The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-02
A Few Notes for Visitors.

Among the many hundreds OF visitors who
will be in our city during to-day and for the
next three days, there will doubtless be many
who are complete strangers who would like to
see all that is to be seen worthy of note in our
old town for the benefit of such we will note
a few points of interest.
THE ALAMO.
The Alamo, is Of course, the most cele-
brated spot in Texas-it marks the place
where the most heroic event of the century
happened and forms the central picture in the
Texas revolution against Mexico. 1t was
here the garrison numbering $50 men under
command of Travis, persisted to man in the
defence of the fort; it is rightly termed the
Thermopylae of Texes. What is left of the
old fort can be found on the northeast corner
of the Alamo plaza.
The old convent wing was converted INTO
princely mercantile establishment by the late
Mr.. Grenet, one of San Antonio's merchants,
and the old chapel has been utilized as
warehouse. The old fort or chapel will inter-
est you most, for it was the point of resistance
and attack. Its appearance is changed; orig
inally it had no roof, never having been COM
pleted by the monks. An earthwork extended
to the top Of the wall from the inside, upon
which was planted the Texas cannon. The
whole face of nature has changed since the
day of the memorable fall of the Alamo. forty
six. years ago. Then it was largely surround
ed by prairie and fields; now it is in the center
of populous section of the city. By calling
at the store, Major Dryer, will stake pleas
ure on having you shown through the
premises. Attached to the store, is a very
interesting museum of stuffed animals and
birds of Texas, prepared by Mr.. Tudo, a
Frenchman living on the Medina. You will
then pass into the old building, and by re-
membering that it was roohess fort, except
the front side rooms you can have some con-
ception of how it looked on the day Of the bat
tie; in fact there is painting in the museum
that will give you good idea of it. Crockett
is supposed to have fallen in one of the small
rooms in front. Travis was killed on the
ramparts, and Bowie was taken from his sick
bed and shot after the fort was taken.
THE MISSIONS,
of which there are Two of special interest, lie
below the city on the river. The mission San
Juan a miles below on the east side, and
San Jose about 4 miles below on the west
side. The San Juan is the best preserved.
The San Jose is an interesting ruin. These
edifces being built nearly century and half
ago in the midst Of wild savage region
marked more distinctly than any other monu-
ment, the first efforts of civilized men to plant
christianity and civilization IN Texas. These
missions were the work of the Franciscan
monks, an order that retired from the field of
action in this region about the close of the last
century; hence the ruined condition of these
edihces.
THE vERAMENDI-AN OLD BULLET-PIERCED
DOORWAY.
Our visitors must remember that San An
tonic was an old Mexican town; that the hou-
ses were mostly of the old Mexican style flat
roofs and thick walls, These houses have
been largely supplanted by modern buildings
or modified so as to change their looks. On
Soledad street, just below the street railroad
tun-table, stands the Veramendi house on the
east side of the street, The building has un-
dergone some changes. but the old carved
door is there still, and the visitor will recog-
nize it curious relic of the past; it is pierre
ed with bullet holes maze during the battle
when the town was stormed inIS35 by band
ofTexans commanded by Milan, who was
killed just inside the archway. Col. Frank
Johnson, second in command, took command
and carried the town by storm. Col. John
son is in the city on visit, and is still hale
and noble looking man.
AN OLD KEYSTONE.
On the west side of Military plaza, over
doorway in the building now occupied as
pawn shop, is an old stone arch. in which is
keystone of remarkable history, the Austrian
coat-of-arms is plainly carved upon it, with
date I749. 1t was the old Spanish military
headquarters at that date, and the stone COM
memorated the marriage between the two
royal houses of Spain and Austria, and San
Antonio was then called San Fernando de
Austria.
UNCLE SAM,
On the highlands just above the city. on the
east side of the river, and not over two miles
from the Alamo, is the government depot
the largest in the south.
A tower ninety feet high stands in the CEN
tire of the grounds, and affords a splendid
view of the city and country. To those who
like to climb and see the wide world, we say
visit the tower. Adjacent is the cluster of
buildings for officers quarters, and the
grounds are beautifully laid out; the street cars
run to this spot.
THE WATER WORKS.