Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-03-25

years as churches or sorts. OF course
we visited them, now standing pathetic
monuments of their former usefulness
and glory. The Alamo is one of the
most prominent. centrally located and
has given TO San Antonio the name of
the alamo City" As we stood in the
far-famed old corridor the custodian
handed out circular in which an able
writer most ittingiy describes the place
and we adapt it as follows: eff deeds
of daring sanctify the soil that witnesses
them, the Alamo should be to every
American one of the sacred places Of
walls make hallowed ground TO those
who venerate the heroism of men who
could die for principle. 1S4 years
have elapsed since its foundations were
begun. Here on March 6, 1886, one
hundred eighty-one citizen soldiers,
unframed to war, fkght more than
twenty times their number and scorn-
ing to retreat, deliberately chose to die
Finally cornered, every Texan died
within this corridor. Col. James Bowie,
sick and unable to move, was bavoneted
by the Mexicans in his bed Col. David
Crockett died amid circle of slaugh-
tered foes. Travis fell upon the wall
where he was giving inspiration to his
men When the last Texan died the
floor was ankle deep in blood and
ghastly corpses were heaped every
where. On the monument to these
immortal dead Texas writes an inscrip-
ton so great that it makes the heart
stand STILL 'Thermopyle had its mes
senger of defeat-the Alamo had
none
Fort Sam Houston with eleven full
companies is located on Government
Hill, one mile from the city, and to-
gether with the [. S. Military Post
covers 100 acres of groand; imposing,
spacious and beautiful place indeed.
But space reminds US that we must
have done with San Antonio. An old
gentleman who has lived here A years,
but a former resident of Illinois, said it
scarcely ever freezes there and that 20
degrees ABOVE zero is considered very
cold. That the summers were pretty
hot and he thought it was next door to
hell about eight months in the year.
Still he vouched that he liked it well
enough even with its gentle reminders
of hades. This perhaps kept him in
the narrow path of duty. Once San
Antonio was in Mexico, far south of
the border line, but now it requires an
all night ride to reach the Republic, so
we left the city that evening taking
away memories of one of the most
satisfactory days spent since leaving st.
Louis.
Sunday morning, bright and early,
lively strains from a Mexican band at
Ciudad Porfrio Diaz (city of President
Diaz) gave us reception and welcome to
the land of the Toltecs and the AzteCs.
This town is just across the Rio Grande
from Eagle Pass, Texas, virtually the
gateway into Mexico over the Inter
nacional Mexicano Railway, upon
whose tracks we were now transferred.
To a student of geography who has
followed the outlines Of our great cOun-
try and pictured the Rio Grande del
NOrte as a stream flowing with noble
grandeur, filled from bank to bank with
clear water, our sight would have been
a disappointment. The name sounds
bigger than the little muddy stream
looked to us as we compared it for a
moment with the old '<Wisconse" at
home. 1t may swell to better proper
tions in times of high wafer, but Just at
present it would be called in Wisconsin
simply a creek. Still does it serve its
mission-the dividing line between two
great nations, and never did boundary
mark introduce greater contrast in
civilization and customs than this one,
whichever way you cross it.
In the city of Porfirio Diaz we get
our watches back 40 minutes, the calen-
dar about $50 years, and as long as we
travelled in Mexico we found ourselves
up to date in both respects. Two hours
stop gave the first glimpse of a Mexi-
can city-the narrow streets, quaint
adobe (sun dried brick buildings with
walls as thick as those of fortress, the
universal balcony and closely barred
windows, the curious costumes. Stores
were little "holes in the wall" filthy to
an extensive degree, with low shed
roofs over sidewalks as protection from
the sun. Sidewalks are plain terra
frma, or i'll other wordss we'll beaten
pathways like COW trail and Just as
wide. All buildings low and unpainted,
none more than one story high, except,
perchance, Il government building
which might reach two stories up
Sunday is the busy day with Mexicans
and all shops were open. Trade was
brisk ard the dark-skinned, sombrero