The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-10-13
In OLD san ANTONIO
TEXAS Town WHICH AMERICAN
vALoR HAS MADE FAMOUS.
A Delightful Resort for Invalids-In-
dianians Who Have Grown Rich I'm
the Shadow of the Alamo.

tan spot on the face. of the earth and par
takes more OF an old world city than any
other in the Union. 1t is situated one hum
dred miles from the Gulf Of Mexico and
well on to the Mexican line. On entering the
city one is at once struck with its foreign
and ancient appearance. with it's main
streets. that were once COW paths which
the cattle followed in going to the river
for water, and other streets formed from
the burro trains going into Mexico. This
river is named after st. Antonio de Bexas
and is a clean stream of water supplied
by springs a few miles above the city. The
water is clear as crystal. Thirty-five miles
of this river is within the city limits and
the stream is spanned by twenty-nine
bridges. A great many stores and private
houses are located on the river bank. In
addition to it's other attractions it is the
most historic spot In America. 1t was here
that many bloody battles were fought for
Texas independence. The town was settled
as far back as 1900 by Spanish Catholics,
and a long chain of missions were built, the
first one being erected in the town and the
entire chain reaching to San Francisco, the
buildings being from four TO forty miles
apart. The four missions in this immediate
vicinity were. in early times, used as for
bCSSCSs Tic nTSt III TIC CHILL DclLS tie
Alamo; where David Crockett so heroically
lost his life. Santa Anna stood on the
lookout of San Fernando Church and or
dered Crockett, Bowie (of bowie knife
fame), and others to surrender the force
under their command, which was fighting
for the independence of Texas. One hun
dred and seventy-nine men with sublime
recklessness refused to surrender and all
were shot or bayoneted; not one being was
left to tell their fate. They killed several
hundred of the Mexican force and after the
battle the Spanish took the American dead
and piled them on what is now called the
Alamo plaza-irst a row of fence rails and
brush, then corpses laid in rows; again
rails and brush, with mems heads in OPP
posite directions. and all burned. the fire
lasting for three weeks. / have learned
that this was a common mode of disposing
of the dead.
SAN ANTONIO'S MISSIONS.
The four missions were designed by a
famous Spanish architect of the seventeenth
century. A great deal of fine stone carving
still remains and some. Of the frescoing
is still in a good state of preservation. Each
of these missions had a convent attached
and were used as fortresses against the
depredations Of the hostile Indians. Each
mission was we'll fortified, wells furnished
water, there were great irrigating bitches
and granaries attached and each was well
able to stand long sieges.
The race are numerous and with
their half-civilized methods are a peculiar
people. Their Indian origin is much more
marked than the Spanish. Some make very
good citizens, but the greater part are
averse to work. Saturday is beggars' day,
~ 49, ~. 49, <~oo - hoo urhoro <haxv urfl1
this privilege being granted by the city
government. In religion they are Catholics
and it is a frequent sight to see q Mexican
going to early mass with a fighting cock
under his arm, After he has said his pray
ers he goes out with a friend to a quiet
place and CANDLES on his birds fighting
qualities. At night the town is gay with
many colored lights and long tables are
set with. gaily colored glare; there the ma
tives take their meals. The stands are in
operation all night and are patronized by
all classes of people; but, to the average
| Northerner, there is too much red pepper and
a suspicion OF dirt in the food offered. Some
of these natives live in holes dug in the
sides of hills; other abodes are made OF old
fruit cans and pieces of tin stuck together
with mud, with an earthen floor. The Mex
lean is happy. He sticks close to the GUS
toms of his ancestors and can never bet
ter his condition, and in his habits he is
more Indian than Spanish. Here is an in
cidept that illustrates their mode of life.
A man employed a fairly intelligent
man of his class and. think
ing to better his condition.. gave
him lumber and built him a shanty with a
rough board floor; he added a cook stove,
and the Mexican promised to make use of
his new abode. Some days later. going to
see how he enjoyed his new surroundings,
his employer found the cook stove thrown
out doors and standing on end in the
mud; the floor of the hut had also
been thrown out. The senior was cooking
in a binding smoke, with an old iron pot
hanging on two sticks. while Don Pruden-,
noble house, looked on.
Among the convent-educated class the
women are very proficient in needlework,
and their drawn work is beautifully done
on the finest of sheer linen, and fine as a
cobweb. Their. paintings on Mexican onyx.
done in water colors, are exquisite.
In the more modern part of the city
the buildings compare favorably Will any
city in the Union, but there is great def
cheney in hotel accommodations. During the
season there are 5000 visitors. a large
portion being invalids of consumption.
Here are seen invalids from every nation
on earth, who find in San Antonio a Pc
culiar atmosphere. the city being much
higher than the sea, with very little rain
and delightful gulf breezes. The city is
filled with Northern people who have come
for health, and have found the climate so
beneficial they have never cared TO re-
turn. If consumptiyes came to this eli
mate before the disease was advanced too
far they can be entirely returned to
health, and 1t is not an unusai sight TO
see people going about with only one lung |
and in numerous cases given up to die. 1t
is to Northern push that the city ives its
advancement and prosperity.
INDIANA PEOPLE.
Indiana is well to the fore who have
come here and made immense fortunes. |
Mr.. E. H. Terrell, a lawyer and minister
TO Belgium under the Harrison administra-
ton, and Colonel Breckenridge, OF War;
rick county, Indiana, are among the rich
est men in Texas; also. ex-Adjutant-gen- |
eral George w. Russ, who is a several
times millionaire. He is sole owner of the
Gulf railroad and electric car line running
20 tho West End a1co fhroa rouoboc ord