The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-07-19
WOMEN WILL TRY TO
SAVE HISTORIC ALAMO
They Appeal for Funds to Preserve
ThcrmopyInc of America Where
David Crockett Died.
kEEIEkIC SrEC1AT..

hEFURLIC SPECIAL.
San Antonio. Tex. July 1s-An effort is
being made by the De Zavala Chapter of
the Daughters Of the Republic of Texas to
collect sufficient funds TO save the Mission
OF Alamo. the 'Thermopylae OF America"
from capitalists who are planning to make
advertising use of 1t In commercial
scheme The State OF Texas now owns a
small part. The Texan daughters hope to
secure the remainder Of it and to make
Alamo Texas Hall of Fame. Surely there
could be no place SO fitting to serve as n
sanctuary for relics OF the States past.
Question there may be as to the right
eousness of the cause of the defenders of
Alamo but there is none as to the
superb heroism of that defense. The world
has never known greater fighting men than
that little band led by Colonel William Bar
rett Davis. and which included such famous
fighters are Davy Crockett and Colonel
Bowie.
For years and years the cry Of "Remem-
Der the Alamo!" was sufficient to arouse a
strange indeed II those who have followed
the brave men of long ago. who gave their
lives gladly when rallied by the famous
cry. to arms, should refuse 10 contribute a
little money 10 save the scene of the plucki-
est fight against tre1eudous odds since
Leonidas and his thousand held the pass
OF Thc-nopylan. incidentally. the Persian
side of that story has never been told.
while the Mexican side of Alamo is mat
ter OF history.
When General Sam Houston dismantled
San Antonio early in 1895 Barrett and his
Texans retired early in the year into the
old mission, which had served as fort
since 1893.
santa Ana invested it with 400 Mexican
troops on February -. The Texans num-
hered 14o all told. The Mexicans bonn
hardcd the fort. which was about an acre
in extent, with walls from eight to ten feet
high and three feet thick. for twenty-four
hours and then made several ASSAULTS The
deadly craftsmanship of the Texans drove
them back
We're constantly fighting and watching. and
the havoc they made among the MeXicans
was frightful. Never a bullet was wasted.
Provisions grew short. but they fought on.
even when they had no hope OF REINFORCE
ments
Santa Ana resolved to capture the Alamo
at any cost. On March 6 the whole force
made an assault. The Mexicans were driven
back. but with great loss TO the Texans.
Again the Mexicans made general assault
and the Texans held them until only six
We're living and all of these were wounded
and utterly exhausted
Then Davy Crockett. relying on the
treacherous Santa Ana's promise of pro
sooner were the MeXicans inside the fort
than Crockett was literally, slashed TO
pieces by dozen sabers. and the others met
similar fate Only three persons escaped
alive. woman. child and n sryant
The clearest idea of the bravery and
fighting ability of that heroic band is
gained when 1t is said that the Mexican
losses in the siege of the Alamo were 1900
1t sounds like n sta cement from an histori-
cal novel. but it is well attested.
And that is why the Daughters of Texas
are asking the people of the State and
those who love brave deeds of Americans
to send 10 Miss Clara Driscoll. chairman
of the Mission Fund p O. box 1927. San
Antonio Tex. dollar. Or more n the
spirit moves them. that The Alamo may ever
hercism as this county has ever known