The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11
THE ALAMO SPOON.

Miss Lucille Webb Banks, Mfssis- sippi girl now living in Texas, has de- signed a silver spoon that has been adopted as official spoon of the De Zavala Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, whose chief object
 Is to buy the old Alamo Mission at San Antonio. Miss De Zavala, who Is Pres
 idcnt of the Chapter, is descended from Lorenzo De Zavala, the "scholar. patriot and gentleman" The handle of Miss
 Banks's spoon is in the form of the
 historic Bowie knife. In the bowl Is a picture of the Alamo Church, resting
 upon sword and flag of the Republic
 of Texas crossed. Above are the words, San Antonio below, "Remem-
 Der the Alamo" and the dates, l7lS and 1S36. Upon the hilt of the knife is a likeness of Wm B. Travis, copied by
 permission from the copyrighted paint
 ing of McArdle. Underneath are the names of the twelve most popular
 Texas heroes. On the blade of the knife appears the motto of the Daugh- ters of the Republic. Texas, One and Indivisible," and Victory or Death,
 the closing words of Travis's appeal sent out TO the People of Texas and All Americans in the World" On the back of the hilt is a representation of Texas ritleman. symbolizing the men who died for Texas's libcrty>or glori- ously achieved it. Then follows the seal of Texas. and the picture of Gen eral DeZavala. the first Vice President
 os the Republic of Texas. for whom the san Antonio Chapter is named Along
 the blade> are the words, Daughters of the Republic of Texas" 1891" The preservation of the famed old Alamo Church at san Antonio is natur ally matter of national interest, and especially is Alabama interested, as Travis. of whom the spoon is a souve- mir, was an Alabam man. He has many relatives in Alabama.
 little band of 301 Texans, with brave Ben Milan at its head, captured
 San Antonio and its defender, Cos. with his 1,400 men. These were then re- leased and allowed to return to Mexico on their giving q solemn promise new
 el to take up arms against Texas. Many of the Texans, feeling that Texas was free of Mexicans, obtained leaves and returned to care for their families. Santa Anna. enrased at the deteat, rals- ed a large army and came quietly into
 Texas. accompanied by the perjured Cos. Many of these troops were men taken from the prisons. The few Tex
 ans, though partly surprised, on the arrival of Santa Anna, February 9, re-
 tired into the Alamo mission and pre-
 pared to defend themselves. sending out calls for assistance. A brave band Of thirty-two men from Gonzales, cut
 their way iHto the garrison. Which was
 now completely surrounded by Mexi- cans, increasing the Texan force to lS2 men.
 No more aid came. though Travis
 made known his desperate strait by couriers. At last all hope of succor was abandoned and Travis made known | to his men their serious situation and gave them their choice of remaining
 there to fight to the last or of escap- | ing. All decided to remain and sell
 their lives as dearly as possible, hold l ing back the Mexican hordes from the
 eastern and more thickly populated parts of Texas.
 On the morning of March 6. 1886, the
 Nc xicans entirely surrounded the AL
 amo Mission, and there followed the bloodiest and most tragic conflict in the worlds records. Nor did the con fiict cease until every one of that noble