The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-10-09
THE BELL OF THE ALAMO.

LFrom the San Antonio Express.1
On the center table of the handsomely
appointed parlors Of Miss Adina de "a
vaIa, at III Fourth street, this city, a
reporter Of the Express, on Wednesday,
had the privilege OF viewing a relic that
in every molecule of its substance
breathes the history of Texas. It is the
original bell of the Alamo, the bell that
called the abOrigines and the Spanish
monks to prayer in the days Of the mis-
sion of San Antonio de ValerO.
1t came to Miss de Zavalla. on We'd
nesday morning by Wells Fargo Express
from Moses Oppenheiner, a merchant of
Victoria, Texas The express company,
with a commendable spirit of patriot
as1n, delivered the precious relic free
of charge.
The bell is Is inches high and at pres
ent y inches in diameter, although the
missing rim would probably increase
the latter dimensions to II inches 1t
weighs about 35 pounds. The material
IS evidently copper and brass with some
silver.
The figures 1922 are raised on one side
OF the bell, while on the other is a high
" ornate cross over the Spanish arms
The words san Antonio are engraved
in rude sculpture just above the rim.
The clapper of the bell is missing.
When struck Snartly with a stone or
piece of metal a sweet sound is emitted,
although the bell is badly cracked, the
only whole portion of it being about
look of hOary old age, and is undOubt-
edly the bell that hung in the Alamo
before the mission Of San Antonio was
stripped Of everything useful and the
missions Secularized about 1925.
How the bell was found, beyond the
fact that it was discovered at GOliad
about three months ago, and purchased
by Moses Oppenheimer, of Victoria, is
still a mystery. It was probably offered
for sale as old iron at the former town,
when its antiquity and historic value
was at once discerned. The matter
reached the columns of the press, and
was duly published in the Daily Ex-
press. Miss de zavalla saw the article
and at once, on behalf of the de Zavalla
chapter Of the Daughters of the Repub-
lie of Texas, opened up a correspond
ence with Mr.. Oppenheiner at Victoria
Letter after letter passed between
them with reference to the treasure,
Miss de ZaValla never giving up in her
determination to secure it's possession.
Nor We're the letters from Miss de "a
Nalla the only communications that Mr..
Oppenheimer received in relation to the
bell His mail was deluged day in and
day out with letters from eastern mu-
seums, many offering fabulous sums as
a purchase price.
The Victoria. mans patriotism was
proof against all monetary temptation
He valued the relic for its sacred aSso-
Citations and not for its intrinsic value,
and hesitated to let it go from his pos
session The strong plea. made by Miss
de Zavalla with unfagging persistency
Won the day, and the elimination of her
efforts was the arrival of the bell We'd
ueSday morning as told above
Miss de Zavalla was overjoyed on re
ceiving the bell, and Immediately had
it carried around and shown to many
business men in the city During the
day IL was visited at Miss de Zavalla's
residence by nearly every member of the
Daughters OF the Republic of Texas
and it is whispered that some of these
descendants of the heroes of the Lone
Star state carried away with enthusiasm
at the sight of the reminder of early
mission days, kissed and fOndled the
relic with as much affection as they
would a beautiful child
The bell will be placed in the Alamo
with what ceremonies, if any, has not
vet been determined 1t seems to be
the prevailing opinion Of the Daughters
of the Republic of Texas that the bell
should be indicted into a place of honor
In the Thermopylae OF the western world
with pOnp and eclat, there to be placed
in open view, silent, tongueless witness
OF the days that have gone before