The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-09-18
A HISTORIC RELIC.

GALVESTON, Tex, September 1.-THE re-
cent presentation at Austin by Hon. John p.
White, one of the judges of the court appeals,
to Hon. l.. l.. Foster, commissioner of the state
bureau of statistics and history, of portion of
the monument erected to commemorate the
memory of the defenders of the Alamo, recalls
celebrated link in the chain of Texas his
tory.
The Alamo was located in the plaza of San
Antonio, and after the capture of that city by
the Texans in 1885 was garrisoned by force
under command of Colonel U. Barrett Travis
until it was formally invested by the Mexican
army commanded by Santa Anna in person,
president general of that republic When first
besieged Travis had about 140 men, among
whom were Colonel James Bowie, Davy
Crockett and Colonel John b. Bonham, gal
tant young South Carolinian. On the LIST of
March, 1886, Captain /. w. Smith of Gonzales
and thirty-two men made their way through
the enemy's lines in spite of the strict invest
ment, and reinforced the garrison. The Next
cans were well apprised of the condition of
the Texan forces, and an unconditional surren-
der was demanded by Santa Anna, which was
refused. Real and feigned attacks. q heavy
bombardment, and the necessity of procuring
wood and water outside the fort wore down the
physical energies of the garrison, but could not
subdue its spirit. Soon after midnight on the
9th or Merch, 1896, being theytlege nth day of
the assault, the Mexican army commanded by
Santa Anna in person, surrounded the fort to
take it by storm.
BLOODY BUTCHEEY.
The cavalry formed circle round the infan-
try for the double purpose of pricking them on
and preventing the escape of the Texans.
Long before daylight they advanced amid the
discharge of mustry and cannon. Twice re-
pulsed in their attempt to scale the walls they
were again impelled to the assault by their Off
GERS until borne onward by the pressure from
behind they mounted the walls, and, in the
language of eyewitness, "tumbled over like
sheep" Travis received q shot and fell while
cheering on his men. When he dropped a
Mexican officer rushed forward to dispatch
him. Summoning all his powers for final
effort Travis met his assailant with thrust of
his sword and both expired together The
brave defenders of the fort, overborne by null
titudeS and unable in the throng to load their
arms, continued the conflict with the butts of
their rifles until only seven men were left, and
these were refused quarter. Of all the persons
in the fort but two were spared-a Mrs. Dick
inson and colored servant belonging to Colo
mel Travis. Major Evans was shot while in
the act of firing train to explode the maya
zine, by order of Travis. Bowie who had been
confined to his room for several days by sick
ness, was butchered in his bed and his remains
sayagely INITIATED. The rudest form of Sc
pulture was denied the dead. Their bodies
were stripped thrown into a heap and burned.
Masses OF the enemy lay strewn around the
form of the bold, eccentric Crockett The
force hurled against the weak fort and feeble
garrison was not less than 1900 men, composed
OF the flower of Mexican soldlery. Their num-
Der OF Killed was estimated at 800.
THE MONUMENT.
After the defeat of the Mexicans at San ia
cnto, the bones of the slain were gathered to-
gether in San Antonio and buried. Some wears
after monument was erected to their memo
ry at Austin. 1t was composed of limestone
from the Alamo and stood ON the porch of the
old state capitol, being almost entirely de-
stroyed when the building was burned, several
years since.
The following is correct description of the
monument as it stood before the fire.
A shaft of limestone ten feet high supported
on base of thirty-four feet in height bearing
the names of Travis Bowie, Crockett and
Bonham. The shaft bore the following in
scriptions:
North front:
:'".''..
To the God Of the Fearless and Free
is Dedicated
This Altar, made from the Ruins Of the Alamo:
March 6, 1886, A. d.
West front:
Blood of Heroes Hath Stained Me.
Let the stones Of the Alamo Speak, that
Their Immoletou be rot Forgotten.
March 6, 1885 A. d.
South 'front.'
:''''''.'
Be They Enrolled
With Leonidas in the History Of the Mighty
Dead
March 6, 1886, A. d.
East front:
ThermOpylH
mad Her Messenger Of Defeat
But the Alamo Had None.
March g. 1850, A. b.
-
The portion of the monument which has
been preserved is the base, broken into two
pieces, and IN his letter 10 Commissioner Eos
ter, Judge White expresses the opinion that
this is all that remains Of the original Inonu-
ment The relics viii be accorded fitting
place in the new state capitol.
Red, of Course.
a budding poet in the house press gallery
sends IN this
There was young girl Ia Belaire,
And her manner was quite debonair;
Wien the streets she would cross
You would d white hos
Now, what was tie shade o. her hair