JOHN GRAVES:
"While doing some research on your region, I came across the September/October 1998
issue of your magazine containing Part Two of Glenn Hadeler's "Terror in
the Hills" about the Mason County Hoodoo War by far the best thing I've come across
on that subject. I would very much like to get hold ofPart One if possible, and since
I liked the other articles too I want a year's subscription
A.C. GREENE
"I appreciate your sending me Enchanted Rock Magazine and
have enjoyed every issue that I have seen...I think Gary Brown’s Cold Trail Hounds in
your magazine was the best Texas tall tale I have read since Bill Brett at his best
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 Hog
Punchers and Hog Dogs
by Hazel Oatman Bowman
"Along with the resumption of hog activities came a revival of hog dog stories,
reminiscent, to a great extent, of the old times when hogs were driven by the thousands in
Llano County and were of the wild type which required the use of dogs. These yarns, told
by the so-called hog men about the find hog dogs they have owned and their particularly
remarkable feats – experiences that are common, every day occurrences in Llano County
– sound fantastic and unbelievable. Even those which actually happened are as
incredible almost as those which admittedly are highly exaggerated to begin with. These
stories, like the hog dogs, also belong to the Llano acorn country." Illustration
by Ira Kennedy
The
Highway Ghost of Blanco County
by C. F. Eckhardt
"It was close to midnight and John wasn’t letting any grass grow under
the wheels of the ’57 Chevy V-8. Then, about halfway up the climb to where the
Charles’ Restaurant billboard stands, he caught something in the headlight on the
west side of the road. He slowed—it might be a deer, and as any experienced Hill
Country driver knows, only God knows what a roadside deer’ll do next and even he
isn’t completely sure."
 Mexican Mommas on Maternity Leave
by Chris Solek
"The Eckert James River Bat Cave Preserve, located outside of Mason, Texas,
boasts one of the few caves in the United States which the Mexican Free-tailed bat
(Tadarida Basilensis Mexicana) chooses as a nursery site for the birth and rearing of its
young. It is one of the largest maternity colonies known to exist. The nightly emergence
of these bats from the cave during the summer months is an awesome natural spectacle which
should be appreciated by everyone at least once..."
 WALLPAPER
Flooding on the Blackland Prarie
Photo by Ira Kennedy
Taken just down the road on Hwy 123, there was a stocktank just below the horizon
line which was drowned by the rains of July 2002. We received over 12 inches of rain
in two days starting July 1 and it's rained every day since. Today is July 18. We
picked a fine time to move...
 The Springs of Eden
Colorado Bend State Park
by Ira Kennedy
"Beneath us was a large basin where, from our left, Gorman Creek plunged into the
jade and turquoise colored pool, clear as glass, twelve feet below. Pristine was the first
word that came to mind. Other than that, the scene defied adequate description. Here, far
from the noise and chaos of the modern world I found a palpable sense of peace. This is
where rivers begin. Along the stair-stepped falls of Gorman Creek are the unspoiled
springs of Eden."
The
Tribulation of Bill Porter
by C. F. Eckhardt
"He lived in Kerrville, San Antonio and later in Austin where he published The
Rolling Stone. He embezzled money from a bank, hit out in Guatemala, invented The
Cisco Kid, and became one of the most famous writers in the world."
 Ingram's
Walk Across Texas
by Steve Goodson
"Ingram’s account of the journey, The Relation of David Ingram of
Barking in the Counties of Essex, Sayler (sailor), was published in 1582. He relates how
they turned inland and turned northward crossing the Rio Grande River probably near
present day Camargo, Mexico. He continued northward and from his description of the
country probably reached the Hill Country before taking a more eastward course."
 TWO 3-D PICS AT ENCHANTED ROCK
Photos by Ira Kennedy
I recently visited Enchanted Rock with my son Kevin, age 15. At age 60 I
had a hard time keeping up, but I still managed to make it to the top. Sad to report
the summit tree appears dead; yet, new live-oak sprouts are emerging from its base.
 The Huff Journals & The Lost
San Saba Mines
by Ira Kennedy
"In the fall of 2000 I received a phone call from David Ewing Stewart asking
me to help him find a buyer for two old dairies inherited from his great grandfather
William P. Huff, one of the original 300 families to settle in Texas. I agreed and
set up a time and place so I could view the documents first-hand. Arriving at
the Schulenburg Auction Barn I discovered the parking lot full as there was a cattle
auction in progress. I had no difficulty in locating Mr. Stewart and before long I
was in the coffee room of the auction barn where I could review the diaries and photograph
their contents at my leisure."
 Old News
Here are a few articles reprinted from the Mason and San Saba newspapers between 1886 and
1902. The first three mention Indian or Spanish mines. Tales of silver and gold
mines were so commonplace back then they seldom received top billing. Evidence of
that can be found in the item "Turkey Eating Frogs on Wallace". The frogs
received top billing although the first half of the piece is about Indians molding ore
into bullets (presumably silver).
 Later Billy Goes to Town
by Ira Kennedy
"Later Billy didn’t mind driving to town but the time wasn’t right. The
reasons for going didn’t quite stack up to what was happening right then, which
wasn’t much, if anything. Besides, Later Billy was no fool. It was about ready to
flood, and there was at least a mile of muddy road before the dry creek bed crossing up
near the paved road. Flash Flood Creek, that’s what Later Billy called the big dip in
the road with the flood marker."
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GARY P. NUNN
"I have discovered a gem of a publication that I want to share with you called Enchanted
Rock Magazine. This little jewel is chocked full of Texas history, lore and culture,
mined from letters, newspapers and first hand accounts of early Texas settlers. Published
by Ira Kennedy, I can highly recommend it! BUY IT!" MARCYS HUFF
Editor, True West Magazine
"Enchanted Rock is truly a fine publication. I don’t often brag on things
from Texas, (Okie pride, ya know) but your mag is doing a great job of keeping the West
alive. Plus it looks great on the newsstand next to True West. Don’t squat
with your spurs on."
GERALD McLEOD
Austin Chronicle
"Ira Kennedy and Enchanted Rock are two defining symbols of the Texas
Hill Country. The pink granite mount's rugged beauth has endured for centuries,
while Kennedy left a career in the city to pursue a dream in the hills like the
pioneer's"
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