Many a battle has been fought to lay claim to this immense state with its rich resources and extensive shoreline, bringing in a long succession of cowboys and Indians, Mexicans and Spaniards, cattle ranchers and oil drillers, and the odd outlaw or two. It Happened In Texas goes behind the scenes to tell its story, in short episodes that reveal the intriguing people and events that have shaped the Lone Star State. Discover why the great French explorer La Salle was murdered by one of his own men, just a few years after discovering the Mississippi River basin and claiming it for the French king. Find out what caused two cargo ships to explode at a Gulf of Mexico port in 1947, claiming over five hundred lives, wounding thousands, and destroying hundreds of vehicles, train cars, homes, and businesses. Read about the LS military's initially successful attempt to create a camel corps in the 1850s. Meet Sarah Ann Horn, an English emigrant who was kidnapped by brutal Comanches and survived for over a year as their captive. Book jacket.