The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-05-17

those with whom associated in the past,
prompts me to make this intrusion.
And | shall take for my subject the
"Alamo City OF Missions" Of which
many beautiful stories have been written
by our most fluent writer's, namely
The Story of the Alamo. by Amelia Barr,
and In the Alamo, by Opie Read, and
others. AS enter the sacred walls Of
the Alamo, feel the force of Geo. d.
Emery's tribute, which says:
Tread softly In this sacred place
Twice dedicated unto God
For martyrs of heroic race
Have sanctlfed It with their blood, a"
The Alamo is the most famous of the
six ancient Spanish missions built by the
Franciscan fathers in the first half Of the
18th Century in and near San Antonio.
These early Catholic missions were built
to serve as churches, monasteries and
fortresses, with barracks, granaries, etc,
the whole thing being surrounded by a
strong wall of defense. The same were
designed as places Of worship, where the
Indians might be gathered for conversion,
and also served as a stronghold when
attacked by the hostile tribes.
The Alamo and the FIVE neighboring
missions formed great link in the chain
of Catholic missions first established by
the Spanish government through its mis-
sionaries from the Gulf of Mexico to the
Gulf Of California, and intended as a
check to the French settlements, which
were rapidly gaining foothold for the
French in the New World. Both France
and Spain claimed this territory by right
of discovery, and both attempted to
strengthen their claims through their
priests, who were sent out with band of
workers and soldiers to build and hold
their fortress.
In VISA band of Franciscans from the
college of Queretaro began the erection
of the Mission of San Antonio de Valero
1.-The first of the missions and the one
whose career was destined to be the most
eyentful, for it afterwards became the
Mission of the Alamo.
On completion of the Mission San
Jose in 1913, the foundation stones of the
Missions Of Conception, Of San Juan and
San Francisco were laid, and amid much
rejoicing and thanksgiving.
On May 10, 1884 the cathedral of San
Fernando was begun. AT this time the
entire European population Of Texas was
estimated at 1900 souls. (ro-day San
Antonio has population of65,o 900 and is
going right ahead) So with all their
magnificent churches and mission build
ings the Franciscans had but a weak
military force to sustain them in their
Jealous endeavors to convert the numer-
Gus and hostile savages by which they
were surrounded. and their untiring zeal
failed to maintain interest. The popula-
ton steadily decreased, and in 1885 the
missions of San Antonio de Valero were
abandoned. The modern city takes its
name from the military post-San AM
tonic.
The ruins of the Alamo were rebuilt in
1850, and the old church which now
stands as sacred monument to marx
the spot where Generals Travis, Bowie
and our Davy Crockett, with their little
band of less than 200 brave heroes sacri-
feed their lives for what they conceived
to be right--the freedom of the Texas
Republic from the oppressed domination
of the Texas Government, of which Santa
Anna was the ruling king.
The church is in the shape Of Latin
cross, the nave being something over a
hundred feet long and fifty feet wide.
The walls are twenty feet high, Of stone
and morter, and fully three feet thick
Facing the church and to the west is the
beautiful Alamo Park, the walls around
which served to protect the little band Of
Texans in an eleven days seige against
Santa Annals army Of six thousand drill
ed soldiers, which have been replaced by
large business houses. To the right Of
the old church stands the monastery,
from the top Of the walls around which
most of the fighting was done. This
building, after being remodeled, is now
being occupied by wholesale grocery
company.
Just across the beautiful San Antonio
river stands the cathedral, San Fernando,
from whose wall Santa Anna raised his
red flag, which meant show no quarters
to the Alamo defenders. This cathedral
being almost rebuilt, shows only small
portion in the rear OF its ancient build.
Now, for trip down the river (what
we Tennesseans would call creek).
After looking up my camera with six I'M
exposed plates, the first stop is at the
first mission, two miles below the city,
and take both front and rear snap at its
walls, which are in almost perfect state
of preservation. Mexicans live in por-
tons Of it and other adioibing buildings,
all Of which are made Of stone and dis
play great architectural skill Passing on
down the river two miles further we come
to the second mission Of San Jose, IN sight
,f 4ha 6vet THE is The most imnnginp