San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-24

to war, fought twenty times their
number; not with the courage of
despair, for they could have aban-
dOned the place if they had so
willed it, but with a determination
1--WE would almost believe derived
from higher power, who thereby
made themselves instruments for
other and more important results)
to defend the post, until their
cOuntrymen, having time to orga-
niZe, might be prepared to meet
the invading forces and perhaps
relieve them. For thirteen days
did these heroes resist the assault
of the thousands of their foes, until
at last, they died, all of them.
This sacrifice being demanded that.
Texas might be free, and made the
"Alamo" a shrine fur lovers OF pa
triOtic and noble deeJs."
THE FORT. -.
There remains, well preserved.
and at present under the keeping
of the city, the old church which
served as the main point of defense
it fronts on the old plaza, now
TRANSFORMED into a beautiful gar
den of shrubs, trees and flowers.
Tie building of this mission dates
back IL the year ZIG, and was the
work of the Franciscan monks.
The Alamo ceased 90 ha used for
religious purposes about 17y.,,>and .
no doubt, from that date on to its
memorial baptism in the blood of
the American heroes, served as
fortress, and every stone in its
walls, now gray with time, bears
the print of history.
AS AN OLD TOWN.
All American towns, especially
those that have sprung up i'm the
wake of the westward march of
empire, are alike, presenting moth
ing new to the visitor. Not SO,
the Alamo city. No vandalism of
business life has not yet
Dbliterated all the monuments of
the past. The old missions and
a few old buildings yet remain as
of the Spanish con-
quest, and the narrow, crooked
streets that still hold the center of
business, remind one of the charm
that hangs about similar quarters
in old towns on this continent and
in Europe.
1t was the seat of government
IF the state under Spanish rule
rom IVA. The first governor of
Texas was Juan Antonio Bustillos
: Cavallos. He was succeeded by
Manuel de Sandoval i'm 1874. San
loval was succeeded by Carlos de
EranquiS, who was superseded by
Tusto Boneo in 1913.
CATER Boneo, the following wer
governors of Texas under Spanish
ule: In 1855, Jarequil; 1862, Ma
arctic; ITO, Juan Maria Baron de
177S, Domingo Cabelle;
7S9, Raphael Pacheco; 1890, Man
el Munoz; 1903, Juan Batista FL
uezabal; 1906, Antonio Cordero.
he governors and military COM
handlers We're men of education
nd culture, and society in this
ity was EXCEPTIONALLY good.
During the first year of Gov
rnOr COrdero's administration he,
18th General Herrera, went to the
abine to repeal the encroachments
( the Americans under Wilkin-
on. All parties then expected
-ar with the United States. but
wilkinson is supposed to have Sc
lred the confidence of Herrera by
etraying the scheme OF his for
Ter friend Aaron Burr; at any
ate, peace was secured between
he two nations by the establish
lent of a strip of territory ON the
arroyo Hondo, known as neutral
round. Though war with the
Inited States was thus aVerted,
.hecity was still harassed by hos
tile bands of Apaches AND Son2n
ches; the citAzena were always ex-
pectinH INDIAN ratds. hence all "