The Washington times., 1894-10-21
HE SAW DAVY CROCKETT DIE
Thrilling Experience Of Capt. Schilliag
at the Alamo Massacre.
NOW A RESIDENT OF THIS CITY
As Commander Of Company of Texas Rangers
he Releases Many Mexican Prisoners
For All Eternity-Confnsd in an Under
ground Dungeon and Terribly Malt-ea.ed.
"Remember the AIamo!"

"RememDer the AlamO!
1t was with this battle cry on their Iips that
the brave soldiers of the young republic Of
Texas rushed into the fray after the awful
massacre at the old mission building. known
as ''the Alamo" and many swarthy Mexi-
can went to his death with the words ringing
in his ears, "Remember the Alamo The ter
rible vengeance Of the Texans on the soldiers
OF Santa Anna. to repay them in a measure
for slaughtering without mercy the gallant
defenders OF the old Alamo structure. is d IA
miliar and thrilling chapter OF American his
tory and does not therefore require reproduc-
tion in TEE TIllEs.
There is one man in Washington who has
good reason to remember the Alamo.
That man Is Capt. Louis Charles Schilling,
who resides with his wife and children at No.
1915 L street northwest. The CAPTAIN claims
aud proudly. too. TO be the only living sur
vivOr Of the fatefui massacre, IN which brave
Dayy Crockett and his fellow patriots glye
up their lives IL the cause Of human freedom.
at the time OF the siege and massacre at the
Alamo, Schilling was a baby boy Of five
years, but the awful scenes enacted there
made an impression on his young mind which
will be as lasting as life Itself.
He saw the gallant Texans as tkey fell one
by one, before the mUrier0Us fire OF the GiGx-
leans. and crouching in a conner he witnessed
tho Texas rIhemen rs they empgied their long
guns full il the face Of Santa Anna's yelling
host.
As the Mexicans surged into the mission
building. q wounded Texan seized little
Schillirg and forced him into an old fash
ioned bacon box, where ne remained con
cealed during all the carnage and piila,,e that
followed their entry de saw noble Davy
foil -. ba E,H Ha ar.fs
about him WITH dead and wounded Mexican
soldiers, and also witnessed the killing of his
own relatives. sturdy Germans, who were
among the earliest white settlers Of Texas.
Young Schiling remained undiscovered in
the bacon box until he was rescued by the
Texan reiniorcements. who bad been hurry
ing 10 the relief of the beieagUered garrison.
He was then taken TO a place Of safety and
remained as a charge CT the Lone star State
until he reached mans estate.
AS n momentO of MS escape and experience.
the State OF Texas has presented him with q
handsome medal, which he wears proudly on
his watch chain. In addition TO a Latin in
scription it bears the words: Survivor of the
Alamo. Presented by the State of Texas. "
On the front and reverse OF the medal appear
two views OF the old Alamo building.
He BECOMES An AvESGER.
When Capt. schilling reached the age Of
twenty yslrs. he enlisted IN the Texas Rang
ers, and was soon placed in command Of 4
company operating along the Rio Grande. As
leader OF these wild riders he saw an oppor-
tunitv OF avenGinS the deaths Of his relatives,
whose lives were taken by Mexicans at the
Alamo.
Il was sworn. - said Capt. ScniiI1ng TO a
TINES reporter, ITO either take Mexican
marauders along the Rio Graude prisoners or
else release them, as my Judgment might die
tate, and l am frank TO say thai during nv
service with the Rangers L was instrumental
in having not less than five hundred 'greas-
ers' released. l had a rather peculiar way Of
releasing my Mexican prisoners, but twas al
effective way, and they never bothered US
any more after being released"
How did l release them? Why when the
boys would bring one. two or three 'greasers'
before me and say: Captain. We found these
fellows trying to steal cattle or engaged in
any other sort of mischief, I would tell them
that the Jail at Brownsville, or somewhere
else, was foil of prisoners and We had no room
for the rascalS. Then would INSTRUCT them
TO take the prisoners 10 4 piece Of woods or
chapparal and release them. as my sworn
orders called for either release or incarcera-
ton. The bows would then lead the Mexi-
cans away to cover, cut of my sight. and in
few minutes yolley Of rife shots would in
form me that my orders had been obeyed and
the MeXicans released. "
Capt. Schilling kept a record OF the num-
Der OF 'greasers" he had released, and he
does not think the number viii fall far short
OF 500. The captains name soon became a
terror to Mexican UaraCdeTs along the
muddy Rio Grande, AMI they fought shy OF
his particular company OF rangers for fear
that they might some day come IN for one of
Capt. Schillings fatal releases.
A year or two after his retirement from the
rangers. owing to a severe attack of TheUma-
tism he had contracted as result of exposure
and hardship on the frontier the captain
came near losing his life in an underground
Mexican dungeon. The Mexicans had such
hatred for the devil captain. rs they were
wont to call him. that when he was advised
to seek relief for his aiiment at the Hot
Springs OF Mexico, he went there in disguise.
While returning towards Texas, lew months
later, he was recognized by a Mexican as ne
was passing through a small town near the Rio
Grande- The who discovered his identity
at once notified some companions and Capt.
Schilling was waylaid and shot through the
thigh. He was then seized by Mexican Off
cer5 and hurried off 70 prison. The men
who shot Schilling entered the false charge
OF assault and battery with intent TO kill
against him. Without even preliminary
hearing the captain was thrust into an un-
dergrouad dungeon and kept there for over
three months. The soldiers who arrested him
oAOiC al Ills ulOEtN. SOlltSLiAiE 1lht 1.pOJs
and subjected him tothe grossesJ irdIsnIties.
LEFT To sTARvE AND DIE ALONE.
Once in the dungeon, he was left to soli-
tude and sem-idarkness. No food was fur
nished him by the brutal jailors, and had it not
been for an old Mexican woman who secretly
gave him few tortilIas (Iexican corr cakes)
every day and the little burro mules who
came TO the pit entrance and dropped a few
grains of corn from their mouths as they
munched their MONDAY neal, SchillinS
would have starved to death, as it was the
purpose of the Mexicans that he should.
Whenever he asked for water to drink the
inhuman iailor handed him a jar OF slOp
water that a hog would have refused to
touch.
80 lonely was / in that underground
prison." said the captain. that l welcomed
even the companionship of the little house
flies that buzzed about my dungeon door"
Capt. Shilling finally feisned insanity and
managed TO get u note. written in German, 10
an ex-German consul who resided in the
town. The Mexicans. believing tnat he had
become mailman IRON starvation and other
abuses to which be was subjected. said:
"Oh, the devil captain IS crazy now. He
cannot do us any more HARM
Accordingly the German eX-consul, who
understood Schilling's scheme. secured his re-
lease and escorted him oprOSs the EiO C4ranEa