The Republican., 1897-03-25

|
those who were willing to stay to
cross the line. The first man to re-
spOnd was Tapley Holland, whose
example was instantly followed by
everyone present except one named
Rose. Every sick man who could
walk arose from his bed and crawled
across the line. Colonel Bowie and
Others who were unable to move were,
at their own demand lifted across.
Rose leaped from the wall and es-
capped. His account of the happenings
of the Sd of March were afterward
! published. A Mexican account says
reinforcements for the Mexicans arri-
we'd on the Sd, and preparations for
the final assault began. Four attack
ing columns were formed, and at 4 a..
with Santa Anna about 500 yards
from the Alamo sounded. the signal
for the assault-the "deguello''-no
! quarter. The fort was reached and
the walls scaled. The Texans had a
few pieces of small artillery. Their
projectiles having been exhausted
| they used scraps of iron and nails. 4,
| terrific fire met the assailants. Nc.
fell by the score from the scaling lad
ders and walls, shot, dubbed and cut.
Barricades of sandbags before the
doors and windows and on the para
pet of the roof furnished a slight pro-
lection. Encouraged by overwhelm-
ing numbers the Mexicans renewed
the assault from different directions.
The column under General Castrillon
made a lOdgment in the northeastern
part of the Alamo. The Texans fought
like tigers. MUzzle to muzzle, hand
to hand, bowie knife and bayonet
made bloody contest; every inca was
defended desperately, the ground,
roof and wall slippery Wit. blood.
Forced to abandon one room, the
Texans retreated to another. A can
non defended the entrance to the
hospital, a long dark room on the
ground floor. 1t was presently capt
ured by the MeNicans. A pile of dead
of both sides attested the fierceness of
attack and desperate defense. With
the captured piece the defenders on
the roof were swept from their posi-
| tion.
Thus they fought until but six of
their band was left alive. These, in
Guiding Davy Crockett, surrendered
to Castrillon, under promise OF pro-
lection, but being taken before Santa
Anna, they were by his orders in
stantly cut TO pieces. Col Crockett
fell stabbed by a dozen swords. Col.
| Bowie, i'll in bed, was then shot,
but not before he had killed several
of his assailants. Major Evans was
shot while in the act of firing the pow
der magazine.
BY 8 o'clock a. IN, the tragedy was
over. Not one of the defenders was
left alive. Their bodies were gather
| ed by the victOrs and burned. Santa
Anna stated after his capture at San
Jancito: we brought to San Antonio
5000 men, and lost during the seige
1914 of the best of them. The Texans
fought more like devils than like
men"
OF the defense of the Alamo it has
been said; "ThermopyIae had her
messenger OF defeat, but the Alamo
had none"
THE MEN Or THE ALAMO.
| by James Jeffrey Roche in Ballads of Blue
Water
TO Houston at Gonzales town, riAe, Ranger,
for your life,
Nor stop to say good bye to-day TO home or
child or wife,
But pass the word from ranch to ranch to
every Texan sword
That fifty hundred MeXicans have crossed the
Nueces ford,
| With Castrillon and preiudiced Cos, Sesma
and AImonte,
And Santa Anna, raycnOus for vengeance
and for prey,
| They smile the land with fire and sword the
grass shall never grow,
| Where northward sweeps that locust horde
| on san Antonio!
Now. who will bar the foeman's path, to
gain a breathing space,
| Till Houston and his scattered men shall
meet him face to face?
Who holds his life as less than naught when
nome and honor calls,
And counts the guerdon full and fair for lib
erty to fall?
Oh who but Barritt, Travis the bravest OF
them ALI
With seven score OF rihemen to play the
rancher's game,
And feed q counter fire to halt the sweeping
fame
For Bowie of the broken blade is there to
cheer them on,
With Evans OF Conception, who conquered
CashilIon.
And DER their heads the Lone Star flag def
ant hoa' on high,
! And no man thinks oe yielding ana no man
fears to die,
But ere :he siege is held a week cry is heard
without,
\ clash of arms, a rifle peal, the Rangers
ringing shout,
| And two and thirty beardless boys have
bravely hewed their way,
! TO die with Trayis if they must, to conquer il