San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1882-08-03
The Old Graveyard to be Kept Up-The
Walker Wilson Grayestone.

Tho neglected condition of the Old Grav
=, Yard at this place has long been the subject
of comment unfavorable to our people
There has been plausible excuse, in thu
B uncertainty as to whether the ground nigh
i not be turned out, aud the remains of those
buried there have TO be removed. This un'
certainty no longer exists The Lindsey and
Harvey families, who own the ground, avow
their purpose to keep it up, and desire al
others concerned, to cooperate with them in
keeping it in order and repair. AS conclu.
siye evidence of this determination, the re
! mains of the late A. +. Harvey were recent
ly deposited there. So there is no Longer
any reason why those having relatives and
friends buried there should not so to work
and put it in respectable condition. This
should be done, and as soon as possible.
Let the fence be put in repair, the old I'M
slightly rubbish removed, the weeds kept
down. flowers and shrubbery planted, and
tractive resorts about our town, both to our
own people and to visitors from abroad. 1t
is place of historic interest, and our CON-
munity should take pride in having it kept
in proper order.
The permanency of the cemetery being
thus settled, removes the only possible OBJ
lection to the idea suggested not long since by
the FREE Pass of erecting headstone at
the grave of the late Walker Wilson, Tex
US veteran aud soldier of San Jacinto, late
of this place, whose remains now lilo
without stone to mark the spot We think
all right minded people will agree with us
that this is shameful state of facts. Mr..
Wilson's record as veteran we believe is
unquestionable. He was an old Tennessee
compatrot of David Crockett. and we have
heard him relate that Crockett stopped ut
his house in Bastrop county when he was en-
route for death and Immortality at the Ala
mo- After that bloody sacrifice, and the
kindred massacre of Fannin and his men at
Goliai, Gen Houston was compelled to re
treat almost the whole width of the State
till he made the final stand at San Jacinto.
There the fate of the Republic of Texas
hung in the balance Had the result been'ad-
verse, her lone star flag would have gone down
for years, perhaps forever. These were
the times that tried mems souls in Texas. Of
every man of the gallant band there led by
Houston, confronting the vastly greater ar
my commanded by Gen. Santa Anna it
might well have been said, in the language
of great writer of the American Revolu-
ton of 1776-'he who stands it NOW deserves
the love and thanks of man and woman
The sub ect of this notice-Wa Wilson
was one of this band of heroes Said we not
then truly, that to leave his grave unmarked,
his memory unhonored to SO small degree, is |
utterly disgraceful to us of the present day, |
who are reaping the rich harvest resulting
from the valor, tolls and sacrifices of the
men of San Jacinto? Ought we not to show
to the world, and to the rising generation of
our great State, that they who then went
'orth, taking their lives in their hands, that
heir country might live are not and never
IAN be forgotten by us? It seems to us
here can be but one answer to this ques-
lion.
At the first suggestion of headstone to
Walker Wilson, some months since, Mr..
Caldwell handed us 80 SO to be applied to
hat purpose No solicitations were made,
nd nothing more done. Now Messrs. Un-
lerhill q Co., marble dealers of Austin,
make the following liberal proposition: To
whatever sum may be contributed by our
itizens, they will add twice as much more.
Tor instance, if We raise $40, they viii put
p stone worth $50. 1t could not well be
ess than that But if we raise more they
'ill give in the same proportion. This is
ertainly generous on the part of this enter
rising firm, and entities them to much credit.
Now We have only this to add, in conclu-
ion. Any donations for the contemplated
bject which may be placed in orr hands,
Eill be faithfully applied to the same, and a 4
uitable stone, with an appropriate inscrip-
ION, promptly placed at the grave of a SOL
Ter OF San Jscinso, in the old San Marcos
emetery. there to stand as e testimonial to his
atriotic services, and ola peoples gratitude !
Or the same.
jams and Younger Brothers, two differ
IA as,thurs AZ this ofica