San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-03-25
FROM ILLINOIS.
GOOD WORDS FROM ONE OF THE
JuNkETING EDITORS.

San Antonio, which seems to have
impressed him very favOrably during
his short stay OF 8 hours recently
with the Illinois Press, on the way TO
Mexico:
"SOme time before daylight on
Monday morning our train arrived at
the city of San Antonio where we
were to take breakfast and remain
until noon to see the sights of that
old town. Soon after seven O'Clock
we made our way by carriages and
! street cars to the Menger hotel, fine
! large building, covering nearly "a
whole square, where we had break
fast in keeping with the hotel and it's
equipments. Coming out from
| breakfast we were met by young
man who gave us the name OF +. j.
Caldwell. He left here some fifteen
! years ago with his parents, who re-
moved to Texas and located at San
Antonio. He learned the printing
! business after going there, and is
now city editor of the Daily LIGHT,
a republican paper.
The citizens of san Antonio had
made preparations to do the hand
some thing by our party in the way
| of showing the city and its sights
and wonders, and we were first con-
Quoted to the historic A lamO, which
is but little over square away from
| the Menger hotel, and is q sacred
place to all old Texans, and is kept 50
in the hearts of the younger genera
tiOns by a reCOunting OF its traditions
and memories. 1t was originally
hui l.; l.
and almost impenetrable walls, its
monks cells and ClOisters. made it
serve admirably the purpose of fort
during the war ofTexas Independence
1t was here on the 9Th of March, 1886,
that its garrison Of 112 noble patriots
was besieged by an army of 1000
Mexican soldiers under General Santa
Anna, and after being three times re-
pulsed was carried by storm, and the
last of its occupants, excepting
one woman and child, slain. We
were conducted to the different
cells, and shown the places |
where Travis, Crockett and Bowie
were slain, fighting until the last. |
\ tter the visit to the Alamo our |
party took carriages provided by the
citizens committee, for a drive about !
the city. The first place of note Wis.,
tied was Government Hill, in the |
northeastern portion of the city, on a
hill, overlooking the valley OF the |
San Antonio river, comprising the |
| nited States military reservation, !
and the headquarters of the depart |
mCnt of Texas, embracing Texas |
New Mexico and Arizona, under com |
mand of General David :. Stanley |
This post is said to rank second in |
size, beauty and completeness OF any
In the United States. The depart |
ment buildings and general officers, |
residences are of stone, massive. vet |
attractive. while the soldiers bar !
racks and rcgimentaI officers, resi- |
dences are of brick. The grounds !
are BEAUTIFULLY laid out. with artif-
cial stone walks. macadamiZed drive |
ways, well sOdded paradp Grounds |
grass plots, etc, all shaded bv fine |
trees and a liberal supply Of shrub
berry. We were also driven by the ar /
senal, occupying Il government reser- /
walton Of about twenty acres. where .
all minor repairs to small arms ,e,mip- |
memts and accoutrements for the !
department are made. The Mexican
Cathedral, il historic church elitice
was also viewed. 1t was built MS a
parish church in l722. and was made |
a cathedral i'm later wears when west
ern Texas was given a bishop. The
front portion of the church has haen
rebuilt, but the rear portion remains
the same as when first constructed.
The city has It number OF beautiful
parks and plalas, but the most beau