San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1896-12-20

be commenced Sunday morning early. |
as an attempt had been made TO throw |
a pontoon bridge across theSanAnto- |
Mo river, but the forces Of Santa |
Anna did not commence operation |
until about noon. AS all of us were |
Catholics, we went to mass before |
sun up, and at Z o'clock a, m. were
ready for business. The MeXicans
again began preparations for bridg-
ing the river after Santa Anna, about
8 O'clock, had put in an appearance
in speaking distance with a flag OF
truce and requested the women and
children to be sent out of the fort.
mo attention was paid to it, but
Col. Travis kept up n conversation
long enough with Santa Anna to al
low Mrs. Travis and baby, a Mrs.
Dickinson and her newly born baby,
and a negro servant of Mrs. Travis
to slip out of the fort unnoticed by the
enemy. They We're accompanied by
eight Mexican women and Mrs.
Hess. While the Mexicans were
bridging the river, Col. Travis ordered
one of the cannons discharged at the
men working and this was the COM
mencement of the famous battle of
Alamo. l saw my poor mother and
her two youngest children killed in
the early part of the fight, as the wO-
men and children were huddlcd to-
gether in the southwestern part of the
yard, which was nearest the Mexicans
The other women and children were
also killed. These sights nerved ev-
cry one of us, and although feeling
that our last day had come, we swore
to sell our lives as dearly as possible.
Col. Travis and Harry Crockett, after
a long interview, deciding that our
arms and ammunition would last but
a short time, concluded to send a mes
senger to Gen. Samuel Houston, 10
miles distant, at Gonzales, for rein
forcements.
This was n dangerous eXpedient.
but Nathaniel Rtgford volunteered and
was let down from the northeast part
of the wall into heavy grove of trees
surrounded by thick underbrush.
end succeeding in making his escape,
hut was killed two months later at
San Jacinto. where Santa Anna was
routed. About o'clock the Next
/
soon coming in on us in such numbers
that we were driven to the Alamo.
Ladders were procured by Santa An
ma, and the walls were scaled.
Colonel Travis, just before the re-
treat into the Alamo, was on the out
side of the building, and when the
rush for the Alamo was made he at
tempted to gain an entrance, but was
shot before he could close the door.
Crockett was on the wall with the
others, and encouraged us with his
ringing voice. We soon found that so
many Mexicans had gained an en-
trance that all we could do was to en-
gage in hand to hand encounter
with dubbed muskets. 1t became too
hot for us on top Of the walls, and we
descended to the ground below. Col
onel Bowie was sick, and was being
cared for by my old nurse, Sonora
Canadlaria. who was holding his
head in her lap. In few minutes
the Mexicans were swarming the old
church fort.and then followed a scene
which beggars description. Several
Mexicans stepped over to the help
less form of brave Colonel Bowie,
| anu WIFI tutlE DdyOnttS
him, paying no attention whatever to
the piteous pleadihgs OF his nurse.
Candalaria was also knocked down,
but manged to conceal herself in a
blanket, and with me, who had Sc
cured a sombrero and blanket escap-
ed from the church. Crockett saw
me going. and recognizing me, threw
me a piece of paper. upon which was
written. "Thermopylae had her mes
senger of defeat, but the host Alamo
had none. Let the stones speak.thelr
emulation not being forgotten. Blood
has stained us heroes" I still have
the paper in my possession.
"when we were finally secreted In
: the house of priest, about 200 yards
from the wall, we saw the smoke aris-
ing from the Alamo. and knew that
Santa Anna had anplied the torch
which consumed all Of the contents
and occunants of the Alamo. staid
at the priests house day or two,
Sonora Candalaria BRINGING me food
and water. since. being Standard.
she could walk about unmolested. At
ter n while. disrrised as a Mexican,
for talked Mexican like native,
made my way to Gonzales. where
obtained work in the Mexican gov
eminent service. I remained for two
wears. and then hired out to Uncle
Sam, and have found him good mas
ter ND to the present time.
"Out of the seventeen who went out
from the fort that Sunday morning,
but three are now alive, myself. Seno-
RI Candalaria and Mrs. Dickinson
habv. who is now a lady with many
children living in Austin, Texas: ana
with whom I correspond regularly.
Here is letter from her. Showing the
writer an envelope addressed to w; d.
Cannon in a neat handD. Mrs. AIS
| LA,.,.., ,,rnS nnrnr heard of Afterwards,