The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-24
SAN JACINT0.
EPITeME OF EVENTS THAT SUR
ROUNDED THAT MEMoRA-
BILE BATTLE.
How the Day Was Celebrated
In the Capital of Texas
Soldiers and Firemen.


the people of Texas, and the defian
attitude of Bowie, Crockett anC
Travis at San Antonio, so eXasperateC
the tyrant, Santa Anna, that, on Sun
day, Goods day. March 9, his entipt
army surrounded the Alamo. and un.
der his very eye and at his own com
mand, one hundred and eighty-eight
brave men were put to the sword
The Texans were then in full retreat
under Sam Houston, and the Next
cans, under Santa Anna, In hot pur-
suit.
The morning of April 81, which
dawned bright and beautiful, found
Gen. Houston with mere handful of
men, seven hundred and fifty, camped
on the right bank of Buffalo bayou,
just where It mingled its waters with
those of San Jacinto bay. In front of
him rested Santa Anna and his army,
about eighteen hundred strong. What
oddsl Great HeaVensl could 1t be
that these grand heroes were to be
as ruthIessly swept from earth as were
Crockett, Bowie and Travisf Would
a Just God permit this human mon
ster with his overwhelming force to
drive these brave heroes into the sea,
to save themselves from butchery
There were those among them who
did not believe it. Vince's bridge
across the bayou, and over which the
entire Mexican army had passed, had
been destroyed by Deaf Smith, the
famous Texan spy, to cut off their
escape. The escape of eighteen hundred
from 1901 Aye, the odds were largely
against them, but the consciousness
of the justice of their cause filled the
breast of every Texan with a glorious
hope. Santa Anna was behind his
entertainments. The moment for the
decisive blow had come, and, unher-
aided by martial strains, that Spartan
band moved forward in three divis-
ions to the charge. When two hun
dred yards away the enemy opened
fire. They did not quail, but rushed
on to the battle. AT seventy yards
six hundred Texas rifles answered
one said something of "Goliad"
and "Alamo," and the Texans went
mad. These two words rang up and
down the line, and the hoarse voices
that uttered them seemed the voices
of demons. They leaped over the
and grappled at mems
Threats, and bathed their swords in
blood. The Mexicans gave way. All,
grand spectaclel The Napoleon of
the West" under full retreat But
hat was not all. Every Texan han
two pictures in his heart
"Goliad" and alamo" And the
as they looked back, could
see them reflected in their eyes, and
dared not ask for mercy; but, close
pursued, dashed headlong into the
waters of the Buffalo, or sank, as an
upon its banks. AS the
sun went down in the west it seemed
to pause to review the mad work of
the day. The Mexicans had been
routed. and seven hundred had atom
ed with their lives for the butch
cries of the Alamo and Go
lad; while two hundred and
eight other lay bleeding from
their wounds, andFseven hundred and
thirty more were prisoners. "An
eye for an eye" the scriptures had |
said, but the Texans did not further |
avenge their deadlupon the imprisoned |
Mexlcans. Santa Anna had escaped, |
and Gen. Houston lay in his tent |
from CHASTITY wound On
The following day the Napoleon OF |
the West" was found hidden in the |
tall grass, crouched low beneath the
folds of blanket. He was taken be- |
fore Houston and tried the purchase |
Of his liberty. The soldiers wanted |
his life added to the atonement, but |
Houston told them mo" According
to the terms of agreement by which
his life was saved, Santa Anna or
dered Iall Mexican troops from the
soil of Texas.
Thus was Texas independence
gained. Should not Texans honor
and glorify every annual recurrence of |
that memorable dayp 1t was cele-
brated here yesterday by the firemen
and artillerymen.
FIREMEN's PICNIC.
The firemen met at the pic mic
grounds at Pressler's garden in the |
forenoon. Inspection and commits
sion of officers occurred at noon. The |
began at 3 o'clock, and |
Of the following contests |
and prizes
Race Seventy-five yards, blind |
fold, prize, $500, cash; won by |
e. Schultze.
Race-lO0 yards, blind fold, and |
knocking bottle off of pole. Prize,
$500. Won by Ed Steiner.
Best lady shot-Prize, pendant ivy |
stand. Judges: Jos. Goodman and |
Lock Platt. Prize won by Mrs.
Strive.
Best gentleman shot-Prize, silver |
and gold lined cup, Judge: j. T. w. |
Loe. Won by E. Schroeder.
Foot race-100 yards, one entry
from each fire company. Prize, silver
tilling ice pitcher. Entry: Wallace
Miller, Washington No. 1; w. n.
Simmons, Colorado No. Q; Charles
Kuge, Hook and Ladder No. 1; ].
Kirshvink. Hook and Ladder No. 8:
prize to be donated by, winner to
his company. Judges Monroe Mil
Ter, F. e. Jones, ]. B. Nitschke, A.
Domlschke, one from each company
john D. Johnson, umpire. Prize
awarded to Chas. Kluge, of Hook and
Ladder No. l.
Foot race, seventy-five yards-Prize.
fine pair gold sleeve buttons. Won
by Chas. Kluge.
Walking match-Prize, silver and
gold cologne fountain. Prize awarded
Geo. sherwood.
Best three standing jumps, prize
silver cake basket. Won by w. n.
Simmons.
at seven o'clock Chief FILLER turned
the grounds over to the proprietor.
There was dancing throughout the
afternoon, and continued late into
the night.
The artillery boys came out in the
afternoon.
The crowd throughout the day was
very large and the affair was, on the
whole. q grand success.
TRAVIS LIGHT ARTILLERY.
The artillery boys, inifull uniform, turn
ed out in street parade at 1870 o'clock
with three cannons, owing to their in
ability to get motive power for the re-
manning five. They moved to
the base ball grounds In front of the
University, where they spent an hour
IN sbooming the forty-eighth ami
versary OF Texan independence. At
one o'clock they dlsbanded, most
of them joining the fire boys
at Pressler's Garden. The artillery
boys speak warmly of the kindness
of Major Arnold, of the ordnance de-
partment, San Antonio, who loaned
them supply of friction primers,
theirs not having arrived from New
York. Capt. Peeler of the artillery
seems to be the right man in the right
place. Altogether the day passed
most agreeably.