San Antonio, Texas - History (part 1 of 3)

Adina Dezavala

u . . . . Give me the land where the ruins are spread, And the living tread light on the hearts of the dead; Yes, give me a land that is blest by the dust And bright with the deeds of the down-trodden just. Yes, give me the land where the battle's red blast Has flashed to the future the fame of the past; Yes, give me the land that hath legends and lays That tell of the memories of long vanished days: Yes, give me a land that hath story and song, Enshrine the strife of the -right with the wrong; Yes, give me a land with a grave in each spot And names in the graves that shall not be forgot."

Foreword

I wish to express my thanks to Mr. Rolla Taylor, an artist of San Antonio, Texas, for copying faded pictures; to Mesdames Adele B. Looscan and Jessie B. Howe, of Houston, Texas, for kindly assistance; to Mr. Fernando M. Urbina, of Mexico City, for copies from the various Mexican archives and to Mrs. Laura V. Grinnan of Austin, Texas, for help in the Spanish translations.

All rights are reserved in new historical matter, legends, and pictures, and nothing herein contained may be used without the express permission of the writer; all of the matter has been specifically copyrighted separately or in combination.

The history of the Alamo is placed first, as it is of the most general interest. Mission San Francisco is given next, because it is the oldest of all and a review of its history will give a better understanding of the Test. Mission San Jose is placed last as it was in reality founded later than the Missions of Concepcion and San Juan, although the latter were not brought to the vicinity of San Antonio until ten years later.

Texas The Alamo

What the people of the present day speak of as "The Alamo ' ' is known in the ancient records and to the early settlers of Texas as Mission San Antonio de Valero.

The locality of "The Alamo," (Mission San Antonio de Valero,) was suggested as a mission site by Father Damian Manzanet, in 1690, but the mission itself was founded later by the perseverance of Father Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares who went alone to the Indians who lived in the vicinity of the present City of San Antonio.

Father Olivares wrote to the Viceroy of New Spain, in 1716, telling him of his hopes and plans for Mission San Antonio de Padua, and urged him to send out families, as settlers, for a pueblo; families who should serve as object lessons to the Indians of the life they were expected to lead. In this same letter he stressed the fact that it was necessary that some of these families should be skilled in the useful arts and industries in order to teach the Indians all that should be required to make them useful and capable citizens.

Father Olivares maintained himself alone at San Antonio for some time after he organized his mission, and gathered together the Payaya Indians who spoke the same language as the Xaramas, near the Rio Grande, where he had established the Mission of San Francisco Solano. He won the love and respect of all the Indians in the locality. He was particularly successful with the tribe who formed a village on the east side of the San Antonio River. Unfortunately, his labors were for a time suspended by a serious accident. While crossing a rude bridge made of logs and covered by earth, the foot of the animal he was riding went through a hole, and the priest, thrown suddenly and violently, had his leg broken. A messenger was sent, at once, to the nearest mission on the Rio Grande, for a Father to come to him, and Padre Pedro Munoz immediately responded, driving before him on pack animals everything he thought might be needed for the relief of the injured man. He made the journey, without rest, in an incredibly short space of time, administered to his afflicted Brother the consolations of religion and then set his leg. It was a long time before Father Olivares was able to walk. When he was able to go about again, he changed Mission San Antonio de Valero to the other side of the San Antonio River where what is left of it is seen today, and known as "The Alamo." He lost no time in erecting the mission buildings and perfecting a system of waterworks by which the mission and pueblo were abundantly supplied with water by ditches running from, the river. These ditches also served to irrigate the mission lands on which were grown the needed food supplies.

A certified statement still exists to the effect that on May 1, 1718, Don Martin de Alar con gave to Fray Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares possession "of the mission site at the Indian village on the banks of the San Antonio River."

"When Alarcon went to establish the Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, in 1718, he took with him about thirty families, who seem to have been families of members of his company, and settled them in the vicinity of the mission. Father Olivares had some time before this, in obedience to orders, transferred Mission San Francisco Solano to San Antonio de Padua. Mission San

Francisco Solano was originally founded by him in the Valley of the Circumcision on January 1, 1700, and was moved several times before its final transfer to San Antonio.

The first baptismal record extant of Mission San Antonio de Valero was entered July 8, 1718. Other interesting records are signed by the Venerable Anthony Margil, founder of most of the Texas missions who visited San Antonio several times and remained at San Antonio de Valero for quite a while after the trouble with the French on the eastern frontier, in 1719.

The Alamo (Mission San Antonio de Valero) was built for a large industrial school to teach, civilize and christianize the Indians of the locality. It was a sort of walled city or fortress, and was composed of several buildings with their courts or patios, and a long rectangular plaza with rows of houses or rooms built along the sides of the walled area, and covering about three acres of ground. All the buildings and the ten-foot wall which surrounded the entire Alamo fortress were of stone. The high wall was needed as a protection against the savage Indians. In this industrial school the Indians were taught to weave coarse cloths, embroidered cotton shawls, blankets, and other needed materials. They were also taught every trade or occupation that was thought useful to them at the period, as husbandry, stock-raising carpentry, blacksmithing, architecture or house construction. They were taught, 1;oo, to read and speak Spanish, to write, sing, sew, embroider, draw, carve and paint, each according to his talents. Even their political education was not neglected, they being taught civic government. A governor and alcalde were annually elected by the Indians, and these Indian officials then held authority in the mission pueblo for one year. The full story of the foundation and conduct of this large industrial school under the name of Mission San Antonio de Valero is very interesting. It ceased to be a school and mission somewhere about 1783 or 1785. Contagious diseases, of some kind, wrought great havoc among the Indians at the Alamo in 1763, and greatly depleted their numbers. In fact, it might be said that the establishment declined from the date of the scourge, on account of the loss of so many of its christianized adults, There were no tractable Indians about the vicinity to refill the school and mission, and those brought in from a distance were taken to the missions below, and thus gradually, by reason of the older mission Indians and their children becoming civilized and incorporated with the rest of the population in habits and manners,although still continuing to inhabit the mission and pueblo, this last changed its character and became an ordinary village or pueblo.

The corner-stone of the church of Mission San Antonio de Valero - what is now known as the ' ' Church of the Alamo" or the "Alamo Church" - was laid May 8, 1744, many years after the foundation of the mission and long after the erection of the other buildings of the establishment. The pretty church with its twin towers, arched roof, and graceful dome, was entirely finished about 1757 - when to the great distress of the inhabitants of the mission it began to crack, and finally ' * tumbled in" about 1762, - the old records say, - "on account of the stupidity of the builder. ' '

They started to rebuild it, but, owing to a frightful scourge which carried off nearly all the adult Indians of the mission, and other causes, it was never done, and the ancient church came down to comparatively modern history filled with the debris of its two towers, arched roof and dome. *

About the year 1849, Major Babbitt, acting Quartermaster of the Eighth Military Department, took possession of the Alamo Buildings in the name of the United States Government to use them as a Quartermaster's Depot. He found the Church of the Alamo "choked ^rith debris, a conglomeration of stones, mortar and dirt, ' ' just as it was left when the twin towers, the dome and the arched roof fell in, (about 1762), and, with the disintegration and injury of nearly one hundred years added. He cleared away some of the rubbish, but it was not until 1878, that it was entirely cleared out. On November 15, 1878, in removing the debris, nearing the original level of the Church, they uncovered among other objects a beautifully carved baptismal font, belonging to the earliest missionary period of the locality.

Occasionally, officers of the Franciscan order came to Texas on a tour of visitation and inspection and made a report on the mission. We hear of it also through the military channels when writers accompanying the military would be interested enough to describe the missions and country visited.

Father Juan Morfi who visited Texas with Don Theodore de Croix, the first commandant-general of the "interior provinces," wrote of the "very decadent condition" of Mission San Antonio de Valero, in 1778, owing to the ' ' small number of Indians wiho live in it, scarcely enough to cultivate its small area." "The living quarters," he continues, "are beneath an arcade which forms a square with the Church and the residence of the Fathers. The latter has a tower at the principal doorway, where two mortar guns are kept as defense against enemies in case of attack, which is by no means a rare occurrence. In the center of the courtyard there is a well of fine water, although the river is only twenty steps away,* it was constructed with the same caution which was -responsible for the tower. The residence is uncomfortable and badly kept, showing its age and careless construction."

In the archives of the mission still extisting, we find no burials recorded after 1782, no baptisms after 1783. The last marriage was entered in 1785, however, the leaves following this record are missing and there may have been others. It is plain from a note below signed by Father Valdez, that there were later baptismal records, at least, although it is possible that they were not of the mission proper, but of the pueblo.

On the 25th day of February 1793, some of the people from the mission and Presidio of Adaes on the eastern frontier, across the Sabine, were settled about Mission San Antonio de Valero, and land, "as much as four pecks of seed corn will cover," was given to each who applied, with fee simple title. They are styled in the records, Adaesenos. They were placed "in possession one by one of the ir suertes which were allotted to them quietly and peacefully, .... using and observing all the ceremonies, formalities and requisites which are necessary and which are required by common use and having also ordered them to pull weeds and throw stones, which they executed to the four winds, in fact of having found themselves royally in possession, etc., and by the same it is given to them that they may take it and profit thereby, they, their heirs and successors .

* The walls of the Alamo were on the west side of the buildings now fronting east on the west side of Alamo Plaza, opposite the main building of the Fort. The river came in very close, to what is now Losoya Street, and consequently, was but a short distance away.

Mission San Antonio de Valero was officially secularized in August 1793, that is, the mission and pueblo were transferred from the government of the missionary Fathers to the ordinary eclesiastics and officers.

"On the 22nd day of August, 1793, I transferred this book of records of the pueblo of San Antonio de Valero to the Archives of the town of San Fernando and presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, by order of the Right Rev. Doctor Don Andres de Llanos y Valdez, the most worthy Bishop of this diocese, dated January 2nd, of the same year by reason of the said pueblo having been aggregated to the curacy of Bexar; and, that it may be known, I sign it.

It seems that this same Father was acting parish priest of San Fernando for some time, while in charge of the Mission and Pueblo of MHssion San Antonio de Valero.

All the missions in the jurisdiction of Dion Pedro de Nava, Commandant-General of the Internal Provinces, were secularized by decree dated April 10, 1794. The Franciscans remained in many instances as pastors of their flocks; but they received their jurisditcion from the Bishops as all other parish-priests, and not from the superior of their order.

San Antonio De Bexar, June 14, 1794. On the day of this date I received from the Rev. Father Jose Francisco Lopez, who was Minister of the Kission of San Antonio de Valero, until it was delivered into the hands of the ordinary, this book, in which are set down the records of baptisms pertaining to said mission, and performed up to the year 1783 - noting that the records which may be searched for from the year 1788 may be found in a new book found in parchment; from, leaf 2 to leaf 100, together with these that belong to the following year, and which may be entered hereafter. I make this note that it may serve as an index, and I sign it with the same Rev. Father - date as above.

"On this day I received from the Senor Cura, the Bachiller Don Gavino Valdez, my predecessor, this book, pertaining to the new pueblo of San Antonio de Valero; and in testimony, we sign it.

A Franciscan Father, while any remained in the province, usually acted as chaplain to the troops stationed about Mission San Antonio de Valero, as well as parish priest of the pueblo of San Antonio de Valero, and often as acting parish priest at San Fernando, hence we find their names signed in such various capacities in the records.

The pueblo of San Antonio de Valero had a separate alcalde up to the year 1809; perhaps later; but under Governor Martinez, if was under the same rule as San Antonio de Bexar.*

On the 2nd day o£ February 1814, "baptism is noted as being administered in the Church of Bexar by th« chaplain of the company;" (of the Alamo de Parras) but it does not appear that they ceased to use the Chapel ©f the mission for the administration of the sacraments or religious services "until about the 22nd day August, 1825, when the curate of San Antonio received the records of baptism, marriages, etc., of the company of the Alamo de Parras from the hands of the chaplain."*

In 1822, the beloved Franciscan, Father Jose Antonio Diaz de Leon, who was assassinated in 1834, near San Augustine, Texas, baptised at San Antonio de Valero.

The famous company known as "la compania volante del Alamo de Parras," came in 1805, and remained at San Antonio de Valero so long that they are referred to in the archives of Bexar as "the ancient company." The troops were first stationed without the walls of the mission but the depredations of the savages were so frightful and continuous that they were soon compelled to take refuge within the walls. From the long residence of this company in the mission, the mission-fortress finally lost its original and official name and became known, coloquially, to the people about, as "The Alamo." As late as 1831, this same company was in Texas, at Tenoxtitlan, on the Brazos.

During the countless revolutions and uprisings of republicans, royalists, adventurers* and Indians, life and property were no longer safe in San Antonio, and near by places. All who could get away did so.

In 1813, when Governor Salcedo surrendered to the Republican Army of the North, the Americans marched into the Alamo Fort and took possession of it, together with all the army stores, the arms, the military chest, etc., liberating seventeen of their countrymen found there and adding them to their ranks. Thus all along the line we find the Alamo in use as a stronghold, first by one party and then the other, during the numerous revolutions which shook this part of New Spain.

They rose in small bodies all over the province of Texas, captured small forts here and there and under Stephen F. Austin marched to San Antonio.

A detachment of Texans under Colonels Fannin and Bowie defeated a large body of Mexicans at Mission Concepcion, October 28, 1835. After besieging San Antonio for some time, 301 Texans under Colonel Benjamin Milam captured San Antonio under General Cos. Milam was killed and Colonel Francis Johnson who led the second division succeeded to the command and raised the flag over Bexar. The Headquarters is still in existence, being the old administrative palace on Military Plaza bearing the coat-of-arms over the doorway.

Cjolonel Johnson was sent to lead an army to the west, and was succeeded in San Antonio by Colonel J. C. Neill. Colonel Neill fully realized the danger of the Texans on the unguarded frontier and sent urgent demands for reinforcements.

The Commander-in-Chief, Sam Houston, sent Colonel Bowie with a small company. Governor Smith sent Colonel William Barrett Travis with the few men the latter could gather. David Crockett and a few others arrived, but all told there were not more than 150 men. In the meantime Colonel Neill had gone home on a leave of absence leaving Travis in command. It was later arranged that both Travis and Bowie should sign all orders until Neill 's return. Both Travis and Bowie begged for more men, as did Fannin from Goliad.

Some of the leaders seemed to think that it would be impossible for the Mexicans to reach the settlements before the middle of March, or later. General Houston asked for a furlough and left his command, without notifying or requesting the next officer in rank to take charge. There seemed to be no head at the time of the crisis. The Governor was deposed by the Council of Texas and the Lieutenant-Governor recognized as head by that body. Some continued to address Governor Smith as Governor, others appealed to the Council. The people seemed paralyzed for the time being and failed to realize the urgent need of an immediate rally of men to the front to support Fannin at Goliad and Travis at the Alamo.

When the Texans occupied the Alamo in 1835-1836, the fort was in the same state for defense in which it had been left by General Cos when he surrendered to the Texans in December, 1835. On January 6, Colonel Neill wrote that they had in all about twenty-four pieces of artillery, but that they had "two distinct fortresses to garrison." He later abandoned the fortifications in Bexar (San Antonio) and moved all. the guns to the Alamo. Green B. Jameson was placed in charge of the repairs and improvements needed at the Alamo, and was soon at work erecting batteries, planting cannon and planning for better fortification.

The Church in the Alamo was a ruin, and was still filled with debris from its two towers, dome and arched roof, which fell in about 1762. The rooms on the north side of the Church, and the west tower rooms retained the arched roof, and were therefore free of debris, and the only part of the Church edifice that was free of debris. The main building of the Alamo fort was the long two-story stone building on the east side of the Plaza and described in the old manuscript as a twostory stone building about "fifty yards square, with arcaded galleries above and below." It had many doors opening out upon the Plaza or main area; and for the defense of the building, these doors, then, had within a semi-circular parapet, for the use of marksmen, composed of a double curtain of hides, upheld by stakes and filled in with rammed earth. Most of the rooms were also loop-holed. This long building was the most securely fortified of any within the fort, and in the upper story, on the south end, was the hospital of the fort.

Key To Plat Of The Alamo

1. The Church in the Alamo. Corner-stone laid May 8, 1744. Towers, dome, and arched roof fell in previous to or in 1762, and debris remained untouched until about 1850, when much was removed by Major Babbitt, U. S. A., in the years he had possession.

2. The fortified main building of the Fort referred to by Potter as "the long barrack, a two-story stone building." It had, originally, arcaded galleries above and below.*

10. Hospital upstairs in main Alamo building where Bowie was killed and above which, in tower room, a small gun did fine execution. At this corner the flag of the Alamo floated.

12. Court yard or Patio of the main building where some of the heroes were burned. Originally, this court yard was surrounded on the four sides by rooms or arcades.

15. Ditch was dug connecting the acequias on the south of the Fort, thus completely surrounding the Alamo by canals. Note cannon and batteries.

c. Front of the Main building of the old Alamo Fort. The Alamo proper, where the heroes died, which together with the Church (1) is all that is left of the original Alamo.

Potter and other historians give fourteen as the number of guns used. Mrs. Dickinson said there were eighteen, and Green B. Jameson and Santa Anna placed the number at twenty-one.

But, as Potter states, "The number has little bearing on the merits of the final defense with which cannon had little to do. These guns were in the hands of men unskilled in their use, and owing to the construction of the works, most of them had little width of range."

*Potter placed the guns as follows: (1) One, a twelvepounder was mounted on a high platform of earth formed by the fallen dome and roof of the Church, and pointed east through an embrasure roughly notched in the wall; another, (2) was aimed north through a similar notch, (3) was fired over the wall to the south, but all on the same platform. The powder magazines, and the women and children, were in the covered rooms of the Church, the rooms on the north and west left intact when the roof fell in. To protect the women and children and magazines and prevent entrance in that quarter, was the mission of these three guns. Marksmen were also stationed around the roofless Church on the heaped up debris (and on wooden scaffolds where necessary) that they might fire over the roofless walls, using them as parapets. Between the Church and the gate of the Alamo was a battery of four guns, (4, 5, 6, 7,) alJ four-pounders, pointing south. The porte-cochere, (the gate of the Alamo) through the low barrack, was covered on the outside by a lunette of stockades and earth, and mounted with two guns (8, 9). In the southwest angle of the large area was an eighteen-pounder, (10) in the center of the west wall was a twelve-pound carronade, (11) and in the northwest corner of the same area an eight-pounder, (12) and! east of this within the north wall, two more guns of the same caliber (13, 14). All the guns of this area were mounted on high platforms

* Andrade changed the fortifications of the Alamo after it's fall. This accounts for some of the difference in the arrangement of the cannon or batteries in the Potter plan.

Of the four additional guns mentioned by Mrs. Dickinson and others, one, a small gun, was placed in the small tower room over the hospital,* in the south end of the main building of the fort, and did fine work in mowing down the enemy as they swarmed into the large area; three cannon were placed in the west wall of the fort near its north corner; Jameson placed two others on a platform near the southern end of the Plaza of the fort. The platforms on which the cannon were, were composed of stakes on end with rocks and dirt between.

The several barriers were covered on the outside by a ditch, except where such a guard was afforded by the irrigating canal, which flowed on the east and west sides of the fort and through it, and served to fill the fosse with water.*

Copy of a letter sent to General Sam Houston by Engineer Green B. Jameson, with a plan of the Alamo and showing batteries then erected, and those he proposed to erect.

Believing that a letter will meet you at Goliad, and having had more time to make a better plot of the "Fortress Alamo" at this place have embraced this conveyance, to acquaint you more satisfactorily of the con-

* In Brown's History, Vol. I, page 576, is the following: "When the attack came on, he (Bowie) was confined to his bed in the upper room of the barrack marked (P.) He was there killed on his couch, but not without resistance: for he is said to have shot down with his pistols one or more of the enemy as they entered the chamber." Agnin, on page 581, is found. "Col. Fulton says: 'About the first of August. 1837, T visited the Alamo, in company with Judge Baker, the Chief Justice of Bexar County, who directed my attention to the room I have marked (B.) as tne one occtvpied by Bowie, being on his sick bed, when bayonetted by Santa Anna's minions.' " The room marked (P.) in the first reference above, and (B.) in the last, is the hospital room in the upper story of the main building of the Alamo and is marked (10) and (J) in plates accompanying this.

* See Potter, Jameson Pla't, Plat by Mexican Engineer. Col. Ignacio de Labistida. March, 1836, also Drawing by Jos6 Juan Sanchez Estrada, 1829.

I send you herewith inclosed a neat plot of the fortress exhibiting its true condition at this time, as also an Index being duplicates of my former addressed to you at Washington, added to which is a recapitulation more explanatory, and showing the improvements already made by me.

I am now fortifying and mounting the cannon. The 18 pounder now on the N. W. *corner of the fortress so as to command the Town and the country around.

The officers of every department do more work than the men and also stand guard, and act as patrol every night. I have no doubt but the enemy have spies in town every twenty-four hours, and we are using our utmost endeavors to catch them every night, nor have I any doubt but there are 1500 of the enemy at the town of Rio Grande, and as many more at Laredo, and I believe they know our situation as well as we do ourselves.

We have received 100 bushels of meal and 42 Beeves which will last us for two months yet to come, but no other supplies have come to our relief.

We can rely on aid from the citizens of this town in case of a siege, Saguine is doing all for the cause he can, as well as many of the most wealthy and influential citizens.

You can plainly see by the plot that the Alamo never was built- by a military people for a fortress, tho ' it is strong, there is not a redoubt that will command the whole line of the fort, all is in the plain wall and intended to take advantage with a few pieces of artillery, it is a strong place and better that it should remain an it is after completing the half moon batteries than to rebuild it. The men here will not labour and I cannot ask it of them untill they are better clad and fed. We now have 114 men counting officers, the sick and wounded which leaves us about 80 efficient men. 40 in the Alamo and 40 in Town, leaving all of the patrole duty to be done by the officers and which for want of horses has to be performed on foot.

We have had loose discipline untill lately. Since we heard of 1000 to 1500 men of the enemy being on their march to this place duty is being done well and punctually in case of an attack we will move all into the Alamo and whip 10 to 1 with our artillery.

If the men here can get a reasonable supply of clothing, provisions and money they will remain the balance of the 4 months, and do duty and fight better than fresh men, they have all been tried and have confidence in themselves.

I can give you full assurance that so far as I am concerned there shall be nothing wanting on my part, neither as an officer or a soldier to promote and sustain the great cause at which we are all aiming, and am at all times respectfully subject to your orders for the verification of which I refer you to my Commander at this place, as will all the officers and men. I have been much flattered for my exertions at this place. I have more than one time received the vote of thanks of the whole Garrison.

I have one other subject which interests me some; to ask of you, if it is not too late, that is to recommend to your notice Capt. G. Navan, who is clerk in my department for the appointment of Suttler at this Post as he is in every way qualified to fill the office. I know of no man who merits it more than he does, as an evidence of his patriotism he has absented himself from his family when he was also receiving a salary of $1800 per annum to aid us in our difficulties. I am with esteem,

^ I will m my next give you a plan of the Town as tortiiied when we took it. We have too few to garrison both places, and will bring all our forces to the Alamo tomorrow as well as the cannons. In excavating our ditches we can with perfect safety rely on a fall from the two ditches or acqueducts of at least 20 feet, consequently we can make our ditches deep enough' with perfect safety, and the earth here is of such a nature that it will not wash, and we can ditch very near the half moon batteries with perfect safety. I will say all that it is necessary in my answer to your official letter on this subject. In regard to the ditch we can have a flood gate at the mouth of it, which will answer for keeping in a supply of water in case of a siege, as also by raising,, for cleansing the Fortress. I am too much occupied to copy these papers but I shall be able to show you by demonstration when I have nothing else to attend to that I will not be wanting in my abilities as a topographical Engineer.

This same plat and letters were used by H. Yoakum in the preparation of his Texas History, and is referred to in his description of the Alamo as "the plat and letters which lie before me.' He sent the sketch on February 12, 1855, to MV. Francis Giraud asking him to place upon it the measurements - length and thickness of the walls, and to return the sketch to him. He endorsed it: "The enclosed sketch of the Alamo with proposed alterations was drawn by Capt. G. B. Jameson a few days before he was killed at the taking of the Alamo. ' ' The plat and key and letters were also copied by Mrs. Mary Jane Briscoe, from papers belonging to Peter W. Gray, in July 1886.

J. The hospital up stairs in a two story building of stone, the lower story being represented by the letter K. and now occupied as an Armory for our small arms.

M. The Magazine in the Church San Antonio two very efficient and appropriate rooms 10 feet square each, walls all around and above 4 feet thick.

N. All large vacancies inside the walls of the fortress, the Church San Antonio is in the Alamo and forms a part of the fortress and is marked by the letter 0.

S. A pass from the present fortress to a contemplated drawbridge across a contemplated ditch inside a contemplated half moon battery as laid down on the plan.

T. A part of said ditch, as well as a trap door across said ditch, which is contemplated to be raised by a tackle from inside the half moon battery.

X. The contemplated ditch where we wish the permanent water to pass thro' the fortress and thence to pass out erecting an arch over each place and also a redoubt for a permanent cannon in case of siege.

* The editor omitted the half moon battery on the north end of the Plaza of the Fort from the plat shown herewith, as it was thought that it was never completed. It corresponded exactly in construction to the one on the south end as shown in the accompanying plat.

You will perceive in this index that I have always marked the parts of notoriety with more letters and characters than one of the same kind.

The letter D represents a large stone building that will answer for a public store house. The letter V represents a want of provision, munitions and men.

I would recommend that the doby houses, letter H, to be torn down and stone houses erected in their stead. The stone can be obtained out of the old Church San Antonio, which is now a wreck or ruin of a once splendid Church. AH we want now is provisions and munitions to stand a siege against an innumerable force tho' we are weak beyond imagination, not being more than 100 strong since Johnson and Grant left, and there could be raised in town 300 men that could besiege us at any time.

When on that eventful day in February, 1836, the .sentinel posted in the lookout on top of the Church of San Fernando reported that he had seen armed men to the west, it was doubted, and scouts were sent out to reconnoiter. It was found to be true that the Mexican Army was upon them. Upon the hasty retreat of the scouts the Church bells were rung to give the general alarm, Travis ordered all into the Alamo fortress and everything was done that was possible, at the time, in preparation for defense. A large division of Santa Anna's army arrived soon after.

H,e called upon Fannin, at Goliad, feeling confident of his assistance, but with the enemy, in the country, and Fannin without food and transportation, the latter was not able to make the march, though he attempted it, desiring to answer the call of a noble and beloved comrade.

Fellow citizens and compatriots - I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. / shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism and everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and

William Barrett Travis

P. S. The Lord is on our side. When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn. We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.

Travis

Thirty-two heroes from Gonzales and De Witt's colony, under the command of Captain Albert Martin, answered the call on March 1st, and gave to Texas a sublime example of self-sacrifice.

The noble Bonham, a friend of Travis,' determined to stand by his friend and the men of the Alamo, returned March the 3rd, signaled the fort, and dashed in through the Mexican lines on his snow white steed. "Greater love hath no man than this, that he giveth his life for a friend. James Butler Bonham failed in finding helpers, but he was determined that Travis should not fail for the use of his strong arm and courageous heart, and that he would win or die with him.

And so, through the whole roll call of the Alamo heroes : each did his duty and stood at his post, hungry, - because there was no time for eating, and cold, and wearied out with long watching and firing.

At last, Santa Anna determined on the final assault, and called a council of war, and the dawn of the 6th was the time chosen. The night of the 5th was the first respite the weary garrison had had from the continual din of cannon and arms and they sought the needed rest as the Mexican troops ceased firing.

We can imagine the feeling which prompted them as each tried to do that which he thought should be done first.* And then to rest - but this rest was not for long.

* Most of the men gave letters, watches, jewelry, and other keepsakes to Mrs. Dickinson and the other women to be sent to their loved ones. The Mexicans took everything.

At 3 o'clock, at a given signal, three columns of the Mexican army moved simultaneously on the Alamo, provided with axes, scaling ladders and fascines.

The assault was begun! Again the cannons boomed! Every Texan was at his post, as the enemy showed themselves above the wall, they were mowed down by the shots of the unerring Texahs. Three times they wavered and retreated but were driven forward by their own cavalry. At last, one column gained an entrance through a breach on the north,* another then scaled the high wall on the west,* and the third repulsed on the south at the Church, also scaled the western wall. It was impossible for the few men of the Alamo to defend the outer walls long; and the most of them soon retreated into the long two-story stone building which was well fortified, "and it was not till then, when they became more concentrated and covered within that the main struggle began. They were more concentrated as to space, not as to unity of command; for there was no communicating between buildings nor in all cases between rooms. There was little need of command, however, to men who had no choice left but to fall where they stood before the weight of numbers. There was no retreating from point to point, and each group of defenders had to fight and die in the den where it was brought to bay." From the doors, windows, and loopholes of the several rooms of the main building, the crack of the rifle and the hiss of the bullet came fierce and fast; as fast the enemy fell and recoiled in his first efforts to charge. The gun beside which Travis fell was now turned against this building, as were also some others, and shot after shot was sent crashing through the galleries and doors and barricades of the several rooms. Each ball was followed by a storm of musketry and a charge; and thus room after room was carried at

* A little east of the center of the north wall of the Federal building would approximate the position of the breach made in the north wall of the Alamo area on that fateful day.

the point of the bayonet, when all within them died fighting to t he last. "The struggle was made up of a number of separate and desperate combats, often hand to hand, between squads of the garrison and bodies of the enemy. The bloodiest spot about the Fort was the long barrack and the ground in front of it, where the enemy fell in heaps."*

A Mexican soldier gave his testimony as follows: "The Texans fought like tigers. The proportion was one to thirty, yet no quarter was asked and each sold his life as dearly as possible. The last moments of the conflict were terrible. The darkness of the rooms, the smoke of the battle and the shrieks of the wounded and dying all added to the terror of the scene. Unable to distinguish friend from foe, the Mexicans actually brained each other in their mad fury. After the battle was over and all were dead, the scene beggared description. The floor of the main building was nearly shoe deep in blood, and weltering there were hundreds of dead men, many still clenched together with one hand while the other hand held the sword, pistol or knife which told how they had died in that last terrible struggle. And thus the curtain went down in darkness and blood on the saddest and sublimest event in the world's history."

Mrs. Dickison, wife of Lieutenant Dickinson, who was killed in the defense of the Alamo, Mrs. Alsbury, wife of Dr. Alsbury, with their children, and several other women and children, were during the time of the battle in the north rooms of the Church. Mrs. Dickinson and babe were sent on horseback to the Texans at Gonzales, and were soon joined by Travis' negro servant who had escaped the guard. The other women were cared for by their relatives in San Antonio and vicinity.

"Captain Reuben M. Potter, U. S. A., who was in Matamoras at the time of the siege and fall of the Alamo, and afterwards in San Antonio, Texas.

when all was over,) was followed and killed by the Mexicans as he jumped down from the debris and attempted to enter the room where she. was, in the north room of the Church, with torch in hand to carry out his instructions. She also spoke of gunner named Walker, who was killed in her presence as he was running for the magazine.

None of the women and children were injured during the siege as they were not in the part of the fort where the battle raged. The women and children saw none of the main battle, as there were only the gunners and a few sharpshooters stationed on the roofless walls of the ruined Church to protect the magazines and prevent entrance in that direction, for the main conflict raged in the main building of the fort, the two-story stone building northwest and adjoining the Church and it was impossible for the women to either see or hear anything except the crack of the rifle, the shrieks of the men and the booming of the cannon. The women were only able to tell of the few who were killed in the Church part of the Alamo. "Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat, but the Alamo had none. ' '

The bodies of the dead heroes were ordered by Santa Anna to be piled in heaps and burned, and this order was in part executed in the court yard or patio of the main Alamo building, north of the Church. Tradition says that the first funeral pyre was lighted in the courtyard but that orders were given later to burn the rest of the bodies elsewhere, and that three pyres were made beyond the walls. The three pyres were to the south, southeast and east by south. When Captain Juan N. Seguin returned to San Antonio after the battle of San Jacinto, he gathered up the charred remains of the bodies of the Alamo heroes and buried them in the Church of San Fernando.*

A. Old Bell "San Antonio," presented to De Zavala Chapter, by Mr. Moses B. Oppenheimer, now of San Antonio, Texas. B. Upper gallery of Alamo Fort as rebuilt by H. Grenet. C. Door leading from gallery of Fort into choir loft of the Church of the Alamo. D. Old Baptismal Font. E. Window of Hospital of Fort in southwest end, showing great thickness of walls. F. Front of Bell "San Antonio," showing date, 1722.

From Diary Of Dr. J. H. Bernard, Surgeon Of Fannin'S Command

"Tuesday, May 17, 1836. Dr. Alsbury came in town to-day from General Felisola, now commander-in-chief, with a pass. He is son-in-law of Angelo Navarro, with whom I live. His wife and sister, together with a negro of Bowie 's were in the Alamo when it was stormed. He has come in order to look after his family and take them off. He gave us all the particulars of the battle of San Jacinto, the capture of Santa Anna, the retreat of the Mexican army, and the number of volunteers pouring into Texas stimulated thereto by the fate of Fannin and Travis.

Sunday, 22d. General Andrade has received orders to destroy the Alamo and proceed to join the main army at Goliad. The troops have hitherto been extensively engaged in fortifying the Alamo. They are now as busy as bees tearing down

Tuesday, May 24, 6 o'clock P. M. As the troops left town this morning, (12 Ml) a large fire streamed up from the Alamo, and, as soon as they had fairly left, Dr. Shackelford and myself, accompanied by Senor Ruiz and some other of the citizens, walked over to see the state in which they left it. We found the fire proceeding from a church, where a platform had been built far consumed for any attempt to be made to extinguish it. The walls of the church being built of solid masonry, of course would be but little injured by the fire. The Alamo was completely dismantled, all the single walls were levelled, the fosse filled up, and the pickets torn up and burnt. All the artillery and ammunition that could not be carried off were thrown in the river.

about the Alamo and calling to mind the startling and interesting scenes that have at different times been acted on this little theater, and the last unparalled in modern history, which forever marks this spot as the Thermopylae of Texas ; after looking at the spot where it is said that Travis fell and Crockett closed his immortal career, we went to visit the ashes of those brave defenders of our country, a hundred rods from the fort or church to where they were burnt. The bodies had been reduced to cinders; occasionally a bone of a leg or arm was seen almost entire. Peace to your ashes! Your fame is immortal ! The memory of your deeds will remain bright and unsullied in the hearts of your countrymen ! ' '

When Seguin was raised to the rank of colonel and given a considerable force, he was instructed by the general in command to hold memorial services and pay the honors of war to the ashes of the Alamo heroes. This he did February 25, 1837. The account in the Telegraph and Texas Register of 'March 28, 1837, follows:

"In conformity with an order from the general commanding the army at headquarters, Colonel Seguin, with his command stationed at Bexar, paid the honors of war to the remains of the heroes of the Alamo; the ashes were found in three places, the two smallest heaps were carefully collected, placed in a coffin neatly covered with black, and having the names of Travis, Bowie and Crockett engraved on the inside of the lid, and carried to Bexar, and placed in the parish church, where the Texas flag, a rifle and sword were laid upon it for the purpose of being accompanied by the procession, which formed at three o'clock on the 25th of February: the honors to be paid were announced in the orders of the evening previous and by the tolling knell from daybreak to the hour of interment; at 4, o'clock the procession moved from the church in the following order :

"Field officers, staff officers, civil authorities, clergy, military not attached to the corps and others, pall bearers, coffin, pall bearers, mourners and relatives, music, battalion, citizens.

"The procession then passed through the principal street of the city, crossed the river, passed through the principal avenue on the other side, and halted at the place where the first ashes had been gathered. The coffin was then placed upon the spot and three volleys of musketry were discharged by one of the companies: the procession then moved to the second sppt, whence a part of the ashes in the coffin had been taken, where the same honors were paid ; the procession then proceeded to the spot and place of interment where the graves had been prepared; the coffin had been placed upon the principal heap of ashes, when Colonel Seguin delivered a short address in Spanish, followed by Major Western in English, and the ashes were buried."

No one knows the exact spot where the ashes of the heroes were buried, though many have pointed out where they think it is; but the old building in which they gave up their lives still stands, and the ancient court yard in which some were burned and where the blood of heroes is mingled with the soil, still exists sacred to Texans and all patriotic people.

The greatest heritage of the children of Texas and America is the noble example of its great men and heroes. Let us not forget their deathless deeds, for the moment we begin to ignore the sublime virtues exemplified by the noble souls of our race, our degeneration has begun.

Let us save our landmarks and sacred battlefields and buildings as reminders and monuments. No monument that could be erected by the hands of man to the memory of the heroes could be as great or as sacred as the Alamo itself, wherein we are brought face to face with the history and scenes from the lives of the men who made the Alamo immortal.

Only two of the buildings of the Alamo still stand, the Alamo proper, where the heroes died and piled the enemy before them in heaps, where the floor was shoe deep in the blood of friend and foe ; and the old Church, then a ruin, whose north rooms sheltered the women and children and magazines, and which was defended by a few gunners and sharp shooters.

If you love and appreciate the noble and sublime do all you can to save these two old buildings and the old court-yard, - all that are left to remind us of the sublime sacrifice of the men of the Alamo.

List Of Heroes Killed In The Alamo

In the Texas Almanac for the year 1860 was found a list of the Texan Heroes who defended the Alamo when it was besieged by the Mexican Army commanded by General Santa Anna, and who all perished when that famous fortress was captured, Marcn 6, 1836. This list differs from many that are published, but is believed to be accurate, having been compiled from official and other authentic sources.

For many years the Alamo was abandoned as a great tomb, a placa of horror to many who recalled the story of the frightful sacrifice of the heroes of 1836.

As the civil jurisdiction of Texas passed from Mexico, the eclesiastical jurisdiction passed also, and the Rt. Rev. J. M. Odin thought best to have the Spanish title confirmed, and on January 13th and 18th, 1841, the Congress of the Republic of Texas passed an .act granting "the Church of the Alamo," and the other mission Churches with their out-lots TO the Catholic Church, thus settling the title for the benefit of the new-comers to the country, for "the title to the Church was complete without the aid of the act of 1841," as it was theirs,

About 1347, after the annexation of Texas, the Quartermaster of the United States Army took possession of the Alamo claiming the property as belonging to the United States. It was used for an arsenal several years, for offices, and as a Quartermaster's depot. In April, 1847, the United States acknowledged to hold as tenant of the Bishop of Texas, Rt. Rev. John M. Odin; and Mr. Bryan Callaghan, of San Antonio, acted as agent for the Bishop, part of the time, in receiving the rents. The tenancy of the United States continued until the breaking out of the civil war, in 1861, and was resumed after the war - the military authorities of the Confederate States during the war occupying the property, in the same manner, as tenants of the Church.

In 1865, the Bishop wishing to turn the Alamo Church over to the use of the German Catholics of San Antonio directed his secretary and vice-chancellor to notify the United States to vacate the building. A polite note was addressed to Major General Me rritt asking "possession of said Church in order to furnish a suitable and convenient place of worship to the German Catholic Congregation of San Antonio." The note was signed by Thomas J. Johnston and J. T. Fourey, Secretary and Vice-Chancellor to the Bishop. Major General Merritt replied that "the government required this building for the use of the Qr. Mr. Dept. for the present" that it was then "used for receiving grains, and its vacation by the Govarnment would be attended with great inconvenience and serious loss."

The German Catholics were accomodated elsewhere, near by, and this incident caused the loss of the Church of the Alamo as a parish Church, and eventually its sale, as it was thought, that, as a Church, it was not needed so close to the new German parish Church.

In 1879, Bishop A. D. Pellicer conveyed to H. Grenet, for the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars, all the interest of the Catholic Church in the Alamo, exclusive of the Alamo Church.

In 1883, the Rt. Rev. John C. Neraz, sold the Church of the Alamo to the State of Texas for Twenty Thousand Dollars. The City of San Antonio applied for the custody and was given charge.

The people of San Antonio had looked upon the old Alamo building as public property for years, as Mr. Honore Grenet, the owner, had publicly announced his intention of devoting it to the memory of the heroes of Texas, by gift to the people. Part of the old building was long used as a Museum. The sudden death of Mr. Grenet, before title to the property was executed to the public, deprived the people of this benefaction. Mr. Grenet built wooden galleries around the two-story building, (which had been comparatively little damaged in 1836,) to represent the former arcaded galleries of stone, and erected towers, bristling with wooden cannon, and a battlemented top of wood over the old stone fortress building, and painted the words, "The Alamo Building, ' ' on the west and south sides. He thus, as he said, restored the outer appearance of the main building of the Alamo (as closely as he could do at the time, and with the material used,) in an endeavor to keep fresh in the minds of the people of San Antonio and Texas the memory of the heroic deeds enacted therein.

In 1886, after the death of Honore Grenet the Alamo property, which included the main building of the fort proper, was sold at public outcry by his administrator, George M. Kalteyer, to Hugo and Schmeltzer, a firm composed of Charles Hugo, Gustav Schmeltzer, and Win. Heuermann, for Twenty-eight Thousand Dollars.

Testimony Of Mr. Gustav Schmeltzer

In order to assist in keeping a complete and correct record of the several transactions relative to the purchase of that part of the old Alamo, (the main building of the Alamo) occupied by the firm of Hugo, Schmeltzer & Co., I wish to state that Miss Adina De Zavala called to see me about the year 1892, with reference to securing the Alamo property owned by us; explaining the objects of the society of which she was President, and asked me to obtain for her the promise of all the owners, not to sell or offer the property to any one else without notifying her, and giving the Chapter the opportunity to acquire it, to save it to the people of Texas, to be utilized as a Hall of Fame and Museum of History, Art, Literature and Relics.

This object meeting with my full approval, I spoke to the other parties in interest, and on her second visit, informed her, that we would do as she had asked, giving her the refusal of the property. Miss De Zavala called again at various times, to inquire if we remembered our promise, and we answered that we did, and were in no hurry to sell. In 1900, she called again and stated that the Chapter was about to start an active campaign for the purchasa money, and asked us to set the price. On consultation with Mr. Hugo and the other owners, we agreed to contribute $10,000.00 and make the purchase price ( to her Chapter) $75,000.00.

Miss De Zavala immediately went to Galveston and Houston in behalf of the cause, and shortly thereafter, the frightful disaster of the Galveston storm occurred; Miss De Zavala just missing by a few days being caught in Galveston. On account of the necessity of aiding the storm sufferers, the De Zavala Chapter again postponed its call for money for the purchase of the Alamo, and it was not until 1903, that the Chapter felt justified in bringing the matter before the public again. Miss De Zavala then brought and introduced to me the Chairman selected by herself, and ratified by the vote of the Chapter to take charge of the collections for the purchase, and to prosecute the work outlined by the Chapter. A written option was paid for and signed, and on February 10, 1904, the payment of the $25,000, was completed and the several notes arranging for the balance of the amount due, were duly made out and signed.

Affidavits as to signature of Mr. G. Schmeltzer were sworn to by Mr. Aug. Briam, Jr., who worked for the different companies of the Hugo, Schmeltzer people for 25 years, and who was secretary of the corporation at the time of the agreement and sale of the Alamo property. By Mr. Charles Heuermann, son of one of the members of the firm, who was also employed in the business.

I, Wade H. Bliss, a Notary Public in and for Bexar County, Texas, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of a statement dated September 24, 1908, signed "G. Schmeltzer," and of the affidavits attached thereto.

De Zavala Chatper, descendants of the heroes and founders of Texas, pioneers in the work of conserving the history, relics, manuscripts, books, and historic places of Texas, conceived the idea of saving the main building of the Alamo Fortress and re-consecrating it to the memory of the heroes of the Alamo to be used as a Texas Hall of Fame and a Museum of History, Art, Belies and Literature, to be forever free for the use of Texans and all within the borders of Texas.

An option was obtained on the property by Miss Adina De Zavala, President of the society as shown in the document by Mr. Gustav Schmeltzer, cited above. Later, payments were made, and notes signed, and work seriously undertaken to raise the purchase money.

The raising of the money seemed sure, as all the people of Texas approached appeared enthusiastic and willing to contribute to save the building; but as a certain fixed sum was necessary on certain dates to meet the payments, De Zavala Chapter decided to ask the Legislature to appropriate the money for the balance due and offered on their part to give clear title to the property and the money already paid in, (about $20,000.00) and to take charge of the buildings and maintain them in good order and repair without cost to the State, and to repair and restore to its former beauty the old "long barrack" or Fortress building proper where the heroes died, on the condition that the old main building of the Alamo - "the old barrack "- should be used as a Hall of Fame and a Museum of History, Relics, Art and Literature, and forever devoted to the memory of the heroes of Texas, and that the care and custody should remain with the Association, (De Zavala Chapter,) and that it should be repaired only under its direction.

The President of De Zavala Chapter, M5ss Adina De Zavala, wrote or dictated both memorial and bill presented to the Legislature asking that the property be given into the custody of the Association.

The Twenty-Ninth Legislature accepted the terms, and granted the request of De Zavala Chapter, so unanimously endorsed by the people of Texas and her sister chapters, and the property was eventually turned over to that society.

At once, various parties, and a syndicate began their machinations to secure control of the Alamo in order to bring about the destruction of the Alamo proper, the main building of the Fort.* The idea was that if the Alamo Fort proper was out of the way, the park or Plaza would be extended back to property in which these people were interested, thus giving them an Alamo Plaza frontage. Long the battle waged - it was De Zavala Daughters versus Commercialism! New combinations and new syndicates were formed from time to time, as new interests entered the contests to destroy the Alamo proper, purchased by Texas and the De Zavala Daughters in 1906, but, the latter firmly stood their ground. The methods used by the interests are almost unbelievable! They finally created a division among the women of the general society and their friends. The breach has not been thoroughly healed to this day - but, the syndicates concerned are dead, and most of their promoters, and they did not accomplish their purpose! although, some of the same people effected the destruction of the upper story of the ancient Alamo Fort, about 1913, leaving the lower story with its arcades unroofed to the elements as we see it today.

The Men Of The Alamo

That fifty hundred Mexicans have crossed Nueces ford, With Castrillon and perjured Cos, Sesma, and Almonte And Santa Anna ravenous for vengeance and for prey. They smite the land with fire and sword; the grass

And counts the guerdon full and fair for liberty to fall? Oh, who but Barrett Travis, the bravest of them all ! With seven score of riflemen to play the ranchers' game And feed a counter fire to hold the sweeping prairie

For Bowie of the broken blade is there to cheer them on With Evans of Concepcion, who conquered Castrillon, And o 'er the heads the Texas flag defiant floats on high And no man thinks of yielding and no man fears to die.

But ere the siege is held a week a cry is heard without, A clash of arms, a rifle peal, the Rangers' ringing shout, And two and thirty beardless boys have bravely hewn

To die with Travis, if they must, to conquer if they may. Was ever bravery so cheap in glory's mart before In all the days of chivalry, in all the deeds of war ? But once again the foemen gaze in wonderment and fear

Who hath an enemy like these, in mercy slay him straight, A thousand Mexicans lay dead outside the convent gate And half a thousand more must die before the fortress

But far on San Jacinto 's field the Texan toils are set And Alamo '«? dread memory the Texan steel shall whet. And fame shall tell their deeds - who fell, till all the

The Ghosts Of The Alamo

It is a well known fact that the papers of San Antonio, years ago, from time to time, chronicled marvelous tales of ghosts appearing at the Alamo. That the Alamo was guarded by ghosts was one of the current folk-tales of the country. When General Andrade, the Mexican general sought to destroy the Alamo, after the battle of San Jacinto, in 1836, it is said that his men were everywhere met by spirits with flaming swords who barred their progress and soon frightened them off ; that almost as fast as new relays of men were sent with orders to destroy the walls, they were overcome by fright; nor could threats or punishment induce them to return. They were permitted by the ghosts for a space to disarm the batteries, but the moment the walls of the buildings were threatened, there was the flaming sword in ghostly hands. It is a matter of history that the Alamo buildings were not destroyed, and not much injured by Andrade.* The Alamo was dismantled of its works, guns, etc., "the fosse filled up, and the pickets torn up and burned," but only the single outer walls of the mission-square were injured. The reason it was not destroyed, say the current tales of the day, was because of fear, of the threats and prophecy of "the spirits with the flaming swords" whom the Mexican soldiers feared more than they feared their officers.

These spirits ordered them to desist in hollow tones which struck terror to their hearts, "Depart, touch not these walls! He who desecrates these walls shall meet a horrible Fate! Multiplied afflictions shall seize upon him and a horrible and agonizing and avenging torture shall be his death!"

Was this prophecy fulfilled? Those who know the old folk- tale say, ' ' It was, and will ever be : " And among other things you will hear if you doubt, is: "Search into the miserable lives and deaths of those responsible for the tearing down of part of the Alamo ! ' ' and, ' ' Is it not, at least, a strange coincidence that the man who, more than any other one person, was -deliberately responsible for the destruction of the upper story of the old Alamo Fortress met such a horrible, agonizing fate ? - entombed alive and consumed by flames - that his worst enemy could not fail to be moved with pity."

The Alamo

Saint Anthony of Padua was patron of the Church and Mission of San Antonio de Valero. A statue of Saint Anthony occupied one of the niches in front of the Church which is now known as the CHURCH OF THE ALAMO.

At some time in the past it was decided to dismantle the old ruined Church of Saint Anthony of Padua, which had been a ruin since about 1762, when its two towers, dome and arched roof had tumbled in; for though several attempts had been made to repair and rebuild it, it had never been done. Accordingly, a man was sent with orders to bring away the statuary ornamenting the front niches. The statue of Santo Domingo in the lower left niche, was removed and the man attempted to take down the statue of Saint Anthony. He could not move it. He reported his lack of success and another man was sent to help him, but their combined efforts failed. Thinking that the stone of which the statue was carved was unusually solid and heavy, - more men were sent, - until five men - try as they might still failed to dislodge the statue. At different times during the course of the succeeding years efforts were made to remove the statue by different parties "who boasted of their ability, but they all failed.

And the old people chatted ; and finally the story grew that "Saint Anthony held his statue there, because he wished his church to be repaired and placed again at the service of the people he loved, whose mission and town had been given his name, and whom he was still anxious to serve ! " ' ' This is perfectly plain, ' ' said they, ''because there was no difficulty experienced in lifting out the other statues, only with his ! "

However that may be, people of a later date saw the statue still filling its niche. It was there in 1837, and almost to modern times. When the German Catholic Congregation of San Antonio desired a Church building, the Bishop of the diocese, in 1865, requested Major-General Merritt to vacate the Church of the Alamo that he might present it to them for their use. The government, having no building which they could substitute for the storage of grains, replied that its vacation would be attended with great inconvenience and serious loss, and declined to do so, and the Catholics not wishing to make trouble or delay their own work, chose a place elsewhere. When St. Joseph's Catholic Church was built, but a short distance from the Church of the Alamo, all idea of the use of the Alamo Church for religious purposes was abandoned, and the statue of St. Anthony gave no more trouble, and was easily removed*

*Every legend related to the writer was told with a smile, a shrug, and a shake of the head, and a, "I do not know, that is what they say," as if the narrator was afraid the listener might believe it to be an actual experience within the knowledge of the speaker.

The Folk Of The Underground Passages

In the einchantedj city to which the underground passages of the missions have connection, are many inhabitants; and now and then, it seems, they may, and do appear in this workaday world of ours - if the folktellers are right. Some of the legends clustering around these interesting people follow:

The Padre'S Gift

The old inhabitants of San Antonio de Bexar were very particular to train their children in habits of courtesy to all - to the stranger as well as to their fellowcitizens - but particular stress was laid upon courtesy to the aged. They told tales of "angels' visits unawares," and of "noblemen in disguise," and cautioned them, "Never judge a man by the coat he wears," and such other injunctions, till the children, properly trained by example and precept, were noted for their beautiful and gentle courtesy to strangers and to the aged. One tale which particularly held the attention of all children, aroused their imagination and peculiarly fascinated them, was the tale of the Padre's Gift.

"Now children, some day you may meet the Padre, he is very old and wears his long mantle. If you meet him and are courteous, you will surely receive a gift. He never goes empty armed, and all he meets are dowered."

When questioned about the truth of the tale the old folk-tellers answered : * ' Yes, they say, the Padre really makes visits, but when he will come, no one knows, although it is said that there have been many children who have received the Gifti They say that Senora G.'s mother received a most wonderful gift - though they never say much about it, we believe it is true." Or, "I am told that little Jose C.'s father was presented with the deed to property that the family had long lost, when he was a boy." Or, "After the Indians stole all the

It is needless to say that the children were always on the look out for the Padre, and the writer has known some who have asserted that they had really met the Padre and received a gift. The Padre is one of the good people who have power, it seems, to pass from the enchanted city of Tejas by way of the underground passages of the Alamo. In the light of the past's strange coincidences the narrator often wonders if she, too, has not received the Padre's Gift, though at that time she had never heard of the Padre.

"Riding out one morning I stopped at the "Little Drunk Spring, ' '* and there, with staff in hand, covered by a long brown cloak, stood a very old man with a wonderfully fine face. "Buenos dias," said I." "Buenos dias," responded the old gentleman with a courteous salute. ' ' Have you come f ar ? " I asked. ' ' No, senorita, just across the Leon." "Oh, from the Coy settlement!" I responded, for I knew the places round about. "Si, senorita, and below. I have brought something to leave in your care," said he. "Leave in my care! What is it? How do you know me?" I asked. ' ; We all know you, ' ' he responded. * ' The gift is to be left in your care for your use, for life, on one condition j that you name your successor and exact the same promise I shall exact of you ; namely, that no other hand shall touch this package while you live." Reaching down into a large olla by his side, which I had not hitherto noticed, he pulled out a packet carefully tied up in oil skins. Unwrapping it he showed me a thick book which appeared to be made of parchment and filled with writing. I looked into it and saw that it was written in the Spanish language. ' ' May I have some one translate it for me ? " I asked, " I am sure it is wonderful, but it appears well nigh undecipherable with age, and besides, you see, I do not know the Spanish language well." "No, use what you can, and pass it on. Promise that no hand but yours shall touch this gift until it is bequeathed by you as I now bequeath it to you." I promised, delighted to receive such old and precious treasures, and the good old man, not only gave me the packet, which he carefully rewrapped and replaced in the olla, but, much to my surprise, lifted the olla with all its well filled contents up to the saddle in front of me, saying, "It is all yours." Bidding me God speed, he cautioned me to be careful not to fall, and delightedly I started home. I have always regretted that I did not ask the old man's name - but I thought, then, only of the precious old treasures and my wonderful good fortune in receiving them. Truth is stranger than fiction. ' ' Has she received the Padre's gift? She does not know, but often wonders if she, too, had not really met the Padre.

One Woman In Every Generation

Out of the underground passages of the Alamo she comes once in a generation, or, when her gift has lapsed - this Mysterious Woman in Blue. Her Gift is not to the first person she happens to meet- - but she searches until she finds a worthy recipient. And, strange to tell, tradition says, she always selects a native Texan, of the same type of woman, tall, eyes of gray - changeable with her moods, dark, fine hair - not black. In character the woman is superior, pure and good, well-bred, intelligent, spiritual and patriotic. She may be young or old or middle-aged. Stranger yet, the woman to whom the Gift is given does not always know that she possesses the Gift of the Woman in Blue, though she is always ready to use her talents for the good of others.

What is the Gift? The gift of seeing to the heart of things! She sees with the clear-eyed vision of a Joan of Arc all that may vitally affect, for good or ill, the people of her city and State whom she ardently loves with a strange devotion. All the children are her children - all the people are to her friends, and brothers and sisters! There is no cant, and no pretense - it is real.

She is here now - the Woman with the Gift for San Antonio, and oh, how we need her! She will help you and she will help me, if we find her! Who is she?

Tradition says she is always busy on the side of right, humanity, truth, justice and patriotism, - that you cannot keep her hidden or covered - try as you might - not in the whole city full - because she has the Gift. She is a Mkscot to those who help on her work, and the "Devil's Own Luck" to those who hinder. Find her if you are wise, search until you do. Who is she ?. She may be known by her works, perhaps, though the finest of that is in secret. If you are clear-eyed, she will be made manifest. Or another clue may be obtained from those who have tried to frustrate her work. They know who she is from the ill-luck which has followed them ! If you need to see straight, and deep, find her. Do you need counsel and guidance, trust to her. Tradition further says that she is always ready to help the rich, the poor, the artist, the artisan, the writer, the children - the whole people of her beloved Texas land. She has the Gift and therefore cannot choose but use it for San Antonio. Do you know her? If you do not profit by the Gift the fault is yours, not that of the Mysterious Woman in Blue, nor of the Woman who holds the precious Gift as Almoner for San Antonio.

The Courteous And Kindly Child And The Passageway

The Alamo has always been credited with being the abode of ghosts - and some of them marvelous ghosts. Every one knows the story of the ghosts with the flaming swords who are forever stationed to protect the Alamo fortress. This old Fort also boasts of a number of ghosts who have a predeliction for stormy weather and who do not confine their sphere of action to any special apartment but who manifest themselves in all parts of the Fort. At the time that part of the Fort was used as a prison for detention of city prisoners - many of the inmates - prisoners and officers alike, bore testimony to the strange and unaccountable noises - the rattling of chains, the distinct military tread of ghostly sentinels, the clank of sword and spur being heard, especially on rainy or stormy nights. Other singular and fascinating tales refer to the "good people" who are believed to inhabit the vast underground passage-ways leading from the old fortress and connecting with all the other missions of the San Antonio valley, and the

A beautiful and cultivated gentlewoman lived on the east side of the San Antonio River in a strongly built rock house. Everything in the place betokened refinement and culture. One afternoon she sat alone sewing; looking up from her sewing, she sighed, as gazingx toward the town she watched the slow and painful progress of her husband on his return from a trip for the mail. He had been injured in one of the early Indian fights and had been incapacitated ever since. He was up and down continually, but never seemingly making any headway toward health, and this had continued for seven years - soon after the first anniversary of his little girl 's birth. There was almost no way for women to make money in those days and speculation as to the future caused the brave little woman much anxiety. When he came in she said, "0 Joseph, I was just praying that some time Ursula might meet the good woman of the underground passage! There might still be hope for you ! Ursula is so kind, and gentle and loving that she could not fail to win the good will of these good people. I am living in that hope. You know the good fortune that befell Mrs. Ramon's little Mary!" "Dear Ann, I know the good fortune that befell M'ary and her mother, but you know I do not believe in any "underground people " or ' the good woman of the underground passage ! ' I still think that some friend chose this method - of helping them. I am really surprised that you repeat the old-folk tales current here about - but I think, dear, that in your case the wish is father to the desire to believe, for your heart is set on my visiting the celebrated Doctor - - ." The couple then became engrossed in the bundle of mail which had arrived and some business matters were discussed at length. It was quite late before they thought of the time, and the continued absence of little Ursula, who had gone over to the old Alamo Fort to play with some of her little friends and pick wild flowers in the fields. The mother de- cided to go to look for the children who should have been at home long before. As she neared the Alamo Fort, and all was still, she became nervous, for in those days there was still the possibility of Indian raids. She passed around the Fort and called, but everything was quiet ; there were no children to be found anywhere. Much alarmed she visited the nearest house and the people said that the children had returned to the town long ago. Not wishing needlessly to distress her husband she went around the place and on into San Antonio to the homes of some of the children, hoping, but not believing that her child had followed one of her friends to her home. But none of them had seen her since they had separated to pluck the wild flowers, or, play hide-and-seek. They thought it strange that she had gone home without telling them; however, they had reconciled it to themselves by saying that she may have gone too far, and become tired.

The mother, now almost frantic, called up9n the men to take up the search while she went back home to try if possible to divert her husband who was powerless to render aid.

All thought of Indians, and the men started out to examine the vicinity of the Alamo, where the children had been at play, for signs of them, but no trace of Indians could be found. A number carried lanterns, and it occurred to some to examine the ruins, thinking that it may have been possible for her to have fallen among the rocks from the house tops in such a way, as to render her unconscious. They had about abandoned all hope when some of them entered the arched room fronting the baluarte on the south side of the courtyard, adjoining the Church. They were about to leave when they caught a gleam of something white in the shadow - and there was little Ursula fast asleep with her lap full of wild flowers. These she carefully gathered up, when the happy women in the party kissed her awake, and she was soon restored to the arms of her distracted parents.

When questioned, Ursula explained that the children were playing "hide-and-seek" and while she was hiding, a dear old lady who had entered the Alamo, caught her dress on a thorn bush and had fallen down. Ursula had helped her up, and given her some of her flowers ; after she had rested, Ursula had carried her bundles and assisted her out of the Alamo. Just then, she saw the children dart about, and thinking they were looking for her, she dashed back to her hiding place. She did not know how she came to fall asleep. The old lady gave her something small wrapped up, and motioned her to put it in her pocket, and there it was in her pocket. With surpressed excitement, the mother held out her hand for the package, it suddenly flashed upon her that her little girl had really met the "good woman" of the Underground way. In the package were several very old Spanish gold coins, two diamonds and three pearls. Without doubt she had met the "good wom^an of the underground passage," and her first thought was that now, Joseph, her husband, could go to consult and secure the services of the eminent specialist so long looked forward to. She fell on her knees in thanksgivin, and then, pulling the child to her side, covered her with kisses.

Legend Of The First Christmas At The Margil Vine

At the first Christmas season celebrated at Mission San Antonio de Valero (The Alamo), in 1718, the good Padres made the Crib of Bethlehem as realistic as possible, and the Indian children and neophytes were taking part in adorning the crib and bringing gifts to the Christ-Child.

or pebbles, other bits of bright Indian blankets - everything and anything that to the crude Indian mind seemed beautiful. And the padres did not chide them, for their intention was to, honor the Christ-Child. _0ne afternoon as the Venerable Anthony Margil was re-entering the Mission from a visit to a sick Indian not far away, he came upon a wee Indian boy sobbing. "What has made you sorrowful, little Shavano, at this happy time of the coming visit of the little Christ- Child?" "That is the very trouble," answered little Shavano, "all the rest have a gift for Him, and I can find nothing." "0, never mind that, little Shavano, the Christ sees into your heart and mind; you wish to love, obey and serve Him, do you not?" "Indeed I do!" replied the boy. ' ' Give Him then your heart and service ; tell Him this, and that will be the grandest gift." But little Shavano would not be satisfied, he sought the tangible gift; and the good Padre, touched by his grief, and sympathizing with his aspirations, said to him: "Bring a wide-mouthed olla, Shavano, and I shall help you find a gift. ' ' The wee Indian lad did as he was bid, and not far outside the Mission gate, on the acequia, was found a vine with triform green leaves and dark green berries. "We will take this to the little Christ- Child," said the Venerable Anthony Margil. "It is not very pretty," said little Shavano. "Never mind, it will be pretty to the Christ-Child; He will make it pretty," replied the Padre. And so consoled, little Shavano helped to dig the vine and planted it in the olla. They carried it to the crib, and setting the olla on one side, twined and festooned the vine over the front of the crib. Little Shavano decided that it was better than nothing, and asked the Christ-Child to be satisfied with the best he could do, and promised to do all in his power during the coming year to serve Him faithfully. The next morning as he renewed his promises to the Christ-Child, he was gazing on the vine wishing that his gift had been pretty like some of the others, when lo! the dark leaves began to glisten, and the green berries turned to a beautiful scarlet, and festooned as they were about the front of the crib, delighted the boy beyond measure. He ran for the Padre excitedly exclaiming, "The Christ-Child did make my gift beautiful! Come and see it!'"'

The Venerable Anthony Margil, who was in one sense only a visitor at this mission, took the happy little Indian boy by the hand, and together they joined the procession just then winding through the arcaded galleries surrounding the patio, leading to the chapel, and which followed acolytes with lighted candles. The joyous paean of the Adeste Fideles was borne upward as they moved forward, and these two, the venerable, noted and learned man and the wee Indian boy, with grateful hearts united their voices with the chorus of praise chanting :

"With hearts truly grateful, Come all ye faithful, To Jesus, to Jesus, in Bethlehem. See Christ your Saviour, Heaven's greatest favor, Let's hasten to adore Him; Let's hasten to adore Him; Let's hasten to adore Him, Our Lord and King.

, . Angels now praise Him, Loud their voices raising, The heavenly mansions with joy now ring. Praise, honor, glory, To Him who is most holy. Let's hasten, etc.

To Jesus, born this day, Grateful homage repay; To Him who all heavenly ^ifts doth bring, Word uncreated, To our flesh united. Let's hasten, etc.

This vine is still of spontaneous growth around San Antonio and is called by those of the old days the "Margil Vine." From that early time its bright red berries come to do honor to the season of the Christ- Child.

Mission San Francisco de los Tejas was founded in east Texas, in May, 1690, by Father Damien Manzanet, many hundreds of miles from any other Spanish settlement, and about six miles west of the Neches River on El Camino Real. It was near a stream referred to in the old diaries as the San Pedro, which joins the Neches not far from the village of the Nabedache Indians.

The old settlements of Ysleta and others, did not attract much notice from the authorities as they were not in the direction of the coast where the government's attention was directed by the activities of Penalosa, nor toward the famed but elusive kingdoms of Quivira and Tagago.

In 1630, Father Benavides had suggested in his Mjemoria, that a direct line to Santa Fe should be opened through the Bay of Espiritu Santo - a landmark which since the expedition of Pineda, in 1519, had been prominent on all the maps of the Gulf coast. The king in a royal cedula, issued December 10, 1678, informed the viceroy that it had been learned that Penalosa, the disgruntled ex-governor of New Mexico was attempting to secure for the French government a patent for the exploration of the province of Quivira and Tagago and that in the efforts made by the Spanish Court to learn about these kingdoms, the report of Father Benavides and his suggestions, in 1630, were recalled. The king ordered the viceroy to investigate and give his opinion as to whether it would be well to open UT> communication

Though numerous raids on the Florida coast by French corsairs called attention to the necessity of occupying the country, as late as August 2, 1685, the required report had not yet been received by the king and he issued another cedula, quoting the former one verbatim, and repeating his request for a report on the advisability of converting the kingdoms of Quivira and opening communication with them by way of the Bay of Espiritu Santo.

The victory now hastened to carry out the royal orders. Two land expeditions were sent out to find the Bay of Espiritu Santo and were unsuccessful and a third (unless the one to bring in the Frenchman located by Father Manzanet is counted as the third,) left Coahuila March 26, 1689, under Captain Alonzo de Leon, accompanied by Father Manzanet. The latter had become interested in the Indians in the far interior through a letter in his possession treating of facts made known by the Venerable Mary Coronel de Agreda, as to certain tribes, and of her entreaties that missionaries be sent to find and bring them to God. It was the pleading of Mary Coronel de Agreda* that had moved Manzanet to search for the French and try to convince the authorities of their presence in Texas and so induce a third expedition that he might accompay it and the sooner reach the Tejas Indians.

On this expedition the Bay of Espiritu Santo was discovered, the Fort built by the French under La Salle was found, and the Chief of the Tejas Indians was interviewed by Manzanet and promised missionaries. The report made to the viceroy as to the beauty, fertility and desirability of the country was such that it was determined to occupy it and assist the Franciscans in their educational and religious work among the wild tribes.

the Bay of Espi'ritu Santo, and that Captain Alonzo de Leon should go as commander, taking one hundred and ten soldiers, one hundred and fifty long guns, twelve hundred weight of powder, and three hundred weight of shot. He likewise provided for the founding of a mission among the Tejas Indians and for the escort thither of Damian Manzanet and three other priests and a laybrother. This expedition left Coahuila for the Tejas "on the third day of the Easter feast, March 28, 1690." They reconnoitered the coast country, saw no trace of French thereabout, set fire to La Salle's Fort and after remaining six days in the coast country, set out for the Tejas villages, sending ahead a messenger to the governor of the Tejas.

De Leon found in the neighboring Indian rancherias two French boys. The Spanish pushing forward, came quite unexpectedly upon the governor of the Tejas and about fifteen of his people who had come out with the messenger sent to them. As soon as the governor saw Manzanet, he recognized him and going up embraced him. They sat down and talked by signs for some time, and the governor produced a small sack of powdered tobacco, of the kind they grew, and another small sack of white pinole* of good quality.

Three days later, Monday, May 22, 1690, they entered the Tejas village. It was raining heavily on their arrival. That year it had rained but little, and the corn was suffering from the drought, but every day of the eleven they spent in the village it rained hard.

On the next day the governor expressed a desire to take the priests home with him and told them that they might live in his house. On visiting the governor they formed a procession with the escort of soldiers through the villages, the four priests went on foot, carrying their staffs which bore a crucifix, "singing the Litany of Our Lady, and accompanied by a lay-brother who bore an improvised banner of the Blessed Virgin. ' ' On