The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-06-07
NOTED EDIFlCE DOOMED
Veramendi Palace, In Texas,
Soon to Be DisMantled.
HOME OF EARLY SPANISH RULERS

Historic Adobe Building of Sam An
Two Hundred Years Ago, Must Give
Way to March OF PrOgress-Its
Walls Have Sheltered NIany Makers
of History.
The march of progress is to do what
centuries and two notable lombard
ments failed to accomplish, says San
Antonio CTex.) special dispatch to the
st. Louis Republic.
The historic Veramendi palace, built
In San Antonio in 1717 by the Span
iards, is soon to be torn down by the
city government. This palace was the
residence and office Of the earliest
Spanish and Mexican governors OF
Texas and Chihuahua. 1t was there
that General Santa Ana had his head
quarters previous to his final attack on
the Alamo and the place Of refuge OF
his officers when they fed panic strick-
en- toward Mexico after the humiliat-
ing defeat at San Jacinto.
In the sitting room Of the palace
Colonel Bowie, that great Texas hero,
courted, won and wed his bride. It
was the temporary fort of Ben Milan
during the battle of San Antonio, which
resulted in the capture Of the city from
the MeXicanS. In one of the rear rooms
Milan received the wound which re-
suited in his death.
he. h1yi1 Sf0
Soledad street, which has now become
one Of the city's busiest thorOughfares
Owing to the fact that the street in
front of the building Is not wide enough
to let two ordinary vehicles pass in
comfort the city council has decreed
that it's historic walls must be torn
down Historic sentiment must not
impede the wheels of modern com
merce and force the busy vehicles to
go a block out of their way In the rush
and hurry of business.
The condemnation Of the building has
raised a storm Of indignant protest
from patriotic Texans all over the
state. The Daughters Of the Republic
Of Texas, led by Miss Adina De Ia.
vala and Miss Clara DriscOll, fought
hard to save the building. but the city
government has no time to heed what
they term mere sentimental folly,
The Veramendi palace Is only one
story In height and Is a typical adobe
building Of the early Mexican times. II
has but six rooms and courtyard, and
1t Is built on the banks Of the San An
tonic river. For many years it has
been occupied as q cafe and restau-
rant. Despite this fact it has been
pointed to with pride by the old citi-
xens as one of the most interesting
sights of the city. In the walls had
been placed bronze tablets reclting the
many historic events which had taken
place within it's walls.
The entrance to the palace Is guarded
by two immense cedar doors made
from heavy planks sawed from the
trunks Of trees by hand and studded
with large nails, which had been ham,
mered into shape with prOdigiOus ID
Dor. These doors have swung on their
hinges continuously for 189 years and
are in as good a state of preservation
as the day they were completed. They
will be presented to the Daughters of
the Republic Of Texas and preserved
in the Alamo with other historic relics.
The citizens Of San Antonio have long
pointed with pride to the room used as
sleeping chamber by the naughty
Santa Ana, the room which he used as
his audience chamber. and the cellar In
which his defeated officers huddled aft
or their long tramp from the field which
avenged the massacre of the Alamo.
Others took pleasure In taking the SEN
timental into the sitting room and
pointing to the large open fireplace, In
front Of which Bowie toasted his toes
after long and dangerous hunting ex-
petition and whispered sweet nothings
to bis sweetheart, g4r g;sg Esg b.
In the rear IS shown the room which
Ben Milan used as his temporary
headquarters during the storming Of
San Antonio and In which be received
the wound which resulted in his death.
It was in the audience chamber Of
this palace that Santa Ana wrote the
Infamous proclamation previous TO- tho
final attack on the Alamo, In which he
gave orders that all OF his men who
faltered al they approached tho wallis
were Ito be bayoneted in the back ana
that no Texan within the Alamo was to
be spared. From this room he walked
with the red flag which waved ID the
ranks Of his men on the day 4of the
massacre and which meant Mercy to
none. Death to allt''
The palace was built as the residence
and Offices Of the early Spanish and
Mexican governors, and it, was here
that Austin, Edwards, De Witt and
others discussed with the governors
their preliminary plans for the coloni"
cation of Texas with American set
tiers. Until Texas finally threw Off the
yoke Of Mexico it was the seat of gov
eminent.
The walls of the old building are
SCARED from being struck with many
cannon balls. which carried away part
Of the adobe