The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-05-02

UnaU une UIood req banners OF Santa Anna
meant war ofvengeance against the rebels.
The same messenger carried letters to
Travis friends. In one he said: ~ have
held this place ten days against force vari-
ously estimated from 1,500 to 5000, and i
sHaH continue to hold it until get relief
formy countrymen or l will perish in its
defense"
Gen. Houston was at the seat of govern
ment when Travis dispatch reached there
on March 6. The convention of republic
cans then in session proposed to adjourn
and march to the relief of Travis, but
Houston, in a vehement speech, dissuaded
them. In the crisis then existing in Texas
he thought that a government was the first
requisite, and he himself would go to the
relief of the Alamo. Finishing his appeal
and mounting his horse he set out with
four or five companions. They rode all
night, and the next morning, the 18th,
Houston put his ear to the ground to
catch, if possible, the sound of Travis sig
nal gun. For the first time in many days
the signal failed to appear.
Meanwhile the drama at the Alamo had
slowly reached the tragic climax. A coun-
Gil of war in the Mexican camps had de-
clared Tor assault. Opinion was divided as
to the time, some favoring the 9th and
others of the generals the 9TH. Santa
Anna decided on the 9th, which was Sun
day, and on the morning of that day the
Mexican infantry was formed in front of
the walls Of the Alamo. Behind the in
fantry line of cavalry was stationed,
with orders to cut down the former should
they fail to press the assault. At daylight
the ladders were against the walls, and
scaling parties attempted to mount them,
but the Texans bravely drove them off. A
second attempt met the same fate, but on
the third the presence of Santa Anna
among his men inspired them to unusual
valor, and many reached the top of the
wall. The first of them were cut down by
the Texans, but others followed in such
overwhelming numbers that the defenders
could do no more than protect their own
persons. The place was soon filed with
Mexicans. The Texans, too closely pressed
20 load and fire, dubbed their guns and
beat off their assailants, and kept this up
lntil but handful remained. II any cried
or quarter the appeal was unheeded.
The stone church building, located in
one corner, was used as a magazine, and it
had been arranged among the defenders
that when all was lost some one should
fire the powder and destroy friend and foe
Maj. Evans, the ordnance officer, attempt
ed to do this, but was shot down. At last
there were only seven survivors of the
Texan fighting band. Among them was
Col. Bowie, the adventurer, whose name
has been handed down with the celebrated
weapon he declared was better than a pistol
In border struggles, the noiseless bowie
knife. Col. David Crockett was also among
them. Crockett and five companions sur
rendered to the Mexican general leading
the assault, and were taken before Santa
Anna, who instantly ordered them dis
patched. Crockett was stabbed several
times. Bowie was sick in bed in the hos
pital, but he shot down several Mexicans
before he was killed. When the sun was
On hour high every man Of the 1873 who
scok part in the defense lay dead. They