The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1911-04-21

Antonio, Tex, to which ZO,OoO
troops were hurriedly dis
patched, is located close to the
historic spot where the battle of
the Alamo was fought. There q small
force OF American pioneers OF the
southwest fought against overwhelm-
Ing odds until death gave the Mexican
army temporary victory. The strong
hold whittier they are bound bears
the name of the general who brought
independence to the Lone Star state.
"Thermopylae had its messenger OF
defeat. Alamo had none"
This inscription. ascribed to Lord
Macauly. is engraved on monument
in the grounds of the Texas capitol
at Austin in commemoration of the
garrison. all of which died fighting
against Overwhelming odds in the
battle of the Alamo. which ended
March s, 1886.
Americans in Texas rose in rebel
lion against the government of Mex
leo in 1886. Early in 1886 the rebel
lion grew into warfare. The Texans
were under the leadership of the bluff
Gen. Sam Houston as president of the
new republic of Texas and as com
mander-in-chief of their little army of
volunteers. 1t was a daring undertak-
ing for scant 1000 men to attempt
TO wrest the state from Mexico with
its $4,000 drilled troops. But the Tex
ans, headed by Sam Houston, Davy
Crockett. William Travis and John
Hayden, feared no failure. The Mex
tcan general. Santa Ana. set out from
the Rio (,randa rd 10 mi r. w
conquer and punish rebellious Texans
His army of 5000 men. after a march
of nearly 500 miles across a desolate
country, reached San Antonio. conf
dent of capturing that town and NOV
Ing on to the new capitol at Washing
ton. Tex
Unprepared for Battle.
The garrison at San Antonio was
Onprepared for Santa Anas coming.
The first tidings of his approach were
given by the sentinels posted on the
roof OF the Alamo, which was an aban-
doned Franciscan mission, built in
1923. Ii numbered about 1876 men I'M
der com mand of Col. William Travis.
When the news of Santa Ana's ap-
proach reached Travis he determined
endorsements could arrive. With him
was Col. James Bowie, whose name
was always associated with his famous
knife, and Davy Crockett, the from
tiersman and hunter OF history and
romance. They had a few pieces of
artillery. little ammunition, 90 bushels
of corn and 80 beef cattle. which were
hurried within the Enclosure
Santa Ana demanded Immediate sur
render. Travis returned a defiant re-
fusal. emphasized by a cannon shot. A
blood red flag. signifying no quarter,
immediately was raised above the
Mexican camp and their batteries
opened upon the garrison. Meanwhile
Travis had dispatched messengers TO
Houston and Washington. Tex. 95
miles away. appealing for assistance
The Mexican batteries attempted a
breach in the stone walls of the mis-
sion at dawn February 20 For hours
every day the Mexicans continued the
siege. In hot fire which was opened
upon the garrison on the last morn
ing in February some of the bombs
fell close to the spot where Dayy
Crockett lay. He sprang up and made
his way to the ramparts just as the
Mexican gunner was reloading and be-
fore he could fire again shot him. A
comrade caught up the match and ran
to the touchhole. But already a fresh
rifle had been handed the Tennesseean
and he picked OF the second gunner
as he had the first. Three more Mex
leans made the attempt and met a
like fate and for a time the gun was
silenced.
Colonel Travis called the garrison
about him March g. He made a brief
talk, telling his comrades that longer
hope for assistance was useless. He
said that the Alamo should be surren-
dered or it should be defended until
the last man was dead. He drew a
line with his sword on the adobe floor
and said:
Il propose to stay here until am
killed. All who will be with me viii
come TO this side of the line. all wbo
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. II was a
grim decision: the garrison lessenine
in number every day. the food suppIy
was almost exhausted and only a few
rounds Of ammunition was left for tho
survivors Bowie, almost from the be-
ginning OF the siege. was i'll with ~.
phoid. In little adjoining room he
lay on rude bed attended by a Mex.
lean woman. Hearing the speech of
Colonel Travis. he feebly called to his
companions and begged them to pick
up his cot and carry him over the line.
A few hours later he became delirious
and never recovered consciousness.
Dawn Of the Morning OF Death.
The morning Of the final attack was
warm. bright Sunday. Colonel Bowie
died about three o'clock Death had
become so common that no one paid
any attention to the dying pioneer.
They were blackened with gunpow-
der; they looked wild from lack of
sleep and food; they seldom spoke
and all their words and acts were
those of men terribly In earnest. The
sole idea Of each was to sell his life
AZ dearly as possible. Santa Ana de-
termfned to take the Alamo by ~
SvsiSt's Faeo.
There II nothing new to learn. it