The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-18
Cetters tc tbs GdEtor
SENATOR BAlLEY's OMISSION
Of the Name of the Heroic Travis.

OK tMe NaIne or the heEohc IEuNhSs Editor The Advertiser:
 I read with pleasant emotions. in The Advertiser of today. an extract of the speech of Senator Bailey of Texas. upon the Statehood bill. which, as The Indianapolis Sentinel says, proves that eloquence and oratory are not lost arts" He hints, as it seems to me, slightly, at the fact that those people in this country, who have writ ten the most books, avoid speaking In commendation of some of the battles. at least, which have cut large fg- ure in making a great country what 1t regret. not to say indignation. His reference to the bloody battles fought for Texas Independence and Houston. Austin, Fannin, Bowie and Crockett. true man of the country, but the Sena- tor Is either short on history, or had the misfortune of a lapsus lingue. in not mentioning William Barret Travis. senior ofiicer in command of the Alamo.
 When reflect upon the great achievements of the immortal Andrew Jackson, and what he did in the pro- motion of all the interests of a great country, and observe how studiously New England and other sections of the country, xoaHt avoid any mention of his tion rises to its full height; and I heartily wish that more of our people would devote themselves to writing 8 true history of the achievements of ousy for the South, and especially for the heroes of Alabama, moves me to saying what l am now saying. Not that Senator Bailey is lacking In fideI- fly to the South, for he is unquestion- ably one of our best defenders, but ] cannot bear that the name of William Barret Travis shall be omitted in any mention in the United States Senate. of heroes of the Alamo, and of the Texas revolution for independence.
 Colonel Travis was born on August 2 1898 in Edgetield District, South Carolina, and was brought by his fath- CT to Conecuh County. Alabama, In lS1S and after being admitted to the bar, went to Texas early in 1885 where Texas for independence. Colonel Trav- Is and his command were in the Alamo for protection and defense, and were assailed by that miserable villain. thing like 4,0O0 men; there being in the fort, under Colonel Travis but IA On the third of March in 1886, Colonel Travis sent courier to Washington, where the State Convention was as sembled. with the following message:
 am still here, in fine spirits and we'll to do. With 145 men I have held this place ten days against force va riously estimated at from 1,500 to G. OnO' and l shall continue to hold 1t un- til l get relief from my oountrymen. or l will perish in its defence. We have had a shower of cannon balls continually falling among us the whole time, yet none of us have fallen. We have haen miraculously preserved :"
 The relief never came from his coun- trymen' rom some cause or othor. and On the thirteenth day of the siege the Tort with every man In 1t, fell victims 10 the ssavagery of that miserable supposed to have fallen early in the action. as he was found near the can non which he was specially in charge of, and had been using with great ef- crockett. knowing that death was iu- evttable struck down his enemies un- III when his corpse was found, 1t was In the centre of circling heap of dead MeXicans."
 "Colcnel Bowie was confined to his bed in the last stage of consumption . As the enemy rushed into his room, he sat upright in his bed. and killed sew eral of the foe before he himself was killed" No three men in Americ m history, have ever exhibited a grandsT heroism, and more sublime patriotism than the three just mentioned. With the change of adaptation the | language of Albert Pike in his Grave of Washington" may be used with ref erencs to Travis
 Disturb not his siumber! Let Travis here sleep.
 Meath the boughs of the willow that over him weep!
 His arm is unnerved but hls deeds re- main bright
 | As the stars in the dark-vaulted hehv- en at night.
 70. wake not the hero! His battles are OCT!
 Let him rest, undisturbed, on Antonio's fair shore!
 On the rivers green border as fowery dressed,
 With the hearts he loved fondl.S lei Travis here rest"