Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-02-29

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Governor Colquitt can be car
rted into execution. the historic Ala
mo will present different appearance
to visitors to Sen Antonio and. Tor
that matter, to San Antonians them
selves. Governor ColQuitt wants the
old mission. where the seed that
sprouted into Texas liberty was nrst
plan ted, to be restored to as nearly It's
original condition as possible
There has been for years a diner
ence Of view as to just what was the
physical condition OF the Alamo on
the 9Th OF March, 1896. and an even
greater divergence Of opinion as 10
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
shonld have been attended to long
ago
At 4 cost of $4,000 the state, sew
Srsl years ago bought OF Hugo
.SchmeitSer & Co the old convent
property adjoining the Alamo chapel
This wholesale grocery Arm had been
using for commercial purposes part OF
a property dear to liberty lovers ev'
erywhere.
Nobody thought any the less OF
them under the circumstances, and
milen a movement to have the state
take over the land and the old walls
was crystailixed. the price fixed by the
Hugo-Schmeltzer interests was so sat,
fsfactory as to seem generous. The
property bought for $4,000 would
probably sell today for ten times this
sum.
1t 10 the purpose of the governor 10
have the entire mission renovated and
made to look just like II did when IT
was used by the Franciscan monks
and the sisters who conducted the
convent Already the tenants who
were using the old building. have
been ousted. 1t is desired after ali
the debris IL removed. TO make a park
OF thestnolosure and to have II just as
much 81 \ beauty spot as IL the re
and landscape experts say this can be
done within a very few years. and
there is not q San Antonian who does
not hail 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 q show-place, as the shrine
of many thousands who have Journey
ed thither from all parts OF the
world II Is true. however. that
tradesmeR for years occupied the old
convent which once formed the lar
ger part Of the mission proper 1t
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 1T has been
known to historians for rs years as
the cradle OF Texas liberty" and Il
deserves, In the mind of every Texan.
all the glory that has been heaped
upon It, II ia matter OF regret and
humiliation to every Pexan 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 atory OF the Alamo! Its
fine stun for American men. II stands
out In the historic pages OF the
past century an the true expression Of
the Lone Star spirit.
1t was on the 23d Of February. 1886.
that General Santa Ana. with an army
OF 1900 'Mexicans. invested the vii
iage OF San Antonio, and stormed the
Alamo Texas had been declared In
a state of rebellion. the inhabitants
had been ordered to disarm. and the
tnvasion of Santa Ana had followed
as thunder follows the lightning flash
Gen. Sam Houston, the military lead.
er 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. . B. Bonham
J. Washington and 1888 Texas frontiers.
men. we're In San Antonio when the
Mexican army appeared. and at once
resolved to barricade the Alamo and