The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-15
HE VISITS The ALAMO
And Gathers inspiration From
Its Wonderful Tragedy.

century and was originally q mission
station Of the Catholic church. founded
Tor the double purpose of converting the
! Indians and as a bulwark to the ever
increasing demands OF the French in
their claims of Spanish territory. These
mission houses were constructed OF
stone and have walls from three TO five
feet thick and stand today a substantial
/ monument of the theroughness and. con
! scientiousness Of the grand Oh mission
! fathers who invaded the wilderness. un-
! consciously being the forerunners of a
/ civilization that was, after many years
! of strife and bloodshed, to add one more
star to the flag of the greatest nation in
I the world. One OF these missions, com
! pleted in his, is the famous Alamo,
which was used as a monastery until
7 1886. Texas at that tinge being q part OF
i Mexico, but largely settled by Ameri-
! cans. who were disconnected under
/ Mexican rule. The friction caused by
/ this discomfort blazed into open rebel
/ lion when, in 1885, Santa Ana, the Next
can president, by proclamation, forbade
! the carrying of arms in Texas The
+ fighting was quick but fierce and re-
suited in the complete defeat Of the
Mexican forces and the capture OF the
present city. lnen known as San An
tonic De Bexar by the Texans.
For year everything was quiet and
peaceable. The Texans had disbanded
and returned to their ranches, when
suddenly, without warning, Santa Ana.
with an army Of 5000 men, swooped
| down upon the new repubnc with
avowed purpose of ravishing it to the
banks of the Sabine that begin the
boundary between the United States anu
Texas. Ahe Texans, being wholly IN
prepared, would have fallen easy vic
TINS If it had not been for the self
sacrifice and firm stand of l6e of her
bravest sons under the leadership Of
Colonel Bowie. They sought refuge in
the Alamo and for twelve days with
stood the repeated assaults Of the entire
Mexican army and died to man rather
than surrender. Before the final assault
the walls, crumbling from the furious
cannonade. had been reduced to half
their height, which, with the fallen roof
of dirt filed the room so that there was
no longer shelter for the devoted band
Colonel Bowie was sick OF a fever and
did not take part in the last few days
fighting. being confined to his cot, un-
able to raise His room was a stone
cell formerly used as a bed room by the
monks. Before the door of this cell
Davy Crockett made his last stand. fight
ing doggedly on and leaving a circle of
dead In front Of him as a monument to
bis prowess. Next behind him stood
Travis, who died at the head Of his
chiefs cot. After the dispatch Of Travis
in gtheir bayonets into the helpless
Bowie and four of them-two on each
side-lifted his body upon their bayonets
for the others to see. The women and
children. who were in another cell. were
spared and two-mother and daughter
were mounted upon Santa Ana's horse
and sent as bearers of the news TO Gen
eral Houston.
This firm defense gave the Texans
time to rally their scattered forces and
saved the republic. The decisive battle
was fought at San Jacinto. plains where
the Texans with the battle-cry Of Re
member the Alamo. completely routed
the Mexican forces and captured Santa
Ana With him at their mercy they die
tated their own terms. securing the
recognition Of the independence CT
Texas.
After his release, however, Mexico re-
pudiated his action and stin claimed the
state a. one OF her provinces II was
this claim that caused the war between
Mexico and the United States. when the
latter country admitted Texas 10 the
union.
In ls4s the American commander re-
built the Alamo and used Il aa head
quarters for the army. II was after
wards used as a magazine until lsss
when the state purchased * and now
keeps II in repair and open 90 The pub
lie. TIE history ~ each room IN printed
on large cardboard and hangs Ia gilt
edge frames upon the walls. The walls
plainly show the lines where the old IS
separated from the new there being
Qaite a difference in fhe size ~ the store
used. The Old walls have large STONES
while the rev 81 a serappT locking af-
fatr. owing 70 the spiintered condition
OF the rock from the effects ~ the BON
hsrdnent. tho sause stoae having be
used ln the rebaii5ing
The city ~ san Antou.o has about e.
go Inhabitants and e over enough
ground 80 contain ten tines that ngm
Der. The reason fer This being IRE uai-
versal desire 10 bad r. high place.
70 ss to gat TIE benefit ~ asv praezss
during the sfsmuer month"; Tne ca
part q TIE ctr has narrw crooked
streets ard sraau los houses - 2oerssa
rehftsctura a raHc - the MeEsa AID
-fsa saa~fara. The ua5a business streets
ara Ffoastsn ard Commerce Thev ars
both ~ good wfatn a7d haze modern
80 zr.- fe.~=s-str.~- -fsH rsrsaa~es ae