Evening star., 1955-05-16
THE STORY OF CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Davy Crockett The" Go Ahsodr
MONTE
By ENID LA MONTE MEADOWCROFT

Matilda was unhappy She. glanced at her
father who sat near the fire cleaning his rifle.
Suddenly tears rushed into her eyes. =
II don't see why you want to go to Texasl sne
walled "ItS thousands of miles away.
'Not thousands of miles," Davy Crockett broke
in with chuckle. "Only about eight hundred And
I've good reason for going. The Texans are IN
trouble and need help" :, 80, ,,..,so
whats the matter with them? Matuoa
asked wiping her eyes,
Texas belongs to country named Mexico"
Davy explained. "But the Mexicans didn't ever want
to live in Texas So they said that Americans coulo
settle there Lots of Americans did They called
themselves Texans. And little while ago they set
up their own government.
"Now, the Mexicans have president who isn't
any better than an old rattleSnake He doesn't like
the Texans. And he's sending big army to cnase
them out of their homes Somehow that don't seem
right to me- So"
so you're going to help fight the Mexicans"
Matilda exclaimed quickly
Maybe" Davy Crockett replied with SMILE
Davy Crockett was not worried about leaving
his family. Bob was nearlv man now, and able 10
was great help to her mother And all of the other
Yet, the next day, when Davy Crockett kissed
his wife and Matilda good-by, he wished for
moment he were not going so far away
'"Take good care of your ma and Tilda while
I'm gone, Bob," he said reaching for his coonskin
Bob handed his fathers rifle to him. "Take
good care of yourself Pa" he said soberly.
Crockett nodded. Swinging himself into his
saddle, he called good-by, and rode away.
BY the time Crockett reached the town OF In Ma
cogdoches in Texas he had 16 men with him. They
called themselves "Crockett's Company"
There had already been fighting between the
Texans and the Mexicans. An army OF nearly 1000
soldiers was on its way from Mexico And the town
of San Antonio de BeXar was in great danger.
'Its the first town the Mexican army will at
tack" man in Nacogdoches told Davy Crockett.
There's fort there called the Alamo It used to be
a Spanish mission.
"Col James Bowie is in command there. Young
Col. Travis is with him: But they haven't more
than Jas men They need help badly"
"Then We'll go ahead to San Antonio" Davy
Crockett declared
It was mild day in February. 1885, when they
reached San Antonio de Bexar They went at once
to the Alamo, half mile from the town. Col Bowie
and Col. Travis both gave them a. warm welcome
"When do you reckon that Mexican army's
going to arrived" Crockett asked them.
Cant tell" Col. Bowie replied "All we can do
And wait they did, for several long, uneasy
days. Davy Crockett made friends with the men.
He told them stories funny that they roared with
laughter And he amused everyone with the tunes
he tried to play on an old violin.
At last the waiting was ended The word came
that the Mexican army was drawing near.
Let them come, the men shouted.
From the parapets of the fort they saw the en-
envy advancing On they came toward the town,
marching steadily Their swords and rifles cleaned
in the sun.
"There are more of them than ants in an ant
hill" Crockett exclaimed to the man who stood
beside him. "Whos that, leading them?"
"Gen Santa Anna the man replied grimy.
"He's the President of Mexico and he's one OF the
most cruel men who ever lived!'
Into the town marched the Mexicans. And
there they took up quarters for the night San An
tonic was in the hands of the enemy
In the Alamo, brave Col. Bowie had been taken
-so ill that he was forced to put young Col Travis
in command To make matters worse, Travis was
now sick Yet he answered with great courage when
message arrived the next morning from Santa
Anna:
Surrender at once or every man in the fort
will be killed"
"Reply to that message with cannon shot"
said Col Travis firmly.
So a cannon doomed and the fighting began.
Shouting excitedly, the Mexicans wheeled their
big guns as close to the fort as they dared Hot,
smoking cannon balls thudded against the walls
of the Alamo
Davy Crockett crouched behind parapet. With
his sharp eyes and sure aim he shot every Mexican
who came within range of his gun The other Ameri-
cans fought as bravely all that day and the next
day and the next, as more Mexicans marched into
San Antonio.
Col. Travis had already sent messengers hurry
rec Dnvv Crockett Pictures