I looked up newspapers for that period and read all the accounts in the Ft, Smith New Era and no mention was made of this occurrence. The New Era publishers were in sympathy with the north, and so would have approved the action. but it is not mentioned. Incidentally. this is almost identical to the story told about my home town, Ozark.
In reading this account in the New Era I learned that refugees from North Texas - the Bonham area - were coming to Ft. Smith. seeking safety from the rebels who were making life hazardous and miserable for them in Texas. Growing up here in western Ark. in the thirties I had heard stories of my family and others "going to Texas" during that period. This led me to the conclusion that there must have been some place in Texas that was a safe haven for them. These newspaper accounts, plus what I read on the Texas board tell me they had as much trouble as we did up here.

Ed

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