By STEVE HATHCOCK
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.
Robbery Near Arroyo: Thieves Break Into A Store at Laurel Ranch. Arroyo, Texas
This morning at 2 o’clock the store of Esteban Garcia at the Laurel Ranch, about five miles north of here, was broken into and robbed. Mr. Garcia awoke just as the robbers were leaving and fired on them, one of his shots evidently taking effect, as one of the thieves dropped a sack of dry goods and blood was found near it.
The thieves were four in number, and all escaped. They were trailed this morning to this place where the trail was lost. The robbers secured $148 in Mexican coin, $10 currency, besides dry goods and groceries.
(The Daily Herald Brownsville, Texas · Friday, March 09, 1894)
Gunboat Shells Rebels Near Mouth of Rio Grande River
PORT ISABEL, Texas, July 28.—A Mexican federal gunboat was reported to have fired on Constitutionalists at the mouth of the Rio Grande this morning. Constitutionalists hold the river, Matamoros, opposite Brownsville, Texas. This was the first reported naval activity in the Rio Grande in any of the recent Mexican revolutions.
(Vancouver Daily World (Canada) Tue, Jul 29, 1913)
Herald Carriers Visit Snakeville
Fifty carriers and newsboys of The Herald visited Snakeville Monday afternoon as the guests of W. A. (Snake) King, seeing several hundred monkeys, parrots, lions, and other animals that are now quartered at Snakeville.
(The Brownsville Herald Brownsville, Texas • Tue, Jun 14, 1932)
Editor’s Note: W.A. King moved to Brownsville at the turn of the century after working with snake exhibits in circuses and fairs. While working with snakes, he discovered that these exhibitors had a real need for some type of wild animal supplier. Since he needed a tropical climate to raise reptiles and wild animals, King settled in Brownsville, where he developed Snakeville to collect and raise wild animals and earned the name ‘The Snake King of Brownsville.’ In later years, The Snake King began training his animals, and his son, Manuel, gained notoriety as the World’s Youngest Wild Animal Trainer.
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