The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-06-23
LANDMARK MUST GU
HISTORIC SPANISH PALACE IN
TEXAS TO BE RAzEp.
san Antonio Structure to Be Replaced
by a Modern Ten-story Office
Buiidine-Was the Home Of
Spanish Governor.

After having been in situssince 1875
he stone and mortar of the Verahendi
palace will be used In the construc.
ion of modern ten-story office build
ng, New York Herald's San Antonio
correspondent says. Instead of hear
ng the gasconades of Spanish con.
luistadores and the dolce voices OF
'enoritas they will hereafter listen to
he click of typewriters and the giggles
If those who work them. No more
will they look upon proud Dons from
ar Hispano, armed capable and in
;ased in helmet. visor, doublet and
,uirass, for hereafter twentieth cen.
Jury business men with green ties,
pink socks, pigeon-toed shoes and pad
led garments will be the only compan-
cns. Before the stones get that far,
however, they will be put through the
mill and made of the size used In con-
crete construction. They are lime.
stone, of excellent quality and we'll
adapted for their future mission.
With the Veramendi palace passes
one of the best known architectural
'emains of Spanish American civiiiza-
lion. 1t was erected almost simulta-
1eously with the Mission San Antonio
lie Va!eco, now the Alamo, and for
many years was the white house Of
The Spanish province of Bexar, ter.
citory comprising all of Texas. In
those days, however, 1t was merely
known as the governors house, a de-
scription more suitable than Vera
nendi palace. The latter name is
received because of its occupancy by
The last Mexican governor of Texas.
The building stood in Soledad street,
its site marking formerly the north
eastern corner of large public
square, the center of which was occu-
pied by the Plaza DIES Armas of San
Fernando Presidio. In it's rear was a
big garden, which extended to the
banks of the San Antonio river, the
whole house and garden being at one
time surrounded with very strong
palisade and deep bitches. 1t was no
uncommon thing to have the Indians
make raids right in the city in those
lays and for that reason Lefenses of
that kind were necessary.
The old building was the scene of
many a romance of love and murder.
Almost in it's shadows Mexican gen.
sral caused to be butchered like pigs
number of Spanish and other pris-
oners, who had been unfortunate
enough to side with the Spanish gov.
eminent during the Mexican revolu-
ton. The description of this scene,
picturing the assassin as he whetted
| the knife on the soles of his shoes
every time he had slit the throat of a
prisoner forms one of the most stir
ring chapters in Texas history. In
the Veramendi palace Ben Milan met
his end at the assassin's hand, and in
its patio and the shaded walks of its
gardens James Bowie, designer of the
famous knife bearing his name, court.
ed and Won Ursula Veramendi, said
to have been by far the prettiest won.
an in Texas.
All that remains intact of the fla.
nous old structure now are pair of
old cedar doors which had swung on
their hinges since 1875. They are
deliberately carved and unusually well
preserved. For some time to come
they will swing in a private residence
In this city, but it is hoped to put
them in some museum In the near fin.
ture.