Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-05-18
STORY OF THE ALAMO.
How Bowie, Crockett and Travis Met
Their Deaths.


This sketch is an account OF the
burning of the bodies OF the heroes
of the Alamo, after the storming OF that
fortress by the forces Of Santa Anna, on
the 9th of March, 1886, and includes
the murder of Col. James Bowie. The
facts were related to me by the Mexi'
can fifer, Fermine Cassiano, who was
then but small boy, and who was an
eyewitness Of the scene. He is known
in Texas now by the name OF "The
Masher," knew him during several
wears, and feel that can vouch for
him as truthful Greaser, if such can be
found.
After the fort (the celebrated church
of the Alamo at San Antoniol had been
stormed and all its defenders had been
reported to have been slain, and when
the Mexican assailants had been recall
ed from within the walls, Santa Anna,
accompanied by his statf, entered the
fortress. Cassiano, being tifer, and
therefore privileged person, and pos
sibly the more so on account of his
tender age, by permission entered with
them. He desired TO see all that was
10 be seen, aud for this purpose he kept
himself near to his generalin chief.
Santa Anna had ordered that no corpses
should be disturbed till after he should
have looked upon them all, and seen
how every man had fallen. He had
employed the following citizens OF San
Antonio, who are, in most part living
in advanced ages, Josefa c. Fostere, L.
o. Stevenso, Jack Hsrrisio, pablo"
and other persons, to enter with him,
and point out to him the bodies ofsever-
al distinguished Texans.
The principal corpses that Santa An
na desired to see we're those of Col. w.
Barrett Travis, Col. James Bowie, and
another. man, whose name Cassiano
could not remember. | asked him il
the other mans name was Crockett, to
which he replied, maybe so | can't
remember"
On entering the fort, the eyes of the
conquerors were greeted by a scene
which my informant could not well de.
scribe. The bodies OF the Texans lay
as they had fallen, and many of them
were covered by those OF Mexicans who
had fallen upon them. The close of the
struggle seemed to have been a hand.
to.hand engagement, and the number
of slain Mexicans exceeded that of the
Texans. The ground was covered with
the bodies of the slain. Santa Anna
and suite wandered from one apart.
ment of the fortress to another. step.
ping over and upon the dead, and
seemingly enjoying this scene OF human
butchery.
Altar q ,araraI racappo;tar;,v oT Tho
premises, the dictator was conducted
to the body of Colonel Travis. After
viewing his form and features for few
moments, Santa Anna thrust his sword
through the dead mans body and turn.
ed away. He was then conducted to
the man, whose name Cassiano could
not remember. This man lay with mis-
face upwards. and his body was covered
by those of many Mexicans who had
fallen upon him. His face was florid,
like that OF living man, and he look.
ed like a healthy man asleep. Santa
Anna also viewed him for a few mo.
ments, thrust his sword through him
and turned away.
Then a detail OF Mexican soldiers
came into the fort. They were com
manded by two officers, a captain and a
junior officer, whose title Cassiano
could not explain TO me, but whom
shall for convenience call the lieuten.
and. They were both quite young men.
very fair, very handsome, aud so near.
ly alike in complexion, form. size and
features that they were supposed to be
brothers, the captain being apparently
Il little older than the other. Cassiano
did not remember to have ever seen
them before, was confident that he
never saw them afterwards and he did
not learn their names.
After the entry of the detail, Santa
Anna and his suite retired but the two
officers, with their detail. remained
within. The two kept themselves
close together. My informant was de.
sirous to know what was TO be done aud
remained with the detail and. TO enable
him to see all that was to he seen. he
kept himself near the two o ofticers,never
losing sight of them.
AZ soon as the dictator and suite had
retired, the detail began to take up the
Texans to bring them together, and lay
them in n pile. | had learned from
other prisoners that the Mexicans at
the same time performed the additional
work Of rifiing the pockets Of the slain
Texans.
The two officers took a stand about
the centre of the main area. The first
corpse WAS brought and laid as the cap.
tain directed. This formed nucleus
for the pile. The bodies were brought
successively, each by four men, and
dropped near the captains feet. In
imitation of his general, the captain
viewed the body OF each Texan for a
few moments. then thrust his sword
through him, and then, by a motion Of
bis sword, directed the four men who
had brought him, TO throw him upon
the pile, which pantomine was instant.
ly obeyed.
When the Texans bad all been
thrown upon the pile, four soldiers
walked around IL each carrying can Of
camphene. from which he spurted the
liquid upon the pile.
This process was continued until the
bodies were thoroughly wetted. Then
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