Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-03-20
THE LONE STAR STATE.
A Trip Across Her Immense Domains,
some Interesting "Reminiscences Of
of Early bays. aud Notes OF
Texas Progress.

Texas 10 the average ottoman" gen
orally implies cowboy with his broncho
mustang pony, his saddle, his lariat and
Ii S spurs, long haired cattle. great
scope OF uninhabited country, and a few
Texan citizens in keeping with the sur
roundings.
But while Texas, once the home of the
savage Indian, the buffalo and wild
horse. and the feeding ground for
wild Texan stears, was vast and
beautiful country dominate by the
Mexicans, today it is the home OF
A, 100000. free, intelligent, and enter
prising p ople. The state aboundS in
magnificent natural recources and adj
vantages, is about 500 by 1000 miles IN
the extreme, measurements, has mil ions
of acres OF fertile soil and is a Il tie
world in itself. With the cold winds OF
Kansas on the north, the invigorating
atmosphere OF the foot hills OF the
Rockies on the west, the great forests OF
Arkansas and Louisiana on the east
and valuable deep water harbors in the
Gulf of Mexico, on the southwest the
four climates of such localities are
represented, and you can get almost
highly priced inheritance of a refined
and cultured people.
When the Texans established their
Independence they maintained their in
IDENTITY, and when the new power
knocked at the door and asked to come
in as one OF the sister states in the union,
the offer was accepted, her citizens be-
ing permitted at the same time to own
the public domain within the state. Be
ing the only state so favored, in her
pecuniary independence, she stands out
today as the Lone Star"
After riding all day long, seated in the
commodious Santa Fe train, through the
vast fields and cities and villages we ar
rived at the capital, Austin, a city OF
1000 inhabitants 1t is one of the
most beautiful, quiet and home.like
cities | ever visited. Climbing to the
top OF the dome of the capitol building
900 feet high an imposing sight is
brought to view, The most remarkable
is the vast stone structure from which |
was permitted 10 look, and on which
stood viewing the granduer OF the
scenery below. This structure, only
surpassed by one in the country dimen-
sions and grandeur, that at Washington
cost the people 5000, 600 acres oil land.
The green grass, and trees out in
foliage, greeted my eyes, and were
pleasing feature, alter having dropped
into the little paradise from the cold
bleak winds and snow storms Of the
north.
San Marcas is small but beautiful
city, situat.d to some extent on the side
hill, and among m jestic evergreens OF
the cedar aud the magnolia.
was remarkably struck with condi-
tons IN San Antonio where we got off
the train. Like summers evening
about a pleasure resort, tables were
spread in open air to accommodate
those who were hungry, and as we sat
down on the bench we looked about
and saw sufficient OF these tables 10 ac..
Comodate two or three companies Of
hungry soldiers We took chIlla, the
famous Mexican dish. not altogether be-
cause we thought we would like it, but
for the move ~ OF the red pepper mix
ture. The little Spanish girl who waited
on us, no doubt thought she had made
"a mash" from the pretty way she
smiled, as she struck match, lit cigar
cite and turned on her heel u serve us
vita more bread; for the sauce, by tbs
time was getting pretty warm There
are 6o,ooo people in San An,onio, the
largest city IN the commonwealth. pre-
The San Antonians are not slow in
naming theirs, the Alamo-the ruins Of
the old mission built, first in 1881, were
used by Mexican soldiers; and became
the fort of the Americans under Travis.
Bowie and Crockett, when they became
the scene of one of the most heroic and
deadly contests known in modern times.
The day follow the 22nd OF February,
1896, Santa Anna displayed the red flag
from the tower OF the Cathedral of San
Fernando, a portion Of which now stands
in the heart OF the city; and when the
Texans would not surrender, siege
was waged from that day until the sixth
of the next month, when all the sulviv
ing Texans were killed, their bodies
piled up with fence rails, and burned
where ST. los phs church now stands.
While an old It d-nos ed pi neer OF Texas,
who earns a little by show ng visitors
around the old fortress, told us we were
standing on ground where a pool OF
blood about foot deep had flowed, the
spot where those heroes were sla while
in defense Of their county, feelings oil
peculiar character were ours. The only
survivor OF the Alsma, a Mexican wo.
man now IA years old, still lives and is
able TO relate some OF those stirring
scenes.
The front Of the old ruins look quite
romantic, its flat and massive walls, max
ed windows. shrubery, ferns and moss
growing about, lend beauty to the as
pect. It's present size is ia by "a feet
The walls are solid masonry. four feet
thick and twenty two feet high. They
were formerly covered with archsd stone
work, secured against the storms by
kind OF cement plaster.
Near the San AnIonio river, about two
miles from the city, we visited another
OF these old Missions, there being four
Of them within nine miles, ranging in
date of erection from 1916 to 1881. Ar
irving at the gate of tue enclosure we
were met by good n,tured old german
who addressed US in his own language,
prett nding, OF course, he couldn't under
stand our wants WHEN we made It known
that We desired to get over the grounds
and see The ancient castle About all
we could get out Of him was his ireque t
reference to his own intelligence, which
il he possessed any, was so lar ooscured
by that corpulent exterior that it seldom
it ever got out, swinging in his hand wa :
heavy brass ky nearly i7o years old
with which he opened the massive front
door-one OF pair set in isome master
carving work. Stepping inside, we found
curse YES in a dismal, ioTsaken Old