The Anderson daily intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson, S.C.) 1914-1915, 1914-09-30
JAPANESE. HERO WMt
MARK FRIENDS GRAVE
"
ERECT MONUMENT TO MEM-
ORY OF BONEIAM
AT TEXAS ALAMO
Wal PeTpetuate Bravery of oHic.
CT Who Was Forefathef &C Cen.
M L. Bonham of Anderson


the Japanese American, a newspaper
published In Japan:
Professor Shigetaka Shiga, Y. has
just arrived in San Francisco, is err
haps one OF the most interesting Wis
itors who have come to these shores
from the mikados land His chief mis-
sion In this country is to deliver a lec-
ture at tho conference to be held at
Washington under the auspices of the
an-American 'nion, but that is not
what particularly interests us. What
Is most intereeting to us about him is
that he has brought with him a huge
natural stone; TO be erected at San An
toni& Texas. as monument TO- the
iHeIfSry OF those heroes whG offended
and liied at the historic church of,
ALAMO on March 8. 1885, t.us s.,f:rf
ltkds indeed one of the iropiesSofj
fate That while, those gallant defenders
OF ffeedom against Mexican despotism;
arc almost forgotten, even by their de-.
scendants, an Oriental scholar, edu-.
cated IN Oriental schools. should cher
ish so intense reverence for their
spirtts that he is inspired to make a
pilgrimage to their graves and dedi-.
cate monument to their memory.
To describe the heroic deeds OF the
defenders OF the Alamo it Is necessary
to refer to the birth Of the Republic
OF eTxas. Up to May 2, 1886, the people
OF Texas were bound by allegiance to
the Mexican federal constitution of
1924. But on that day the Texas con-
yention held at Washington, on the
Brazos, declared the political connec-i
tion of Texas with Mexico forever at
an end. It declared Texas to beia
free, sorere,sa and independent re@
public, fully Invested with alli,the
rights and attributes which properly
belong to an Independent nation. iiqy d
Inathe meantime the Mexican forces
under General Santa Anna were stead;s
lily advancing into Texas with the jderl
termination to hold the country under,
the Mexican yoke. Toward the end sof.
February. 1895, Santa Anna; entered
the GityiiofssSan Antonio, driving the.
Texan guardi before him. To stay the,
advance OF. this formidable army OF;
Mexico. numbering amore {, than 1000
Colonel Travis with a.toree ,,of. iSs,
men 5sntrenched himself behind the
walls Of the ALAMO, ~ -.
Travis, In anticipation of q Mexican.
attack, had done what he could sto
strengthen the walls and, proTiGe
meanG for defense. But the Alamo
was built for a mission, not. for, q fort
ress The walls. though thick, were
plains stoneWork without a redoubt OF,
bastion to command the lines Of the
fort ~ :, 4. = u
Santa Anna : Immediately demanded
ON unconditional surrender of the Az.
amo and its. defenders. Travis replied,
the demand With aSgh0tf from tiieIoft.
Then the Mexican army hoist6d Z a3
blood-red flag in the town and COM
menced tho attack.
1t was at this critical moment irar
Bonham, bearing letter from Colonel
Travis, sailed out of the Alamo and
went TO Colonel Fannin, then at Golfsd
for reinforcenients. Travis letter was
o stirring appeal for the patriotism
and gallantry OF his fellow-citfzens.
and compatriots. I am besieged.s he.
said. "by @ thousand or more of the:
under Sante Anna, have
sustained a continued bombardiIiens
for "a hours and have not lost asmaii
the enemy has demanded surfsrlfes
at discretioH; otherwise the garrfs6n
Is to be put to the sword. the bfaee IL
taken.I I have answered the summons
withea canon shot and our 7laS Still
waves iprDadfy from 'tIie allsnsr ahifil
never ls,irrender ori1retfsat y. Thsns ! d
call on you iIt the name OF liberty. of
patriotism, OF everything dear Is sfsiie.
american chafacter,iito eonierto our
aid withsaH dispatcfiI The nenenny sfs,
receiving ireingo gorcements daily. and
wiil nc doIht increase to three or four
Y lrcusandihs1Qnr Hr figaidaysg Though
THIS call may be neglected, i am de-
IeFmined tossustain myself as lone rs,
posaible and die l!ka soldier wlfo
neyer fofgats what is due tor his owss
lonor ana that Of his country. xics.l
tory or deatIir Z s. ttt's 3
Borlham. having delivered the ief-
Ter 70 Colonel Fannin, came hack "a,
'he beleaguered fort, though he kaeE
hat IN retufpsng there he was plunsn
ng into certain death Fannifil
souidN not come to the rescue. while
santa Anna redoubled his forces to
ltofm the fort. Yet Bonham was un5
Haunted. and lighting Shfs way siirosEIl
ne enemy's lines, he re-ensefpdiff Ne
Alamo. ready to diealike q ursn5with.I
ne restpf the l5S men under fTTnsieS
( ~ tss Sunday nlorningt tlse ,eixthsl
lay ef March 1886, i Al little after snffi-
light the Mexjean forces opened Sphet
proved 70 be the final attack upon the
slanot Again and again. were s, they
lrtrenl back ~ the gallant detehcefs
No. last sSyeEppwersd by the z hsar
Weight of the enbipy's rY0fces tliell
rexans ceased to hold the fort yet
ne DEFENDERS neither fefreata aa n6tSI
ySclnbedS tisafF Stnsi
md tised theli uhtil they were ar cat
Iowa. Thns fen the Alai,s 4 - r. Ia.
oic defenders; but befofs tf1tts sIav
ne bodies OF 81 of the enemy. with D |
IKE number wounded. As q historian
avs. at9e defenders OF Texas slld not
etreats but ny there Ia ohediKnta to |
be command qf their country. ciia iIs !
hat obediencs lthe wic5riia hSs NJ ess1 |