The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-25

generally beautifully engrossed on parch-
ment. extensively bound. bear the sigma
lures OF presidents, royal personages and
prime ministers, and have seals attached
nearly as big around as an ordinary saucer |
and which weigh a pound or more each.
With them are also some treaties with In
dian tribes not near so deliberately gotten |
up with cross marks for signatures OF |
Indians and possibly for some OF the white |
commissioners also.
While not much historical interest at
taohes to Austin as a place, apart from |
that which Is associated with State cap-
itals Generally. yet there have been col |
leeted there manv most interesting relics |
pertaining more or less to the history of
Texas. These objects are too numerous
TO be scheduled In this paper Mention
has been made OF the Santa Fe prisoners
newspaper and the treaties with foreign
nations, but chief among the relies is the
original letter written by the dauntless
Travis from the beleagured Alamo, in
which the immortal words appear, Il will
never surrender or retreat This is In
the historical rooms. where are other orig
inal letters by Austin. Bowie, Houston
and other historical Texans, and by Santa
Anna and others connected with the his
| tory of Texas
| On the walls OF the state library are
! likenesses Of all the executives OF the re-
public and of the State of Texas, from
Henry Smith in 1885. to James S. Hogg. in
the present decade; while In other por-
lions of the capitol building are portraits
/ OF Austin OF Crockett, OF Bowie. of Rusl<
and other DISTINGUISHED Texans, and OF
Jefferson Davis. Other subjects of the
painters brush are scene in Austins
/ COLONY and The Old Stone Fort" at Nae.
! ogdoches and most interesting OF all Is
4 Huddle's representation of the capture OF
Santa Anna from the number Of historical
figures which anpear on one canvas.
Probably the ashes of more of the dis
tinguished dead rest in Austin soil than
in that of any other place In the State
In the State cemetery repose the remains
OF quite a considerable number OF men
who served Texas well in the council
chamber. on thu judicial bench, at for
eign courts, on the tented field, or in con-
tct with the savage Indian and scarcely
more civilized Mexican. Some are buried
there who served Texas and the countries
OF which Texas was and Is a part, In more
than one OF these capacities, and whose
deeds alone have afforded materials for
books consequently in a paper of the
scope Of this only the briefest mention can
be made There rest, among others, Cen
eral Albert sydney Johnston who gave
his life at Shiloh for the Lost Cause,
which but for his death. might not have
been lost: General ben McCulloch, famous
indian fighter and Mexican war scout, who
also yielded his life nghtng FOR Southern
rights. General Burleson. whose regiment
, stormed the Mexican breastworks at San
, Jacinto and captured the euemys cannon
Generals Scurry and Buchel who fell IN
battle with their faces TO the foe Gen.
eral Hardeman hero of three wars--tha
for Texas independence, that OF the United
States with Mexico, and that If the South
ern States against Federal aggression
General De Bray. commander of a 2eXar
4 brigade In the Confederate army, Aut
long resident of Austin afterwards
& Colonel Bass. who had the distinguished
1 honor Of commanding the First Texas in
fantry OF Hoods Texas Brigade, and wht
participated in probably more battles thar
q any ] have mentioned. Judge Hemphll
r chief Justice of the Republic and OF tn,
state. and senator from Texas in thu
| United States congress: Judge Iipscomb
V who served both Alabama and Texas n
n Justice Of their supreme courts; DR.. Ash
Il bell Smith, the accomplished minister Il
n France from the Republic OF Texas, AM
. philanthropst, and Big Foot Wallace, tn
D. noted fighter OF Indian and Mexican ma
Z RAIDERS. whose prowess helped much L
h extend civilization and peaceful homes Z
the western boundary OF tho Lone Sta
% State. Governors Ireland and Davis an
e. a daughter of the victim OF 2 Mexica
y treachery, Fannin are also buried in thi
70 cemetery. A large portion Of these ground
10 Confederate veterans. and there not onl
II the actors of many brave deeds on Ian
Is and sea are buried. but with them many
,s chapter OF unwritten history.
Until year or two ago Austin had th
20 honor OF being the place OF residence
three persons whose very presence was {
ie historical interest. the "Oid Alcaldc" @
lie NJ Roberts. who served Texas ably in tn
l. highest executive and judicial capacitie
In and otherwise; John c, Duval. a survive
te Of the massacre OF Goliad; and the yer
I'd cradle DR.. Dabney, chaplain of the arm
by OF "Stonewalp Jackson. md that hero
10 bloerapher. But these three have no
&c passed to the ranks OF the silent maiorlt
es Three. at least. other very interestlu
x historical personages are yet numberf
ly among the living residents of Austin--M
ut J. NJ Hill, one Of the few surviving We
en- Grams OF San Jacinto, Judge John II. Rel
of gan, participant In the Cherokee war
de 1899, long a representative Of Texas in oil
US or the other branches OF the United Stat
ar congress. and sole survivor OF the cabin
on OF President Davis: and Francis r. Lul
v book the Confederate war governor"
ne Texas: the two last named having boz
Is, been captured with President Davis
IS the Federals in 1865.
mt Conspicuously on the capitol grounds
W. Austin stands a monument on which
&C. carved the names OF Travis. Bowie. Croc
OF EFT and Bonham. and OF the other hero
who fell with them in stemmlng the liz
ie, OF Mexican invasion at the place OF WIFI
he II has been said "Thermopylae had
Fe messenger OF defeat. the Alamo had none
d. So that while Austin itself has not be-
ial the theater Of many stirring historic
me events. the obseryant and inquiring res
cts dent or visitor will see and hear much
he bring TO mind the fact that OF all L
3es States OF the American Union the past
,as Texas is probably the fullest in uniq
OF and diversified materials for the use
Is the artist. the poet and the historian.
III H. G. Askew-