The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1911-04-13

AHtoniO, L en-, 10 WHICH AO,OOt
troops were hurriedly dis
patched, is located close to the
historic spot where the battle OF
the Alamo was fought. There 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 a 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 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. 1t was daring undertake,
ing for a 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 a 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
1923. 1t numbered about 1856 men I'M
der command of Col. William Travis.
When the news of Santa Anas 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, 90 bushels
of corn and 30 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, %
miles away. appealing for assistance.
The Mexican batteries attempted a
breach in the stone walls of the mis-
pAci "' "a" ~ CpI ucll 90. II VI
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
rife had been handed the Tennesseean
and he picked off 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 8. 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 1t 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 mo 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. It was a
grim decision; the garrison lessenine
in number every day, the food supply
was almost exhausted and only few
rounds Of ammunition was left for the
survivors. Bowie, almost from the be-
ginning of the siege, was Ill with ty-
phoid. In little adjoining room he
lay on a 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