The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1911-06-07
TROOPS GATHERED NEAR The SPOT
MADE MEMORABLE By TRAGIC DEEDS
Americans In Texas Re-
belled Against Mexico
In 1885


the last man was dead. He drew a
line with his sword on the adobe floor
and said:
II propose to stay here until l am
killed. All who will be with me will
come to this side of the line; all who
wish to surrender remain on that side"
Davy Crockett leaped across. with a
triumphant wave Of his cap. Every
man in the file joined him. 1t was a
grim decision, the garrison lessening
in number every day; the food supply
was almost exhausted, and only a few
rounds Of ammunition were left for
the survivors. Bowie, almost from the
beginning Of the siege, was Ill with
typhoid. In a little adjoining he
lay on a rude bed attended by a Mex
lean m Hearing the speech of
Colonel Travis, he feebly called to his
companions and begged them to pick
up his cot and carry it over the line.
A few hours later he became delirious
and never recovered consciousness.
The morning Of the final attack was
a warm, bright Sunday. Colonel Bowie
died about 3 o'clock. Death had be-
come so common that no one paid any
attention to the dying pioneer. They
were blackened with gunpowder; they
looked wild from lack Of sleep and
food: they seldom spoke, and all their
words and acts were those Of men
most terribly in earnest. The sole idea
of each was to sell his life as dearly
as possible. Santa Anna determined
to take the Alamo by assault. The
band struck up "Duguelo" (Assassin),
and amid a boom Of n ladders
were brought, the walls Of the build
ing were scaled by 1000 cavalrymen,
while battering rams beat In the doors.
The Texans ran to the roof, where
several had been stationed.
As fast as the Mexicans mounted they
were stabbed and the ladders over
turned. Meanwhile the Mexican rifle
men on the ground shot down the
Texans on the roof, and the battle rag
ed with the few Texans who stayed
on guard behind the barricade.
Americans Died Flghtlng.
After an hour the Mexicans had over
powered the Texans and were swarm
ing to the roof. The defenders re
treated down the stairs, fighting ever.
|. inch of the way. Then the doors be
low were beaten down with huge tim
!, bers, and with a yell the frenzied sol
diers poured in the opening. The lit
tie band of Texans vas pitifully insig
niticant against the horde of Mexicans
There were yells and gunshots an
groans In one long hideous chorus
Not one OF the Texans sank to deaf
: till he had exhausted all his strength
: Colonel Crockett stood in the corner Q
. the main room and with a cutlas
slashed all who attacked him. HI
shirt was soaked with blood, and
bullet had pierced his cheek. Shot b
a man in front of him, he lunged TO
o ward, selling his life as dearly as pc
sible. Colonel Travis was shot throug
the head while defending the stairs.
t. No one was spared, and every one {
the Texans sank to the floor fighting
n So ended the Alamo.
"Remember the Alamow
Nearly all the Information that hi
torians have concerning the events !
side the Alamo during the siege hi
. come from Sonora bona Andrea Ca
tarion de D%illanueda, the nurse
Colonel Bowie and the sole survive
y. The state Of Texas pensioned her f
"a forty years.
=. From that day the words 'Remel
" Der the Alamo!' We're the slogan OF t
~ campaign throughout Texas. In lie
= than two weeks more than COO fro
tiersmen, maddened by the massacl
;, joined Sam Houston's army. A mon
- later Houston, with a force of 700 Tie
ans, faced Santa Anna. with 1000 s.
diers, on the banks Of the San Jacin'
N The battle was only an hour long. Il
Texas force, with a mighty and exu
er ant yell. "Remember the Alamo
lie routed the enemy and captured San
Anna. who barely escaped death. IL
til an independence then was establish'