Historians have been searching for
the lost city of Atlantis forever it seems. Fables have said that Atlantis was
the hub of the ancient world and it was they who taught the Egyptians and
Mayans how to build the pyramids and Greeks how to build their temples. They
taught the world reading and writing, mathematics and science. The people of
Atlantis seemed to be all-powerful until nature showed them their mistaken
belief and swallowed them up, never to be seen again.
Here in Texas, we have our own
Atlantis phenomenon, the seaport of Indianola. Once a thriving town of
immigrants from Europe (mostly Germany), Indianola disappeared from the coast
of Texas and slipped beneath the salty waters of Matagorda Bay. In 1875,
Indianola’s growing sea port was second only to Galveston. The hurricane of
1875 almost completely destroyed the town, but the people rebuilt it stronger
and better. Unfortunately, the fury of nature returned with the hurricane of
1886 putting the final nail in Indianola’s coffin. The post office was closed and the town was declared
dead.
As I gaze out over the waters of
Matagorda Bay, the salt infused wind blows gently across my face. I strain my
eyes and focus on the water’s surface hoping to locate some sign of history
lost. It was here where the French explorer La Salle came to discover a new
world. It was here where the Germans started their historic death march to
Comal County. It was here where the US army brought camels to test their usefulness
in the Texas desert. It is here where now there is only a watery desert, void
of mankind’s interference. Visions of a bustling seaport fill my mind as the
rhythmic waves wash across the shoreline on this lazy summer afternoon. No
signs of the ruins of the courthouse or other structures remain along the
shore. Man continually attempts to change the landscape of earth but nature is
always there to remind him who reigns.
Though the town has disappeared,
there are many items of interest to view. A large statue of the French explorer
La Salle reigns over the grasslands of the coast. The old Indianola cemetery
reminds us of the brave souls who helped make Texas great. Remains of another
LaSalle statue, weary from storms past, guards the entrance to the Indianola
Cemetery. An old cistern reminds us of the unavailability of fresh water needed
to quench the thirst of the settlers. A few of the homes of Indianola standing
after the hurricane of 1886 were disassembled and relocated to the distant towns
of Victoria, Cuero and Gonzales, preserving the legacy of Indianola.
Indianola may have vanished like
the great city of Atlantis, but she will always be remembered in Texas Thru My
Back Door!
For more pictures of this scenic
location visit the photo page on my website http://www.ajpetter.com/Page_3.php
No comments:
Post a Comment