The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-06
Eighty Years Since the
 Massacre of the Alamo

In view of recent events along the Mexican border, and the strained rela- tions existing between the Texans and their duscy neighbors beyond the Rio Grande, the eightieth anniversary of the battle of the Alamo, which falls today, holds a general interest. The Alamo, the chapel building of the Spanish mission at San Antonio de Bexar, is carefully preserved by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and it's tine-scarred walls still display the marks of the bloody carnage of March 6, 1836.
 At that period the United States was far from being supreme in the North American continent. Mexico, having driven out the Spaniards and set up a republic, held sway over a large part of what is now the rich Southwest and the goIdest West of Uncle Sans do- minions. Texas, an empire in itself, destined to become the favorite do- main of King Cotton, and California, which, as any resident will swear, is the garden spot of the universe, were governed from the City of Mexico. New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and 8 portion of Colorado were also claimed by Mexico.
 The white settlers in Texas early came into conflict with the Mexican rulers. Even before the overthrow of the Spaniards, in 1919, Dr. James Long
 
 vaded Texas, occupying Nacogdoches, where he set up a provisional govern ment and declared Texas a free and independent republic. From that time on the tension between the Tex ans and the Mexicans grew until it reached the point of open revolution. Texans at various points issued de- cIarations of independence in 1885, and early in March a provisional gov ernment was set up.
 It was in February, 1886, that Gen eral Santa Ana marched across the Rio Grande with a force of 1000 men, determined to queIl the revolt and drive out the American frontiersmen. There were only about 2,OOo men available to oppose the Mexicans, and they were scattered far and wide. General Sam Houston, as commander of the rebels, determined to retire be- hind the Colorado river to await re- Inducements. The bolder spirits among the Texans refused to consent to such strategy, which involved the abandonment of San Antonio without a blow. David Crockett, who from his youth had been accustomed to des- perate exploits, gathered a few daring spirits like himself and joined the lit tie force still left in San Antonio. With him were Colonel James Bowie, inven- tor of the bowie knife, and an adven- turer of renown, and Colonel William ITaV1S, who commanded the regular garrison.
 When the NIexicans appeared the defenders of San Antonio shut them selves up in the Alamo, the old chapel which had been converted into a fort and prepared to withstand a siege The defenders were well armed, and every man was a crack shot. The old stone structure in which they had talk ell refuge was surrounded by a thick wall, and was we'll suited to their pur- pose. The garrison numbered 40 men in all, and they had but one small cannon.
 Santa Ana upon his arrival at the head of this thousands, demanded in- stant SUIT e1 fer, t..:o1ariass that in case of refusal he would storm the fort and give no quarter. On the sixth of March, after several days of warfare in which the Mexicans had lost many men and the Texans but a few, Santa Ana ordered an assault. Hundreds of MeNicans went down before the dead ly fire of the Americans. At last the defenders were overpowered and al except a woman, an infant, and two negroes, were slain in cold blood. Re member the Alamo!" became a battle cry which aroused the Texans to such fury that within few months the Re- public of Texas became an accom- plisbed fact.