The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-02-08
NOTED EDlFicE DOOMED
Veramendi Palace, In Texas
Soon to Be Dismantled.
HOME OF EARLY SPANISH RULERS

HOME OF EARLY SPANISH RULERS
Historic Adobe Building OF San An
tonic, which Was Erected Almost
Two Hundred Years Ago, Must Give
walls Have Sheltered Many Makers
Of History.
The march Of progress is to do what
centuries and two notable bonn bard
ments failed to accomplish, says San
Antonio (Tex.) special dispatch to the
st. Louis Republic.
The historic Veramendi palace, built
In San Antonio in It'll 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 1t
was the temporary fort of Ben Milan
during the battle of San Antonio, which
resulted in the capture Of the city from
the MeXicans. Iii one of the rear rooms
Milan received the wound which re-
suited in his death.
1 The building stands far out into
t 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
4 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 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. 1t
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 a cafe and restau-
rant Despite>thi fact it has been
pointed to with pride by the old citi-
zens as one Of the most interesting
sights Of the city. In the walls had
been placed bronze tablets reciting 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 la
bor These doors have swung on theil
hinges continuously for 1S9 years anG
are in as good 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 II
which his defeated officers huddled aft
er 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 an6
pointing to the large open fireplace, IL
front Of which Bowie toasted his toes
after long and dangerous hunting ex
petition and whispered sweet nothingS
to his sweetheart
In the rear is shown the room which
Ben Milan used as his temporary
headquarters during the storming Of
San Antonio and in which he received
the wound which resulted in his death.
|
this palace that Santa Ana wrote the
Infamous proclamation previous to The
final attack on the Alamo, in which he
gave orders that all of his men who
faltered as they approached the walls
! were to be bayoneted in the back ant
, that no Texan within the Alamo was tt
be spared. From this room he walked
with the red flag which waved in th'
o ranks Of his men on the day Of thu
7 massacre and which meant mercy t.
. none. Death to ALL"
! The palace was built as the residenc
and Offices Of the early Spanish ant
. Mexican governors, and it was her
! that Austin, Edwards, De Witt ant
!. others discussed with the governor
. their preliminary plans for the colonl
cation of Texas with American sci
tiers. Until Texas finally threw off til
yoke of Mexico it was the seat of gov