The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-12-10
AN ALArIO HERO.
Colonel bowie, After Whom the hOwie
knife WAS Named

1t is n safe wager that nine out of every
eleven boys who are proficient in the use
OF Bowie knife have not the slightest
idea where the instrument got its name
Colonel Bowie, Of Texas fame, gave the
knife its title.
And when one writes of the Texas hero.
one must needs think of the battle of
Alamo. that heroic fight of which our
American boys and girls seem to think so
little and half of them know nothing what
ever.
They read how the brave soldiers fought
and held thc pass of Thermopylae, but they
seldom think of how mere handful of men
defended the Alamo mission. How they
dropped fighting on their knees and then
died facing the foe.
IT you should go to the historical city of
San Antonio in Texas you will see the old
mission building standing with battered,
bullet-pierced walls. a monument to the
IL heroes of 80. Behind these walls the
most important battle in the war between
Mexico and Texas was fought. That was
when Santa Anna was president and the
Texans We're fighting Tor their lndepend-
ence Here it was that Colonel Bowie
ended his brave life. dying with his boots
on and fighting under the most terrible
odds. The story is this, and every Amer
lean child should know il by heart, that ne
may tell il with pride when other nations
are talking of their great deeds:
one hundred and forty-iivc men under
Y
eight were holding the town of san Antonio
against General Santa Anna and 1000 men.
They were the only defenders OF the town
and were cnsrpnCDd in the old mission OF the
Alamo DaVy Crockett was also with
them and Colonel Bowie, who was wound
ed ami stretched Out on his cot. OF artil-
lery they had only fourteen pieces.
Santa Anna demanded surrender but the
little garrison held out for ten days, sSilln-
snot sent ont Of ,he mission house tolu.
but not One of the Alamo heroes We're hurt.
Patience and strength, however. We're be
ing rapidly exhausted. some or the little
band were falling sick. others We're des-
pcrate. Rcnforcemcnts had been appealed
for bat none had come. Colonel Lamein
with roo men and four pieces of artillery
had started in answer 10 me appeal. but
had put -u somewhere for fresh water and
food supplies.
Al lasl captain Smith joined the exhaust
Ell band with thirty-rWo mon. Three days
after General Santa Anna ceased the bonn
bardiuS ana. taxing advantage OF TINS.
Captain Travis called his men into line and
frankly owned that there was no earthly
hope for them: that he had led Them into
this thinking that rcinforc ements We're on
the way lie does not utter the word
against Lamoin Tor failing him; he simply
giN.s them their choice OF deaths. They can
surrcnd r. and BE- shot down, or be Killed
fighting out their revenge. The captain
drew a limo and said: Every man who is
determine! % remain here and 10 die with
me viii como u me across that line EV-
cry soldier bat one crossed at once. When
they finished colonel Bowie looked up with
has arm IA I. sling and cried: BOYS. don't
leave me. Won't me of you carry me
across And The only backward step they
made was to so over the line and carry the
colonel ~ the young captains side. The
man Rose, who was a coward, dropped
over the wall into ditch and was verify
the only man who escaped TO tell the tale.
And then came the terrible day.
Santa Anna brought all his forces 10 bear
the fortress. The scaling ladders We're
again ana again raised. but those who
placed them were shot down like grain.
EOJr thousand men charging into 10 seem
"a easy enough, but fl soon reduced the
1000. At last numbers conquered and the
McNicaus climbed ovc1 into the Alamo.
The little band OF defenders were trampled
on and beaten. but they dropped TO their
knees and hacked ana shot and pierced un-
til The pile of the dead was awful. Colonel
Bowie, TOO weak to rise from his cot leans
ON bis well elbow ana marks his man eVerv
time he pulls the trigger. cut. bleeding
ne continues To kin until the pistol drops
and the breath leaves his body. David
Crockett standing in corner, fights like a
panther, and the young captain backed
against the wall surreadcrs only when run
through ana through.
The great battle is over. The NIexicans
have won. out of 112 Texans arc l73 dead.
No SpartanS We're Drawer and more tena-
cious, Tor they killed % of their enemies and
wounded 500 more. Texas though was final
ly freed ana whenever great deeds thrill
young boys hearts, they should think of
that splendid piece of American daring and |
say rs Houston said t. mis- men: "Remcm- |
Der Inc Alamo Claire CiaXtOn.