Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-07
John Quilts Experiences
on Pacific Slope.
Closing Stages Of Editorial As
sociation's Annual Trip.
A Visit 10 San Antonio and the Historic
Alamo.

From Houston to San Antonio. by
way of Smithville, on the railroad map,
is in round numbers 1879 miles, and
when our party pulled out of Houston,
at O'Clock. on that sultry summer
night. it was with feeling that we
were soon to part with an old friend.
for the Katy, whose fortunes we had
followed from st. Louis and whose
metallic click had become sweet music
to our ears through Missouri and the
territories and across the Lone Star
state, was to bid us long farewell at
San Antonio. Our cars were to be
switched onto the irons of the famous
Southern Pacific. With the passing Of
the Katy, we We're also to say gOOd-by
to Mr.. Knowles, the genial district
passenger agent of the NJ. T. & X.
r. r. system. who. by his untiring eff
forts, had made our territory and
Texan trip so pleasant.
A night run in the moonlight OH our
special and the curtain rises in the
morning on new scenes and new stage
settings in the historic city of San An
tonic. Beautiful San Antonio has a
past of her own. A brief outline of
the historic commercial city of the
Southwest. with its population of $4,000
is soon told. With Texas early his
tory Is interviewer the name of San An
tonic. Her name has been written in
letters OfsblOod across the face of the
map. III her early days, San Antonio's
streets were the battle-ground for many
Il bloody attack from the factions striv-
ing to gain possession of the territory
of Texas. San Antonio was first set
tied in 1859. The historic Alamo, the
Faneuil hall of San Antonio was built
in 1880 by the Spanish monks, and the
events of the year following have
rightly christened this building as the
cradle Of Texas liberty. Eight battles
for independence were fought in and
around San Antonio. between the years
1867 and 1886. In the early part of
1886 the Mexican invaders numbering
some 5000 or G00O infested San Antonio
and drove Colonel Travis and his force
of 1SS men into the Alamo. After a
siege of II days. the Alamo fell. the re-
naming force were given the choice to
cross an imaginary dead line and sur
render or be lined uD and shot. but
one man out of the entire force accept
ed the offer, and all, including this one
man, afterwards were murdered in the
building. Among the officers defend
ing who died there was w. e. Travis,
James Bowie, the inventor of the Bowie
knife. and Davy Crockett. Soon
retribution followed. for April q, of the i,
same year the battle of San Jacieno |
was fought, where under the slogan
Remember tine Alamo" San Antonio |
was defeated and captured giving |
Texas her independence. Soon after
she became Il state of the American
Union. When the true American with
a spark of patriotism in his makeup
realizes all the blood stained history
surrounding this hallowed spot. the
head is bowed in difference to the brave
defenders, the sturdy patriots who
preferred death to surrender, and the
visitors in one accord acclaim that the
government at Washington has done
right in purchasing this building and
site for perpetual monument to the
bravery and the spirit of liberty of
these heroes who held the fort.
At San Antonio came the first break
in the happy family. who had Travelled
through the South and Southwest to-
gether. After doing the city and en-
joying the hospitality of the people. in
the evening four cars were uncOupled
from our train, gOod-byes were spoken.
the big Southern Pacific engine coupled
onto the Editorial train for its run
across the desert and up the coast.
some 200 miles. Four cars of those
who remained We're attached to the
Katy flyer, and the parting was over.
Stops were made by the Editorial
train at Ell Paso. and a side trip across
the Rio Grande into Old Mexico to the
ancient city of Juarez. where several
pleasant hours were passed. A re-
ception at the Custom House and back