The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 66, July 1962 - April, 1963 Page: 358

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

induce the applicant to believe that Jim Lane, then in Command
of the Federal troops in Kansas & West Missouri, was actually
making preparations for a movement against Texas (which was
probably really the case) and that, in the event of such a move-
ment, the order and its members were sure of success.
Secondly, if the great Houston should stand at the head of a
general movement to resist the organized state and Confederate
Governments, that his powerful name and universal popularity,
connected with the military operations of his associate, Jim Lane,
would assure the success of the scheme beyond peradventure. The
representation that this would be consummated by the Federal
armies approaching from the north and by way of Galveston,
and a final junction at Austin, was not without reasonable plausi-
bility, and it is well known that military operations at that time
really indicated such a purpose.
The announcement by Childs that when the Federal Army
should come in, all who did not quickly submit would be killed,
appears to have staggered McCurley for the second time in the
progress of his work, and pleading want of time to go any further,
left the Doctor to ponder over the events of the approaching rev-
olution, as they should transpire; and instead of receiving the
signs, grips and passwords which were offered him he hastened
from his presence to join a committee of friends to relate what
he had heard.
FURTHER PROGRESS OF THE CITIZENS
These statements of a man in whom all confidence could pos-
sibly be placed caused the gentlemen before referred to, to doubt
no longer the full scope and designs of the "Order." But still
unwilling to hazard a general disturbance of the apparent tran-
quility, and apprehensive of doing injustice and violence to any
innocent persons, the committee thought proper to make further
inquiries and ascertain if possible the full details, and the names
of the members of the organization. It was resolved, therefore,
to select Col. N. J. Chance," a man full of bone and muscle,
"2Newton J. Chance, a resident of Wise County, was stationed in Gainesville as
a member of Brigadier General William Hudson's command at the time the
existence of the secret order was first reported to military authorities. Smith,

358