Evening star., 1895-08-28
A VISIT TO THE ALAMO
The Only Survivor Of the Massacre Tells
Her Story.
A Building Full Of Tragic Interest I'm
Quaint Town-InventOr
Of the Bowie Knife.

From the st. Louis Republic
Every American boy should visit San
Antonio. He should go to the Alamo. Let
him go at night. as did stan correspond
ent of the Republic this evening. Let him
go when the soft southern moon sheds its
beams. upon the gray and time-stained
walls. Let him stand before the old build
ing and picture to himself what occurred
there March 6, 1896.
"Thermoplyae had her messenger of de-
feat; the Alamo had none"
In the Alamo 100 men died gallantly
fghting-not one lived to tell the story.
But they left behind terrible reminder Of
their prowess. Full 1,6O0 Mexicans went
| down beneath their lead and stcel--down
never to rise again. Brave Crockett and
Travis and Bowie and Ronham died there
but they died in a sea of blood. Let the
American youth stand before the old Alamo
and think of these things. 1t will arouse
| his patriotism it will make of him better
citizen-a better man.
Nothing SO stirs the blood as the recital
of this oft-repeated tale. unless It be the
story of how Houston and his men wreaked
vengeance for 1t on the field of San Jacinto
The telling itself is thrilling; but how much
stronger does the heart swell when the ears
scene!
About no town In all this country does
there cluster SO much of tragic and ro-
| mantle history: nowhere so many pretty
legends. A quaint old town Is San Antonio,
quaint in the midst of the hustle and prog
| ress of a modern city. 1t breathes the
spirit of the past long gone; it breathes the
spirit Of the headlong present. Extremes
meet here-the whole Is most interesting.
The story of the evolution of Texas from
| a province of Spain to republic. and after
| ward to state of this Union. Is but story
of Texas. From the beginning of the nine
teenth century the history Of the Alamo
which means the cottonwood-is the his
tory Of San Antonio. Its sculptured walls
witnessed the scenes Of the revolution OF
Hidalgo in 1911: 1t saw the separation OF
| Mexico from Spain in 1921; in the same
year 1t welcomed Austin and his follow
ers, the pioneers of a new American civ1l1-
zation; 1t resounded with the cries Of re-
volt against MexfcI in 1884; 1t became IN
1896 the last rallying place at Travis, Crock
ett, Bowie and Bonham; 1t saw their mas
| sacre avenged by the glorious victory of
San Jacinto; it passed through the pros
rerous era following the annexation Of
Texas to the United States. and 1t stands
| today, surrounded by the imposing build
ingS and business houses OF thriving,
bustling city. a silent memory of the hard
ships, the bloody deeds. the triumphs, the
sorrows and glories Of the past
A Picturesque Ruin.
monks, is now picturesque ruin. 1t was
purchased by the state from the Catholic
Church in 1888, placed in the hands of a
custodian, and every effort Is now being
made to preserve it intact and in its
original form. But prior to that time 1t
ur derwent much damage from decay.
When Crockett and Travis fought there its
roof was of arched stone. This crumbled
and fell away and now ordinary boards
and shingles cover it. 1t is situated on the
west side of the Alamo Plaza, but half a
block from the Menger Hotel William Nc
Masters. who served with Houston at San
Jacinto. is the custodian. He explains its
t.agic history to all visitors.
The Alamo proper is built Of stone and
adobe. 1t is 144 by IS feet long and wide.
Broad and massive doors. facing west, ar .
the only means of entrance. There are
iron barred. windows in front and on each
side. The floor Is of earth. At the time of
the famous battle, and until a few years
ago. high stone wall surrounded three
sides of the old building, and connected
with the rear wall.
In the northwest corner of the structure
| is a room about twelve feet square. where
Col Bowie, sick nigh unto death. was
| ner is a room Of like size, where Mrs Dick
inson. wife of Lieut.. Dickinson, one of the
victims. and her little baby daughter
shrank. terror-stricken. through all the
fight. Near the center of the north side
Of the building is a small, stone-walled
room, which was used as a magazine
During the heat of the fight Col Travis
| magazine, but the soldier was killed before
he could apply tine lighted torch.
Through the center of the old building
runs long. broad room. At the rear was
formerly the closter. In this room. after
being driven from the walls, the Texans
| made their final defense. There is abso-
lutely no furniture in the building, save
the old custodian's desk and chair. On
nr fnYrr rci1r -
which the Mexicans sent through rents in
the walls a register for visitors, and a pic
ture Of Gel. Bowie. Four banners in frames
lean against the walls. One bears the in
scription. "Thermopylae had her messen-
ger of defeat: Alamo had none"
Somes Well-known Words.
The others bear these oft-uuoted words
Of Travis. Crockett and Bowie:
Who'll be first to go across the line with
! me?"-Travis
BE sure you are right, then go ahead
Crockett.
Boys. carry my cot over the line
Bowie.
AS to the main facts of the siege and fall
of the Alamo most historians and sons and
daughters of veterans agree. On matters
of detail no two apparently, are informed
alike. There Is but one living survivor Of
| that terrible massacre. She Is a Mexican
woman known as Nine. Candelaria. talk
ed with heI today.
Sonora Candelaria lives at Ill South La
redo street, in the rear room of a little
adobe building, miserable abode. On the
wall of this building hangs little board,
on which is painted in rude letters:
Here lives Madame Candelaria, !:
Only survivor of the Alamo. /:
The front room of the building is occu-
pied as a b rber shop One of the BARRIERS
a int hnr.