The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-05-01

WIfen one Ol THESE VeSI lnuldu uuI-
I~ricanes are predicted, and they usual
ly have from IL to "a hours notice,
half the population leave the island.
If | am here when one is headed this
way, ! shall be on the first train for
Houston. | have no bravery to ex-
hibit along this line.
We eastern people have no idea of
the distances here in Texas. Nearly
everywhere they go, except Houston,
which is about as far as Philadel-
phia is from Atlantic City, they take
a sleeper. Travelling at all to them
means a berth in a Pullman sleeper.
Seeing these Texans ride is a real
joy. They sit in the saddle as if it
were a rocking chair, seeming a part
of the horse. | have not seen, even
in our U. S. Cavalry, such ease and
grace. They tell me they car sleep in
their saddles and some of the children
can ride almost as soon as they can
walk.
Before l come home, l want to go
to San Antonio and see the Alamo.
Cornelia Branch Stone, retired Presi-
dent General of the Daughters of the
Confederacy, historical writer and au-
thority OF all things relating to Texas,
also one of the most delightful and
lovable of women, is living at the
same boarding house with me. Her
father was a member of the Continen-
tai Congress of the Republic of Tex
as" for you know Texas was a sep
arate Republic for nine years before
our Mexican war.
Mrs. Stone has taken me through all
the early struggles of Texas. She
described for me the defense and mas
sacre of the Alamo. The commander,
Col. Travis, knowing they could not
withstand the attack of the morrow,
called his little handful of men to-
gether-they numbered but 127 at the
beginning of the siege-and gave
them the privilege of leaving the fort
under cover of the night and trying
to escape, or of remaining with him
and selling their lives as dearly as
possible. Death was sure, for Santa
Annals orders were to "take no pris-
oners." Drawing his sword, Col.
Travis drew a line in front of him and
ordered, "all who wished to die like
heroes and patriots to come over with
him." Every man crossed save one.
Even the wounded dragged themselves
over. Brave Col. Bowie was too i'll
to leave his couch, but called for some
one to come carry him over. How
they died, who can say? That night
Santa Anna stormed the fort with
1000 troops. All the Texans perish
ed save one woman and her baby who
succeeded in hiding. Well may Judge
Kleberg say that, "The bravest with
Leonidas at Thermopylae might not
dispute the palm of heroism with the
immortal defenders of the Alamo"
The delay of the siege at the Alamo
and at Goliad (another massacre
equally cruel and treacherous) made
possible the victory at San Jacinto.
Here the Texans battle cry was, ere
member the Alamo" Remember Co.
lad" The attack was so fierce that
the Mexicans fled in terror as from
wild men. To this day it is said a
Mexican has more terror of one Texas
Ranger than of a whole company of
regular U. S. soldiers.
San Jacinto is on a small island.
=! Before going into the battle General
Sam Houston had the bridge destroy
ed, thus making retreat impossible.
Houston had but 700 men. Santa An
ma more than twice that number. In
fifteen minutes the battle was won,
and the Texans in possession of San
ia Annals camp. The Mexicans now
fed to the bridge to escape. The
bridge was gone! Before them rolled
the turbid waters behind them came
the Texans. Many a poor Mexican
cried, "Me no at Alamo "Me No Co.
liad," but it is feared the Texans did
not Temper Justice with Mercy"
Gen. Houston in his report stated the
Texan dead as two, wounded twenty
three, six mortally. Mexicans, $50
killed, 208 wounded and $50 prisoners,
among whom was old Santa Anna
himself. l want also to visit this bat
tie field before | come home.
There is a beautiful monument to
these Heroes of the Texas Revolu-
ton" standing at the intersection of
Broadway and 25th Street. This
monument was built at a cost Of
$50, 900 and is a gift of the late Hen
ny Rosenberg, a resident of Calves
! ton and her greatest financial bene-