By Myra Lee Adams Goff

Here we are again: “It’s Fair Time.”

This celebration has lasted more than 100 years.

Would you like to hear some details of the first Comal County Fair? Read on.

An article in the “Neu Braunfelser Zeitung” in 1892 pointed out that Fredericksburg and Lockhart had a successful fair, so, why not New Braunfels? After all, the trains had agreed to run specials from San Antonio and Austin to New Braunfels and that would bring crowds. Large numbers of citizens could be counted on to display livestock, agricultural products, machines, antiques, coins and many other things. There could be plenty of entertainment and horse races.

That same year, a forerunner of the fair took place on the grounds of the Krankenhaus (hospital) located on the corner of Zink and Seguin streets. This city hospital was finally completed and as a celebration and fundraiser, a community fair would take place on the grounds.

The event was so successful that interest was high in holding an annual fair. The Comal County Fair Association was organized in 1893 and the list of organizers sounds like a Who’s Who in New Braunfels. Harry Landa was selected president. On the board, to name a few, were Dr. A. Garwood, C.A. Jahn, S.V. Pfeuffer, Joseph Faust, Ferdinand Simon, Hermann Seele and B.F. Voelcker.

The first fair was set for that same year (1893) on Landa’s pasture (where the Landmark stands).

Guess what! “No Rain-No Fair” screamed the discouraging headline in the “Neu Braunfelser Zeitung” in 1893. That first fair was cancelled due to drought conditions. Consequently the first official fair was rescheduled a year later in 1894.

The following information comes to us from former “Herald” staff writer, Marjorie Cook, who used a translation by Oscar Haas, who translated it from a story in German from the “Neu Braunfelser Herald” in 1894. My version is a paraphrase. Now, how’s that for giving credit?

Imagine white tents under ancient oak trees hung with long beards of moss. The main tent is filled to overflowing with fruits of the field and orchards; there are bales of cotton, bushels of corn, grapes and other homegrown fruits. Then there are products of these crops - preserves, molasses, cornmeal, flour. There are typical baked products - cakes, breads, dairy products. Another tent features oil paintings and flowers.

“A family of snow white pigs, papa, mama, and six cute squealing babies are the hit of the livestock exhibit. Clean, enviable and ‘saufaul’ (hog lazy) they are.” Then there were thoroughbred cattle, horses, poultry, but ABSOLUTELY NO SHEEP(?)

Spectators fill the racetrack stands for horse and harness racing. Roping of wild cattle and breaking of wild horses is an exciting show. There is amusement of all kinds with concerts each afternoon.

Two Davis sewing machines are kept in constant motion and Ed Gruene displays musical instruments. Studebaker wagons and buggies are shown, a new Sulky and Aero motor windmills.

Now everyone is looking forward to the personality contest. Citizens have been voting for the most popular man, the most modest man, the heaviest man, the largest foot, the smallest foot, the prettiest girl, the most popular girl, the best looking baby, the longest hair, longest beard, oldest couple and, finally, the ugliest man in Comal County (a dubious honor if there ever was one, won by F. Kailer, editor of the “Neu Braunfelser Zeitung”).

To find out the winners of all these contests, see “It’s Fair Time; History of the Comal County Fair” written by Myra Lee Adams Goff and for sale at the Fairgrounds and the Sophienburg Museum.

There are lots of similarities between now and then with some exceptions, like horseracing, and fortunately for the winners, no personality contests.

Check out the Fair parade this Friday and the rest of the events at the Fairgrounds, Sept. 22 through 26.

It’s Fair Time!

Clean, enviable and "saufaul" (hog lazy) they are!

By Myra Lee Adams Goff

Have you ever heard the story of Chief Red Wing and how he became the first person to get the death penalty in Comal County? It’s a sad and terrible story. Here’s how it goes:

On Oct. 6, 1930, Henry Cavazos, proprietor of the Cuban Shows, pitched a large tent about five blocks east of Main Plaza on Seguin Street for his traveling show. These traveling shows were a common practice in the 1920s and 1930s. Cavazos rented a small house nearby where he, his wife (who was also in the show), his two small boys and a small 2-year-old girl named Evangelina lived while the show was going on.

The main star of the show was 38-year-old Chief Red Wing who performed an Indian war-dance stunt and attracted wide attention. The traveling show had been in New Braunfels for about a week and was scheduled to move on to Austin soon. But a terrible tragedy took place that October night.

Mrs. Cavazos put her children to sleep as she did routinely and rushed out to the tent to make a brief appearance in the show. Returning to the house, she discovered that little Evangelina was missing, as was her tiny suitcase.

The mother rushed back to the tent frantically telling her husband of her discovery. Chief of Police B.E. Merz and Constable W.A. Scholl, who were on the grounds, were notified and began a search. The search continued all night and revealed only the small suitcase with some of the child’s clothes inside. It was suspected that the child was kidnapped. But why? The Cavazos had no money.

No sign of the child was found and the show went on to Austin. Here Cavazos reported the missing child to the Texas Rangers. Everything possible was done to find Evangelina but no traces of her were found. Remember, there was no DNA or other help that law enforcement has today.

On Oct. 17, a small bundle was discovered behind a signboard near the railroad track where the tent had been. A child’s almost naked body was discovered and the sheriff’s office was notified. Immediately, the entire show was brought back from Austin. Henry Cavazos and his wife identified the body as their daughter, Evangelina. An autopsy was performed and it was concluded that the child had been criminally assaulted and that death had come as a result of a crushed skull.

Immediately, Red Wing was under suspicion mainly because he had disappeared when the child was first reported missing and hadn’t reappeared until 40 minutes later. There was only circumstantial evidence against him, but he had no alibi as to his whereabouts when the crime was committed. At last he confessed, but not before trying to implicate others, including Henry Cavazos, Evangelina’s father. Finally, Red Wing confessed to committing the crime himself with no others involved.

On Feb. 12, 1931, the State of Texas vs. Chief Red Wing was called, charging him with murder with malice aforethought of Evangelina Cavazos.

Appointed by the Court to represent the defendant were two well-known attorneys, Hon. J.H. Schleyer and Hon. H.A. Triesch. The prosecuting attorney was the Hon. Fred Blundell, District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District.

At noon on Feb. 13, the case went to the jury. The trial was held in a large room above Eiband and Fischer store.

The Herald stated that it was difficult to choose a jury and the writer said that it was due to the possibility of the death penalty. Nevertheless, a jury was chosen and in 20 minutes the verdict came back: Guilty of murder as charged and the punishment was death. The Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the verdict.

On Nov. 30, 1931, Chief Red Wing died in the electric chair in Huntsville. He was the first person ever to be given the death penalty in Comal County.

From left, Ben Faust, Justice of the Peace, August Knetch, Deputy, Chief Red Wing, Bill Salge, Deputy Marshal, Walter Scholl, Deputy Marshal and Bruno Merz, Marshal.