Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-04-21
THE ALAMO.

/ Fies. for Christianizing the Indians
These missions consisted of a chape
| for worship, the cells for the monks
pthe dwellings for the inhabitants
and fort for defense. The Church
of the Alamo, or the Alamo, as It i:
now calledss was founded May s
l744, DON accoant of its historic
associations is the most interesting
of these missions. Its architectural
4 beauty is by no means comparable
with San Jose, or San Fernando. bnt
the memorable engagement of March
6, 1885, when those noble Texans
laid down their lives for what they
Adeemcd the right, makes the Alamo
dear TO every American heart. 1t
will be remembered to the undying
glory of this determined l:tgle band,
numbering IN all only les men, how
calamity they twice repulsed the s.
900 Mexican TN e. Santa Anna,
who, after third attempt, scaled
the walls and committed butchery
so brutal and bloody that the heart
sickens to read it-a butchery which
for all time, and eternity too, will
damn Santa Anna and the fiends
who followed his leadership.
During the siege the Alamo was
surrounded by high stone wall
Until late years part of it was
standing, but it has now crumbled
away. The building is of soft lime
stone, constructed after the style of
Spanish church edi6ces-hat roof
and small windows, and with walls
thick enough and strong enough to
keep out all spirits, both good and
evil. Within, it is as dull and dis
NAL as a dungeon, and how, within
those cells provided for the monks,
whe ire the light of the sun or of the
moon could never enter, aud from
which the stars of the heavens are
never visible, where there was moth
ing but the darkness and GOODNESS Of
night, any human being could exist,
is a mystery cannot fatnom. The
old fat stone roof has been removed
aud a hip roof of wood been substi-
tuted. The Alamo has not been
used as house of worship for ma
nv years, and for the last thirty it
has done service as a warehouse for
government stores. Il is well this
building is occupied for government
uses, and while it is kept in but poor
repair it is better cared for than if in
other hands. 1t is hoped that it will
be perpetuated as monument to
those heroic men who sacrificed their
lives within its walls, and who be-
long .s9estpts slggH.s,I 80
''To that immortal band
That were not born to die"
SAN FERNANDO
was founded in 1922 by the same Or
der and under the same auspices as
the Alamo. In 1868 the front part
of this cathedral was torn down and
a new front built tupon the old foun-
datien, but the rear of the building,
with the chancel, still remains as an
exhibition of antique architecture.
Il is entirely of stone, roof aud all,
and is constructed more like pris-
| on than temple. The walls are de-
eidedly prison walls, and, judging
from the absence of windows, or
rather the great scarcity Of them,
one is almost forced TO believe that
the old monks and their parishioners
who worshiped within these mouldy
precincts, were afraid of the light of
day. fI8T EIg sff4 I
THE CONCEPTION.
"La Parissima Conception de Acu,
tna," or what is known as the First
mission, was founded March 5, 1871.
up to the Close Of the late war, ser.
vices were held regularly in this
mission, bht since then 1t has been
abandoned to the tender mercies of
a family oecnpatiopr Il is FemsEka-
hIe for its architectural beauty, con-
sidering it was designed by the SpaG-
iards aud built by the Indians who
had been Christianized by the Fran
ciscan Monks. The perfect symme-
I1ry of aIlits parts and above. all, the
Esubstantial manner in whiehit is con.
structed, would furnish some Yalua-
bile hints to modern architects.
san Jose, 1le. : :.
6pronomIced Hose) the secoGd mis-.
sion, was completed in l771, perhaps
the most remarkable of all. 1t is
one of the NEST original struc-
lures anywhere ,ito Be found.
The arch and doors are of them
selves a Wonderfal curiosity. The
doors are Of mesquite wood, which
abounds iuthis section, and the arch
and images are of soft limestone,
quarried in this State. The carving
is done with the greatest nicely, and
| am 10th to beheEe it is the work
of unartistic hands. The arch and
images might be proudly cherished
as the work of the old masters, but,
alas, they have been neglected too
long, and are fast crumbIing away.
4 That known as the "South Window
! is qnite as unique, and, being
less exposed, is perhaps better pre-
served than the doors and arches,
The roof of the main chapel has fall
en- in; and the north wall is rapidly
disappearing. In the small chapel
services are held by the parish priest
which are attended by the Mexicani
only. The old bell, battered aud
broken, is still hanging in the belfry
but it hss-lostl its silver sound: i
j has ceased to fill the air with it,
doleful music; it has tolled the last
funeral knell, and ere long the foul
walls that surround it will crumblG
away, and alhthatremains Of Il vii
be buried foreves beneath their ra
-ins.
The beauties of San Antonio rivel
are SO numerous and striking Stha
tie pen of a CASTELAR, or the brush o
a Claude could scarcely do it jus
tice. The water, while deep blue
is yet 50 limpid that the fishes car
hardly find = hiding place. Its bank
are liued with pecan trees, in man.
places overhanging the water ant
waving to their faithful counter
parts below. The views obtainet
of San Antonio river from the con