The news., 1882-05-04
STORY OF THE ALMo.
HOW BOWIE, CROCKETT AND TRAVIS
MET THEIR DEATHS.

ibis sketch is an account of the
burning Of the heroes Of the Alamo,
after the storming of that fortress
by the forces Of Santa Anna.
on the 9th Of March, 1886, aud
includes the murder of Colonel
James Bowie. The facts we're rsla.
ted to me BY the Mexican fifer, Fer
mine Oassisno, who was then but q
small boy, and who was an eye-wit.
ness Of the scene. he Is known, in
Texas BY the name of "The Masher. =
/ knew him several years, and feel
that can vouch for bin as truthful
Grasser, If such can be found.
After the fort (the celebrated church
Of the Alamo at San Antonio) had
been stormed and all its defenders had
been reported to have been slain, and
when the Mexican asssilants had been
recalled from within the walls, Santa
Anne, accompanied by his stat, co.
tered the fortress. Cassiano, being .
fifer, aud therefore privileged per-
son, and possibly the more 30 on co.
count Of bis tender age, BY permission
. A z ~ i "a
entered with them. He desired TO
see all that was to be seen, end for
this purpose he kept himself near 10
to his general-in-chisf. Santa Anna
had ordered that 90 corpse should be
disturbed until after he should have
looked upon them all, and seen how
every man had fallen He bad srn.
ployed the following citizens Of San
Antonio, who are, In most part. living
In advanced ages, Jossfa g. Eostere,
p. o Stevenson, Jack Bsrrislo,
"Pablo," and other persons, 70 enter
With him. and point out to him the
bodies d several Distinguished Texans,
The principal eorpses that Santa
Anna desired 10 ase we're those Of Col.
W. Barrett Travis. Col. James Bowie,
aud another man, whose name CASH.
ans could not remembsr. asked him
If the other msn's name was Crockett,
to which he replied, "Maybs SO; /
can't remember. ;" xgWgEf
On entering the fort, the eyes Of
the conquerers were greeted by q
scene which my informant could not
we'll describe. The bodies of The
Texans lay as they had fallen, and
many Of them were covered BY those
Of Mexioans who bad fallen upon
them. The close ief the struggle
seepsd to have been hand-to.hand
engagement, and the nqmb-r of slain
Mexicans exceeded that Of the Texans
The ground was covered with the
bodies Of thsslain Santa Anna and
suit wandered from one apartment Of
the fortress to another, stepping over
and upon the dead, aud seemingly en-
loving this scene of human butte herv.
After q general reconnoitering Of
the premises, the dictator was con.
eucted to the bedy Of Colonel Travis;
After viewing his form and features
for few moments, Santa Anna thrust
his sword through the dead body
and turned away.sS He was thea oon.
Quoted to the bodysof the man, whose
name Cassiano could not remember
This man lay with his face upwards
and his body was covered by ,those7oi
many Mexisans who had fallen upon
him. His face was forid, like that Of
living man, and he 10, ksd like
healthy man asleep. Santa Anna alss
viewed him for 4 few moments, thras1
Rhis sword through him, and turned
away. ~: s = SIS ~ E rx ia
Then q detail of Mexican soldier.
E
came into the fort. They we're com
manded BY two officers, a captain and
q Junior officer, whose title Cassiaas
tssah not szplain 10 me, bat wlom