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Carey
had met Irion the first time at Joel Lewis' ferry near Beaumont
during the Runaway
Scrape of 1836, and afterward had encountered Irion on two or
three occasions in Houston.
Despite the latter's association with Yocum, Irion was a respected
Beaumonter in the early days. In 1838, Beaumont's proprietors had
contracted with him to build a steam sawmill, which never materialized,
on the townsite's "Steam Mill Square." When Irion died almost simultaneously
with Yocum in September 1841, the Houston "Telegraph and Texas Register"
quickly heralded both deaths as resulting from vigilante violence
(which was a falsehood) directed at the gang of murderers. But Rep.
George A. Pattillo of Jefferson
County, upon arriving at Houston the following month, declared
that Irion's death at Beaumont had stemmed from natural causes, whereas
Yocum had been lynched in another county.
Carey found old Yocum to be a genial host, somewhat talkative about
the political affairs of the day, and he soon paid the innkeeper for
a month's lodging. He was assigned to a bunk in the large , single-room
attic of the log house. On several occasions, he shared his quarters
with the dusty cattle drovers who stopped by for a place to sleep
and a piping-hot meal, served by an elderly black woman.
Once a week, the mail rider passed through, traveling west, and Carey
was pleased that he could communicate with the Page family if the
occasion to do so arose. And perhaps with luck and the passage of
time, the public indignation over Brittain's killing might subside
and he might even return to Cedar Bayou.
Carey told Yocum the full extent of his troubles with the law and
was assured of concealment from it. But the old robber baron warned
him to avoid any movements far from the house or trips to Beaumont,
where he might be recognized. And especially, he was not to mail any
communication to Page which might fall into the hands of the Harris
County sheriff. Yocum introduced to Carey a young man. named Jeremiah
"Bud" McClusky, whom, he said, was his most trusted employee and who
would gladly ride to Cedar Bayou for him if such a trip were required.
During the next two months, McClusky made three trips to the Page
home, carrying letters from Carey, but on his return, he always reported
that Page was too sick to write, and had forwarded no message, and
the clamor for Carey's arrest and conviction had not subsided. Later,
Carey learned that the Pages had always sent him money, clothing,
and letters, but none of the items they sent were ever given to him
by McClusky. Page
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