Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-05-07
BATTLING TO
FREEDOM

No other state has a history like
Texas. 1t was once an Independent
nation receiving ambassadors from
the mighty nations of the earth
1t purchased it's freedom at tre
mendous cost. The Alamo is wit.
ness, to all visitors here in San An
tonic, of the valor and patriotism o1
her founders. A little group OF
1S0 Texans held the old church, al
that time turned into fort, for Il
days and nights, against superior
force of 5000 Mexicans. These
brave men went down one by one
until all were massacred. Captain
VIM. B. Travis, an honored name
at the time of the siege, drew line
with his sword across the floor. He
asked all who wished to remain tC
cross over the line to his side. AL
but one did so.
One man, Moses Rose, and he
alone, wished to be relieved from
the battle. He let himself down
from the window with blankets
and reached a momentary safety
but was later killed by the Mex
leans, as unworthy to live.
The assistant of Captain Travis
was sick on a bed in the old fort
He is said to have invented the
Bowie knife, the original of which
we saw at the Alamo. Bowie re-
quested the soldiers to move his bed
across the line This was done, and
Bowie was massacred with the rest
March 6, 1886.
At the centenary of Texas, 100
years after, a magnificent marble
monument by Pompeo Coppini, was
dedicated. Above the proud names
are these words: "They chose nev-
er to surrender nor retreat. These
brave hearts with flag still waving
perished in the flame of immortal
ity, that their sacrifices might lead
to the founding of eTexas." Davy
Crockett's name appears with 180
others.
In three weeks time, another
massacre more CHASTITY and terrible
followed that of the Alamo. II
stirred all Texas to holy and sue
cessful resistance.
At Goliad, Gen. Fannin, outnum'
bered by the enemy, surrendered
under promise of honorable treat,
ment All Texan prisoners able tC
walk, were marched out in three di.
visions, halted, shot and killed al
the first fire. Afterward the sick
and disabled were dubbed to death
or bayoneted on the spot. Thus per.
ished at the hands of the murder.
ers 445 martyrs, their bodies heap
ed up and burned.
Another three weeks passed, the
patriots rallied, and a decisive bat
tie was fought at San Jacinto. The
Mexicans were defeated in Is min
utes, and pursued far into the night
Their leader, Santa Ana, was cap
tured. Joel w. Robinson and 9th
ers seeing a fugitive man standing
in a field took the suspicion!
stranger, and at point of the bayo
net, marched him toward the camp
In a moment of mercy, they took
the pleading man on horseback. i
was Santa Ana. He had discarded
his bright uniform, for that of
private soldier, and simulated the
part of a fugitive. AS they neared
the camp, other Mexican prisoners
began to shout "El Presidente, e.
Presidente!' Not until then die
they suspect it was the general.
He was brought before Gen. Sam
Huston, leader of the patriotic
forces, who, wounded severely, was
lying at the foot of a tree. Santa
Ana said "Senor, l am come to dis
cuss with you terms of peace" Will
an oath, Huston exclaimed, "Dis
cuss terms of peace, ! am go
ing to dictate them!" Terms were
made.
The wonder is that the soldiers
did not wreak summary vengeance
AS it was Santa Ana was allowed t.
return to Mexico. The soldiers were
disappointed. He was allowed tt
live, to become the second time the
country's enemy in the war o.
1846-1848, the so-called Mexican
war. A second time he was defeat
ed, losing to the United States tha
vast domain, which we now call oul
Southwest, and which became, al
most Immediately after, our great
gold EldoradO.
Soon after his second defeat by
our armies, he became unpopular ir
Mexico. He was banished, and fol
a time made his home in New York
City. He is the one who introduced
chicle. or chewing gum to our coun.
try, the only favor we ever receiv'
ed from his hands. Dying pauper
he was buried in desolate grave
In the cemetery Of Guadeloupe
ITfJoJnc xubarn ba cinroI thu Ioc&