The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-05-18
A BIT OF TEXAS HISTORY

The following article is contributed
by Mrs. G.. w. Sanders, who spent the
winter in Texas and had an oppor-
| tunity to visit and learn of the famous
old places mentioned:
! Having always been greatly inter
ested in the history of Texas, | am
glad it was my privilege to spend sew
eral months in that genial climate
and become acquainted with some of
! her good people, also TO visit some of
the historic places had learned about
! in my school days.
The history of Texas is unique and
! interesting. 1t was claimed by both
Spain and France. Spaniards sailing
around the Gulf of Mexico made trips
inland and claimed the land for the
Spanish crown. However Spain show
ed no definite purpose to coloniZe the
country until La Sale had discovered
the mouth of the Mississippi River,
built crude fort, left a small colony in
1853 and sailed for France. Returning
in 1857 he pushed on westward landing
at Matagorda Bay near the center of
French King to establish colonies he
brought four ships carrying 800 wo-
men, soldiers and mechanics. Pro
ceeding six miles up the river he built
Fort st. Louis, also a large building Of
logs covered with boards and rawhides
for the lodging and protection of the
colony. Fowls, swine and domestic
animals had been brought from
France. And our new colony found
deer, birds, fish and buffalo plentiful.
Hearing of this Spain commenced to
plant settlements and trouble began.
Texas was so named from numerous
tribes of Indians in eastern Texas who
called each other Ta-has or allies The
Spaniards gave this name to the whole
country and it still clings to it.
Texas has owed allegiance to six
governments and been under as many
flags. The Fleur-de-lis of France; the
royal banner of Spain; the flag of the
Mexican Republic; that of the Re
public of Texas; the stars and stripes
Of the American Union and for four
years the stars and bars of the south
ern Confederacy.
Many of us remember the agitation
concerning the proposed admission Of
this independent republic as a state to
our union. Texas was finally admit
ted and Mexico was awfully mad. Just
before the admission of Texas as a
state in the union an old gentleman
from Texas frequently came to our
home in Pennsylvania. He had gone
to Texas with Stephen Austin, Sam
Houston and many other Americans
and taken land believing, as all did,
that Texas belonged to the United
States as much as any part of the
Louisiana Purchase.
Mexico, however, claimed Texas as
part of her territory notwithstand-
ing Spain had in 1900 transferred all
her possessions to France in exchange
for Tuscany, and in 1903 France sold
the country to the United States.
The Americans who went to Texas
had hard time, they were at war with
Mexico for years. Finally Santa Ana
became Military Dictator of Mexico
and determined to drive every Ameri-
can from the land.
The people of Texas rebelled A
war ensued. A convention in 1886 de-
clared Texas independent. Much
bloodshed occurred afterward.
Our old friend had fought in many
Of these battles and with pencil and
paper would mark out the battle
ground, especially the ravine near
Goliad where Santa Anna caused all
the prisoners to be shot to death, the
cavalry riding over the dead and dy-
ing and bayonnetting any who showed
signs of life. He made many diagrams
of the Alamo Mission where for twelve
days $50 Texans held the fort against
Santa Anna and his 1000 Mexican
troops. Finally with scaling ladders
the Mexicans poured over the wall and
there was terrible hand to hand en-
counter lasting about an hour and 4
half Not Texan lived-women and
children who had taken refuge in the
fort persisted also. One woman was
spared because Santa Anna wanted to
send a communication to Gen. Sam
Houston. This message Mrs. Dickin-
son carried. carrying her infant also
40 miles on horseback. Santa Anna
had the dead bodies OF the Mexicans
carried out and buried. Sending a
company of dragons to the forest to
bring wood and dry branches. the
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