Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-15
~RENrENrBER THE ALAMO
Scene of DavY Crockett's Great ExpIoi
and Tragic Death.

Scene of DavY Crockett's Great Exploit
and Tragic Death.
First the Alamo, next the $1,000 set Of
furniture, is the order in which the San
Antonian Classics the sights to be shown
the visitor. The garden wall, which formed
the other Notifications where Davy Crock
EFT and his 40 companions held at bay
Mexican army of 10000, is gone, and the
Alamo plaza extends to the doors of the
ancient buildings. The nunnery portion
has been transformed into a wholesale
grocery, and the firm sign is spread across
the front of the old walls. An imitation
of a mansard has been added to the two
stories OF the convent, and aboYe the roof
at each end rises turret pierced with
wooden guns, the modern tribute to
the structures famous history. One
can hardly 60 amisS on a guide, for the
battle cry of the second Mexican war,
Remember the AlamO," echoes in the
San AntOnian's memory and the details
Of the massacre are as fresh in his mind
as are those of the killing of Ben ThOmp-
son and King Fisher in the Vaudeville
Theatre recently. A little back, but join
ing on the end of the convent, stands the
massive building in which Crockett and
his reduced band retired and made their
last fight. The door stands wide open
and the floor Is covered with fragments of
evergreen wreaths and trimmings. A
church festival was the last use to which
the Alamo was put, and the lumber for
the tables has not been fremoYed. Your
guide Will take you into the dungeon just
to the left of the main entrance and show
you the cell surrounded by solid stone
walls six feet thick. This was the ere
matory where the Mexicans found sweet
revenge in roasting the bodies OF the men
who had fought them off so long.
Then you go up to the second story and
into little room twelve feet square with
one door and one wlndOw-the same
thick walls. 1t was through this window
that the Texan pointed their field piece,
anu Win their few remaining charges
moved swaths through the Mexican
ranks. Then when the last grain OF pow
der was burned they took their positions
where they could work with their long
knives to the best advantage, and as the
DeSlegerS pressed in the foremost dropped
In their tracks before the thrusts of the
defenders. Here in this corner when the
last shots We're fired from the window,
Crockett took up his position with his
knife. He was sheltered from the Win
dow and faced the door. He killed seven
teen MeXicans, and their bodies lay piled
up on this floor in front of him. Then
they pinned him to the wall with long
spear, and he had hacked that half
through with his knife before they gave
him his death wounds.
In the rear of this old chapel is shown
the court yard where the single male
survivor of the Alamo garrison mingled
with the attacking forces and escaped to
tell the story of that awful day, and then
room is shown where, under a green
hide, a woman concealed herself and her
babe when the Mexican soldiers made
their first wild search, intent on slaugh-
tering every human being, regardless of
age and sex. Her hiding place was not
discovered until the thirst for blood was
somewhat abated, and then the inter-
ference of an officer saved her.