Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-26

700 odd dead, 200 wounded and one
prisoner, Santa Anna himself.
Except for the knives, the 700 Were
badly armed. Further. they had no
great store of ammunition. That is
what makes the knife so much weap-
on for frontier fighting. 1t is sufficient
unto itself, asking only to be driven
home with right good will. Without it
conquest of the wilderness, especially
the southwestern wilderness, might
have Jagged at least hundred years.
Though it lacks the romantic glamour
of sword and spear as an apostle of
peace and promoter of the Ten Com
mandments, it is far and away more
efficient.
In Texas, as in Louisiana. Bowie
was easily recognized first among
equals. He went all over the state,
making friends everywhere. At San
Antonio de Bexar, the capital and lar
gest town, he found himself for the first
time seriously in love. 1t was with
the daughter of the Spanish governor,
Veremendi, Il Castilian of Castilians,
very rich and very proud. But there
was no gainsaying Bowie. He wooed,
won and welded, settling upon his
bride very handsome dowry in cash.
Bowie was patriot without guile
or thought of self. Texas gave him a
coloneIs commission. He resigned it
and volunteered as Il private in the
ranks when he found that his eleva-
ton was likely 10 bring discord. Yet
he had greatness thrust upon him be-
fore the end by the very men who had
half resented his dominance. They
forced him to share with Travis the
command at Alamo. Both the joint
commanders saw that it would be bet
ter strategically to abandon the place,
but for political reasons resolved to
hold it or die. They knew the chances
favored dying when $50 are pitted
against 5000. even though the $50 be
Texans and their adversaries.
Still they were not dismayed. Travis,
a fit comrade for Bowie, was of the
English strain that goes back to Sir
Walter Raleigh's favOrite nephew. He
had come to Texas from Alabama and
was one of those quiet men who do not
know how to be afraid. Then under
them there was Davy Crockett, con-
gressmen, backwOodsman, bear fight
er. The soldiers We're worthy of such
captains, men of rough life, it may be.
with histories they preferred to leave
untold, yet with courage cool,
steady, invincible and ready each to do
and die for his adopted country.
They were in desperate case, still
not utterly hopeless. Expresses had
been sent. If they got safe through
the beleaguering lines, succOr might
come at any hour. Fate decreed 9th
erwise, and so there came the fatal
March 6, in the year 1886. Santa Anna
had sent Il summons. Surrender, or
the garrison will be put to the sword
As with one throat the Texans had
echoed the cry of Leonidas when ask
ed to lay down arms, Let him come
and take them" So it did not sur
prise nor much dismay them to see
the red flag, signal of no quarter, fly
ing above the advancing hosts nor to
hear from the bands the savage air
"Deguello," whose name, being inter
preted. is 'Cutthroat"
The attack was made at dawn. 1t
was o'clock before the last of the
beleaguered fell where he stood. Tray
is, already badly hurt, fought until
second bullet found him, toward the
middle Of the day. Crockett, his last
bullet sped. dubbed his rife and brain
ed man after man. Bowie, too weak
and i'll to leave his bed, fought from
it until his deadly aim built rampant
of dead men across the door of the
mission room in which he lay At
last, under cover of this rampant, a