The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-04-04
Tie EagJy Days Of Iec0S.
HER NOMADIC TRIBES, SPANISH CHRISTIAN
TEACHERS, ANGLO-AMEEICAN HEROES,
AND CATHOLIC MISSIONS.

the pen of a Macauiey to write. Among
the many interesting events in her history,
none are SO peculiarly interesting as the
building of the Spanish Missions, the mas
sive walls and gray towers which still stand
TO perpetuate tie name and industry Of a
mighty past race. The ruins of these
cathcdrals and churches that yet dot the
emerald slopes and lovely banks Of the
truly picturesque San Antonio river, are
mighty monuments pointing back to the
discovery and occupation OF Texas by ad-
venturous and conquering French and
Spaniards There are thousands of thrill
ing incidents in the history of this great
Empire State OF the Southwest which the
pen Of many 4 writer would encircle with
a halo of glory and romance. How in
tensely interesting, if portrayed by Ma
cauley or an Irving, would be the incidents
in the efforts Of the Latin races to plant
civilization among the nomadic, barbarous
tribes that once inhabited that terrestrial
paradise and most especially startling and
impressive would be the history written
By such authors of the events enacted 10y
the noble Anglo-American heroes in the
drama of '36-gallant spirits who suhjuga-
ted Mexican anarchy and tyranny and
planted the Lone Star Banner and caused
it to wave over the magnificent bays, lakes
and rivers, the noble mountains, luXuriant
prairics, smiling valleys, romantic forests
and fertile fields of Texas.
LasaIIe, a French explorer was the first
to land in Texas in 1850, and thc first at
tempt at a Spanish settlement was made
by DcLeou in 1859 near the mouth of the
Lavacca river. san Antonio, the oldest
town in the State, was founded in 1862.
san antonio, or Bexar, as it is called by the
Mexican portion of its citizens, is rot only
the oldest, but is the most interesting town
in Texas. The most interesting objects il
the city are the Old Cathedral, the church
Of San Antonio, and the hlamo,- the latter
being made memorable in tho history Of
Texan independence as the spot where the
heroic Bowie, the brave and ecccntric
Crockett, and many other noble aud gal
liant spiIts, breathed their last. The fall
and slaughter Of Tie Alamo, and the tTeach-
erOus massacre at Goliad, were the most
dislIeartening events that occurred during
the whole of that sanguinary struggle.
These disasters spread dismay throughout
the land by filing the minds of the people
with approaching destruction and dissolu-
ton, and it was not until the hour of re
venge came at San Jacinto, that the cher
ishcd feeling of vindictiveness with which
the Texans had been excited to almost
frenzy was soothed. The victory of San
Jacinto had the effect of softcning the
stem asperities Of the fearful struggle.
The old cathedral the church of San
Antonio, upon whose frowning top scnti-
nels were stationed during the many sieges
the city stood in early years, still stands,
presenting very Iniquated appearance.
Upon the grounds i'll front of the old church,
Immediately facing the main plaza, is now
erected new church edifce of more mod
ern style-one of the handsomeSt churches
in the Union-a credit to its worshippcrs
and an acquisition to the city. But the
most interesting feature in the history of
San Antonio and the San Antonio valley
is that of the Catholic Missions. The most
memorable Of these missions is San Anto-
l4iD IC Ititibs bSlbcI INllpNil - Jiit Atlll'
We are indebted to the Rev. Father John
ston, Of the St. Msry's church of San An
tonic, for a history of this venerable and
ever memorable mission. 1t was first
founded in 1903, on the banks of the Rio
Grande, ulder the invocation of st. Fran
els SuIano, but was removed III 17lS to the
banks of San Antonio river by order of the
Il, g
Upon the removal Of the Alamo to San
Antonio il was called after the Marquis de
NaIero. This church was for the rIso of
the Spanish and Creole population of San
Antonio.
After the building Of the mission of the
Alamo followed the building of the mis-
sions of Conception, san Jose San Juan
and La Aspada. The missionaries, for the
purpose of affording protection, established
these missions at different points on the
river. About two miles below the city. on
the left bank of the river, stands the Mis-
sion of Conception on the right bank, two
miles farther down, is the Mission of San
Jose on the left bank, two miles below, is
the Mission of San Juan, and two miles
S4O" II, vi inc IlSht OaIi4l; IS IliiIG Oi LII
Aspada.
The object of these missions was the
conversion and PRONUNCIATION of Christian
lty among the Indians. In the labor of
converting the savages and the building Of
the missions many important incidents oc-
CURED which would be of deep interest
were there time and space to relate them
The pious Fathers had to commence to
teach the savage red man more acceptable
way than his own of worshipping the Great
Spirit, as it were, with a bible i'll one hand
and a dagger in the other. At the COM
mencement Of their labors to instruct the
wild children of nature, the missionaries
wore forced to be stern, but seldom indulg-
ed in severity oil cruelty, In their mode of
exciting these wild children to do well, or