend the coastal waters of Texas. Most of the 25 vessels operated by the Texas Marine Department were converted from cargo and passenger vessels. Commanded by James R. Marmion, the Carr was equipped with two cannons and had cotton bales as makeshift armor. In addition to the Carr, the Confederates also had the armed schooner Buckhart, and the gunboat Cora in Matagorda Bay.

December 30, 1863, found the Carr and Cora sinking two boats carrying Union Troops to Matagorda Island from the ships offshore, 18 Union troops drowned. On Dec 31st to Jan 1st, the Carr closed in to Matagorda Island and fired on the Union troops, “making some very good hits,” This happened around Dec 31st 1863 – Jan 1st 1864. This information was from the log of the USS Sciota, which was one of the Union ships supporting the Union forces.

Fort_Esperanza_1863:
1863 Drawing of Fort Esperanza

The Confederate troops eventually retreated again after blowing up the ammunition stored in Fort Esperanza. There were several conflicting stories about the date and exact location, but the John F.Carr was lost in the vicinity of Pass Cavallo sometime in early 1864. Some reports say that the gunboat was driven on a sandbar during a Norther and intentionally burned, while other reports say that it was sunk by Union Forces. Union Forces left Matagorda Island again on June 15, 1864 and Fort Esperanza was re-occupied by the Confederates troops who held it until the end of the Civil War on May 26, 1865.

After the Civil War, the damaged Matagorda Island Lighthouse was disassembled and moved further inland. A new foundation was made, damage was repaired, and the lighthouse reassembled. Equipped with a new light assembly and a fresh coat of flat black paint, the Matagorda Island Lighthouse was put back in service on September 1, 1873. From 1879 to 1880, a station for the United States Life-Saving Service was built and manned on Matagorda Island. The Life-Saving Service was the predecessor to the modern day Coast Guard. This station was known as “Station Saluria” and its first commander was Daniel Simpson.

Another Drawing of Fort Esperanza

Indianola was devastated by a hurricane in 1875 which killed up to 300 people. The town was rebuilt on a smaller scale until devastated again by a hurricane in 1886; by 1887 the town of Indianola was mostly abandoned. These hurricanes washed away the walls of Fort Esperanza and today little remains. A few people held out in the town of Saluria until it was abandoned in the early 1900’s.

In the next Pass Cavallo article, I will write about the shipwreck searches that occurred in the Pass Cavallo area from 1998 to 2001.

Many thanks for assistance in writing this article go to Steve Hoyt, formerly with the Texas Historical Commission, Henry Wolff Jr. of Victoria, and the U.S. Navy Historical Center. Additional thanks to Gaylen Youngblood, Elmer DeForest, and Kenny Finster.

Picture of the Matagorda Island Lighthouse in the early 1900’s – Picture Source United States Coast Guard Archives

United States Life-Saving Station Saluria on Matagorda Island– Picture Source Wexford Archives

First of all, “THANKS” to all who attended the dedication to Calhoun County of the new pavilion at King Fisher Park. Over the last several years the Chamber raised enough money through events and volunteers to replace the old pavilion, which had seen better days and was about to fall to the ground. Many good times had been had there and now with the new one, it is big enough to have several get-togethers at one time, and many memories to be made.

Thanks, to Pastor Martin and Brother Ernie, for their help in making this a special event. President of the Chamber, Mary Jo Walker, made the presentation to our County Commissioner, Mr. Finster. followed by Deidra McCollum, representing “The Maiden Voyage Bombshell Blowout”. This was the first year for this tournament, that was held at the pavilion, she presented Mary Jo a donation to the Chamber. This is appreciated; it will help with some of the events the Chamber sponsors. Then everyone enjoyed delicious chili dogs and trimmings, made possible by Donnie Haynes, followed by cake to end a wonderful event.

Here it is time for the little “Trick or Treaters”. This year the Chamber will sponsor “Trunk or Treat”. Vehicles will be lined down Park Street along King Fisher Park. Everyone is welcome – the more the bigger and better the event will be. Mary Francis Bauer, the chairperson is hoping to make it a little safer for the youngsters. Vehicles will be decorated and the best will be presented with a prize. We’re looking forward to a good turnout, then the spooks can go on their way. “Trunk or Treat” will follow the Halloween Carnival at the school.

On November the 12th, the community will come together. The Port O’Connor Service Club, Friends of the Library and Chamber will be hosting a Barbecue Cookoff with other events. See ads and flyers in the Dolphin Talk of all that will be going on. The Chamber is proud to be part of this. The proceeds will be added to the Library Fund to build a new Library, as we’ve outgrown the present one. So bring the family out and make a day of it at the POC Community Center area.

Next Chamber meeting will be November 14th, 6:30 p.m., POC Community Center.

Renewed Members: Back Bay Guide Service

If you’re not a member, we welcome your membership. Go to portoconnorchamber.com and join online. If you would like to be added to our email list, email us at 361poc@gmail.com or call 361-983-2898.

This might be the scariest October we have ever had. In any election year someone is always scared that one of the candidates will win. In addition, this year we have to put up with the scary clowns all over the world. The East coast has had a really scary October Hurricane. It even played a little havoc in Newfoundland.

The entire world is a scarier place than it was just eight and then four years ago when we made another choice. The guy we elected then won a Nobel Peace prize. I guess the Nobel committee has a different definition of Peace. It just seems things are falling apart out there.

That affordable thing those guys passed doesn’t seem to be getting more affordable as we read about insurance companies dropping out. Physicists will tell you that entropy, where the world is moving towards chaos, is as always in control.

But the biggest scare is that regardless of who you intend to vote for it is impossible to tell that things will get better if either candidate wins. We all know that old politician joke that you can tell they are lying because their mouths are moving. This year both sides are even claiming that the other is lying. That might be the only truthful thing they say.

One pretty well describes the things I see as wrong, but it is a little hard to believe when he says trust me I will correct it. The other says there is and I have done nothing wrong. That certainly doesn’t ring true to me.

Heavens, even the foreign countries are commenting on the possible outcomes. It seems the most elected politicians are worried about what the candidates that win will do. At least, in doing that, they are admitting that they might be losing their comfy do- nothing jobs. So it seems to me..

Some of us old folks remember Harry Truman who talked about a “do-nothing congress”. This year it seems they are all do nothing folks. Maybe those scary clowns are just the debris from the ones that didn’t win either the primary or the last election.

One thing I am pretty clear on despite what either side says. They both are citizens of the United States and are old enough to be president. As far as I can tell that makes either of them qualified by the constitution to win. Now I understand that when one side says the other isn’t qualified that translates into something like I don’t like that person.

Last time I checked we voters have the most important say in the matter the candidates don’t. Over our 220 some years our picks, good or bad, have got us through it so far. The choice seems clear; I hope we make it through it again for the next four years. Then we have to go through this mess again, it is time to keep the faith in the voters.

Politics, and Our Election Choice

When this paper actually hits the streets. there will only be 17 more days to what may be the most important election in our history. It has been the most contentious campaign in memory, in the primaries and in the General, with the surviving Major Party Candidates being probably the most generally disliked candidates ever fielded by either party, and running against each other.

There has been a huge amount of disinformation and propagandizing for and against both major candidate in an attempt to “Personalize” the Election. WHY? Because the Powers-That-Be loath and fear Trump, but don’t dare argue the Issues with him.

Of all the serious issues facing us today, the overwhelming one is really the Big Govt inertia of the Status Quo. The Politicos like the mess that they have made of the Federal Govt, and they mean to keep it that way. A basic rule of “Governing” is they must have an “Enemy” to motivate the citizens and voters to support their cause. The more totalitarian the govt, the greater the threat the “Enemy” must present or the citizens will not follow. The politicians pretend great striving for their different causes, but have in fact created a “Uni-Party”. The Goal of politicians is to be re-elected, and the goal of bureaucrats is to expand the bureaucracy, thereby rising in pay and power, guaranteeing continued employment. For both, producing anything of value is strictly optional, only the APPEARANCE of providing some necessary service is important. Currently, the “Ds” hold the greatest power by a Usurper President/Dictator using extra-legal “Executive Orders” and the “Regulating Power” of the Bureaucracies, coupled with “Activist Judges” that refuse to enforce the Constitution and “Constitutional Law” previously passed. They maintain that “Global Warming” and “Poverty” are our greatest “Enemies”, and they should be given unlimited power and money to “fight” these threats. The “Rs” loosely control Congress, but refuse to actually do anything to restore Constitutional and Lawful Govt. They are afraid of the Media on one hand, and enjoy the constant flow of Political Donations from patriotic Citizens that want Constitutional Govt, and Special Interest lobbyists that want Govt Favoritism. They have reached a sort of “Balance of Power” with the ‘Ds’ where as long the “Social Changes”are allowed with only ineffectual bombastic criticism, the ‘Rs’ can reap their contributions without any responsibility to actually DO ANYTHING. Conversely, while the ‘Ds’ constantly rail against the “Rich”, they take Billions in Campaign Donations and let them run the FED as long as the Federal Debt is grown continuously, creating unlimited Debt-Money for the Lib/Prog Agenda.

Our Constitutional Republic and Liberty has always been just “one generation” from being extinguished, but now perhaps it is only this one election away. The Liberal Progressives who control the once “Democrat Party” are Globalist, Socialist, and Elitist with no real concern for individual freedom other than “A Woman’s Right to an Abortion”- at Taxpayer expense. The Republican Party is controlled by ancient RINOs whose goals are to maintain their control, get more contributions, and maintain the Status Quo. Donald J. Trump has come out to challenge both the bad direction of the International Socialist Democrats, and the Do-Nothing Inertia of the RINOs.

Trump is a “Flawed Candidate”, just like George S. Patton was a “Flawed General” in WW II. But the Real Political Problem is he has no dedication to anyone’s “Agenda”, or any tolerance for their excuses. We are in deep trouble as a nation, have serious problems, and need effective solutions. First, stop doubling down on bad decisions. We don’t need more poor, uneducated, dependent population. We need development, re-industrialization, and jobs, not more globalist trade deals. We need education, not socialist indoctrination. We need a strong military for defense, not to squander on being the World’s Policeman, Meals-on-Wheels, or Building Democracies out of Tribal Hell-holes. We need to stop importing “refugees” that hate us and our culture. Once we have full employment for our citizens, and most of the 40+ million of foreign immigrants start to assimilate rather than demand we change our culture and laws to suit them, and we can actually document the immigrants we can accept, then we can think about a new immigration plan. All of these things are what any intelligent leader would do for his country, but these simple truths have been ignored in D.C. for over 30 years. Trump is like Patton was, a pragmatist that wants to solve the problems and get America moving again. If somebody is “whining about getting their toes stepped on”, they better move their feet.

Trump is a huge threat to to “Left”, the so-called “Right”, the Media, The Lobbyists, and all the Internationalists because he wants to Make America Great Again. He is not beholden to anyone but the Voters, and all the above groups HATE that!! And the reason that they really fear and loath him is he might just be able to fulfill some of his promises that actually will benefit most Americans, something that hasn’t happened since Reagan and the destruction of the Soviet Union. And he wants to expose those responsible for past failure, waste, criminality, and theft of Govt funds. Only real consequences will stop it from sliding back to this mess in the future.

Hillary is proven Alinskyite, using socialism to buy votes to elevate herself to power. She is an Elitist, but always “for sale”, while pretending to be “Progressive”, but is really a totalitarian that wants the power for herself and her cronies, with absolutely no regard for the Constitution, or We the People.

If you want another 4 years of that, then vote for anyone other than Trump, or simply don’t vote. Trump, however ‘imperfect’, is the only real choice, if you want the Union to survive.

The only other chance for Liberty – freedom, prosperity, and individual responsibility – to survive, . . will ultimately be secession.

Mary Schmidt, 25, and Leonora Prugger, 20, are currently studying at the Academy of Arts in Nuremberg, Germany.

For the past two weeks they participated in a workshop on techniques to create sculptures in concrete taught by Dieter Erhard, artist and director of The Art Boat in Seadrift. Mary and Leonora have also shown their work at Dieter’s sculpture park in Germany. I asked them about their lodging while here in Texas and they enthusiastically shared they have bunked down in a garden shed on Dieter’s property sleeping on air mattresses. They apparently found it a great adventure!

Mary created “A German Donkey” with a rebar infrastructure and then winding fabric around it while applying a layer of cement to design the shape. She laughingly said there are a lot of donkeys in Germany and she just wanted to give them some recognition.

Leonora, formerly from Italy, created her masterpiece “Circus Artist” with an entirely different method. I’m afraid I didn’t quite understand how she developed her sculpture, but the finished piece is quite unique! The wine bottle on top of the female figure represents a juggling act often put on by circus entertainers.

Mary and Leonora will be leaving for home soon and expressed how they have enjoyed the amazing hospitality of the Texas folks! They both emphasized how they hope to be a successful artists and acknowledged “a keen focus on the goal and lots of energy” is important!

It was very enjoyable to talk with these delightful young artists and I would encourage checking out their art at The Art Boat. Their work will remain in Texas as I don’t think they are going to try to transport the huge sculptures back to Germany! Much too heavy!

Submitted by Virginia Dell Lichac, fellow artist and admirer of new artists on the art scene, and photography by Jerry Lichac.

Leonara Prugger

Mary Schmidt