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Jack Hays LbNA #69489

Owner:Silver Eagle Supporter Verified
Plant date:Dec 6, 2015
Location: Charro Ranch Park
City:Dripping Springs
County:Hays
State:Texas
Boxes:1
Found by: 24Texas
Last found:Oct 17, 2021
Status:FFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Dec 24, 2015
Terrain Difficulty: Easy (flat, 0.5 mile RT)
Status: alive


John Coffee "Jack" Hays was one of the most fearless and respected Texas Rangers in their history and his exploits are more amazing than fiction. He arrived in Texas in 1836 just in time to participate in the TX Revolution by joining a company of rangers under Deaf Smith. After the war he became deputy surveyor of the Bexar District and combined soldiering and surveying for several years. From 1840 through 1846 Hays, at first a captain then a major over his ranger companies, engaged the Comanches and Mexican troops in small skirmishes and major battles. Perhaps his most legendary battle occurred in the fall of 1841 when he was camped with his party of twenty Ranger surveyors on Crabapple Creek, not far from Enchanted Rock. When Hays rode out alone to inspect the legendary Rock he was attacked by many Comanche warriors. He scrambled up to the top where he held them off until his companions arrived to finish the fight. During the Mexican War he commanded the 1st Regiment, Texas Mounted Riflemen as a Colonel and scouted for the US Army. After the war he followed the gold rush to California and was elected the first Sheriff of San Francisco in 1850. In 1853 he was appointed US Surveyor General of California and was one of the developers of Oakland. He died in 1883 and is buried in Oakland, but is honored in Texas by Hays county being named for him. This letterbox can be found in his county at Charro Ranch Park.

Directions:
From Hwy 290 go south on RR 12 for 1.7 mile, then left on RR 150 for 1 mile to Charro Ranch Park on the left.

Clues:
From parking lot go on right trail past picnic tables to Y jct. Go left on Nature Trail, through concrete compass, to jct with Fox trail. Continue straight to another jct with bench on left. Continue straight 7 steps until even with concrete slab on left. Go left 15 steps to medium tree with small trees behind it. LB is at back base under rocks.


Hike length: 0.5 miles