The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-19
The Massacre of the Alamo.

memories of this ancient capital,
coyeal with Philadelphia. Every.
where, in every city and hamlet OF
the United States, the play entitled
1.-The Alamo: or, Death OF DaVld
Crockett" has appealed TO the pas
sions of the multitude. When TINS
railway was finished last week, Went
with a great throng to San ANTONIO
and gathered the facts here detailed.
which give the Mexican aspect OF the
old familiar story. The recital as gwen
is careful translation by Col. FOrd,
commonly known as "Old Rip,
frontier member Of the Texas Senate.
The old Mexican soldier, the Racon-
teur. is named Francisco Buerra, born
in Guanainato in 1910. He became
soldier in 1928, was one OF the army
that stormed the Alamo, in 1875, and
was captured at San Jacinto. He be-
came citizen of Texas, served IN the
war of 1857 against his native coun-
trv. and in the Confederate army III
the war between the States. lie is
now An honored and aged citizen OF
Brownsville. and his recital OF facts as
seen by a Mexican at the stOrmlnS "
the Alamo has peculiar value.
Santa Anna was joined at Laredo,
where he crossed the Rio Grande, by
Gen. Cos, who in violation of the terms
of his recent surrender at San Anton
10. was forced to Join Santa Anna ana
return to Texas. The movements OF
the Mexican army were greatly re-
tarded by fires On the pralrles. Wnlcn
rendered the horses of the whole force
almost useless. Deaf Smith, famous
Texan scout. was the author OF tnls
mischief. Santa Anna halted day at
Medina, when he was met by senior
Novarro and priest, who gave lne
General accurate information as 10
the strength-268 men in the Alamo
of the Americans in San Antonio. A
sudden rain-storm and 'norther made
the river impossible, and forced
march and immediate assault lmpos'
sible. Next day he resumed the marcil'
Gen. Mora in advance with orders TO
seize the Mission of the Conception, a
massive stone structure, deemed py
Santa Anna more defenslble strong
hold than the Alamo. cannOn.sho'
was fired when the head Of the adVan
cjnr column reached the cemetery
The town was not defended, ana Col
Mora was ordered to take poSllloi
north and east of the Alamo TO pre-
vent the escape of the garrison. I'M
was late in February, 1885. Santa Al
ma led 1000 men and awaited TN
coming Of Gen. Talza with 2,oOo more
battalion crossed the San Antonl
River and took possession OF mouse
below the Alamo to build a orldg
across the riv I. Thirty men OF tW'
companies sent the next day to max
:: reconnaissance were killed. n llgh
earthwork was thrown up above In
Alamo. The firing from the tort, nov
invested on every side, was ceaseleS'
An earthwork nearer the fort was COZ
structed at night. On the 3D. day c
March Gen. Talza arrived, and tn
nlan of assault was defined and mad
known to the division commander
On the 5th of March scaling ladder
were distributed. At three 0 clock c
the morning of the 9th, ever memo
able in Texan song and story, the ba
talon Matamoras was moved TO q poil
near the river and above the Alamo.
They were supported by 1000 MT
under Gen. Cos, this wing OF the arm
being commanded by Gen. Castrlllo
Gen. Talza leading that below the 1
amo. Santa Anna spent the nlght
the earthworks near the Alamo. L
whole force was to move silently up
the fortress at bugle-sound, and not
fire until in the trenches of the lie
ans. The bugle was heard at 10
o'clock. Gen. Castrillon's dlvlsl
after an hours desperate fighting, a
after repeated repulses and unheard
losses, succeeded in etfectlng an
trance in the upper part of the Alan
in sort of Outwork, now q court-ya
The fighting had only begun. |
doors and windows Of the Alamo bui
ing were barricaded and guarded
bags of sand heaped up rs high as
mans shoulders, and on the root w
rows of sand-bag behind which
Texans fought as men never fought
fore-muzZle to muZZle, mana 10 Ma
Each Texas ritle-shot exhausted
force and spent itself in success
bodies of MexicanS packed toget
like wall of flesh. Muskets and RI
we're dubbed, and bayonets and boy
knives never wrought such fearful
mage.
The ceaseles5 crash Of firearms,
shouts of the defiant, desperate,
diving, made the din Internal. ana
scene indiscribable in It's sublime
rors. Each room in the building
the scene Of desperate struggle
fearless men driven to desperation
conscious that escape was lmposs
They fought even when strlckendo
and when dying still struggled, not
death. but to slay Mexicans. In
room used as hospital the sick
wounded fired pistols and rifles +
their pallets. A piece of artillery
nosed to be that which Crockett
nsed during the siege. was shotted
erase and canister and turned upol
desperate occupants of this apartm
After the explosion the Mexican:
tered and found the emaclated be
of fourteen men, torn, and rent.
blackened and bloody. Forty
dead Mexicans lay at the door
of this room. Bowie. whose I
tells of his fearful knife and d.