Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1911-04-19

!4!0 G11111T
oRT SAM HOUSTON. in San
Antonio, Tex. to which 10000
troops were hurriedly dis
patched. is located close to the
historic spot where the battle OF
the Alamo was fought There a 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 it's messenger OF
eefeat- Alamo had none"
! This inscription, ascribed to Lord
Macauly, is engraved on a monument
In the grounds Of the Texas capitol
ut Austin in commemoration of the
garrison, all Of which died fighting
against overwhelming odds in the
battle Of the Alamo, which ended
March 6, 1886.
Americans In Texas rose in rebel
lion against the government Of Mex
leo In 1885. 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. It was 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
lean general. Santa Ana, set out from
the Rio Grande northward to quickly
conquer and punish rebellious Texans.
His army Of 5000 men, after march
Of nearly 600 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
unprepared for Santa Ana's 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
l723. 1t numbered about 1856 men un-
der command of Col. william Travis.
When the news Of Santa Ana's ap-
proach reached Travis he determined
to make good its defense until re-
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, 80 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 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, IS
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 Mex1cans 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 Davy
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 2
like fate and for a time the gun Wal
silenced.
Colonel Travis called the earrisoe
about him March 3. He made a brie1
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 9
line with his sword on the adobe foo,
and said:
Il propose to stay here until nm
killed. All who will be with mo vil1
come to this side Of the line: all who
wish to surrender remain on thai
SIDE"
Davy Crockett leaped across with .
triumphant wave Of his cap. Every
man in the file Joined him. It was :
grim decision; the garrison lessenine
In number every day, the food supnly
was almost exhausted and only a few
rounds Of ammunition was left for the
survivors. Bowie, almost from the be
ginning Of the siege, was i'll with IT,
photd. In a little adjoining room he
lay on q rude bed attended by q Mex
lean woman. Hearing the speech a
Colonel Travis, he feebly called to hi,
companions and begged them to picl
up his cot and carry him over the line
A few hours later he became deliriou,
ana never recovered consciousness.
Dawn Of the Morning Of Death.
The morning Of the flnai attack wa,
q warm. bright Sunday. Colonel Bowl.
died about three o'clock. Death hat
become 20 common that no one pait
any attention to thu dYfn1 ninnaar