The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1889-12-28
DIR. Harris ON Texas History.

of her people"
The Doctor, in introducing his sub
ject, said that he was not an orator
and would not attempt tiowery de-
scription, but would make plain
statement of the facts obtained by
study and travel during the past tif-
teen years in the different portions of
| Texas. a state within whose borders
he had rode twelve thousand miles,
meeting prominent men in all OF the
principal cities.
The history of Texas, said the
| Doctor" reads like romance. Revo-
lutions involving changes OF Cover
ment have not been frequent in our
| time, and our minds, when thinking
or speaking of history, naturally go
back to remote periods of time. How
ever there are many now living, nclud-
ing one, at least, in our own city, who
were actors on the stage of life when
Texas secured her independence.
"TeXas had 10000 people in 1885
and Mexico seven millions. When
Columbus discovered America the
| Meyicans of four hundred years ago
were under the rule of Montezuma.
| These were the ToltecS and the AStecs.
| The MeXicanS of 1879 and OF to-day
are a mixed race. The higher class OF
Spanish descent and the lower class OF
Indian parentage.
| "MeXico once claimed the country
between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
In 1885 she only claimed jurisdiction
to the Sabine river, the present east
ern boundry of Texas. Americans
were invited to settle in Texas, to
help Mexico in her struggle with Spain
for independence. Large grants of
land, free from taxes for several years,
were made, and many inducements Of
| feredtO Americans to make their homes
in Texas. A hardy, adventurous class
of people were attracted there by these
offers and by the beauty of the coun-
try, and the fertility Of the soil.
Among these were Moses Austin,
often called the "Father of Texas
David Crockett, Col. Bowie and others.
"The MeXcanS were never sincere.
Once Independent from Spain, they be-
gan to plan in what manner they might
control the Americans in Texas. who
had grown numerous and were impor-
tant as political factor. Anattempt
was made to dsarm them. The
Americans defled them, sending the
famous message, "if you want our
arms, come and get them" They
were oppressed, from fear of revolution.
Mexico made them penal colony,
closed their ports and imprisoned
those who crossed the Rio Grande &c
demonstrate. They used every means
to intimidate the Americans, but
they sturdily refused to be scared OF
driven out.
THE charms of beautiful Texas fal
outweighed Mexican threats. They
were men who feared nothing that
; dwelt on the face of the earth. They
were, all unknown to themselves, de-
stned to create new republic and tt
set in train sequence OF events
; which would wrest from degraded
Mexico large part of her territory.
"With the demand of Mexico, that
the Americans in Texas give up theil
arms, the war may have been said t(
have actually began. Mexico put il
motion an armyOf more than ten thOus
and men, glad of the chance to wip'
f the hated "Gringoers" Mexican tern
for TeXanS) from the face of the earth
They crossed the Rio Grande in full
confidence of an easy victory, iron
four to six thousand marching for Sal
= Antonio and about the same number
for Galiad.
''Then came the world-famed battl,
of the Alamo. William Travis, will
. about one hundred and forty men
took possession of the Alamo, anC
sent for reinforcementS, which did not
, arrive. Forty brave men, however
did come to his assistance. He had
in all, just one hundred and eighty
three brave men, appointed. for sacrl
flee. He well knew that the proba
biitieS of success were all against him
He therefore called his men out to the
court yard, and, after stating that
those who remained would probably
be killed. drew line on the ground
with his sword, and asked all thost
who desired to stay to step across the
line. Every man crOssed-the gallant
Bowie, who was i'll, being carried over
"The MeXicans arrived. They knew
men to approach very near the Alamo
at first, and it was nearly a week
before the fortress was completely in
vested. Large cannon were placed at
night, but David Crockett, standing
Oh ulle TOOl Ol Une hldlnO, WIFI men
loading foI him, kept the guns silent
by picking off the gunners. When the
Alamo fell not even one wounded man
was spared. All were massacred eX-
cepting a negro servant and the wives
of two of the men. There was great
rejoicing among the McXicanS.
AT GOliad, Fannin was told that a
large number Of refugees, principally
women and children, were approach
ing his camp. He went out to meet
them. but found the main body of the
enemy and was defeated, The re-
manning few at Golad. too weak to
fight successfully met the enemy in the
open plain. They finally surrendered
to the MeXicanS, who promise them
the hOnOrS of war. No sooner did they
lay down their arms than they were
massacred in cold blood.
The remaining few, fit for military
duty, fastened to join General Hous-
ton, who retreated easterly, holding
the enemy in check, but avoiding a
battle. His object was to give the
women and children time to reach a
place Of safety and to draw Santa
Anna further away from his base Of
supplies. He reached San JacintO
and prpngrpd for hattie Two siY-