The Fires and the Treaty

Subject: The Fires and the Treaty Thu 26 Jul 2007, 1:37 am

When I was little, we all piled in the station wagon and headed down for the Easter Fires in Frederickburg, with the pop-up camper trailing dutifully behind. We kids heard the story of how long ago, the children of that fledgling German settlement had been frightened by the fires that flickered on the hills at night ... set by Indians for unknown but doubtfully benign purposes. Their mothers, thankful that Easter was soon approaching, comforted their small ones in that menacing frontier darkness .... as they tucked them into yet soft ticking. The lights were of the Easter bunnies, they told their children, readying bright eggs for Resurrection Morning.

The truth of the fires, it seems -- and their tradition -- is otherwise but enough to birth fascination in an adult. Here is the associated article in the Handbook of Texas:

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/EE/lke2.html

Considering the status of Indian/White relations on our frontier during the mid-nineteenth century, the relative peace which was struck between the Germans of Frederickburg and the Comanches of Texas and reaches far to the south and north is, to me, an amazing thing:

http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/MM/mgm1.html

Does anyone have thoughts, knowledge, or perspectives to share concerning the Easter Fires or the Meusebach-Comanche Treaty?

Thanks,

Holly
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: The Fires and the Treaty Sat 28 Jul 2007, 2:01 pm

Holly I knew about Fredericksburg being German but not about these Easter Fires they have. That is a real sweet story about the mothers.

Wrangler Joined : 05 Aug 2008 Posts : 20

Easter Fires. After marriage to my Native Houstonian husband, I had heard the stories of the Easter Fires in Fredericksburg. I really never knew the complete story until I read your posting.

One of the first places my husband took me was to Fredericksburg. Of course, his interest was the Nimitz Museum. I loved the quaint community immediately. We visited Fredericksburg so many times during the years. I never tire of the visits. We were just there in late July, 2008.

I really learned a lot from you posting the websites that explain the history. A late "Thank You".