Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-26

the sight of this awful butchery. al
most unparalleled in the annals Of
history. Every Texan gazihgo on thai
picture must feel his heart swell in
gratitude to those intrepid defenders
who made the present prosperity
of Texas possible. The carnage Of
that awful day, baptized with the
blood ofpatriois the soil Shey loved
so tenderly. "a
When the Mexicans came to the
hand-to-hand fight they found zoe
desperate in death. Crockett slew a
number OF McXicans with his own
hand ere they gave him his death
wound. Bowie, who was in the last
stage of consumption, was confined to
his bed, was discovered and slain, but
with his pistol killed three MeXicans
as they entered his room. Further
resistance was useless, and according
to preconcerted arrangement, Major
Evans attempt to blow up the maga-
zine, but le was shot as lie was ap
plying tile torch. Every dcfender fell
at his post, not one was left. Not
satisfied with this slaughter, the bod
les Of these heroes were evem'IeAised
interment, but were heartlessly COL
lectcdin heaps and burned. Such
montrosityl such barbarityl For al
most a year did these bones lie bleach-
ing in the sun until on February 20,
1887. Col. John n. eScguin silpcrin-
tended their collection and proper
jnterment. Peace be TO their ashes
Immortal glory TO their chivaIric val
or! Words fail 10 praise these no
BILE souls. Only tears and gratitude
and reverence. of ourselves. and chill
drcn can testify that the storm Of
shot and Shell, and the holocaust Of
their bodies can never be forgotten.
The white flag inscribed with the
words, Liberty or Death" which
1loateil from the Alamo till ruthless
hands plucked it down, has become
the Lone Star flag, 10 wave over The
largest State i'll the American Union.
They not only redeemed Texas
and made her free, but Mexico her;
self threw off the yoke Of the usir-
per and is again a Republic. In hc
words OF one of Americas greatest
orators, "Thcir victory made us@ free
aud rendered tyranny in every other
lands as insecure as snow upon vol
cano lips. "These heroes are dead.
They died for liberty-they died for
us. They are at rest. They Sleep in
the land they made free, under the
flag they rendered stainless. lii the
midst of battle, in the roar of con-
liict they iopnd the serenity of
death" ,4 lo- aAl .as55rk 81,
Loving hands crcetcda a monument
in memory Of the heroes ofthe Alamo
and placed il at the entrance of tle
State7houso at Austin, Texas. 1t
was made by native artists from
stones taken from the ruins of the
Alamo, and will prepetuate this glor-
ious deed TIL it shall crumble into
dust. These words are inscribed on
the four sides
"To the God of the fearless and free
is dedicated this altar made from the
ruins of the Alamo, March 6, 1896"
''Be they enrolled with LeonidaS
in the host of the mighty dead"
"Thermopyla had her messenger
of defeat but the Alamo had none.'
"Blood of heroes hath stained me.
Let the stones of the Alamo speak
that their inmolation be not forgot
tell" IL r.tt. q .iB 3, Yan uoh
But better than memorial Shaft or
storicd urn, Travis, Bowie, Crockett,
Bonham and their comrades live in
the grateful hearts of the vast Com
monwealth of Texas and Of all who
love freedom and her sacred cause.