The Springfield herald. (Springfield, Baca County, Colo.) 1887-1919, 1912-02-16

IA B. conley; and approved BY
rfed into execution. the historic Ala
mo will present a different appearance
to visitors to San Antonio. and. for
that matter. to San Antonians them
selves. Governor Colquitt wants the
old mission, where the seed that
sprouted into Texas liberty was first
planted, to be restored to as nearly Its
original condition as possible.
There has been for years diner
ence of view as to just what was the
physical condition of the Alamo on
the 9Th Of March. 1885. and an even
greater divergence OF opinion as to
the actual arrangement Of the old con-
vent structure adjoining. But Gov
ernor ColQuitt Is not willing for mere
differences of this nature to longer re-
tard the doing Of public work that
should have been attended to long
ago.
At a cost Of $4,000 the state. sew
eral years ago. bought OF Hugo
Schneider G. Co. the old convent
property adjoining the Alamo chapel.
This wholesale grocery firm had been
using for commercial purposes part OF
a property dear to liberty lovers sv-
erywhere.
Nobody thought any the less Of
them under the circumstances. and
when a movement to have the state
take over the land and the old walls
was crystaliized. the price fixed by the
Hugo-Schmeltzer interests was SO sat
isfactory as to seem generous. The
probably sell today for ten times this
sum.
1t Is the purpose Of the governor to
have the entire mission renovated and
made to look Just like 1t did when 1t
was used by the franciscan monks
and the sisters who conducted the
convent Already the tenants who
were using the old buildings have
been ousted. 1t is desired after all
the debris il removed, TO make park
of the Enclosure and to have 1t just as
much of q beauty spot as Is the re-
mainder of Alamo plaza. Architects
and landscape experts say this can be
done within very few years. and
there is not San Antonian who does
not hall the plans with pleasure.
Nobody ought to form the idea that
the Alamo chapel. the old church
where the massacre OF Crockett and
Bowie and the rest OF those dauntless
souls took place. has ever been used
except as a show-place. as the shrine
OF many thousands who have Journey
ed thither from all parts Of the
world. 1t is true, however, that
tradesmen for years occupied the old
convent. which once formed the lar
ger part of the mission proper. It
was not until few months ago that
all these men were forbidden to use
the premises.
No other spot In Texas and few
anywhere in the world. are filled with
half the historic interest that at
taches to the Alamo It has been
known to historians for rs years as
the cradle OF Texas liberty" and 1t
deserves. In the mind of every Texan.
all the glory that has been heaped
upon it. 1t Ia a matter of regret and
humiliation to every Texan that bet
ter care has not been taken of the
old pile and all its adJuncts by the
state authorities.
Story Of the Alamo.
Know the story of the Alamo? It'a
fine stun for American men. 1t stands
out in the historic pages of the
past century as the true expression of
the Lone Star spirit.
1t was on the 23d of February. 1895.
that General Santa Ana. with an army
of 1000 Me1icans. invested the vii
lage of San Antonio. and stormed the
Alamo. Texas had been declared in
state OF rebellion. the Inhabitants
had been ordered to disarm. and the
invasion OF Santa Ana had followed
as thunder follows the lightning flash.
Gen. Sam Houston, the military lead.
err of the rebels" had no army. There
were no railroad or telegraph lines by
which to summon the scattered fight.
ers. But Colonel Travis with Davy
Crockett and Jim Bowie, j. B. Bonham
]. Washington and 1873 Texas frontiers
men, were In San Antonio when the
Mexican army appeared. and at once
resolved to barricade the Alamo, and
hold the enemy until Houston was
ready. At first there was a slender
chance of rescue. but 1t disappeared
as the days went by. and the rifle
men quickly knew that the fate OF
Texas rested upon them. There was
no talk of surrender. OF safety of es
cape. They knew that the world
would not hear of their prowess until
after they were dust: that there was
no gallery OF admiring friends to
cheer them to their doom; the foe
outnumbered them 20 to 1; horse.
foot and artillery stormed. enfiladed.
rushed them. Hungry. famished and
without sleep. they crouched upon the
dat roof of the Alamo. behind the