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BANCROFT LIBRARY

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR

A GUIDE AND HISTORY

COMPILED AND EDITED BY

WILLIAM CORNER

ILL US TRA TED

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

B AINU RIDGE & CORNER

CHRISTMAS. 1890

PREFACE.

It yet remains for me to express thanks to my helpers. To such Texans as
Mrs. M. A. Maverick, Mrs. Canterbury, Dr. Cupples, General H. P. Bee, Dr.
Herff, Colonel Ford, Colonel Withers, Mr. John Dobbin and to others I owe much
more than perhaps they are aware of, for it was my talks with " old-timers " that
put me in touch and sympathy with theirs and earlier times. Not all, of
course, that I have learned about San Antonio has been herein written down, but
every smallest detail was counted by me as a help towards the better understanding
of my subject. I was continually impressed by the excellence and accuracy of
Sidney L,anier's Historical Sketch, and designed very early that it should form a
part of this work. To Bishop Neraz I owe thanks for a glimpse of the older
Church Records. As to the County Records, the kind directions of
Messrs. Thad. Smith and Theo. Rozeine, have been of much service to me. To
all these mentioned, and to many others who have unconsciously helped me at
the cost of being bored, I return my thanks ; nor do I forget that an acknowledge-
ment is here due to my brother, Charles Corner, for work and encourage-
ment. I trust my book will not only be a satisfaction to the inquiring visitor, but
I should like to think that it could furnish a few notes and suggestions to a
future historian of Texas.

Further than these remarks, I have no use for the prefatory privilege, so for
the rest, " for better or for worse," my book, with its illustrations, shall speak for
itself.

December, 1890. W. C.

208112

CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTORY ....... 1

Railroads 3

Mallory Line of Steamers . 4

Transfer . 4

Hacks and Carriages 4

Hotels 4

Boarding and Lodging Houses, Flats 5

Restaurants .... 5

Street Car Lines and Street Railways 6

What There Is to See 7

The Alamo Church as it is in 1890 8

Some Further Notes on the Alamo 8

The Cathedral of San Fernando 12

THE MISSIONS-
HOW to Get to the Missions 13

Mission Concepcion 14

Mission San Jose 17

Mission San Juan 20

Mission San Francisco de la Espada 21

The Plazas 24

THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT —

Headquarters Department of Texas and Fort Sam Houston .... 25

Military Drills . 26

Some Further Notes on Military Affairs . . 27

Churches "_.-_ 31

Educational 32

International Fair Grounds 33

Riverside Park, San Pedro Park 34

Opera Houses . 34

Public Halls 34

Newspapers 34

Stock Yards 35

City Additions • . . 35

Artesian Wells • 35

Real Estate, Land Grants and Field Notes of Town Tract 36 to 39

Public Buildings • . 39

Banks 40

San Antonio Club 40

Other Clubs 40

Young Men's Christian Association 40

Military or Militia Organizations ' 40

Friendly Societies 41

THE WATERS OF SAN ANTONIO AND SAN PEDRO —

The Ditches or Acequias 41

The Pajalache or Concepcion Ditch 43

The San Pedro Ditch 44

The Alamo Madre Ditch, 44

The Upper Labor Ditch and the History of Its Construction 46

The San Antonio River 50

The Water Works . 54

vi SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

San Antonio as a Health Resort ... 58

Some Resources of Western Texas 61

List of Charters and Amendments . 65

List of Mayors of the City of San Antonio 6(i

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR, BY SIDNEY LANIER —

Anthony Crozat, 1712. Huchereau St. Denis, 1714. New Philippines. Spain's Earliest
Claims. La Salle, 1685. San Antonio de Valero, 1715. Franciscans of Queretaro.
San Antonio de Valero, 1722. Spain's Mission. French Claims. Correspondence
of D'Alarcoune and DelaHarpe. The San Antonio Missions. "Lastekas" — Texas.
Indians. Testimonio de un Parecer. Apaches, 1732. Saudoval and Franquis —
great lawsuit. " San Antonio de Vejar. " Foundation of the Church of the Alamo,
1744. French and Spanish Policies, 1762. San Saba Mission, 1758. Seculariza-
tion of the Alamo Mission, 1783. Partition of Alamo Mission Lands,
1793. Closing the Alamo Records, 1793. Americans, 1800. Philip Nolan.
Lieutenant Pike, 1807. San Antonio Society Prior to 1810. Troublous
Times. Colonel Delgado. Revolutions. Magee and Gutierrez. Colonel
Kemper. Colonel James Gaines. Governor Salcedo. Battle. Surrender of San
Antonio by the Royalists. Massacre of Royalists. Don Elisondo. Another
Battle. Royalist Loss. Captain Perry. Don Jose Alvares Toledo. General
Arredondo. Another Battle. Royalists Victorious under Arredondo, 1813. A
"Black Hole "of San Antonio. San Antonio Almost Abandoned, 1816. Moses
Austin, 1820. American Colonists. Treaty of Cordova, 1821. Secession from
Spain. French Merchants in San Antonio, 1824. The Bowie Brothers, 1831.
Shawnees and Comanches. 1832. Sam Houston, 1833. Texas and Coahuila.
Stephen F. Austin and Mexico, 1833. Revolutionary Meeting, 1834. Ugartechea
and Cos. Santa Anna. Deaf Smith. Dr. James Grant. Burleson. Maverick.
San Antonio Besieged by Texans, 1835. Milam and Johnson. San Antonio Taken.
Kariies. Surrender of the Alamo by Cos. Travis. Crockett. Arrival of Santa
Anna, 1836. Siege of the Alamo. Bonham and Fannin. Account of Rose. Fall
of the Alamo. Mrs. Dickinson and the "Child of the Alamo." Indians, 1840.
Captain Howard. War between Texas and Mexico. Raids of Vasquez and Woll,
1842. Annexation, 1845. Cosmopolitan San Antonio. Meteorological. Geo-
graphical. San Fernando. Religious. Points of Interest. Conclusion. . . 68 to 91

INTERVIEWS AND MEMOIRS OF OLD TIME TEXANS.

Extracts from the Memoirs of Mrs. M. A. Maverick 9o to 106

Interview with Mrs. Canterbury 107

A Talk with Right Reverend Bishop Neraz 109

Interviews with Dr. Cupples 112

An Interview with Dr. Ferdinand Herff, Sr 115

An Interview with Mr. John Dobbin 116

Senora Candelaria • . . 117

Colonel Ford's Memoirs 119

The Alamo Monument at Austin 124

The County Records 125

The Founding of the Town of San Fernando 126

Historical, interesting and statistical dates of, and relating to, the City of San Antonio, 129 to 166

ILLUSTRATIONS AND PLANS.

PAGE

Church of the Mission del Alamo frontispiece

Mission de la Concepcion (First Mission) 8

Mission San Jose1 de Aguayo (Second Mission) 12

Group of Views of Missions and Mission Buildings IB

Plans illustrating the Alamo. Concepcion, San Jose", San Juan and Espada Missions, San

Jose" Granary and the Villa Capital de San Fernando, with References 16

Group of Views of Portals and a Window of San Jose" 20

Group of Detail of Mission Carving 24

Group of Views of Military Post 28

Federal Building 32

The San Antonio National Bank -40

Group of Scenes of Mexican Life in San Antonio 44

Group of River Scenes and old Mission Aqueduct o(j

Spanish and Mexican-Texas Seals fi4

Facsimiles of Signatures of Historical Personages SO

Western Texas Cowboy Sketches 104

San Antonio City Hall 128

Numerous small cuts included in the letter press .

Map of the central portion of the City of San Antonio

ERRATA.

1. Mrs. Hockett has changed from St. Mary's Street to the Apartment House, corner of
Houston and Jefferson Streets. Page 5.

2. For " turning south at Laurel Street," read " turning west, etc." Bottom of Page 6.

3. Since the first sheets of this work were printed the electric rapid transit Street Car Lines
have been extended in several of the suburbs of the city. Page 6.

4. For "Espado" read Espada, on illustration. Page 20.

5. The Magnetic Needle omitted from Alamo Mission Plan. Note — the Alamo Church fronts
almost due west. Page 24.

6. The Government Post has been recently officially named Fort Sam Houston. Page 2-j.

7. Turner Hall has been converted into Rische's Opera House. Page 34.

8. For "weeky" read weekly. Eleventh line, page 35.

9. For W. A. Little, Esq., read C. C. Cresson, Esq. , last line ' San Antonio Club." Page 40.

10. The Waterworks proposition was rejected by a large majority on September 30th,
1890. Page 57.

11. For "Prom" read From. 4th line, page 75.

12. For "St. Patrick's Day :" read without the colon. 16th line, page 117.
13 For "amatuer" read amateur. 17th line, page 117.

14. American Biographical Dictionaries differ as to the year of General R. E. Lee's birth, but
the best authorities give January 19th, 1807; not 1806. Page 131.

San Antonio de Bexar.

Introductory. — " By far the most pleasant as well as interesting town in
Texas is San Antonio." So writes George Wilkins Kendall in 1843, in his
" Narrative of the Texan Santa Fe Expedition " of the good city of old Bexar,
that stood for a generation or two, bravely up in the seething of the " meeting of
the waters, " — the meeting of two great opposing races and civilizations. Over the
rolling western prairies had crept, moving eastwardly, the fringe of the tide of the
Spanish, — the Latin-Indian civilization from Mexico meeting after awhile here a
mightier and colder current pushing westward — the American, the ever restless
Anglo-Saxon flood. The stronger influence overcame. To-day, San Antonio is a
flourishing, enterprising, American city, as Texas is the greatest of American
States and one destined to a magnificent future. It boasts an historical past. San
Antonio was a bone of contention, Texas was the meat and fat for the victors, and
all good San Antonians believe, with some show of reason, that the nearer the bone
the sweeter the meat, which is just about what Kendall means, only expressed
rather differently, for he-adds later to this praise of San Antonio the following :
" I have an abiding faith in Western Texas, and will stick by it till the Guadalupe
runj dry." Such love had old Texans it seems for the land they had foaght for
and won.

Both floods still remain, but now commingle harmoniously, having long since
ceased to maintain an unequal contention. Strange traces, however, of the strug-
gle are everywhere present in the old city, in spite of its new face and smile of
prosperity. Its quaint traditions, customs and reminiscences are quickly recog-
nized by a stranger's enqtii ring eye. Alas ! while these, the old houses, here and
there, and the Missions, more or less the worse for age, remain to us, the strong,
grand old pioneer faces of men who had in their turn taken up their " pistols ''
their " sharp-edged axes, " and the

" Task eternal, and the burden and the lesson,"

are getting to be few and far between, but their work, their sons and their
sons' sons remain. San Antonians, pure and simple, and Texans mostly,
walk with a step that bespeaks tradition and a certain pride of country, of a jeal-
ous remembrance of that part their fathers took in the winning of the brightest
star of all in a galaxy, and a demeanour which tells strangers plainly enough if
they be too prompt with unwelcome criticism of some of their seemingly odd old
ways, fashions and methods, — " Sirs, we have a history, find it out, it will repay
you and perhaps you may discover why we do some things that you would not do
and leave undone some things that you would do." And, indeed it will repay the
student right nobly. It is a stirring, thrilling history almost inexhaustible in
interest. -

2 SAN ANTONIO DB BEXAR.

It is however the modern town which has to be dealt with just now. Its
history, chronicles and some deeds of its doughty men will be found as fully set
out in other pages as space will allow. But, as this guide is compiled as much for
the benefit of strangers and enquirers as for home folks, it is as well that a few of
the leading facts of the city's origin and being be emphasized in this introductory.

San Antonio is now probably the most cosmopolitan spot on the face of the
globe. Representatives of every race of the earth have been counted here, except
perhaps the aboriginal Oceanicans. The larger elements of the existing popu-
lation are American, Mexican, German, Colored, with smaller groups of French,
Italian, Polanders, Irish and many other nationalities.

San Antonio partakes more of the appearance of an old world town than any
in the Union — Boston not excepted. Although the modern business blocks and
fine residences, with all their adjuncts in the way of the conveniences of civiliza-
tion so largely predominate, yet the ancient looking house here and there, the
crooked streets and alleys, the plazas, the relics of an older and altogether differ-
ent dynasty — lend the city a venerable air that is particularly pleasing to the
visitor's eye so used to straight, wide streets and compact blocks laid out in the
mathematical precision of a chess board.

The peculiarities of the city will be better understood if the facts hinted at
above are remembered. To comprehend things rightly the city's history and
origin must be constantly borne in mind. L,et the rule, for instance, be applied in
reference to the venerable Missions, at once the pride, glory and regret of San
Antonio.

Let a traveller from the East or North be set down before the gateway of
San Jose. In his journeyings he has seen nothing like this before. The Mission
must be to him an enigma. He hears that it is a century and a half since its
foundations were laid by Catholic missionaries, aided by their converts, half or
more than half savage Indians, all under constant peril of their lives from the
outside from the cruelest of hostile tribes, that were uncompromising in their
enmity. If he is practical, the traveller will wonder whence the stone came
where no quarries were — from where the lime, with no kilns — who was the
architect, the superintendent of works, the artist stone cutter — the engineer, for
he may be told that this old Mission was once fortified. An intelligent man is
bound to ask these things, and if he merely remembers that the Mission is on the
outside edge of his own territory and civilization he will fail to understand and
realize how it was all done; he is even in the dark as to the spirit and design of
its founders, much less comprehending the hard, practical fact of the presence of
these great masses of masonry and beautiful sculpture in a lone, wide, wild
prairie, as he knows the spot must have been in the days of the erection of these
Missions.

But, suppose that the traveller had come from, say, the City of Mexico — had
a smattering, at least, of Spanish and Mexican History, knew and understood
that the aggrandizement of Spain's Empire was the object alike of Church and
State — the King and the Church going hand in hand, the one establishing the
other; the King granting, conceding, and sending his soldiers to protect, the
Church sending its well-trained servants to work, to proselytize, to acquire, to

RAILROADS. 3

bless. Coming through Mexico, the progression from one great religious founda-
tion to another would seem natural, as he travelled northward and eastward, and,
keeping in view Spain's necessity to firmly establish her borders, the Texas
Missions would appear at last perfectly in place and keeping with a definite de-
sign and scheme. The puzzle would be absent, but the admiration for indefatiga-
ble workers would be none the less. The Missions would be the ornament on the
fringe of the Spanish and not the Anglo-Saxon skirt. To the brothers —
Franciscans — who had the acquirements, resources, devotion and energy to plan,
design and build the magnificent churches of the City of Mexico, the religious
houses, chapels, bridges and aqueducts scattered over the land, the foundation
and construction of the San Antonio Missions, wonderful as the work was, does
not seem to be a very difficult task. Perhaps some of the same workers who built
the great stone aqueduct at Queretaro about the year 1730 came up to San
Antonio with the Queretaro Franciscan brothers and helped in the completion
of the beautiful San Jose.

It is thus, then, that he must be in touch with its historj" who would come
to correct conclusions about the grand old City of Bexar. This is only a single
instance of a brighter side — but to other and sterner chapters the rule applies
with a like reason.

Not to delay further a practical description of San Antonio as it is — what
there is to see and how to see it — the visitor is strongly recommended, before
setting out on the rounds, to read Sidney Lanier's historical sketch. It will be
found to be reliable, and is the best short history of the city that has been written.
It is from the pen of one of America's most charming writers, and no praise of it
is needed here. The name of the author is sufficient to ensure its being read
with interest and attention.

Railroads. — Three main lines of railroad with a multitude of tributaries
run into and through San Antonio. The visitor may arrive at either of three
different depots.

The SOUTHERN PACIFIC or Sunset, as it is familiarly called, has its depot
in the northeastern suburbs. The main line stretches from New Orleans to be-
yond San Francisco. Many of the New York and Eastern mails come in over this
route, it having quick competing communications for eastern traffic and travel.
Its principal business done with San Antonio is from California on the west —
from New Orleans, Galveston and Houston, etc., on the east. It was the first
railroad to reach this city, arriving here early in February, 1877. An electric
street car line — Belknap system — car labelled Avenue C. L,ine, etc., color green,
nickel fare, does service for this depot to the Alamo Plaza citywards and to the
Government Hill northwards. Another electric car line also does service here to
Avenue E. and Alamo Plaza citywards and to the Alamo Heights, at the head of
the river, northward — fare, nickel; color, yellow; light, purple. The South-
ern Pacific ticket office is in the Adams & Wickes building, on Alamo Plaza.

THE INTERNATIONAL AND GREAT NORTHERN depot is in the western sub-
urbs of the city. This line gives us communication with all parts directly north
and east, via Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, etc., passing through our city, on via
L,aredo, to the City of Mexico, to which city it is at present one of the shortest

4 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

routes. It also brings many eastern mails. It made its first appearance from the
north in this city February 16th, 1881 . It has an electric city street car service —
Belknap system — color, orange; labelled City Hall, Plazas and all Hotels. The
International and Great Northern ticket office is on the corner of N. Alamo street
and Alamo Plaza.

THE SAN ANTONIO AND ARANSAS PASS RAILROAD familiarly "S. A. P."
" Our Railroad," the spoilt child of San Antonio, is an enterprise of which the city
may well be proud. Under the far-sighted policy of its able president, U.
L,ott, who has a strongly developed prophetic instinct in him, this road is
destined to become an important system. At present, with upwards of 800
miles in operation, it does good service, firstly with Boerne and Kerrville
on the north, whence it is pushing a northwestern extension ; secondly with
Corpus Christi and Rockport, and eventually deep water at Aransas,,and the short
est route to the City of Mexico on the south ; thirdly with all that fertile grazing
and farming country lying between Kenedy and Houston, doing here an immense
cotton and cattle freighting business ; fourthly with Houston and Galveston east ;
fifthly with another rich mid-Texas district by an important branch to Waco.
Other branches are under construction and in contemplation. Mr. Lett's able
lieutenant is General Manager B. F. Yoakum. The first ground was broken for
this railroad in this city May 18th, 1885. It is identified with the interests of San
Antonio. The depot is in the southern suburbs. It is served by two car lines,
the red car coming to Alamo Plaza the yellow car serving through South Flores
street to the Military Plaza and North Flores street. The ticket office is in the
Kampmann building, on Main street.

Mai lory Line Of Steamers. — The pleasantest though not the shortest
route to New York, is by rail to Galveston, thence by one of the Mallory
steamers. This is a most delightful trip especially in the summer time.

Transfer. — Busses and transfer wagons meet every train incoming or out-
ward bound. The company is moderate in its charges for baggage or passengers,
and their servants are as a rule punctual and obliging.

Hacks and Carriages. — One of the peculiarities of San Antonio is an
immense hack traffic. It is a favorite mode of locomotion. The charges are not
high on account of the considerable competition. It is however always advisable
to have a perfect understanding with your Jehu beforehand as to his ultimate
charges, or in nine cases out of ten upon settlement you will harbor suspicions of
being over-reached. Many of the hacks are costly vehicles, and nearly all have
good stepping, strong horses. On the whole it does well to fall into the custom
of the place as to hacks. There are always plenty of them at train times at the
depots and the stands are conveniently placed on the Plazas and Houston street.

Hotels. — The Menger is the oldest and best hotel in the city. It is con-
spicuous on the eastern corner of Alamo Plaza, not far from the Alamo Church
building. The Menger was established in 1858, being opened January 31st, 1859.
It has been constantly added to until now its extensive buildings cover the
greater part of the block. It is in the hands of its proprietor, Mr. H. D. Kamp-
mann, and well managed by Mr. Browder. Its service and appointments are
first-class in every particular. The facade is prettily shaded by trees, and the

PUBLIC COMFORT. 5

court yard contains one of the prettiest groups of banana trees in Texas. In the
season musical evenings are an attraction to its guests, and fashionable germans
are periodically held. It is impossible to state the various hotel charges.
It is perhaps sufficient to say that the charges of none are exorbitant.
It is well situated as to street car service, many of the various city
lines starting and terminating on the Alamo Plaza, viz : the scarlet line car
plying between this plaza down Houston street to San Pedro Avenue and
Springs — scarlet light. The City Hall line on Main and Military Plazas.
I. & G. N. depot and all hotels — color, orange; light, orange. The Avenue
C line to Southern Pacific depot and Government Post — color, green: light,
green. The S. Alamo, Mill street and S. A. & A. P. R. R. depot— color,
red; light red. Green cars do service from the end of E. Commerce. A hack
stand fronts the hotel.

Another good hotel is the Maverick, on Houston street. The building was
originally erected for Military Headquarters, and was used for this purpose from
January 25, '78 till 1882, being enlarged and opened as a hotel in April of that
year. As a hotel it is second in importance only to the Menger. It is very well
served by the proximity of all the important street car services of the city, many
of the lines passing its doors.

Still other good hotels are the Southern, the St. Leonard, the Central, all on
the Main Plaza, and the Mahncke, on Houston street.

Boardingr and Lodging- Houses, Flats.— San Antonio is not

quite so well off for good boarding houses as it might be. Probably the reason
may be found in the fact that it enjoys a number of other facilities for easy and
cheap living. Nevertheless, a number of really good boarding houses can be
reckoned. Mrs. Cole's house, on Pecan street, enjoys a first class reputation for
the excellent table that is kept and the attention paid to the general com-
fort. Mrs. Murphy's, on St. Mary's street, is noted for similar good qualities, also
Mrs. Sappington's, on Tobin Hill. Mrs. Hockett's, on St. Mary's street, has a
well-established reputation. Of course there are many other fairly good houses,
but changes so constantly come that the list mentioned must suffice. A
custom that very well suits the visitor making an extended stay is that which
many of the inhabitants have of letting for rent by the month, certain rooms, very
often the best in their houses. Such visitors can make themselves ver)^ com
fortable, and live more economically, by rooming in this fashion and boarding
where best suits their appetites and convenience. Of course, all sorts of bargains
can be made. It only requires a little searching for every class to be made
perfectly comfortable. In fine, San Antonio, if not provided specifically with a
large number of good boarding houses, is nevertheless a city in which living is
made easy, not to say delightful. Mention must here be made of two excellent
institutions, the Webb house, on Houston street — half boarding house, half hotel
— spoken of highly as a place of comfort, and the Alamo Flats, on Alamo Plaza, a
most convenient arrangement of rooms and suites of rooms, nicely furnished and
excellently well conducted under its present management.

Restaurants — Good ones are Harnisch & Baer's, on Alamo Plaza; the
Elite, at the corner of Soledad street and Main Plaza; and Lang's Dining Room,
on Commerce street.

6 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Street Car Lines and Street Railways.

The Belknap System of Lines comes first. For years — since 1878
almost up to the present time — this system was the only one which San Antonio
had. It was inaugurated by the late Col. Augustus Belknap, formerly such a
popular and genial figure in our community. It is now under the management
of the able president of the company, Mr. W. H. Weiss. We have other systems
and lines, and still others are projected. This system serves about all parts of
the city, and all its lines, except the Flores street line, focus on the Alamo Plaza.
Taking, therefore, the Alamo Plaza as a starting point, we will describe this
system, mentioning principal streets, in progress and the termini.

The Scarlet Lake Cars, named San Pedro line, take Houston street, turning
north to Acequia street to San Pedro avenue and San Pedro Springs, turning east
awhile down Locust street, then north again through Crockett Place and encom-
passing Laurel Heights, back to and terminating on San Pedro avenue, far above
the Springs. Night light, red; fare, a nickel. Electric line.

The Green Cars, named Avenue C line, take Houston street, shortly turning
north on Avenue C to the Southern Pacific depot, following Austin street to
Carson street to Grayson street to Government Post, terminating at the southwest
corner of the New Post. Night light, green; fare, a nickel. Electric line.

The Orange Cars, named City Hall line, take Houston street, Sole-
dad street south, across Main Plaza to Military Plaza, Dolorosa street, West
Commerce street to the I. & G. N. depot, where it terminates. Night light,
orange; fare, a nickel. Electric line.

The Dull Red Cars, named S. A. & A. P. R. R. line, takes Alamo street
south to Mill street to the S. A. & A. P. R. R. depot. Night light, red; fare, a
nickel.

The white cars, named Cemetery line, take East Commerce street to ceme-
teries. P^are, a nickel; color, yellow and green.

The Yellow Cars plying between San Pedro Springs to North Flores street, to
Military Plaza, to South Flores street and Arsenal, to S. A. & A. P. R. R. depot
terminating on South Flores street south of that depot. Night light, purple ; fare,
nickel.

The McCrillis, or Alamo Electric Street R. R. System, is next in impor-
tance. Going south from the heart of the city it crosses Houston and Commerce
streets on Navarro street, crosses the Mill bridge down Garden street, turning
on Mill street to Presa street, going far down that street, terminating at the
Fair and Exposition grounds and Riverside Park. Fare, nickel.

The McCrillis System also starts from the Alamo Plaza out Avenue E. a
short distance to Third street, making a turn down that street crossing Avenue
C., then into Martin street, making a junction on that street with its main line,
then crossing the river over the bridge by the Convent on to Richmond Avenue,
Madison Square, to Main Avenue, to Howard Street and Crockett Square, turning
south at Laurel street across the San Pedro creek to the Fredericksburg road to Key-

STREET CARS AND PLACES OF INTEREST. 7

stone Park. Another line of the same system starts from Alamo Plaza east on
Crockett Street to the Cemeteries. Fare, nickel.

The West End System, built principally for the accommodation of the
West End Town Company's passenger traffic, is a good line of Thompson-Houston
Electric System. Starting from the corner of Houston and Acequia streets it goes
west out Houston street, skirting the western limits, to the West End L,ake, where
it terminates. Styled "Houston Street and West End." Color, blue; night light,
blue; fare, nickel.

The Alamo Heights System. This line, starting from the Alamo Plaza
out Avenue E. into Austin street, past the Southern Pacific R. R. depot into
River Avenue past the head of the river, encompassing that property to the Alamo
Heights, a new and important addition to the improved suburbs of the city.
Color, yellow; night light, purple; fare, nickel.

There is a short car line from the I. & G. N. depot to the summit of Prospect
Hill. Also one called the Cross Town R. R., little used, from the Southern
Pacific Railroad to the bottom of San Pedro Avenue.

What There is to See and How to See It.

The visitor once housed to his satisfaction in the city, so much around him
is so interesting and so different to what he has hitherto seen, that he is sure to
be early asking questions and enquiring generally as to the lions of the neigh-
borhood, what there is to^see and how best to see it. Here is a list and following
a more extended description with mention of the attractions of San Antonio and
Western Texas.

The Alamo of course leads the list, that is a shrine before which every pil-
grim to San Antonio bows. The First and Second Missions should not be missed,
and the Third with its substantial old Aqueduct, and the Fourth with its more per-
fect fortifications, if time will allow, should be visited. All four Missions have
different points of interest and will repay a thousand times in pleasure any diffi-.
culty in getting to them. The San Fernando Cathedral, the extensive Irrigation
Ditches, are worthy of note. The Plazas, the curious custom of the all-night out-
door Supper on the Plazas. The stranger should certainly take a Mexican supper.
The Mexican quarter and its denizens, trans-San Pedro creek, should be done.
Riverside Park and Exposition Grounds, the San Pedro Springs, the Head of the
River, a peep at the Horse and Stock Yards, two or three fine Public Buildings, and
last but not least the Government Military Post and Depot, with its extensive
grounds and works, drills, parades, music and barracks. This Post is probably
the most important in every respect of any in the United States.

8 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The Alamo Church as it is in 189O.*

The foundation stone of the Church was laid on May 8th, 1744. A stone in
the carved front bears a date of 1757 ; it is uncertain what this date means ; it
may be the date of the Church's dedication. Giraud shows (Yoakum's History,
App. iv.) that the Mission was founded in 1703, on the Rio Grande, and after
being twice removed to different sites it was finally brought to San Antonio by
order of the Viceroy of New Spain, the Marquis of Valero, May 1st, 1718. A
printed copy obtained from Rev. Father Bouchu, Padre at the Mission Espada,
of " Informe Oficial del Conde Revilla-gigedo, Virey de Mejico al Rey de
Espana, 1793," concerning the Missions of Texas, relates that the " ereccion " of
this Mission dated 1716. The Mission was secularized with the others by decree
of Don Pedro de Nava, April 10th, 1794. The famous siege began February 22d,
1836. The " Fall of the Alamo " occurred March 6th, 1836.

A visitor to-day at ' ' The Alamo, ' ' will be met at its entrance by the worthy
janitor, Capt. Tom Rife, a Texan of pioneer days. He guards the building with
a jealous care it is indeed a pleasure to note in these days of the irrepressible
relic hunter and wall scribbler. The visitor will be given in short the particulars
of the foundation of the Mission and the church. A description will be given him
of the desperate stand to the last man of Travis, Bowie (the inventor of the cele-
brated bowie knife), "Davy" Crockett, Bonham, and their companions, in de-
fense of their countrymen's liberties and the independence of Texas. One hun-
dred and seventy or more men, with sublime recklessness, decided that they would
never surrender or retreat. Death to each was the cost of this magnificent temer-
ity. He will be shown the arch pillars upon either side, evidences of a massive
arched roof and dome, the remains of the towers, with the vaulted ceilings to the
ground floor cells, the connection of the place with the convent from the choir,
the cruciform of the Church, the site of the dome, the room used as a powder
magazine during the siege, which is interesting for its massive walls and strong,
vaulted stone roof or ceiling, and for the fact that it was here that Evans was
shot in a last vain endeavor to set fire to the residue of the ammunition and that
*in all probability it was here that Bowie was bayoneted on his sick bed too ill of
typhoid fever to do anything but set a high example of admirable fortitude and
courage. The present roof, some of the upper windows and floorings and other
improvements, the visitor will be reminded are modern. The captain will be
found ever ready to answer the questions that naturally arise to those not too
familiar with the Alamo's eventful history.

Some Further Notes on the Alamo.

" And their flag floated out on the breeze
Like tremulous hands stretched forth to bless."

The building now commonly known as the Alamo, and which is really the
Church of the Mission of the Alamo, or of San Antonio de Valero, is on the east
side of the Alamo Plaza, its carved front faces west ; it stands at a point a little

* "Alamo " is the Spanish name for the cottonwood tree, a species of poplar quite common upon the banks
of Texas rivers and creeks ; its timber is in demand for the beauty of its texture ; on account of the height of its
close foliage it makes a favorite roosting place for wild turkeys. The Alamo seems to have been built in a grove
ofthes trees.

THE ALAMO. 9

north of midway on the east side of this Plaza, as at present constituted. As will
be seen on reference to the plan of the Mission as it originally was, both the
Alamo Church and the Convent yard were outside the eastern boundary of the
ancient enclosure known as the "Square of the Mission." This enclosure ex-
tended its northwest corner down Avenue D one hundred feet or more, embracing
with the north-west walls a good portion of the actual building site of the new
federal building. Its western boundary was almost exactly along the sidewalk
past the Maverick homestead across Houston street past the Maverick Bank and
the row of buildings following on the west side of Alamo Plaza. The boundary
all along here, as is most frequently the case with these Missions, consisted of
dwellings and barracks for the use of those connected with or dependants of the
old Missions. Two irrigation ditches or acequias, both of them abandoned many
years ago, ran upon each side of this row of dwellings, one a branch of a branch
and the other a branch called the Acequia del Alamo of the Villita ditch, now
running under the eastern wall of the Church through the Menger hotel on to " La
Villita," which ditch, by the way, is itself a branch of a main acequia (Acequia
Madre del Alamo) which passes farther east from the head of the river and on to
Water street. All these ditches were used not only for irrigating the lands in the
immediate vicinity and belonging to the Missions, but provided water for the
domestic uses of the Padres and their numerous dependants and coadjutors.
Similar dwellings and buildings to those mentioned formed the northeastern
corner of the square. The southern boundary was more prominent on account of
the strongly built entrance and sally-port of the square being there. The build-
ing each side of the entrance were most commonly used as a prison and strong-
hold ; further mention of ihis building will appear later. Hardly a vestige of
these enclosing walls of the Mission Square could be found to-day. The eastern
wall or boundary was also conspicuous for the Convent buildings which it in-
cluded, and upon these Convent foundations Honore Grenet, in the year 1878,
built for a grocery warehouse the inartistic erection now occupied by the firm of
Hugo & Schmeltzer. This property has been condemned by the city (1889) so
that these remnants, too, will in all probability soon disappear before the mandates
of improvement committees; when, all that will be left of this once prominent and
always most famous of the Texas Missions will be those walls in the form of a
cross, which with " ears to hear," caught to themselves the secrets of the closing
scenes of a sublime tragedy. They alone know the last personal results of a
unanimous resolve of desperate but calmly deliberate heroism. Old, battered,
time-worn, silent walls, no word of any single hero's prowess, or separate and
supreme feats do your portals tell. They are carved with emblems and signs of
quite another story. Those deeds are your secret. Nevertheless, echoed from
you, shall be heard the whispers adown the farthest "corridor of time" of a mag-
nificent story of reckless and immovable self-sacrifice.

East of the Convent building, projected from its walls the Convent yard, a
rectangular enclosure, about 100 feet square, surrounded by strong walls, it touched
and joined with its southeast corner the wall of the near corner of the north
wing of the cross formed by the walls of the Mission Church. The Convent
building was 191 feet long, running to the south line of East Houston street, so
no doubt on the north side of the Convent yard was another enclosure proba-

10 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

bly fenced with a wall, but not of the importance of the main Convent yard. The
Convent, the Convent yard, the prison building already mentioned, and which
was existing till 1866, ''when a storm blew the roof off) or later, the space imme-
diately in front of the Alamo Church which was protected by a temporary
battery stockade of cedar posts and earthworks stretching from the prison build-
ing to the southwest corner of the Church, and lastly, the Church itself, were the
chief scenes of the siege of February and March, 1836. In the Church the last
desperate stand ot the remnant of the defenders was made. These portions of
the Mission were those that in these later troubles were commonly understood to
constitute the fortress of the Alamo. While some of the dwellings might have
been used and undoubtedly were used as barracks by larger forces, it could not
have been but impossible for a handful of men (less than 180) to have manned
the whole extensive original walls of- the Mission square. Indeed, tradition says
that much of the western and northern boundaries of the large Mission square
had been destroyed in 1835, before the siege, and that even the prison portion
was abandoned quite early in the siege, though still covered by unerring marks-
men with the long rifles which the Texans knew so well how to handle. Before,
General Cos did much to damage the place as a tenable fortress and during and
after the siege, the walls were dismantled. Piecemeal, " here a little and there a
little," the old Mission has been improved off the face of the earth. Very for-
lorn and dilapidated must it have appeared when it left the hands of Santa Anna
and his myrmidons in the spring of 1836. " The Alamo," says Kendall, writing
of 1841 "is now in ruins, only two or three of the houses being inhabited."
For thirteen or fourteen years after "the fall," the place remained in a
state of almost absolute ruin. For much less than a century had this
church stood in the beauty of completeness. There are strong evidences
that the Alamo Church in original general design resembled the Church
of the Mission Concepcion, that is to say, it had a carved front, on either side of
which was a tower with baptismal or vestry rooms at their bases, with belfries in
their second stories. Both Churches were built in the form of the cross and had
similar arches and arched stone roofs. The Alamo Church, probably like the
Mission Concepcion Church, had a dome at the intersection of the cross arches.
Here, perhaps, the resemblance between the two Churches ceased. Now, long
before the siege, tradition says, the towers had disappeared, the roof and dome had
mostly fallen in, but what was left of the walls stood bravely up. These thick,
strong walls, the Convent with its yard and the carcel or prison entrance were
recognized by the many military leaders of the various factions and armies in the
struggles and troublous times of the early part of the present century as about
the safest harbor of refuge the neighborhood afforded, as at times others of the
Missions were considered good frontier fortresses.

About the year 1849, Major E. B. Babbitt, acting Quartermaster of the
Eighth Military Department, and father of the present popular commander of the
Arsenal, Major Lawrence S. Babbitt, took possession of the Alamo buildings in
the name of the U. S. Government to use them as a Quartermaster's Depot.
The ownership of the Alamo was disputed at this time, the city claiming it on
the one side, the Roman Catholic Church upon the other. The city claimed
from Major E. B. Babbitt, on January 3d, 1850, rents due for the occupation of

THE ALAMO. 11

the " buildings and property known as the Alamo." In a subsequent suit which
the city lost, Bishop Odin, on behalf of his Church, proved her title to the
property.

Major Babbitt, as has been said, found the whole place in appearance an ab-
solute ruin. The Church building was choked with debris, a conglomeration of
stones, mortar and dirt forming on the inside a slanting heap from the base of the
rear wall to the top of the front ' ' so that a person could run up and look over the
top of the front." Much work was necessary to put the place into anything like
the shape necessary for offices and depot houses, and sheds. The Major set to
work to do this. The Church was first cleared, and deep down in the debris were
found two or three skeletons that had evidently been hastily covered with rub-
bish after the fall, for with them were found fur caps and buckskin trappings,
undoubted relics of the ever memorable last stand. In a later year, March 29,
1878, other skeletons buried at an earlier and apparently more peaceful period,
were unearthed in the Church, and a beautifully carved baptismal font was
brought to light, November 15, 1878. What varied scenes in the life of man it
had witnessed ! One would be tempted to moralize writing for anything else
but the pages of a bald historical guide. The next work done was the repairing
of the front. To restore the upper part of it to its original form was impracticable.
Bare practical utility is the desired feature of any Government Military work.
So the top was finished off in its present modest shape, the rest of the walls were
raised to an equal height, a roof was added, and to assist in bearing up this roof,
two stone pillars were built inside at points in the wings of the cross in line with
the arch pillars. A second floor was added, and in the southwest tower, once a
belfry, an office was made. Other offices were added on the ground floor. A
few troops were at first quartered in the Church, the Convent and yard were also
fitted up for storerooms, stables and sheds. The carcel was also roofed and
cleared, and a serviceable granary was made of it and used as such by the Quar-
termasters for many years. It was demolished soon after the war, the wind be-
ginning this work of destruction in 1866. This old prison building used to stand
east and west across the north end of the garden of the Alamo Plaza and its
foundations were brought to light in 1889, when the leveling of the Plaza, prepar-
atory to laying mesquite blocks, began. The buildings as restored by Major
Babbitt, were used as a Quartermaster's Depot by the United States troops
until the breaking out of the war, when the Confederate authorities used it for a
similar purpose. After the war it was again used by the United States Govern-
ment until the new Quartermaster Depot was ready on Government Hill, on
January 31, 1878.

In 1877 Grenet purchased the Convent portion of the Alamo property, and
shortly (October 5, 1878) erected the atrocious lumber building before noticed.
Objection was made on the part of the Church authorities to using, the Alamo
Church building as a mercantile storeroom, yet it undoubtedly was used for this
at times. Early in 1883 the State began negotiations for the purchase of the old
Church, and under Act of April 23, 1883, this was done, and on May 16, the
final transfer to the State for $20,000 was made. This was the right and proper
thing to do, and it was but a slight recognition of the valor of the men to whom

12 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Texas owes so much, not to mention the many other historical associations that
its walls embody. Many particulars and details of the foundation and earlier
history of this Church and the Mission will be found in Sidney Lanier's histori-
cal sketch. These notes are intended in part to supplement and fit into his ex-
cellent description.

The Cathedral of San Fernando.

This structure, once merely a Parish Church, now a Cathedral (the first Bishop
of San Antonio was installed here Christmas eve, 1874), is a mixture of the old
and new regimes. All that is left of the old building is the rear part, easily dis-
tinguished by its marked Moorish characteristics, its dome and massive walls and
octagonal design. The first Parish Church seems to have been built by
subscription and the " subject of the construction was first considered in the Royal
Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, February 17th, 1738.* Don Prudencio de
Orobio Basterra being Governor and Captain-General of the Spanish State of
Texas, and Don Juan Rezio de L,eon being Curate, Vicar and Ecclesiastical Justice
of the town of San Fernando (without the Presidio of San Antonio), and it was
resolved that this Parish Church should be erected under the invocation of the
Virgin and our Lady of Guadalupe." Many Spanish names which appear in the
original list of contributors are names well known in the present day, held by
descendants. This old Church stood upon much the same ground as the modern
structure does, that is, midway between the two Plazas, the Main and the Mili-
tary. It bore, however, a nearer relation to the Military Plaza and its habitants
than to the other, for it was here mostly that Spain's soldier-guardians of her
border colonies dwelt, and it was for their use, more especially, that the Church
was designed. f

The corner stone of the new structure was laid on September 27th, 1868.
The old main dome was destroyed April 29th, 1872, and the new walls went up
outside the old, so that the Church was only for a short time in disuse. July 3d,
1873, the old front was torn down. F. Giraud, who was Mayor of San Antonio
at the opening, October 6th, 1873, had furnished the architect's plans and speci-
fications. It was the intention of the architect to have two similar towers, yet
only one was partially completed. These towers were to have additional struc-
tures of wood ?urmounting the masonry, twenty-five feet above the summit of the
tower now erected. In this tower are several bells that chime out morning, noon
and evening, telling to all the city the time of day. Daily services are held,
the vSunday morning congregation is, as a rule, large, and then the music is good
and well worth hearing. The Church is open all day and under the care of a
sacristan. There is an old and interesting font and several large pictures and
other notable decorations. The present Bishop is San Antonio's second — the
Right Reverend J. C. Neraz.

* Another authority says that the foundation stone of this old Church was laid May i3th, 1734.

— (San Antonio Herald, July lyth, 1872).

t There was formerly mention existing in the church records of a still older church building on a different
site, at about No. 500 North Laredo street ; all traces of this foundation have entirely disappeared. It was the
origin of the old San Fernando Parish Church, and in a measure the building of the latter was probably a re-
moval merely from the Laredo street site.

THE MISSIONS. 13

The Missions.

" Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear,

Blest be the man that spares these stones."
*****

A protest must be recorded here against the wanton mutilation of the sculp-
ture of the Missions by thoughtless relic hunters. The shameful chipping of the
beautiful carving has been going on for years. At San Jose whole figures have been
stolen and others made headless ; the fine old carved cedar paneled doors of this
Mission were entirely wrecked and carried away piecemeal. Can any good use
warrant such senseless robbery ? Good friend, forbear ! forbear even to add your
name to the thousands scratched, scribbled and penciled on walls not meant for
such a purpose.

How to Get to the Missions.

How can I get to see the Missions ? is the anxious inquiry of almost every
traveling sightseer that comes to San Antonio.

The idea that if one is seen all are seen is erroneous.

Each Mission has its distinctive features, and all are well worth a visit.
Time, of'course, is of great consideration to most people, and they would rather
see one than none, which is reasonable enough, but if the time can possibly be
spared none of the four Missions should be missed. There is nothing of the kind
of equal interest on this continent. It is an experience of a lifetime, especially
so to him who is engaged in the rush and torrent of business life. Let him then
sacrifice a little to this object and he may be sure that, far from regretting the
time, it will be a memory to be long cherished. It is a simple matter to get to
the Missions, except after a heavy rain, and then the muddy roads, as everywhere
else in the world, are a little unpleasant. The way for a stranger to go, to
thoroughly enjoy the time, is to hire a buggy, or, if a small party is made up, a
larger conveyance. Northern visitors are often seen making themselves very un-
comfortable by going out to the Missions on horseback thinking that it is the
thing to do in Texas. If you are a good rider, all right, but don't make yourself
miserable by putting yourself for the first time in a Texas saddle to see the
Missions, or you are very sure not to appreciate what there is to see. The
ride should be made a separate number on the program. Granted, — that
you have made up your mind to hire a buggy and to see all the Missions.
Start in the morning after breakfast taking a light lunch with you. You take
Garden street going south, and noting as you leave town the wide old Concepcion
Ditch on the left hand side of the road. You still follow the same street crossing
the Southern Pacific Railroad track and bearing slightly to the right ; cross the
S. A. & A. P. Railroad track, still following the same road, until you see the
Towers of the Mission Concepcion standing conspicuously up on the left hand
side of the road, just two and one quarter miles from the centre of the city.
Having seen all that there is to be seen here, >ou make your way along the
same road towards the Riverside Park, then down to the River, crossing a new
county bridge there at the old ford.

14 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

It was just in this neighborhood that the first battle was fought for Texan
Independence, in 1835. After crossing the River, you take what is called the
River Road, but you do not catch sight of the River again until you reach
the Mission of San Jose, not four miles from the city. It should be noon by the
time that you have done these two Missions thoroughly, so if you choose you
can drive down a short distance to the River and water your horse, tie, and at a
very pretty spot under the Pecans, take your lunch. You must return to San
Jose to take the road to the Third Mission, passing the Pyron homestead on the
left, keeping on between fences until you reach a branch of the road, one towards
Berg's Mill, where there are both a bridge and a ford. The Third Mission is on
the other side of the River. It will be noted that the Missions are alternately on
different sides of the River. The First on the east bank, the Second on the west,
the third on the East and the fourth on the West. Leaving the third you return
over the bridge a short distance to the branch of the road that you left, and
go down abruptly to the wooden bridge over the Piedra creek. Quite close to
this bridge to the left is the old aqueduct made by the Franciscan brothers nearly
150 years ago. Alight and examine it. It is indeed a substantial and interest-
ing work, a series of low massive arches on the top of which runs the Mission
irrigating ditch. Leaving this, follow this branch road to the fourth Mission and
return to the City at pleasure.

Mission Concepcion.

" To ruinate proud buildings with thy hours

And smear with dust their glittering, golden towers."

In the report of the Viceroy Count Revilla-gigedo, referred to many times in
this work, the date of the "erecciou" of this Mission as well as those of the Missions
of the Alamo, San Juan and San Francisco de la Espada, is given as
1716. San Jose is given as being "erected" four years later 1720. This
does not mean that the buildings were then erected, but simply that in
that year it was determined to establish Missions in suitable localities on
Spain's frontiers for the purposes of subjecting, christianizing and civilizing In-
dian tribes and of firmly establishing Spain's right to these regions of territory
to which she laid a just claim. It was in the year 1730 that the Mission of Nues-
tra Sefiora de la Concepcion Purissima de Acuna was located as the report says
on the site that it now occupies in the neighborhood of the Capital Town of the
Province. The Church records show that the foundation stone of this Mission
was laid March 5, 1731, about the time that the Mission San Jose was completed,
and that taking twenty-one years to build it was completed in 1752. The won-

* Translation from the " Informe Oficial " of Count-Revilla-gigedo, Viceroy of Mexico 1793.

ARTICLE 196. " On the third expedition of the year 1716, nine friars of the College of Santa Cruz of Que-
retaro and of Our Lady of Guadalupe of Zacatecas together with the Superior or President, V. P. Fr. Antonio
Margil de Jesus established six missions in the most northerly part of the Province (Texas) and a few years
thereafter another was built near the Presidio of Our Lady del Pilar de los Adaes distant seven leagues from
the fort of Nachitoches in Louisiana.

ARTICLE 197. In the year 1730, three of these missions, -viz, Our Lady de la Concepcion, San Juan
Capistrano and San Francisco de la Espada were transferred to the sites they now occupy in the neighbor-
hood of the Capital Town of the Province (San Antonio) and the other three were extinguished in the year 1774
as may be seen by Article 22 of the instructions contained in the Royal Regulations of the Presidios which
His Majesty ordered dispatched under date of 10th September 1772."

MISSION CONCEPCION.

der is, not that it took so long but that it could be completed in the time by the
founders, with materials to find, manufacture and hew, and with the necessity of
teaching an intractable people, strange to industry, at once, how to labor and the
arts. The reader is referred to the ground plans of the Missions illustrated in
this book and he will realize how enormous in the wilderness and with such
difficulties was the undertaking.

Mission Concepcion was built like the others for worship, for scholastic pur-
poses and for defence. The barracks that surrounded the square have long since
disappeared and what was for a period the home of hospitality and the strong-
hold and refuge of many wayfarers and travellers and alive with the daily toil
of its little community and the quick purpose of its founders, is now quiet and
deserted, a relic, and but for the occasional service in the chapel is an institution
that has served its day. It is pathetic, realizing that there is no help for these
grand old monuments of the past but to fall more and more into decay. Mission
Concepcion is the best preserved Mission of Texas. Its ' ' twin towers ' ' and
Moorish dome rising out of the brush and small timber in its vicinity arouse
within one a mixture of curiosity, a sense of the incongruous and a delight of
the picturesque. At the Mission lives a family, which is in charge and some one
of them will bring you the key of the chapel and show you what there is to be
seen, but it would be useless to try and elicit any information. To them the past
of the Mission is as a sealed book and it has no romance for them. The Mission
Church fronts due West, and is built in the form of a cross, with the towers
forming two wings at the foot of the cross. This design corresponds exactly
with that of the Church of the Alamo. The front gateway is worthy of close ex-
amination. The upper part of the ornamented facade is not an arch but a
simple triangle and the arch of the doorway is, for want of a better definition, a
divided polygon. In the division or center of the arch is a shield with arms
and devices, and here and there on the portal facade are cross and scroll, and
carved relief pillars at the sides ornamented with carved lozenges. In angular
spaces over the archway as shown below is the legend:

which, being interpreted, is " With these arms be mindful to the Mission's Patron-
ess and Princess, and defend (or vindicate) the state of her purity." Over this

16 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

winds, circling in and out, the flagellum or knotted scourge of the order of St.
Francis, realistically carved — "Ifitwan't for the knots, 'twould be like a hair
lariat," as a boy once remarked. It also has an uncanny suggestion of a hang-
man's noose. These are again surmounted with other designs, and above all on the
summit of the facade is a stone bearing the date 1794, and immediately under-
neath this is a shield with the initial, A^E meaning, " Ave Maria." The only
stained glass in all the Missions is the panes of two little windows each side of
the upper part of the facade. The front of the Mission Concepcion must have
been very gorgeous with color, for it was frescoed all over with red and blue
quatrefoil crosses* of different pattern and with large yellow and orange squares
to simulate great dressed stones. This frescoing is rapidly disappearing, and
from but a little distance the front looks to be merely gray and undecorated stone.
The topmost roofs of the towers are pyramidical and of stone, with smaller corner
pyramidal cap-stones. The upper stories of the towers have each four lookout
windows of plain Roman arches. The tops of the side walls of the Church and
the circle wall of the central dome have wide stone serrations in the Moorish
character, the points of which around the finely proportioned dome stand out like
canine teeth. The towers have belfries, and at their bases, on either side of the
entrance are on the right, a baptistry 11x11 feet with massive thick walls, and on
the left a similar small chamber used as a vestry. The baptistry walls are fres-
coed with weird looking designs, dim and faded, of the Crucifixion and " los
dolores." It is quite dark in this room, there being no window, and a light
must be procured to examine it. 'A semi-circular font projects from the south
wall, its half bowl carved with what appears to be a symbolical figure with out-
stretched arms supporting the rim. It is a rude piece of carving, but is artistic.
Inside, the stone roof of the Chapel with its series of arches and central dome, is
massive but plain. In each wing of the cross are altars or altar places. In the
west end is a choir loft. In the east, an altar gorgeously decked and painted in
the Catholic manner, for Mass. The walls, roof, and ceiling are newly white-
washed, the floor is " Mother Earth," but some bran new seats have been pro-
vided. The Chapel up till recently, was in a very neglected state. To Bishop
Neraz belongs the credit of having it restored to its present state of cleanliness
and comfort. He it was who re-dedicated it to Our Lady of Lourdes on May 2,
1887.

The mission was frequently used for the quartering of troops, notably in
1835. Santa Anna is said to have expressed surprise that the Alamo was chosen
to be defended by the Texans in 1836 rather than the Mission Concepcion, affecting
to recognize, more effective military points in the Concepcion Mission as a strong-
hold. In 1849 the United States troops were quartered there for awhile and it is
said that they cleared the chapel of an immense amount of accumulated rubbish
and bat guano. In the holes in the walls outside are to be found the nesting
places of owls, pigeons, doves and other birds. To the south of the chapel,
westerly, are a series of arches which were formerly cells, chambers and cloisters
for the Mission inmates, but now used as storage rooms and stables. To the

* These quatrefoils are repeated over and over again in the carved lozenges of the pillars in relief, and
frescoes of this Mission and at San Jos6. Whether there is any meaning attached to these particular forms of
the cross beyond that they are crosses, the editor is unable to discover.

The shaded part is in ruins. The material is rough stone laid
in mortar. B is the baptismal chamber. T is the room under the left
tower. D stands for door, as ft for arch. There is another room above
the Sacristy.

The river is towards the west about % mile.

Scale, 4.0 feet to the inch.

In a work published in the Spanish language at Saltillo written by Esteban L .
Portillo and entitled "Apuntes para la Historia Antigua de Coahuila y Texas," the
author on page 305 remarks concerning the Mission Concepcion, apparently
deriving his information from Mexican State Records : — "In order to guard it, the
Monastery had a stone wall with three gateways, as well as two bronze cannons of
an eight-ounce calibre, with a weight of 3 arrobas 8 libras," (83 Ibs each). As has
been said in our description of this Mission the traces of such walls are to-day
hardly to be defined and these defences are not shown in the plan for fear of inac-
curacy.

fiirn'lr.

Sap Jo$e

The shaded part is in ruins. D represents door, W
window. The dotted lines represent arches or abutments
for arches. The front walls are j feet thick, others
and 2% feet.

Scale, jo feet to the inch.

The river is to the north about Ji mile, running south of east

s door, W

ibutntents
it hers 3%

L»

I
•i

i of east.

W
U

IDI

wui

0>m

;

This mm.
at m ouJttf
'titu: «ror/X

M ,,,,,I/»I<J,.
HtiC

Sap Jose (Jrai?ary.

F F F etc. are flying buttresses. The dwelling is two
stories high. The adobe wall is modern. The material is
rough stone laid in mortar.

The river is towards the north, running south of east.
Scale, 20 feet to the inch.

Sai? Juar?

Solid lines show existing works, dotted lines, old and ruined
ones. The river is to the west about 100 yards, flowing in a southerly
direction. D is for door, W is for window. The Granary and Church
are partly in ruins.

Scale, 80 feet to the inch.

Espada

Solid lines show existing works, dotted lines, ruined
works. T T T are bastions or bulwarks. A A ft A. A are
arched doorways.

Scale, 100 feet to the inch.

Illustrating the [/ilia Capital de San Fernando, Spanish,
Garrison, Etc,

1. The old Church of San Fernando.

2. Churchyard Burying Ground, now covered by the Cathedral
of 1868-72.

3. The Presidio Garrison Barracks, long since removed.

4. The old Plaza de Armas Dwellings and Ramparts. All 3 and 4
were claimed by the city as city property and in most cases the city
substantiated its claims, and, acquiring it, cleared the old buildings
away. The lot marked b was the last private property to disappear-
1889. In the '403 and '503 a man named Goodman gave much trouble
before he was finally ousted by law by the city. Plats of most of
these properties, and the names of claimants, may be found in
Book 1, City Engineer's Records. The City Hall of 1850-90, with
City Jail, occupied N. W. corner, c d.

5. Properties of N. Lewis, Callaghan, Groesbeeck, et al., on Main
Plaza, claimed and cleared by the city similarly to those on Military
Plaza (See note 4).

6. The isolated Spanish family names on the plan are those of
some of the original property holders.

7. The faintly dotted lines to and from the Veramendi and Garza
Houses are the approximate routes to Zambrano Row and to the
Priest House taken by the besieging companies under Milam and
F. W. Johnston in 1835. The capitulation of Cos to Burleson fol-
lowed in 1835.

This plan is about 75 varas to the inch, Rampart Dwellings from 6 to 12 varas
wide, Garrison Barracks, 20 varas wide.

MISSION SAN JOSF,. 17

south forming a wing easterly are other buildings probably the sacristy,
superior's vestries and quarters, these have two stories, the upper being ap-
proached by a stone stair-case. The square of the Mission at this date, can
very hardly be denned, but that the Mission was situated in the southeastern
corner of a ramparted square is without doubt. The Mission Square enclosed
about four acres. The brothers of the Mission formerly owning about 100 acres.
On April 10th, 1794, the lands of Mission Concepcion were partitioned in a simi-
lar manner to those of the Alamo Mission, among its Indian dependents, setting
aside certain portions of the land for the payment of Government taxes. This
was done by an order of the Viceroy dated 1786. The names of the recipients
may be found in a document among our County Records. There were 38 souls at
that time in the Mission community, namely 16 men, 12 married women, 1 boy, 6
girls and 3 widows. In 1805 a census showed 41 souls.

The name of the Mission refers first to the doctrine of the Immaculate Con-
ception of the Virgin which was a new and burning religious question of the
day. Acufia it derives from the name of the Marquess Casa de Fuerte, Viceroy
of Mexico at the time of the Mission's foundation.

The Mission San Jose.

Mission San Jose de Aguayo or Second Mission as it is familiarly called, is
dedicated to St. Joseph, the husband of the Virgin Mary, and was "erected" or
founded in the year 1720, when Marquis San Miguel de Aguayo came to be Gov-
ernor of Texas ; hence the name San Jose de Aguayo. It was probably begun
shortly after, during this man's Governorship, for it was the first to be finished
and the day of its completion was made the occasion of locating and beginning
the Concepcion, San Juan and San Francisco Missions, March o, 1731. San Jose
Mission is the most beautiful of all, and its carving is surely "a joy forever."
The hand that chiseled the wonderful facade at the main entrance of the Church,
the doorway, window, and pillar capitals of the smaller Chapel, that now goes by
the name of the Baptistry, was one of marvelous cunning. The facade is rich to
repletion with the most exquisite carving. Figures of Virgins and Saints with
drapery that looks like drapery, cherubs' heads, sacred hearts, ornate pedestals
and recesses with their conch-like canopies, and cornices wonderful. The door
way, pillar and arch, is daring in its unique ornamentation — showing in its com-
bination of form the impression of Moorish outlines. Otherwise the whole facade
is rich Rennaissance — figures and hearts alone with anything realistic about
them. All other ornamentation is conventional, but with nothing stiff, every
curve showing a free hand. The window above the archway is a simple wreath
of such acanthus-like curves and conchoids of surpassing workmanship.
The south window of the Baptistry is considered by good judges the finest gem of
architectural ornamentation existing in America to-day. Its curves and propor-
tions are a perpetual delight to the eye, and often as the writer has seen and ex-
amined it, it is of that kind of art which does not satiate, but ever reveals some
fresh beauty in line or curve. And to think that men can be found who can
ruthlessly deface these for the sake of possessing a piece of the material. Was it
not that the sculptor saw the perfect statue in the stone ? Surely here the fool

18 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

sees only the stone in the material that has been given a beauty not its own. If
stones ever do cry out, it is when they are alive with this touch of genius.

" Do you not know me; does no voice -within
Answer my cry, and say we are akin ? "

But can these desecrators have any kinship with Art ? It is not the Texan
or the Mexican who has done these things. Kendall says, writing of '42,
" though the Texan troops were long quartered here, (San Jose) the stone carv-
ings have not been injured." And this was in wartime when men are more than
usually bent on destruction.

Turn to the foundation plan of San Jose. It will be seen how extensive
these Mission buildings are. They are placed in the northeast corner of the
square, running almost due east and west. " The Mission San Jose consists also
of a large square, and numerous Mexican families still make it their residence.
To the left of the gateway is the granary." So says Kendall. The gateway is
gone to-day. The granary, with its strong and curious flying buttresses and
arched stone roof, is still there and in it families make a home. The road still
enters the Mission Square just at the right of the granary, where the old en-
trance was. Here you are in full view of the fagade of the Mission Buildings
with the square spreading out to the right or south of the long main building of
the Mission. The Mexican families still exist in huts erected upon the ruins of
the ramparts of the Mission Square, and in a few years these now hardly to be
defined foundations will have been "improved" from the place. At the south-
western corner of the Mission buildings is a belfry tower, about sixty feet high.
It has four lookout windows and a pyramidical stone roof. Tucked in the angle
made by this tower and the south wall of the large Chapel, is a peculiar round
tower to accommodate the winding stairway of solid hewn wooden steps to the
second story of the belfry tower. From the second story are very curious stairs
or ladders made of solid tree trunks notched and dressed with an axe, leading to
the upper lookout of the tower. Here, are to be had some fine views of the
country. All over the tower chamber's walls are thousands of names of visitors.
Only a small portion of the large stone roof of the main Chapel remains and much
of the north wall has gone, leaving a great ugly gap on this side and
the remnant of the roof very unsafe in appearance. These portions of the Chapel
with its dome fell in with a great crash on a stormy night of December, 1868. To
the south of the main Chapel is a smaller one, the window and carving of which
were referred to above. This is roofed by three domes, the tops of the enclosing
walls being serrated, all quite in Moorish style. The entrance to this Chapel is
from the east from an ante-chamber or wing of the cloisters. The arch and side-
stones of the entry door are beautifully sculptured, and here, there still remain,
much chipped, once finely carved, cedar double doors, and although so badly dam-
aged they suggest to one's mind what the beauty of the front doors or gates at the
faoade of the main Chapel might have been. In this little Chapel services are
still occasionally held. Its altar is decked with gaudy patchwork of a distinctly
Mexican design, and many a little trumpery, by way of offering is placed there by
the simple and believing women folk of the place. Some of the details of the
capitals of the pillars, the font and other carving of this little Chapel are illustrated
in this book. There are two ancient Spanish pictures, one hanging each side of the

MISSION SAN JOSFv. 19

altar, much the worse for age, scenes from the life of St. Joseph. One is very
plainly the " Flight into Egypt." The other, more difficult to make out, is most
likely a picture of the Circumcision. The fan-like fluted canopies of the window
and recesses have a pretty architectural effect. The cloisters and cells, which
were of two stories, are quite extensive with a double series of arches stretching
eastwardly from the main building. The outside arches are plain, wide semi-
circular arches, and pointed Gothic arches inside and on the second floors.
These monastic additions to the Mission had formerly fallen very much into
decay, but in 1859 some Benedictine fathers arrived here from St. Vincent's
Abbey in the Pittsburg Diocese, Pennsylvania, with the intention of rebuilding
these rooms and cloisters for scholastic purposes. The intention was only par-
tially carried into effect. The industrious fathers rebuilt many of the upper
Gothic arches, as far as can be learned, manufacturing their own red bricks for
that purpose and the making of the big oven at the east end. What finally inter-
fered with this purpose of the Benedictines it is difficult to discover, but it is more
than likely that wars and rumors of wars and an unsettled epoch had much to do
with the abandonment of their project, adding one more unfinished chapter to the

heroic history of the Catholic Church in Texas.

Notwithstanding their irrigation ditches and the proximity of the River to
all the four Missions, the constructors did not forget one important item — water,
in case of the community being confined to the Mission Square. Each of the
Missions has a substantially built, serviceable well, sunk close to the main building.
San Jose was erected under more than ordinary difficulty, the builders being
under constant fear and expectation of attack by hostiles. Perhaps fear is a word
too foreign to the natures of. these brave and religious pioneers who struggled
with such pious determination to success. It must have been very disheartening
to find that all their faithful labor was in vain, though no record of any such ex-
pression is extant. Captain Pike, who in his famous expedition visited this
Mission in 3807, relates that the Priest told him that " it appeared to him that the
Indians could not exist under the shadow of the whites — as the nations who
formed the San Antonio Missions had been nurtured and taken all the care of
that it was possible, and put on the same footing as the Spaniards ; yet, notwith-
standing they had dwindled away until the other two Missions (San Juan Capes-
trana [sic] and L,a Purisima Concepcion)* had become entirely depopulated, and
the one where he resided had not then more than sufficient to perform his house-
hold labor. From this he had formed an idea that God never intended them to
form one people, but that they should always remain distinct and separate." f

Bishop Neraz thinks the figures on the front of San Jose to be, The Virgin,
San Jose, San Benedict, San Augustine and San Francisco. Other authorities
have given a slight variation of this list. The front was frescoed in red, blue
and yellow in pretty designs, but this is now very difficult to discern.

* Census of 1805 showed forty-one souls in Mission Concepcion.

t This extract from "Pike's Expedition " is taken from Yoakum's History, Vol. I., p. (il. With regard to
this — Where are the nations of the Indian ("with half his face vermilion") mentioned in the Records of Marriages,
of Mission Concepcion ? (See Interview with Bishop Neraz) " Even with the good Knight Charlemaiu ! "

20 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Mission of San Juan.

The Third Mission, or Mission San Juan de Capistrano was named after
Santa Giovanni di Capistrano, a friar of the Franciscan order who was born in the
year 1386 in the little town of Capistrano in the Abruzzi in Italy, or rather in
what was formerly the kingdom of the two Sicilies. The Mission was begun in
1731 on March 5th. It is situated on the left or east bank of the river about six
miles from San Antonio, a very picturesque locality by the San Juan ford and
bridge. The settlement there is called Berg's Mill after a Scouring Mill erected
some years ago. The S. A. & A. P. R. R. Depot goes by that name also.
About a half mile from this settlement on the right or west bank of the River is
the old aqueduct already alluded to in the introductory to the Missions — this
aqueduct takes water over the Piedra creek for the use of the Fourth Mission
lands. Mission San Juan is less remarkable and distinguished than the other
two just described but has its points of interest. Its square is well denned and
the design of a complete Mission can be made out with less difficulty here and at
the Fourth Mission than at the others. Its little granary, its chapel, its ruined
convent or monastery which must have been a building of some importance in its
day, and the,foundations of a chapel which was never completed are all objects of
interest. These main buildings unlike those of the First and Second Missions
form parts of and are built into the boundary or rampart walls. A number of
Mexican families live here, some of the members of which possess marked Indian
features. In the neighborhood of San Juan there are more traces of the Indian
in faces and characteristics than anywhere else in Texas. The best time to note
this is on a Sunday afternoon when they usually congregate at one of the houses
near the ford for their weekly cock fight which seems to be the excitement of the
community, that is among the men.

The Chapel of San Juan is very plain and simple in construction. Just four
walls — the tower being merely an elevation of a portion of the East wall with open
arches in it for bells. There is still one bell left. The Chapel is roofless except
for one small room at the south end which is walled off by an adobe wall and
which is used as a Sacristy, vestry, and receptacle for the small remaining stock of
figures, books, pictures and other such bric-a-brac. The inside of the walls of
the Chapel, however, will afford to such as care for that sort of thing a few min-
utes interesting study in rude frescoing. The frescoes are almost obliterated by
exposure to the weather andthe wonder is that they have not long since been washed
entirely off by heavy rains. They are a curious mixture of Old and New World
ideas. Detail of Moorish design, a Roman arch, an Indian figure and pigments.
"These frescoes,'' says Father Bouchu, "I think are of later date than the comple-
tion of the Chapel and they were probably permitted, to satisfy the Indian na-
ture's love of color." A painted rail about four feet high running around the
Chapel, first attracts the eye, then the elaborately painted Roman Arch in red
and orange over the doorway. The design of this decoration is decidedly of a
Moorish caste, zigzag strips and blocks of color with corkscrew and tile work,
and pillars of red and orange blocks. These pillars are about twelve feet high and
support another line or rail of color and upon this upper line are a series of fig-
ures of musicians each playing a different instrument. The figures for some rea-
son are much more indistinct than their instruments, the latter being accurately

EAST DOOR, BAPTISTRY, SAN JOSE.

SOUTH WINDOW OF BAPTISTRY, MISSION SAN JOSE.

PART OF THE RAMPARTS, MISSION ESPADO.

MISSION SAN FRANCISCO. 21

drawn and easy to distinguish. There is one of these figures over the frescoed
arch of the door. It is a mandolin player. The player is indistinct, portions of
his chair and instrument plainer, the latter can be made out to be of dark brown
color with the finger board and keys, red. To the right of him is a violin player,
the best preserved sample of all — the violin and bow are quite distinct, so are the
features of the face of the figure, his hair is black, lips red, face and legs or-
ange, feet black, the body of the violin orange, the rest of him and the bow red. To
the right of him again is a guitar player, dressed in a bluish green color, sitting
in a red chair, the instrument is quite distinct. Directly opposite this figure vis
a vis is a viol player; the instrument being held by the player, finger board up,
from the left shoulder across the body ; head, hands, instrument and bow being
distinct, but the body of him is "played out." To the right of this ghostly
looking viol player is a harp and a chair but the player is either invisible or van-
ished. The lower rail, which is the much more elaborate of the two, supports here
and there a flower pot and flowers in incongruous colors of bluish green and dull
red — carnations and roses being prime favorites, with an occasional cross on a
painted pedestal or dado.

If there is any record of the partition of the lands of this Mission it has not
been discovered, at any rate with regard to the rooms in the ramparts it seems to
have been customary at the Missions that a number of years occupation of rooms
or barracks in any Mission gave some kind of title or claim to those rooms to the
occupants. The Mission Government was generous to its converts and depend-
ants. The Missions were projected for their benefit. This must explain such
documents as that which may be found in the County Records dated January 28th,
1826, which relates that Maria de las Santos Lopez and Bartara de las Santos
Lopez who were then occupying three rooms in the Mission San Juan conveyed
the same to .the Province of Texas for the sum of $84.00 January 28th, 1826.
This sum was paid to them by Antonio Saucedo. then Chief Justice.

Mission San Francisco de la Espada.

The Fourth Mission or Mission San Francisco de la Espada, was "erected"
as were Missions Concepcion and San Juan, in the year 1716, but it was not lo-
cated and begun to be built until March 5th, 1731. It is situated on the
right or west bank of the San Antonio River about nine miles from the city, and
is dedicated to San Francisco de la Espada, that is, to St. Francis of Assissi, the
founder of the great order of Franciscans, but the question arises, whence " de la
Espada ? " St. Francis of the sword ? Tradition says that the old tower of the
Chapel was built in the form of the hilt of a sword, and that the imagination of
the founders supplied length to the blade to complete the similarity to the whole
weapon. Perhaps it was that they were possessed with a portion of the spirit of
that Greek parent whose son complained of the shortness of his sword ; ' ' Add a
step to it, my son ! " The allusion to the sword may have had some reference to
the period of the awakening of St. Francis after his early illness, for it is related
of him that he did not know at first whether he was called to be a valiant soldier
and knight, or to be a faithful servant of the Church Militant.

22 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Parts of the ramparts or enclosing walls of this Mission are pretty well pre-
served, others are in total ruins, but the foundations of the limits can be clearly
made out all around except at points facing the banks of the River. The Square is
of irregular shape as will be seen by the plan furnished. In the southeast corner is
an object of much interest. Projecting from the angle of the walls outwardly, is a
small round tower of quite a feudal character. It is in a state of fine preservation
and its three dressed stone round cannon holes near the base, and its seven
musket holes about eight feet from the ground, lend it quite a menacing presence.
The interior of it is in equally good repair, and one cannot refrain from conjuring
up vivid scenes of fights with Indians in those early days of the Mission struggles
with the red man — of women handing out the loaded muskets from the secure
chambers to the right and left rear, of the unerring marksmen making it very hot
for the attacking hostile, with an occasional lull in which is run out a small brass
swivel gun* to the dimunitive embrasure, which makes the Apache or Comanche
wish he were safe home in his fastness among the hills of Bandera. And it
might have been that the recent remembrance of the total destruction of the San
Saba Mission and the massacre of its inmates in 1758 lent some zest to these en-
counters. For while these old Missionary pioneers were ever anxious to deal ten-
derly with any hostile, yet unfortunately there were occasions when sternness
was necessary,

" That they might feel
The velvet scabbard held a sword of steel."

There was another of these ' ' baluartes ' ' or bastions on the south wall by the
road, west of this one, but no trace of it is to be found. The chambers to the west
of the existing "baluarte" have, looking out upon the square, alternate doors and
arches, and one of the wide arched entrances still exists. The rooms to the north
have been fitted up for a school house by Rev. Father Bouchu, who is wonder-
fully active and persevering. He knows something of many subjects, which he
has practically proved here at the Mission. "Padre Francisco" is Priest, law-
yer, bricklayer, stonemason, photographer, historian, printer. His little pamph-
lets in Spanish would be a credit to an office of much larger pretensions. He has
lived in this community for many years and is well versed in information pertain-
ing to the history of the Missions, and being himself one of those Priests who join
with their vocation a knowledge of practical handicraft, he enters into the spirit of
the founders with more than ordinary keenness. He is simple, unaffected, and
garrulous, and meets the wants of the little settlement. He has built with his
own hands upon the ruin of the old Convent and arcade a comfortable Priest
house. Under his rule the Mission Chapel has been almost entirely renewed, the
front only retaining a portion of its ancient work. The Chapel is in the form of
a cross. The front is the belfry tower and is that portion that is supposed to
represent the likeness to a sword — perhaps it bore more of that resemblance be-
fore its restoration. Its three bells clang out three times a day, and would be
startling on the still country air to one who was ignorant of the vicinity of the
Mission. It is said that some of the Mission bells were cast in San Antonio in its
earliest days, so there is no knowing what these old Missionaries did not come

* Mr. Albert Maverick has one of these little Spanish brass guns as an ornament or curiosity in his
drawing room.

MISSION SAN FRANCISCO. 23

prepared to do. There are several pretty little bits of wrought iron work in this
and the other Missions. Here is another artistic accomplishment to be added to
the list of those possessed by the fathers. The entrance door of the Chapel is un-
mistakably Moorish, having the true Alhambra shape and lines. Sebastian
Tejada, the Mission's oldest resident, maintains that there was still another place
of worship on the inside of the South wall by the road, here was the old main
South entrance and the Granary was built projecting lengthwise outside the
walls by the same entrance. Only the bare foundation of these two buildings
now exist. Opposite the old Convent is the well which was never forgotten in
the building of a Mission. The Convent, its yard, (which form now the Padre's
residence) and the Chapel or Church are built into and form portions of the
western ramparts. A plan and three illustrations of this Mission are included in
this book. Several Mexican families still reside in tumble-down huts on the lines
of the Mission Square.

It was this Square that the Texan Army of Independence made their first
camping ground — on the place that is now much overgrown with mesquite
brush. Here Stephen F. Austin joined the troops as Commander in Chief upon
his escape from Mexico, and where — " but that is another story," — An interview
with Sebastien Tejada will perhaps be of some interest.

An interview with Sebastien Tejada, an old and intelligent Mexican, who
was born in one of the Mission Dwellings in 1813, Mission Francisco de la Es-
pada or Fourth Mission. Interview held on May 20th, 1890. In reply to many
questions he stated substantially as follows :

"I was born here in 1813. I have lived here all my life. I was born about
the time that Arredondo came through. This Mission seems to be much the
same as when I first remember it, — only some of the buildings were more com-
plete. I remember the Convent before it was so much altered. I remember the
arcades (row of arches of the Convent) and the granary which projected from the
entrance on the southern boundary. Also the foundations of the old Church in-
side the walls projected from the granary— the present Church is quite new, except
the front. I do not remember ever seeing the ' ' baluarte ' ' — (the fortified tower on
the southeastern corner) — used but I have heard of its being used against the In-
dians. Yes I remember the hostile Indians coming upon us many times — but
they were generally fought in my time inside the square of the Mission. The
dwellings used to be much more used formerly. We used to have and
house friendly Indians, but they mostly left at last. I remember when there
were three Padres to do service here. The old Church was pulled down about
fifty years ago. Dependants of the Mission used to live in the barracks at the
corner where the baluarte is. I remember another ' ' baluarte ' ' at the entrance
opposite the granary. The walls by the other entrance of the western boundary
had loop holes, too, but not round towers. I remember often the Spanish troops
camping here. I remember Bowie well, he married Gov. Veramendi's daughter.
He was a fine looking, fair man. I remember the army of Austin and Fannin
camping here in 1835. They camped in the middle of the Plaza. Many colonists
(he called them colonists of his own accord which was a touch of old days) came
here at that time. I remember Santa Anna, I saw him. He had one leg. I re-

24 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

member very well that the dead of the Alamo fight were burnt. The Texans
separately from the Mexican dead. It was the Mexican custom to thus burn
their dead after battle. I remember the fight well. I don't know what the Tex-
ans defended in the Alamo, but thought it was the whole Mission walls. I don't
know. I knew Seiiora Candelaria formerly. She is old, may be a hundred.
She might have been in the Alamo during the fight. Quien Sabe."

HERE; ENDETH THE FOURTH MISSION.

The Plazas.

These open spaces which are characteristic of L,atin America, and to a great
extent of Texas are as follows, beginning in the east and traveling westward :

Alamo Plaza. — Is the outcome of an original space around the Alamo,
added to by the destruction of its outworks the " Muralla del Alamo." It has
recently been converted into a beautiful garden and surrounding it are the follow-
ing buildings of interest : The Church of the Alamo, the Opera House and Club,
the Federal Building, and the Menger Hotel. This ground was the scene of
Santa Anna's bloody assaults on the Alamo in March, 1836.

Main Plaza.. — Is situated on the west side of the business heart of the
city and is connected with Alamo Plaza by Commerce and North Alamo street.
This Plaza was anciently named L,a Plaza de las Yslas, and fronting on it and
running back to the Military Plaza is the Cathedral of San Fernando, formerly
the old Parish Church and yard. This square is also laid out as a handsome
pleasure ground.

Military Plaza, — Or, La Plaza de Armas, lies a block to the west of
Main Plaza and, previous to the erection of the new Municipal Building, which
occupies a site in its centre, was from time immemorial the heart of Mexican life.
The small vendors, the freighters, the pastores, peones and vaqueros, all congre-
gated here. Here, too, still stand the old Court House and Jail, commonly called
the " Bat Cave."

At night, in the olden time, and in a modified form up to within a few
months, was to be seen a unique spectacle of open air life belonging rather to the
tropics than to any part of the realm of Uncle Sam.

Imagine a large square at that time badly lighted as to municipal illumina-
tion, but ablaze with small camp fires and flaming lamps swinging above rows
of improvised and shaky tables. All night long one might be served here with
viands hot from the Mexican cuisine — Chili con carne, Tamales, Enchiladas, Chili
verde, frijoles and the leather-like tortillas. The more fastidious American
might enjoy delicately fried eggs and chicken with a cup of fair coffee, followed,
perchance, by a corn-shuck " cigarro, " rolled by the hand of the dark-eyed
" muchacha " in charge.

These al fresco restaurateurs have been hunted by electric lights and city im-
provements from Plaza to Plaza, until now a poor remnant of them may be found
still further west on Milam Square near the grave of the hero, whilst a few others

CKUAK PANKI., SAN JOSH.

A CORNICE AT SAN JOSfi.

A CAPITAL AT SAN JOSli.

A CAPITAL AT SAN JOSE.

THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT. 25

cling tenaciously to a coign of vantage in front of the Federal building on Alamo
Plaza in the east.

By the tourist " from the states," these peripatetic tables are eagerly sought
for as a curiosity to be seen, but only to be patronized in a gingerly kind of way
from a weak misgiving as to the origin of the victuals.

As day dawns and the lamps show dimmer, these queer hotel keepers put out
their fires and folding their tables, " silently steal away " until another night.*

THE MILITARY ESTABLISHMENT.

Headquarters Department of Texas and the Post of San Antonio.

The Post of San Antonio now established on Government Hill, about one
mile north of the city, had its official beginning in 1865. This date, however, is
only that of a new birth, and for those who are interested in such matters, we
append to the purely " Guide Book" information of this page some further re-
marks on the Military history of San Antonio from a much earlier date.

The Present Post, then, went to housekeeping in 1865, immediately after the
war, in buildings hired for the purpose The troops remained here until 1873,
when they were withdrawn under Special Order No. 148, Headquarters Depart-
ment Texas, dated August 7th of that year. They returned in accordance with
Special Order No. 158, dated August 28th, 1875, from the same Headquarters.

After many changes, as set forth hereafter, the present magnificent site was
occupied under orders dated December 20th, 1879, — the occupation, so far as the
Post was concerned, taking place on the 22d of the same month, the Department
Headquarters remaining some time longer in the city.

The following will be of interest to visitors :

The hill is reached by the Belknap Street Cars, Avenue C. line. The Post
is situated on a rolling plateau, overlooking the city, and elevated 762 feet above
the Gulf of Mexico in latitude 29° 26V 33" north, and 98° 27V 33" west longitude.

There is a telegraph office at Department Headquarters and a railway con-
nection between the Quartermaster's Depot and the Southern Pacific system.

The buildings were begun on June 21st, 1877, Braden & Angus, contractors,
and have only recently been completed, the Government Hospital being built in
1885 and the "New Post," contracted for September 13, 1888. They are tastefully
designed, as will be seen from the accompanying illustrations, and are located on
a reservation of 162.21 acres. Of this noble site, so worthily occupied by
Uncle Sam, 92.79 acres were donated by the city ; 49.18 were acquired by
purchase, April 28th, 1884 ; 19.29 acres by decrees of the District Court of
Bexar County, dated April 7th and May 25th, 1883, and .95 acres were granted
by the city of San Antonio to complete the donation heretofore referred to.

*Reference is had for further particulars as to these interesting public places to the accompanying
maps of I<a Villa Capital de San Fernando, and the map of the heart of the modern city, also to many furlher
details in historical portions of this work.

26 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

It will be noted, further on, that other sites had been offered to the Govern-
ment by the city authorities, both before and after the war, but for various reasons
none of them were accepted.

In addition to the Officers' Quarters of the " Old " and " New " Posts and
the extensive Barracks, are the Department Offices and Quartermaster's Depot,
the following data will give an idea of their importance :

They are built around a quadrangle 624 feet square, the main fagade fronting
south is 499 feet 6 inches by 33 feet and two stories high. The north front is 624
feet by 30 feet and of one story ; the whole comprising 36 store rooms, 20 offices,
extensive work shops and a cellar.

In the center of the quadrangle is a tower formerly used as a water tower, and
containing a clock. It is 88 feet high, and from its summit a fine view of the city
and its environs may be obtained. Below lies the town with the San Antonio
River meandering southward on its tortuous way to the Gulf, doubling and turn-
ing on its journey, as tho' loath to leave the scenes of its birth.

Military Drills. — A feature of Post life, of probably the most interest to
visitors, is the Dress Parades and other military functions which are constantly
taking place on the hill.

They occur as follows :

Drills. — Almost daily, the time varying with the season of the year. Dress
Parade, generally on Tuesday and Thursday at the hour before sun-set. The
Monthly Muster and Inspection takes place on the last day of each month,
usually about 10 a. m., it is an interesting sight. Guard Mount, with full band,
occurs daily about 8:30, a. m., but the hour is sometimes changed during the in-
tense heat of summer.

The Organization of the Department and Post may be learned in great de-
tail from the Roster issued monthly from the office of the Assistant Adjutant
General of the Department.

The Arsenal is located far from the Post on South Flores street and may also
be reached by the Belknap line of street cars. It is commanded by an officer of
the Ordnance Corps, Major Babbitt, who constitutes one of the Department Com-
mander's Staff and supplies the troops with ammunition and accoutrements.

At the Post are quartered Brigadier General Stanley, commanding the De-
partment, and his Personal and Departmental Staffs. Col. Black commanding
the Post with four troops of Cavalry, two Batteries of Light Artillery and six com-
panies of Infantry, and Col. Weeks Chief Quartermaster, in charge of the De-
partment Depot and Offices.

The following is a list of the Post Commanders. The history of the De-
partment is treated elsewhere.

Capt. N. Prime, 10th Infantry up to June, 1873, afterwards transferred to Fort

McKavett.
Capt. J. W. French, July, 1873, held command until the removal of the troops

in August and September of the same year. Capt. French was transferred

to Fort Clark.

NOTES ON MILITARY AFFAIRS. 27

Capt. Sellers returned with the troops (Co. D, 10th Infantry) in August, 1875.

Capt. Wilson, April, 1877, Co. E, 10th Infantry.

Major McMillen, December 12th, 1877, in command of four companies of the

2nd Artillery at Camp Guilford Bailey (the lower portion of the present ' 'old' '

post) with Capt. Patterson and Company A, 20th Infantry, stationed in town.

Capt. Patterson and his Company were transferred to Fort Brown in June,

1880.
Col. Shafter, June, 1880, six Companies, 1st Infantry, afterwards transferred to

Fort Davis.
Capt. Dickey, December, 1890, Co. E, 22nd Infantry, afterwards transferred to

New Mexico.
Col. Otis, October, 1883, two Troops, 8th Cavalry, increased by four companies,

16th Infantry. Col. Otis was transferred with the 8th Cavalry to Dakota in

October, 1887. Captain Lancaster, commanding Battery "F," 3rd Artillery,

arrived in December, 1882 Capt. Lancaster was relieved in November,

1886, by Capt. Burbank — the Battery remaining here.
Col. Smith, May, 1888, the 16th Infantry left for Utah and were replaced by six

Companies of the 19th Infantry.
Col. Black, May, 1890, 19th Infantry leaves and are replaced by six Companies,

23rd Infantry; four troops, 3rd Cavalry and one Battery of Light Artillery.

These troops, with the Battery of Artillery before mentioned, now constitute

the Garrison of the Post of San Antonio.

Some Further Notes on Military Affairs.

Perhaps it is because of the Wars and rumors of Wars which have made up
so much of the life of San Antonio in the past, that everything military is popular
with its citizens. It is purposed in the following article to trace the history of
the present huge establishment from its birth in humble surroundings, thence
through a checkered career of weary wanderings to its final abode on Govern-
ment Hill.

That San Antonio is a natural strategic point, has been recognized by
Aboriginals, Spanish, French, Mexicans, Texans and both the National and Con-
federate Governments ; thus its development has been but a natural growth,
sometimes aided, and sometimes impeded, by local influences.

From the end of the seventeenth century, Spanish troops had marched and
counter-marched in the valley and across the country, taking promiscuous quar-
ters, as occasion demanded and opportunity offered. The French traversed the
country in 1714, and somewhat disturbed the sleepy security of the Spanish
soldiers, but nothing came of the raid. What a country Texas must have been
in those days for rapid campaigning ! Little need for tents or much baggage.
Unlimited forage and game made the Quartermaster's office, in the olden time,
almost a sinecure. Enough Indians to keep the troops on the qui vive, an occa-
sional lack of water or perhaps an excess from swollen streams, together with a
more frequent scarcity of corn, were the chief impediments to the annexations of
their Catholic and Christian Majesties of Spain and France, — Catholic truly in
their territorial views.

28 SAN ANTONIO DK BEXAR.

The first permanent Barracks, in the city, were built on the north side of the
Military Plaza, in 1773, by Baron de Ripperda, and shortly after the seculariza-
tion of the Alamo, a company of volunteers from San Carlos de Parras was
quartered in the building.

After a period of nearly forty years of peace, the Mexican revolutions and
Texas counter-revolutions plunged the province into a series of militar}' con-
vulsions between Republicans, Royalists, later Dictatorships and Texan patriots,
which culminated in the Fall of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto, a set-
tlement of the question only disturbed by two subsequent raids from across the
Rio Grande.

During all these disturbances, the color of the Military Post of San Antonio
varied with the fortunes of war, and the soldiers billets were the desecrated
Missions and the homes of afflicted citizens. These expeditions are treated at
length in other portions of the work, and their termination brings us to the period
of annexation in 1845-46, the occupation of Corpus Christi by Zachary Taylor
and his advance into Mexico.

These events led to action, on the part of the United States authorities, with
a view to establishing a permanent military post in San Antonio. Col. Harney
was on the ground as early as 1845 ; and in 1846 the City Council (Bryan
Callaghan, the elder, being Mayor ; C. F. King, pro temp.) offered the Govern-
ment one hundred acres at San Pedro Springs for the purpose in question. The
location at the Springs was not accepted, and for obvious reasons, the ground
being comparatively low and easily commanded ; so on March 2d, 1846, the
Council appointed a committee to reconsider, and on January 2d, 1847, the
records say that the "grant" was "rescinded." In the meantime soldiers re-
mained in the city and, after a temporary sojourn in the Military Plaza, the Alamo
was occupied as a Quartermaster's Depot by Major Babbitt, this branch of ihe
service continuing there until 1878, with the exceptions of the period covered by
the Civil War and a subsequent removal of the troops to Austin, as noted
elsewhere.

The United States held possession of this property pending a suit between
Bishop Odin and the city, to try title, and demurred to a demand of the latter for
rent. The suit was won by the Bishop.

In 1849 the Council again proposed a site for barracks on Military Plaza,
this offer was rejected on the score of insufficient room, and besides, the grant
was to be hampered with conditions, an element in titles which the United States
never entertains. At this time, General Worth, commanding, lived at the James
homestead on Commerce street, where he died May 7th, 1849, of cholera. He
was buried near the Head of the River, his body afterwards being taken to New
York. He established a camp at the Concepcion Mission and another at the
Head of the River whose Springs are officially known as the Worth Springs.
The Headquarters were then established on the North side of Main Plaza. After
the war the Arsenal was removed from a building near the Veramendi House,
corner Houston and Soledad street, to its present home on South Flores street,
which had been preparing for it since 1859.

NOTES ON MILITARY AFFAIRS. 29

The following is a list of military commandants from the first occupation of
San Antonio by the National troops :

Col. Harney, 1S45-6 ; General Worth, to 1849 — he dying here of cholera ;
General Harney ; General Percival Smith, Headquarters at Corpus Christi ;
Albert Sydney Johnson, Headquarters, Vance House, San Antonio, to 1857.

General Twiggs* succeeded, but being unjustly court-martialed on a trivial
charge, Robert E. Lee took command, entering the town February 21st, 1860. He
had previously been with Jos. E. Johnston, Colonel commanding at Concho, Lee
being Lieutenant Colonel at the time. He^ remained only a few months, and
General Twiggs was again in command at the outbreak of the war; from him and
Col. Reeves, the public property was acquired by a committee of citizens consist-
ing of S. A. Maverick, P. N. Luckett and T. J. Devine. The same gentlemen
served to restore what they could at the close of the War in 1865.

After the War, the Headquarters were removed to the French Building on
Main Plaza, and afterwards to Austin.

General Reynolds, commanding 1869 to January, 1872.

General Augur, commanding January, 1872, to March, 1875, troops removed.
General Ord, commanding April, 1875, to December, 1880, Headquarters
returned to San Antonio November, 1875.

General Augur, (2nd term) commanding January, 1881, to October, 1883.
General Mackenzie, commanding November, 1883, to December, 1883.
General Stanley, commanding May, 1884, to date.

Lieut. Col. Robt. E. Lee boarded at the Hostelry (kept by Mrs. Phillips,
where the St. Leonard now stands). General Twiggs lived near the Mission
Garden.

There was some excitement in the city during the transfer of the property,
and mustering ot Volunteers and some talk of resistance, but everything
was arranged without blood-shed. Without reflecting on General Twiggs it is
undoubtedly a fact that his sympathies, at least, were with the citizens.

Taking up the history of the Headquarters proper, we find that in 1857 the
Headquarters were at the Vance House ; they remained there all through the
war, being then under the Stars and Bars. In 1865, the Federal Headquarters
were established in the "French Building" until they were removed to Austin in
1869, the troops following in August and September, 1873.

The Headquarters returned to San Antonio in November of 1875, and in
1878 were established in a building erected for the purpose, by the Maverick
family, on Houston street (now the Maverick Hotel) ; and during the same
month, the Quartermaster's Depot on the Hill was completed, the reservation
having been acquired as noted in the foregoing article, beginning with the first

*There is an amusing anecdote connected with the court-martialing of General Twiggs which has
the advantage of being authentic. He had been ordered by the Secretary of War, to publish an order reflecting
upon himself. Discipline prevailed, but to save his amour pi opre, the General appended a statement of his own,
in order, as he says, that " the antidote may go with the poison," the order was thus issued, despite the calmer
suggestions of his Adjutant-General, Col. Withers. Twiggs was court-martialed, escaped with a reprimand and
returned to the command of the Department.

30 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

donation by the city, February 16th, 1870, accepted by the General Government
in June, 1871.

In 1873 General Sheridan, W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War, and
General Meyers came to San Antonio on business connected with the proper
establishment of the Headquarters of the Department of Texas. There was an
effort made to keep them in Austin or remove them to either Fort Worth or
Denison. All these projects fell to the ground.

On Ma)7 6th, 1875, W. W. Belknap ordered the work on the Quartermaster's
building to be commenced, and the appropriation previously voted by Congress, in
accordance with the acceptance of the land grant from the city, was directed to be
applied for. The magnificent Post resulting from this action has been already
described.

The Posts of Texas were put in telegraphic communication with each other,
and the Government in 1876. Owing to the extension of railway lines and other
telegraphic companies, these wires were disposed of to the Erie Telegraph Com-
pany, December 6th, 1883.

In 1882, on behalf of the Belgian Government, Professor Housseau estab-
lished a station on Government Hill for the observation of the Transit of Venus
and for the collection of other astronomical data. The Professor came in August,
the Transit taking place December 20th. He succeeded in getting 1 20 measure-
ments, and Professor Hall, the American observer, obtained 204 photographs.

The distinguished men who have visited and commanded at the Post of San
Antonio, are personages whose lives and doings are part of a larger history than
that of this Department. They have come and gone, the blue and the gray, be-
fore and since the war. Theirs has been a record of duty performed, be it grap-
pling with a redskin or charging at Gettysburg. In the mesquite wilderness, with
none to note, they bore themselves as men and, even so, under the apple trees
at Appomattox with the world looking on.*

Somebody has said that the truly brave man is he that will do in solitude the
most daring deed he might conceive before men. Surely this is so, and men of
this kidney have made the Department what it is. They have guarded our
frontier and, aided by a gallant population, have settled the Indian question in
Texas. San Antonio, in the past, has seen much of the captured tribes — villains
of a most villainous type — the last to be brought in being the notorious Geronimo
and his band. They were en route for location in Florida and were captured by
Captain L/awton after a long pursuit in the mountains of Arizona.

The present commander of the Department is Brigadier General Stanley, a
gentleman who has endeared himself officially and personally to the State at
large. His stay has been marked by a constant exchange of friendly courtesies
with the people amongst whom he has come to dwell. His name also brings our
record to a close, and we trust it may be long before another follows.

NOTE. — Col. Withers was the Adjutant General of the Department in 1807-8-9-60, serving on the staff of the
following remarkable men : Albert Sydney Johnson, General Twiggs and that best beloved of men, Robert E
Lee. The Adjutants General at Headquarters, after the War, were Colonels Wood and Taylor and Generals
Vincent and Ruggles. At the present time Col. Martin is the incumbent.

* This is no figure of speech. Fitz-hugh Lee, as a Lieutenant under Van Dorn, was reported mortally
wounded in an Indian fight. The parallel, moreover, applies to all.

CHURCHES. 31

CHURCHES,

Roman Catholic. — The strongest body of Christians in the city is that
of the pioneer faith. The Roman Catholic Churches are well built and well
attended. Of course, the old Missions down the valley are of this Church. Their
members are of many languages, as will be seen below. The city is the seat of a
Bishopric, of which the Rt. Rev. Bishop Neraz is the present incumbent. The
following is a list of Churches :

Cathedral of San Fernando, (Spanish) fronting Main Plaza ; reached by
Belknap cars.

St. Joseph's, (German) north side of East Commerce street ; Belknap cars.

St. Mary's, (English) St. Mary's street.

St. Michael's, (Polish) 320 South Street.

Ursaline Convent Chapel, corner Augusta and Convent streets.

There is also a Chapel at the Santa Rosa Hospital. This Hospital is one
of the most important and beneficent of the fruits of Christianity in the town.
The other Catholic institutions are an Orphanage, a College for males, the Ursu-
line Conventual School for girls, and many parochial schools.

Episcopalian. — San Antonio is the seat of the Missionary Bishopric of
Western Texas, Rt. Rev. Bishop Johnston at present presiding over the see. The
Churches are :

St. Mark's, north side Travis Square, Rev. W. R. Richardson, Dean.
St. John's, northeast corner North Cherry and Burnet streets.
St. lyuke's, northeast corner Zavalla and North L,eona streets.
St. Paul's, south side Grayson street, on Government Hill.

One of the results of Episcopalian effort is St. Mary's Hall, a high-class
school for girls.

Presbyterian. — First Presbyterian Church, corner of Houston and
North Flores streets ; reached by Belknap cars, San Pedro and Flores Street
lines.

Madison Square Church, reached by Belknap cars, San Pedro and Flores
Street lines.

Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 324 Soledad street.

Fourth Ward Presbyterian Sunday School, 436 South Presa street.

Baptist. — First Baptist Church, Travis Square.

Alamo Baptist Church, northeast corner Nacogdoches and Crockett streets.

Aransas Pass Mission, corner South Flores and Herff streets.

International Mission, corner Frio and -Hidalgo streets.

Sunset Mission, corner Burleson and Cherry streets.

32 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Methodist. — Methodist Episcopal Church South, Travis Square.

Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, southwest corner Avenue C. and Pecan
street.

Methodist Episcopal, south side Crosby street.

German Methodist Episcopal Church, 230 Villita Street.

Mexican Methodist Episcopal Church, southwest corner Pecan and San
Fernando streets.

Tenth Street Methodist Church, south side Tenth Street.

Jewish. — Temple Beth-El, Travis Square, a Synagogue the place of
worship of the influential Hebrew citizens. Rev. M. P. Jacobson, Rabbi.

The City Hospital. — In the western part of the city. It may be, not
inaptly, mentioned here, as an evidence of the practical religion of the city
Government.

Many other denominations are represented, but this list will suffice for the
spiritual needs of the majority of visitors. It should be mentioned, however,
that the colored people have many places of worship — Catholic, Methodist and
Baptist.

EDUCATIONAL.

Schools. — Education is well cared for in San Antonio. There are many
private institutions of great efficiency, for both sexes, and the denominational
establishments have been already noticed.

The Public Schools are the pride of the city. There are twelve school
buildings, all excellent, and under Superintendent Smith. There are about
seventy-five teachers of trained ability in charge of a scholastic population largely
in excess of that of any other city in the State.

The Central Grammar and High School is situated on Acequia street ;
Professor Schoch, Principal. It may be reached by the Belknap cars, San Pedro
line. There are, besides, eight Ward Schools for whites, and three for the colored
people. The colored people having, perhaps, most accommodation in proportion
to population, than the whites, were not the latter supplemented by the denom-
inational and private effort before referred to.

The German-English School should be mentioned, as being an old established
high-class day school, and somewhat of a land mark. It is situated on South
Alamo street, and may be reached by the Belknap line of street cars.

L,et us glance at the history of Public Education in San Antonio since the
good Mission Fathers gave up their labor of love and patriotism.

The first mention of an American School in Texas is in a document
in the Bexar County Records, dated July 5th, 1828, referring to the " McClure "
School. This was under Mexican rule, and was probably an institution started
for the benefit of the growing Anglo-Saxon colony. About this time there
existed, also, a Spanish Public School, on the east line of the Military Plaza, near
the Cathedral. After this, and until 1839, education in San Antonio received

EDUCATIONAL 33

little attention. In that year the corporation evidently saw the necessity of a
system of Public Education, and the question aroused general interest, for we find
that on February 14th, 1839, J. H. Winchell proposed to the City Council to open
a public school on the first of March ensuing, and offers to teach all that may
enter therein, the English language, together with penmanship and arithmetic,
provided the number shall not exceed thirty pupils. All this for the sum of $800
per annum, payable quarterly or monthly, as the honorable body may think
proper.

His system of instruction, the good man goes on to say, has met with
general approbation, as heretofore pursued by him, but he admits that it is
susceptible of much improvement, which he is willing to effect, providing suffi-
cient emoluments be given him, and begs a committee of three to examine fully
into the merits of his system and to report thereon.

Again this subject of education comes up on June 2d, 1844, when P. L,.
Buquor (a well known old City Official) presented a memorial urging the utility
of opening a Public School, and stating that he is willing to undertake to do so
if sufficient encouragement be given him by the Council. A committee was
thereupon appointed, and it reported substantially as follows on June 29th,
1844 :

The committee are of opinion that the law for incorporating the city, passed
December 14th, 1837, makes it obligatory upon the Council to encourage by every
means in their power the opening of a public school, and also to have a Court
House and Jail, and the report goes on to recommend a plan to accomplish these
things, and also to repair the.,old Court House, (this is prior to the " Bat Cave ")
and fit it up in such a manner as to serve for both Court House and School
House. Certain lots were to be appropriated to this object, for Section 8 of the
Charter set aside certain lots for this purpose and for the endowment of a Public
School. This was recommended to be done as soon as the lots would fetch a
reasonable price. For some reason the land was not ordered to be sold until
August 24th, 1849. See Article "The River." Out of the proceeds of this
sale and in accordance with the recommendation, the " Bat Cave " was built.

J. N. Devine, in a long address on January 15th, 1849, urged the questions
of education, peace, law and order very forcibly upon the people. His action
produced the effect of a "Sunday Closing" ordinance, April 5th, 1849, for the
closing of Bar Rooms, Workshops, etc., after 9 o'clock A. M , on Sunday. He
also closed the Fandangoes for awhile. We mention these things to show that a
spirit of reform was abroad, and from this epoch San Antonio has been ever
watchful and generous in the matter of Public Education. Indeed, at this time
the tide set in which changed San Antonio from a blood-stained border town to a
progressive and prosperous modern city. And to-day there is an inherited
tradition of liberality toward Public Schools.

International Fair Grounds and Buildings.— These are situated
about three miles south of the city in a fine park on the banks of the San An-
tonio river and are used for an annual fair and other gatherings. The buildings
are handsome and spacious and among other attractions is a good race course.

34 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The grounds are reached by the Aransas Pass railway with a depot in the
adjacent park, and from town direct by the McCrillis electric cars.

The president of the association is Mr. A. C. Schryver, whose office is on
Commerce street near the bridge. The grounds were established in the fall of
1888 and the military encampment of the state militia was held here in 1890.

Riverside Park. — A beautiful sylvan pleasure ground, with lovely
drives and groves of giant pecan trees, whose fruit is the delicious Texas nut of
that name.

It is the very place of all others for pic-nics, with the river, the Missions San
Jose and Concepcion adjacent, and the Exposition Park and buildings across the
fence. There is a fine pavilion in the grounds and arrangements for refreshments.
It is reached by the San Antonio & Aransas Pass railway when there is a crowd,
and always from town direct by the McCrillis system of electric cars.

San Pedro Park. — A city park about a mile from the center of the
town. Here are the lovely San Pedro Springs with stretches of green-sward and
groves of stately live oaks, a southern evergreen that always makes us seem a
summering. Pecan trees and shrubbery abound. Refreshments may be had, and
there is a collection of birds and animals well worth a visit. It may be reached
by Belknap System Cars. This park is a remnant of the former magnificent do-
main of the city. In olden times it was a favorite resort of the Indians, and an-
other fact of interest connected with the locality is, that the Canary Island set-
tlers dwelt there for a short time previous to their removal to San Fernando.
Vide Dr. Cupples' reminiscences.

Opera House. — Situated on the west side of the Alamo plaza., fronting
the garden and almost opposite the Menger hotel. It is a veritable " Bijou "
and during the season, Opera and the legitimate, follow each other unceasingly.
The building is the home of the San Antonio Club, tasteful in all things. This
admirable institution is treated of at length elsewhere.

Turner Hall. — A fine hall for public meetings; concerts and other at-
tractions hold the boards throughout the season.

Casino Hall. — An elegant room attached to the Casino club. The home
of a famous German association. This hall is frequently used for concerts and,
nearly always, for the larger select dances and germans that take place during
the winter. It has pleasant parlors, is prettily decorated, and located in a re-
tired bend of the river in the heart of the city.

Convention Hall. — A hall erected on Flores and Houston streets for
the accommodation of the State Democratic Convention of 1890. There are
other halls in the city, but these are all that will interest the tourist.

Newspapers. — The San Antonio Daily Express (morning) is the lead-
ing journal of the city, as of Western Texas. It is devoted to the interests of
its section, and, while democratic in politics, it is blessed with a large share of
refreshing independence and the brightest staff of newspaper men in the state.

NEWSPAPERS, ETC. 35

Its quarters are on Commerce street, and with its new press, stereotyping appar-
atus and airy offices, the tout ensemble is a credit to journalism anywhere.

The San Antonio Daily Times (evening) is a sturdy democratic sheet. It
claims to be the heir of the San Antonio Daily Herald (the earliest Texan daily)
and is a pushing paper convinced of the great destiny of its city, and untiring in
furthering its progress.

The San Antonio Daily Light, (evening) Republican. "The only
Republican daily of the State," a newsy and ably edited journal. It makes local
items a specialty, and is energetic in promulgating its principles according to the
Light that is in it.

The Express has a good "semi- weekly" edition, and the Times a weeky one.

The Freie Presse fur Texas is also published here with a daily and weekly
edition. It is a very influential German paper.

El Heraldo is a Spanish weekly for those citizens who prefer the language.

The Texas Stockman is what its name indicates, and circulates all over the
State, being the recognized medium of the enormous stock industry of Western
Texas.

There are other minor publications, and a Monthly Magazine, the Texas
Field, devoted to sport.

Stock Yards — On South Flores street are many lots given up to the
Horse and Mule trade. Here may be seen the true and only Cowboy, and with
little difficulty in the matter of introductions, the tourist may make the
acquaintance of stockmen whose flocks and herds browse upon a thousand hills.
Here, too, may be met many a queer border type as may be noted in the
accompanying illustrations taken from life.

City Additions. — The suburban Additions to the town are numerous,
and enormous sums have been spent in land, Electric Street Railways and
Landscape Gardening for their development. The most important are the West
End, the Alamo Heights, the Lake View, East End, Beacon Hill, and Southern
Heights. It would be invidious to compare them. The visitor will find ample
facilities to visit them all.

Artesian Wells. — The finest Artesian Well of the State is the natural
one formed by the Springs of the Head of the San Antonio River. This water
comes from an enormous depth, being of an even temperature of 70° Fahr. the
year round. It affords the purest possible drinking water, and is San Antonio's
chief blessing. It is evident that there are several water-bearing strata, all arte-
sian and of considerable volume, in the neighborhood. Mr. Brackenridge is
having a well bored which is already 2500 feet deep, but artesian water has not
yet been struck ; the boring however will continue to the depth of 3000 feet.

The Kampmann well, sunk on the Salado to a depth of 465 feet, yields a
strong sulphur water, used for medical purposes.

The Crystal Ice Factory has a well of pure water at a different depth, flowing
several hundred thousand gallons per diem.

36 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The Scholz well, on the River bank, flows water slightly brackish, and by
a separate pipe the same well supplies his establishment with gas.

At West End clear Artesian water was reached at a depth of only 250 feet in
one case, and 259 in another. These wells have their overflow into the artificial
lake of that suburb. In boring most of these wells, oil and gas were encountered,
but the most notable instance of this is that of Mr. G. Dullnig, near the Salado.
It has a flow of oil which is marketed. The apparatus on the ground is
extensive and altogether this subject is worthy the attention of visitors with
capital to invest.

Real Estate. — There are many reliable and old established Real Estate
firms in the city. The stranger should consult only such, and if purchasing, it is
well to get an abstract of title; this is easily obtained.

Amongst all the States, Texas is peculiar in her land matters, and differs in
many things, even from her ancient Spanish sisters. The United States owns no
public lands within her borders, save such small tracts and parcels as may have
been ceded for Military Posts, Cemeteries, or Public Buildings for Federal
purposes. The old Spanish vara (33£ inches) is still a legal land measure,
though, curiously enough, the Mexicans have long since discarded its use for that
of the metre. We speak, too, of a "league," of a "labor," or of a " suerte "
of land. The titles to land in Texas are very variously derived and their origin
frequently curious. We have grants from the Kings of Spain,* grants to colonists
and individuals by the Republic of Mexico, and similar concessions by the
Republic of Texas. Then there are Headrights, and Locations on Scrip, issued to
supply the necessities of the infant State, or to reward veterans. L/ater we have

* Yoakum, who has done more for Texas History than any other man has or now can, relates an interest-
ing chapter on Land Titles in Texas. The following is an interesting excerpt, Vol. II, pp. 231 et seq. :

"The first grants ol the Spanish government in Texas, of which we have any record, are those of the three
Missions of Concepcion, San Juan, and La Espada. The grants for the Missions of Valero and San Jos6 were
doubtless made earlier, and probably some individual grants, but we know of none now in existence. The three
first-named Missions were located in the first instance on the St. Mark; but such was the difficulty of procuring
water for irrigation, 'so necessary to the support of the people who were to be indoctrinated,' that on the 29th
of October, 1729, the viceroy of Mexico, Casa Fuerte. commissioned the Governor of Texas, the ex-guardian of the
apostolic college of Queretaro, and the president of the Texan Missions, to make a new settlement or location.
After some search, they made their selections of three places— two on the San Antonio river, and one on the 'Me-
dina,' below the junction of the two streams. They next proceeded to the neighboring tribes of Indians, to
whom 'they spoke, and explained the holy and benevolent purpose of their institution; and three tribes, among
others in the vicinity, viz., the Pacaos, the I'ajalats, and the Pitalacs, agreed to settle the three places selected,
and to submit to doctrine.' The commissioners, having completed their labors, made a report to the viceroy,
and petitioned him to make the necessary decrees. The viceroy laid the matter before Ribera, former inspector
of the/ restdios of New Spain for his opinion. The ex-inspector reported on the 22d of September, 1730, con-
curring with the report of the commissioners, except in regard to the location for the lower Mission 'on the
Medina river, at thirty leagues' distance from the presidios (San Antonio and La Bahia), where it may be liable

to attacks from the Apaches, who on many occasions appear in a hostile manner in that territory This

danger would not exist if the said Mission were located in the same vicinity with the other two.'

The viceroy, in conformity with this opinion, on the 2d of October, 1730, decreed that the captain of the
royal presidio of San Antonio, should issue a decree that the three Missions should be located as recommended
using his judgment as to the plan of locating the lower Mission. He further ordered that each Mission so to
be located 'be furnished with three soldiers for the term of two years, this time being considered necessary for
the instruction of the Indians in tillage, and at the expiration of this time one soldier shall remain in each Mis.
sion, the other two returning to their corps.'

On the loth of December, 1730, the captain of the presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, in pursuance of this
order of the viceroy, remitted the same to Don Gabriel Costales, captain of the presidio of La Bahia del Espiritu
Santo, with orders to execute it, he being delegated as judge for that purpose, in the absence of any public or
royal notary. In making a return of his proceedings, Captain Costales says: 'A dispatch was presented to me
from the most excellent viceroy, through the captain of the royal presidio of San Antonio, which I kissed and

REAL ESTATE. 37

the State granting sections to Railway, Canal and Irrigation Companies, and
issuing scrip to Confederate veterans. The State has still a vast domain subject
to homestead entry, and the University and School land endowments are princely.
The State Capitol, at Austin, was built by disposing of 3,000,000 acres of public
lands to a Chicago syndicate. Hence, it will be seen that Real Estate in Texas
is a large question.

To be seized of a piece of property is an old English law phrase, and means
to own it : The following curious ceremony of taking possession smacks strongly
of that old-time expression, and seems to lend point to the poor joke of William
the Conqueror who, falling to the ground upon stepping from his boat at
Hastings, quieted the ill-omened fears of his followers by remarking that he was
only taking " seizin' " of the land.

Here is the record : "I took said Simon de Arocha and proceeded with
him over the said property, and he pulled weeds and threw rocks and made other
necessary demonstrations in actual possession, calling upon the adjoining property
holders to show cause why he should not be put in possession." April 21, 1778.

Other induction ceremonies refer to the grantee as ' ' throwing stones to the
four winds of Heaven," " driving stakes " and performing such like ceremonies.

The original City Grant from the King of Spain having been lost in the
troublous revolutionary days, the city found it advisable to sue out its title, con-
sequently, on February 26th, 1845, an agreement was entered into with T. J.
Devine to prosecute certain trespassers upon the city domain. The consideration
the attorney was to receive, was one-eighth of the assessed value ot land recov-
ered and $100 per year in addition thereto for no longer a period than five years,.
or to receive nothing if he did not prosecute successfully. Then . followed the
celebrated suit of the City versus Nat Lewis, senior, in which the City sues Nat
Lewis and others for certain lands specified to be within the confines of the
Original . Royal Grant to the people and inhabitants of the town of ' ' San

placed on my head, as a message from my king and natural lord, which with blind obedience I obey, and am
ready to execute whatever it commands.' Upon this return, the captain of the presidio of San Antonio, on the
12th of January, 1731, decreed the establishment of the Missions named. All these formalities being attended to,
and the acts of each party written down, and attested by assisting witnesses, the captain of San Antonio pro-
ceeded on the oth of March, 1731, to the first Mission-ground, called Our Lady of the Coucepcion de Acufia,
accompanied by several of the officers of the presidio, and Father Bergara, and seized the hand of the captain of
the tribe, in the name of all the other Indians who had attached themselves to said Mission, and led him about
over the locality, and caused him to pull up weeds, throw stones, and perform all the other acts of real possession,
that by virtue thereof they might not be dispossessed without being first heard and defended by Father Bergara,
president of the Texas Missions, or such other of the clergy as might have administration over them. After
declaring the bounds of the Mission, there was attached to it pasture-lands, watering-places, irrigating privileges,
uses, and services, and the further right, in planting time, to drive their stock out west for pasture, so as not to
prejudice the crops. The act of possession concluded by notifying the Indians, through an interpreter, what
they should do in advancement of Christian doctrine, and in avoidance of crime.

At the same time, Captain Perez proceeded to put other tribes in possession of the Mission-grounds of Satt
Francisco de la Espada, and San Juan, situated below, on the San Antonio river; the same formality being
observed in each case. The record of the titles (which, as will be seen, is a simple narrative of the action of each
party) was then filed in the archives of San Fernando de Bexar, and a certified copy furnished to each Mission.
It will be observed, in the foregoing abstract of the transfer, that the title was assumed to be in the kingof Spain,
and that the transfer was to the Indians, and not to the priests, who, by their vows, could own no worldly estate.

In regard to the Mission-lands of San Jose de Aguayo, they were claimed by Don Domingo Castelo, one of
the king's ensigns, for his services at the presidio of San Saba; but, after a protracted lawsuit between him and
the Mission, the title was vested in the Indians of the Mission, on the JRth of November, 1766, by purchase, for
one hundred and fifty dollars."

SAN ANTONIO DP: BEXAR.

Fernando" (San Antonio). The Lower Courts first decided and established the
boundaries of the Original Grant to the city (John James, Sr. , surveying the same)*

and gave judgment for the city. The Supreme Court affirmed the decision, and
upon this rests the title to all lands situated within the ' ' Town Tract, " as it is
now called. Vide : Tex. Rep. Vol. VII, pp. 288, et seq.

Passing from the old-time reflections and recollections the reader's attention
is invited to the following remarkable table for which we are indebted to the
daily press. It shows the comparative sales during the first six months of the
years 1889 and 1890 :

January, 1889 $ 171.045

January, 1890 574,889

February, 1889 160,315

February, 1890 397,559

March, 1889 191,822

March, 1890 704,247

April, 1889 293,441

April, 1890 132,134

May, 1889 319,438

May, 1890 1.489,692

June, 1889 183.198

June, 1890 1,004,502

* October 29, 1849. The Council resolved to ask the United States Minister to Madrid to secure a
copy of the Original Grant to the Corporation or town of San Fernando, in the Province of Texas or New

PUBLIC BUILDINGS. 39

Public Building's. — The Alamo church, amply treated elsewhere. The
Federal Building affording accommodation for the Federal Court and Postoffice
(for dates see calendar) was designed by M. E. Bell, of Chicago, who was super-
vising architect at Washington under President Arthur's administration. The
original plan was modified, in the direction of economy, by W. A. Freret, of
New Orleans, during President Cleveland's term. Mr. Gordon of this city being
appointed architect in charge, again re-arranged the building in its present form.
Under his direction, the structure grew to be the beautiful mediaeval dream that it
is. Its details are worthy of careful study. The style may be called Richard-
sonian Romanesque with a touch reminding one of L,ombardy and the South of
France. Notice the tower and the bold angle turret — the arcades whose pro-
portions are so cleverly relieved by the flight of approaching steps — the beautiful
mass of the building, and the construction and outline of the tile roof.

The City Hall, a Renaissance Building designed by Mr. O. Kramer, and
now nearing completion on Military Plaza. Its location is the best possible one,
and the effect of the four white fagades of native lime-stone relieved by pink
granite columns, is extremely fine.

The County Jail is a massive and serviceable building designed by Mr. A.
Giles.

The County Court House on Soledad street by the same gentleman completes
the list of public buildings.

Phillipines. What came of this we are unable to say. The field notes of the town tract are as follows :

F. i pp. 28, 2q. ) REPUBLIC OF TEXAS,— COUNTY OF BEXAR.

COUNTY SURVEYOR'S RECORDS, i-

BEXAR COUNTY. ) Field Notes of the survey of the lands claimed by the Corporation

of the City of San Antonio, made under an order of the District Court of Bexar County, at the Sept. term, 1845.

Beginning at an old stone dam on the Concepcion ditch from the southeast corner of which a pecan 30 in.
in diameter bears south 27° west, 1% varas, this place being pointed out to me as the presita of the Concepcion
ditch, by Rafael Herrera and Manuel Cadena.

Thence north 83° east, 6800 varas to a pecan tree 10 in. in diameter, on the west bank of the Salado creek,
marked x from which a pecan 9 in. in diameter bears south 70° west, yz vara; a pecan 18 in. diameter bears

north 58iX0, west 16% varas. This point was shown to me as the Paso Hondo on Salado, by Rafael Herrera and
Manuel Cadena.

Thence north 35*4° west, 3790 varas to a stake set on the top of a hill from which a mesquite 8 in. in
diameter bears north 23%° west, 42^ varas, a mesquite Sin. diameter, bears north 84° west 4>^ varas, this be-
ing pointed out to me as the Lomita Devisidera, by Manuel Cadena.

Thence north 25%° west, 4,700 varas to a mound of rock, shown by Pedro Flores and others as one of the
corners of this tract. Thence north 52%° west, 10,000 varas to a pile of rocks round the roots of a live oak tree,
now nearly destroyed by fire, from which a live oak 15" diameter bears south 75° east, 9 varas, a live oak 9" diam-
eter bears south 16^° east, 7 varas. This point is between the Almas (sic) and Norillo creeks, and was shown to
me by Manuel Cadena as one of the corners of this survey. Thence south 29^° west, 11,775 varas to a stake set
on the east bank of a small creek at a water hole from which a hackberry on west side of the creek bears south
85° west, 50 varas, a mesquite 2 in. diameter, bears south 36^° west, \1% varas, this point being shown to me by Do-
mingo Bustillo, Delgado and others as one of the corners of this survey, called the real of San Nicolas, or Tomas
Hernandez. Thence south 12,910 varas to a stake set on the east bank of the Leon creek, at the present crossing
of the road leading from San Antonio to Jett's rancho, from which a musquite (sic) 16 inches diameter, bears
north 9° east, 83 varas, a musquite 3 inches diameter, bears south 64° east, 35 varas. This point shown to me by
Manuel de la Garza and Delgado as the pass of the acalitos and one of the corners of this survey. Thence
south 28° east, 2400 varas to a cotton wood tree 12 in. diameter in the bed of the Leon creek, from which a pecan
6 in. diameter bears south 57 ° east, 5 varas, a pecan 6 in. diameter bears south 14^° west, 8% varas. This
point was shown to me by Pedro Flores and others as the L'Aguila, (sic) one of the corners of this survey.
Thence north 37% ° east, 12,610 varas to a pass on the San Pedro creek, shown to me as the Paso Nogalitos by
Pedro Flores and others as one of the corners of this survey. Thence south 88^ ° east, 2655 varas to a stone
dam, the place of beginning, including within its limits thirty-eight thousand acres of land.

This survey was commenced on the 1st and ended on the llth day of February, 1846. Nathaniel Melton
and James Cocks, chainmen, who were duly sworn. Bearings marked =^

Then follows John James' sworn certificate of Survey. This survey does not actually close, and was after-
wards corrected as to course and distance by Giraud. The natural marks, however, here described are the
basis for establishing the boundaries of the Town Tract.

40 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Banks. — San Antonio is a wealthy city. There are no less than four Na-
tional and six Private Banks, all stable institutions. They occupy palatial quar-
ters. Bank failures in the city are unknown. The bank rate of interest is from
eight to twelve per cent. There are many mortgage and loan institutions who
furnish money on good security at six per cent. There is, moreover, a Local In-
surance Company, the directory of which is made up of our wealthiest citizens.

San Antonio Club. — This institution was founded by the association
of a party of gentlemen who obtained a charter dated December 21st,
1881. It was instituted for "literary purposes, to promote social intercourse
among its members and to provide them the convenience of a Club House." The
following were the original incorporators : Messrs. E. D. L- Wickes, H. B. An-
drews, Jas. T. Thornton, C. K. Breneman, Erastus Reed, A. B. Frank, J. B.
Lacoste, H. B. Adams, Frank Grice, F. P. Hord, Jas. Callaghan, Thos. J.
Devine and H. Grenet. The club is managed by a committee of thirteen direc-
tors elected annually ; their terms expire on the 30th of November of each year.
They elect from among their number a president, vice-president, treasurer and
secretary and have power to fill vacancies. They also pass upon the admission
of members. Their meetings are on the first Tuesday of each month at 8 o'clock
p. m. in winter and 8:30 p. m. in summer. The president, or in his absence the
vice-president, authorizes the call of special meetings of directors or of the club.
The first president was E. D. L. Wickes, Esq., and he held the office many
years. The present president is A. W. Houston. The club installed itself speed-
ily after its formation in a suite of rooms (now occupied by the Harmony club)
at the corner of Alamo Plaza and Alamo street above the old postoffice, but
soon set about plans for a more suitable home. Eventually a comprehensive
scheme was realized and the present club and opera house was occupied in the
winter of 1886-87. The building fronts on Alamo Plaza, it is of brick and is al-
together a tasteful structure. Here the club fulfils its ends and during the sea-
son dispenses a hospitality that has become proverbial. Its receptions are among
the great social functions of the winter, and its attentions to distinguished stran-
gers who deserve well of their fellow-men have been innumerable. Members have
the privilege of introducing visitors who are non-residents of the county. The
present secretary is W. A. Little, Esq.

Other Clubs. — Are the "Harmony," a coterie of influential Hebrews ;
"The San Antonio Rifles," inaugurated by a company of volunteers of that
name ; The " Casino," an old established German association ; the Turners and
various Singing, Literary and Shooting societies.

Young Men's Christian Association.— This body has rooms on
the corner of Alamo and Commerce streets, up stairs, temporarily. Mr. Rae
will be found in charge and everybody is welcome to their Reading Rooms and
Gymnasium.

Military Organizations. — San Antonio has seen much of war in ear-
nest and in the peaceful contests of competitive drilling has retained her military
laurels. The San Antonio Rifles, under Capt. Badger, and the Belknap Rifles,
under Capt. R. Green, achieved a national reputation at Washington, and have
won prizes at every inter-state and state drill they have attended. The Maverick

THE WATERS OF SAN ANTONIO AND SAN PEDRO.

Rifles, a younger company, has also distingufshed itself. The armories of these
companies are the scene of many pleasant informal hops during the season, and
the members are otherwise a great social force in the city. Many dates of interest
in the history of these companies will be found in the Calendar at the end.

Friendly Societies. — All these organizations are very adequately rep-
resented here. The Masons are contemplating erecting a fine hall. The Odd
Fellows are already installed in a magnificent building on Houston street. The
Knights of Pythias are extremely strong, and the society comprises some of our
most active business and professional men.

The Waters of San Antonio and San Pedro.

THE DITCHES OR ACEQU1AS.

" He'll turn your current in a ditch."

— Shakespeare.

And now comes a pleasant chapter to narrate, pleasant because it deals with
that which makes San Antonio the naturally charming place that it is, pleasant
because it deals solely with the efforts and arts of peace in a history that is only
too full of the strivings of war, bloodshed and contention ; pleasant because it has
to do with clear crystal springs rising in volume from unknown, mysterious
depths, deep translucent pools and bubbling brooks, a swirling river of pure
living waters and the arborous accompaniments of foliage, high canopies of
greenery, broad groves, great trunks and tangled vines, and with the plenty of
fields of waving corn. Let imagination wander back to the time before the
waters were in the least fouled by the contact of civilization, when the first
Spanish Missionaries traveling over the drier western plains happed suddenly
upon this valley, knowing little of it, and that little only by hearsay, how their
hearts must have leaped at the sight of this abundance of pure water, these strong

Several of the smaller cuts in the letter-press are produced here by permission of IY. Prang & Co., Boston,
and are copyrighted designs from their series of studies.

42 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

constant springs, and goodly lands. They might have had within them a
feeling of thankful exultation that their lot was cast for at least a brief space in
pleasant paths. In these peaceful glades they might soon forget the lurking
danger and hostility of the warlike natives : and overlooking the valley
they might have concluded ' ' Verily a river went out of Eden to water the
garden ; and here are provided two, that river was divided into four heads,
these by the blessing of God and our Lady Mary on our labors and resources
shall be divided into many to water this second Eden." Some such an inspirtion
was likely enough the origin of some of the older acequias or irrigation ditches.
Or it may have been that the plain practical thought only occurred to them,
" here is provided an abundance of water and fine facilities for irrigation, necessi-
ties to the success of our undertakings and Missions. L,et us take and have
enough and to spare, for nature is lavish ; besides our converts and the people
that shall be afterwards drawn here and shall follow us soon, and shall enjoy and
supplement our labors, — these will need it all by and by." It may be that this
is nearer the truth, for that the Fathers were eminently practical and unselfish
workers as well as thinkers has been proved by works which testify to this day.
In these later days, when the Spanish domination is almost forgotten by the prevail-
ing population, when the representing race of it is regarded simply as one of the
attractive curiosities rather than one of the main historic quantities of the place,
when the past and present influence of it is only keenly remembered by the
lawyers, searchers after land titles and aspirants to local political emoluments
(and honors) at election times, we are apt to forget how much we modern San
Antonians owe to the right estimate that these men and their generation put upon
the value of the water of this valley and their quick appreciation of the facilities
for its distribution. San Antonio owes its very existence to this estimate. For
that it has been a city always more or less flourishing, it may thank these pioneers.
Are we not now also — in our arrogance of the possession or rather enjoyment of
an almost perfect modern system of water works, with its miles upon miles of
iron pipes that was almost pressed upon the citizens like a dose of wholesome
medicine upon a wilful and perverse child — only too prone to despise in our
scientific superiority these monuments of a simple wisdom and industry of the
past.

If any reader should weary at the length of these remarks on the ' ' taking
of the water," (saca de agua) he may skip it ; but it must be written if only to do
justice to the founders of our city, not to speak again of the pleasure of the task.
L,et this be the apology, if one be needed, for an article that may prove wearisome
to some by reason of its length ; the editor has found that no such true estimate
and understanding of the history, domestic and public, of the aims of these good
old religious pioneers, and later their imitators in ditch construction, of " their
useful toil their destiny obscure, ' ' nor indeed for that matter, the history and
growth in the last century of the whole community, as by following up the
gradual construction, fact of existence, and logic of these old water ways. The
reader may judge for himself if it is not so, by following the story of one of these
acequias from the discovery of its public necessity to the formation of a company
of shareholders among those settlers most nearly interested and concerned, to the
obtaining of the permission from His Majesty, the King through his

CONCEPCION DITCH. 43

representative the Governor, to the settlement of the neighbors' real or fancied
prior water rights, to the election or appointment of the Acequiero or Acequiador
(the constructor of acequias), to the actual construction, and finally to that
interesting operation of the drawing of lots among the shareholders of the
company for the " suertes " of land which the King will grant to them upon the
simple conditions of cultivating the lands thus granted, of keeping the channels
clear and clean, the locks, water gates, sluices, fences, aqueducts, troughs, etc.,
of the ditches in proper repair, and one horse, and arms and ammunition in read-
iness to meet enemies in the protection of the colony. On this line, from how
they learned to grasp the natural water advantages of the valley, may be traced
the true inwardness of the life and growth of the town in the eighteenth century,
say from 1729 to 1793, of its population gradually increased by soldiery, settlers,
special immigrants as those from the Canary Islands, camp followers, adventurers
and Indian converts.

The main or madre acequias shall be herein described in as near chronolog-
ical order as it is possible to make out.

The Pajalache or Concepcion Ditch.

This is the oldest of all the Acequias. The exact date of its construction is
doubtful, but it was begun early in the last century. In evidence in a lawsuit —
Rhodes v. Whitehead — this date was given as 1729 (see Calendar of San Antonio,
October, 22d, 1858). It is perhaps more probable that it was completed a few
years later than this. It was finally abandoned in 1869, thus serving its purpose
nearly 140 years. It was abandoned on account of the dam which provided it
with water proving too great an obstruction to the river's current and a nuisance
to the city during flood times. This dam was built across the river a short dis-
tance above the town ford, and above the present dam of the old L,ewis Mill,
about on a line with Presa street. It was very high — some two or three feet
higher than the Lewis dam. From this high level, through a deep cutting, the
Pajalache ditch took its waters, and striking Garden street almost immediately,
it followed the direct line of that street to the Concepcion Mission, and
thence on to join the River below, irrigating lands on its way by laterals. At
the intersection of Mill and Garden streets, the Alamo Madre ditch, coming
from Water street a few years later, met it, and the waters of this ditch were
taken across on a substantial arched stone aqueduct, which exists now, only the
arches have remained buried since the disuse of the Pajalache. Before or upon
the abandonment of the Pajalache, in order that the compromise between the
citizens and the holders of water rights might be as peaceably effected as possi-
ble, part of the waters of the Alamo Madre were taken at this same intersection
into a new ditch down Garden street, to the left of and on a higher level than
the Pajalache, but joining the old Pajalache channel below, and so on to Concep-
cion Mission. This was a small enough ditch in comparison to the old one, but
was better than 110 water at all. The main water of the Alamo Madre still
crossed on the aqueduct and continued down Mill street, crossing this street
some distance down, turning to the left and on to join the River below.

44 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

A number of laterals issued from these ditches right and left, as from all the
main ditches; but only those minor laterals that have some historical interest in
themselves — such as the Alamo Mission branches — will be mentioned.

The Pajalache ditch was made both wide and very deep, as may yet be
traced on Garden street; of sufficient size — tradition has it — that the Fathers and
their Indians kept a boat on it, from which to do the work of keeping its bed
clean and clear of obstruction. The main object of this old acequia was to supply
the Concepcion Mission and its lands with water.

The San Pedro Ditch.

This ditch comes next in point of interest. It was constructed to supply
the Villa Capital de San Fernando as well as to irrigate lands along its course.
It issues from the east side of the head waters of the San Pedro creek, taking
its way towards and down North Flores street crossing to Acequia street and
flowing across the west side of Main Plaza, immediately under the front of San
Fernando Church (Cathedral now), then still keeping to the east of South
Flores street passes through the United States Arsenal grounds to the
east side of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad Depot, on to join the
San Antonio River, with a branch to the San Pedro Creek, in the fork of the Y
of the River and Creek. As to the date of the construction of both this ditch
and the Alamo Madre, the evidence is a little tangled. It cannot be many
years the junior of the Pajalache. It is frequently mentioned in the documents
relating to the Upper L/abor ditch of 1776 to 1784 in the County and City
Records and other documents, and at the earliest of these dates the San Pedro
ditch had undoubtedly been in use many years. Such evidence in regard to these
two ditches as has been found bearing upon the point will be given, and the
reader may draw his own conclusions. A fuller description of the origin of the
Upper Labor, the editor trusts, will in a measure make up for the lack of accurate
knowledge as to these. In 1730 the Canary Island settlers came, and on
November the 28th of the same year, La Villa Capital de San Fernando was
founded and a Presidio " erected " under Antonio de Aviles, so says an ancient
copy of the Ordinances of San Antonio. In 1738 the corner stone of the old
Parish Church of San Fernando was laid, and on February 10th, 1773, that good
Governor, Baron Ripperda, who seems to have been so active in any matters
that pertained to the welfare of San Antonio, built the first Quarters, Guard-
house and Jail for the Presidio. Now, it is highly probable that the San Pedro
ditch was completed just about the time of the building of the Parish Church.
This period was very active in the prosecution of many public and ecclesiastical
works. There is good reason to believe that it was constructed later than the
Pajalache and earlier than some of the others.

The Alamo Madre Ditch.

The purpose of this ditch was to supply water to the Mission of San Antonio
de Valero, or the Alamo Mission, and its lands. Its course was and is a long and
useful one, and its carrying capacity is large. It has many useful and historical
laterals and branches, and some that are abandoned and some that were failures
from the first. The course of the mother ditch (the laterals will be spoken of

ALAMO MAURE DITCH. 45

afterwards) is on this wise : After leaving its source, at one of the most easterly
points of the head of the River, its meanderings follow a little to the east of the
line of the road known as River Avenue, passing between the west end of the
Government Post Reserve and the River, whence it goes on to a point a little to
the west of the Southern Pacific Depot, passing on through properties lying
between Avenue E and Austin street ; thence across the junction of Nacogdoches
street and Nolan street, across Crockett, Blum and East Commerce streets
(nearly all this course was formerly irrigable land), down Water street, over the
old Pajalache in an aqueduct ; thence down Mill street, across it, turning to the
left to the River below. Its first notable branch (to go back again to its source
and going down) was one which was called the Valley Ditch, constructed from
plans of Mr. Freisleben ; and which, from the time of its completion — about
1872 — proved to be an utter failure, and but a sorry venture to the city, the
engineer having made errors in the grade. It was almost immediately aban-
doned. It issued from the Madre at a point at the extremity of Grand Avenue,
near the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, taking a south-easterly direction down
Walnut street to a course left of the old Goliad road, over the south-eastern
limits, The next branch — that one which issued from a point near the end of
Fifth street (east), not far from the angle formed by Nolan and Nacogdoches
streets, is of some historical importance. It makes at once for the eastern walls
of the Alamo Mission, and may be seen close under the east end of the Alamo
Church, and is said to have supplied the beseiged with water in that terrible strug-
gle of 1836. From here it passes on through the Menger Hotel court-yard ;
thence to supply, in old times, the inhabitants of East Villita, joining the mother
ditch once more near the intersection of Goliad and Water streets. This ditch
was known as the ditch of the Alamo proper, and itself had a branch abandoned
years ago, reaching around the north and west ramparts of the Alamo Mission
square, passing along the west line of stores on our modern Alamo Plaza,
through the Opera House ground, joining the River there at the back on
Crockett street. Then another modern branch (about in the '60's) reached
backward from the mother ditch on Martinez street toward Garden street, cross-
ing the old Pajalache in one of those curious aqueducts spoken of in the Spanish
records as " canoa " — a canoe or hollowed log, of cypress generally — joining
the River immediately after crossing Garden street. The next branch was one
already mentioned in the description of the Pajalache — a compromise ditch to
the lands around Mission Concepcion.

The Mission of San Antonio de Valero, as shown by Giraud, was moved to
the east bank of the San Antonio River from the Post of San Jose, out West, in
1718, " on account of the scarcity of water ; " but the bxiilding up of the Mission
went on but slowly, and the foundation of the Church was not laid until 1744.
The date that this Mission supplied itself with water by means of the Acequia
Madre del Alamo is uncertain. That it is one of the earliest ditches is certain.
At any rate, it is placed here third in the order of chronology. One reason of
the scarcity of mention of this ditch, may be found in the fact that the partition
of the Alamo lands did not occur until 1793; so that it is not mentioned in deeds
as a property boundary line until then ; but of course it was made many years
before that date.

46 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The Upper Labor Ditch.

More particulars concerning the origin of this ditch can be given than of any
of the others that have been described, and they are given in the belief that
these particulars throw an interesting light upon the life and workings of a period
in the history of San Antonio which cannot be regarded but curiously and in-
quiringly. In the County Records may be found many documents and copies of
decrees, ordinances, petitions and letters in the original Spanish relating to this
Acequia, and in the City Engineer's office may be found translations of some of
these and other documents, presumably sent from Coahuila, and from other
sources have been obtained copies of translations of these with additions, notably
a lengthy document, which, it is alleged, was published in the San Antonio
Ledger on April 1st, 1852 ; all these are more or less tangled in their dates and
abound in other clerical errors.* These dates have been compared and checked
off as far as possible, and from this material has been gleaned most of the follow-
ing information.

In the first days of the year 1776, it was found to be desirable to irrigate
lands lying between the upper part of the San Antonio River west and the San
Pedro Springs. The matter was agitated among some citizens interested until

*The following is a specimen excerpt of the documentary evidence referred to, the translation does
not seem to be very good, a few of the most conspicuous errors have been corrected.
The first decree of the Governor.

"Don Juan Maria de Ripperda, Baron of Ripperda, Colonel of Cavalry, Governor of this Province of Texas,
its Missions and Conquests and Frontiers, Commander of Arms (or Forces) of the same and of Coahuila and
Nueva Leon, Captain of the Royal Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, by his Majesty the King.

"Not having been practised up to this, the interesting and important conveyance of water, which operation is
rendered so easy by the proximity of the San Antonio river to the city and garrison, and although in a commu-
nication from the Viceroy, the Marquis Casa Fuerte dated September 20th, 1731, His Excellency ordered that the
water of the two springs should be divided among the four first settlers that should come to this place, and Mis-
sion with their families, allowing to them such hours of the day as might suit their convenience for the irrigation
of their land, letting afterwards the waters to flow freely so as to give the same benefit to the next neighbors
by such means all would be provided with plenty of water for their lands in cultivation without injuring each
other.

"In asecond communication from the same Most Excellent Viceroy dated the i2th of May 1733 to the Governor
of this Province, Don Antonio Bustillos y Cevallos, the order was given to distribute the waters of the San An-
tonio river and the San Pedro creek among the Fathers of the Missions, the Garrison and all the settlers of the
town of San Fernando giving to all the necessary supplys (sic) without depriving the Indians in their settle-
ments, but with the condition that should the water at any time be insufficient to give to all continually a sup-
ply, in such a contingency to be served by turns between all the neighbors, according to law 11, title 17, book 4,
of the Recapitulation of the Indies, which states that in case their town should increase in population, it was the
imperious duty of the Governor to have all the inhabitants well supplied with water.

"In compliance with the said law, the actual Governor (being sick at the time,) appointed Don Mateo Perez
Lieutenant of this Company of Bexar with instructions to give possession of the right of water for irrigation to
all the actual settlers, and for any other that might come in future, accordingly the right was given in due form
on the 27th of October 1733, to all the settlers residing above the town ford on the same river, San Antonio, and
with the intention of carrying into effect the taking of the water,, several of the neighbors of this city and Pre-
sidio have applied to me wishing to aid in its execution, and as all the families of the Canary Island settlers as
well as all the rest of the inhabitants feel inteiest in it, according to former superior decrees, and in order to
avoid in future all motives of discord between settlers, I have ordered that if the said families of the Canary
Island settlers, or their actual descendants should have any other document that may prove in their favor, to pre-
sent it to me within four days with the answer signed by all the persons, heads of said families, so that I may pro-
ceed without delay to the construction of the work, it being of great importance.

"In faith thereof I have signed this my decree on January 10th 1776.

"Ei. BARON RIPPERDA.

"Acting as Judge Receptor with the witnesses of my assistance in the absence of a Notary Public, there being
none in the Province, and on the present common paper not having any with the Royal Seal or stamp.

EL BARON RIPPERDA.

"WITNESSES: — JOSE YGNACIO ORNELES,

ANTONIO BARCENAZ.''
***** And so on, the decrees, correspondence, etc., continue.

UPPER LABOR DITCH. 47

the Governor of the Province of Texas, Baron Juan Maria de Ripperda, a pro-
gressive and industrious man, directed his attention to it, and on January 10th,
1776, he issued a decree in order to avoid, as he says, in the future, all motives
of discord between settlers, ordering the Canary Island settlers or their actual
descendents to produce any document, if they have one, that might prove in
their favor, and present it to him within four days, their reply to be signed by
the heads of the said families. To this decree on January 15th, they reply that
they have no document, but think there are some decrees or schedules in their
favor, deposited in the Archives of this town, and they respectfully ask permission
to be allowed to examine the Archives to search for these. This request is
signed by eleven of the Canary Island settlers, or their descendents.

The next day, January 16th, 1776, a meeting of the Cabildo is called by
special order of the Governor, and in the presence of that corporation, it was
decided that all the documents bearing any relation with the town and the
Canary Island settlers should be examined, and it was there and then declared
that should any document be found in the Archives of the Captain-General, the
right should be reserved to make use of them at any future time. A memoran-
dum to this effect, besides being signed by the settlers, bears also the signature
of the President, Father and Friar of the Missions Pedro Ramirez.

Baron Ripperda next addresses a communication similar to the first-
mentioned to the President of the Missions, reiterating that there were only two
dociiments or superior decrees in existence in connection with the water rights
granted to the Missions and settlers of the town and maintaining that the
inhabitants of the place were free to use the water of the River for irrigating
purposes if they did not interfere with the supply to the Missions. Those
documents being decrees of the Viceroy the Marquis of Casa Fuerte dated
September 20th, 1731, and May 12th, 1738, therefore the Governor wishes to
know if the Missions under the President's charge have any claim emanating
from any superior decree. If they have, the Governor would like to be
informed of it as soon as practicable, " so that the public may be no longer de-
prived of such a great benefit " as the distribution of the water. To which
communication the President of the Missions replies, dating from the Mission of
San Juan, January 20th, 1776, that none of the five Missions possesses any
document in their favor in prejudice of the inhabitants, he sees clearly, however,
that the Missions being situated by Royal decree iipon the banks of the River,
with the rights of permanent and sufficient water for the cultivation of their
lands, they have the prior right of possession and construction of channels, he
mentions this right in case the Missions may wish to exercise it at some future
time, but the President is not of the dog in the manger kind, and he says he is
of the opinion that there is such a profusion of water in the River that it affords
to all the same benefit, and the Missions will make no opposition under the one
understanding that the right of priority be reserved to them.

The Governor Ripperda having thus satisfied himself that he is trespassing
on no one's proper rights, he desires that the two documents be filed under the
understanding that any taking of the water must be effected without injuring
the supply to the Missions. He is also satisfied that it has been clearly shown

48 SAN ANTONIO DK BKXAR.

and declared that there exists no other superior decree that might act in the
favor either of the settlers or the " five towns of the Missions," he accordingly
issues an ordinance requesting the neighbors and those who may wish to con-
tribute to the taking of the water, to enlist themselves forthwith, contributing
every one any and " necessary utensils," and the Baron promises that the
partition of the lands " will be made with the due equity of chance." He insists
that the person who may take charge of the work must possess intelligence and
experience ; the election of the Acequiero to be decided by a plurality of votes
among the shareholders. The Acequiero elected shall be entitled to an extra
portion or suerte of land, but he shall furnish two additional men. The Gov-
ernor then makes in his decree, numerous suggestions concerning the construction
of the ditch, as to its protection from cattle by the planting of nopal trees
(prickly pears) or other thorny bushes, and says that the water gates must have
stone and mortar foundations and suggests other sensible precautions concerning
the width, depth and general completeness of the work to be done. He is very
thorough, but withal indulgent, and he says that all the persons engaged in the
construction may suggest any opinion that may contribute to the convenience
and benefit of all, so that everything (he loves peace — this good Governor) may
move smoothly and peaceably, for the end, he says, ' ' of the respectable laws of
his Catholic Majesty, is to avoid in his dominions all kinds of discords amongst
his subjects." And in order that this important decree may be made known and
promptly executed, ' ' I have ordered its publication, after holding High Mass, at
the beating of the drum at the door of the Court House, as customary."

In the meanwhile, we may surmise that things went along smoothly for
a while, for nothing more is heard of the Upper Labor Ditch and its construction
until July 13th, 1776, when we learn of the second election, in which one Angel
Galin is elected over his opponent, Bartholome Seguin, to take the place of
Foribio Fuentes, who, for "reasons by him exposed, which were found suffi-
cient," makes application to be relieved and to be awarded the emoluments in
land, etc., to which he was entitled. He is relieved on July 15th, on the condi-
tion that he put two men daily on the work of construction until the new
director shall bring the irrigation to a convenient place, which means that the
first Suertes of land would be drawn for and granted when the. water had been
conveyed over sufficient land to warrant a partition. On the former date, July
13th, the share-holders who seem to desire to profit by some undesirable experiences
entered into a hard and fast agreement with Angel Galin, the newly elected Ace-
quiero, in which he is bound to continue the work to its conclusion without the in-
terference of any person, for the sum of one dollar per day, deducting the price of
four men of the twenty-six to work daily, (the poor peones or laborers could not have
made much above the price of their salt, according to this), and under no consid-
eration whatever will a substitute be allowed him, and that those entitled to
irrigation shall have the right to remove him, in case the work shall be badly
directed, or for any "other motives that impartial persons may find, such as delay,
bad work, direction &c,' ' he is to inspect the work daily until the object of fur-
nishing all the neighbors with water be accomplished, and he binds himself to the
completion of the contract "with all his present and future property." To all this
Angel Galin is ready to agree, so he takes charge of the work.

THE UPPER LABOR DITCH. 49

All these decrees of the Baron are dated, "in the town of San Fernando &c.,
&c.," now comes one however dated "In the Royal Garrison of San Antonio de
Bexar, and city of San Fernando" on the 28th day of April 1777, in which the
Governor says, that he has been informed that the work has reached as far as La
Lomita de Vieja, and that the first distribution of Suertes could be made to
the twenty-five persons entitled to them and two for Foribio Fuentes, the Ex-
Acequiero. Twenty-six chances contain 25,233 varas of land, which are meas-
ured for irrigation into portions of different lengths lying between the River and
the Acequia. It is a pity to waste a season, and it is now April and the season
for planting corn is passing, so the Governor orders the drawing at once to be
made in the Court House of the town, giving admittance to all the persons inter-
ested, (a complete list of the shareholders follows) and to everybody wishing to
witness the operation. The twenty-six tickets are placed in one covered urn and
the names in another, two children draw these, the Governor reads the results.
Each shareholder draws his Suerte (literally his luck) of good rich acres of the
Labor de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores, and it is granted to them by the king
that they may take possession of it, and bequeath the titles to their children
or any other heirs, and no other person or persons shall at any time have any
claim or right in the said properties which have hitherto been considered as be-
longing to the Crown af Spain. The Governor forthwith directs Don Simon de
Arocha Lieutenant-General of the Province to give to those entitled, possession of
their lands thus drawn, upon the simple conditions mentioned in the introductory
to this subject. The second and final drawing was held on the 8th day of March
1778, the total being fifty-two Suertes distributed, thus; first drawing, twenty-five
among the shareholders; one extra to the ex-constructor who was also a share
holder; second drawing, twenty -one among the shareholders; one extra to Angel
Galin, constructor who was also a shareholder; and four to be cultivated in com-
mon, to cover some expenses; total fifty two Suertes. Perhaps it is a fact suffi-
ciently interesting to notice, that the famity of Rodriguez still occupies the land
thus granted near the junction of this ditch and the San Pedro ditch. Every-
thing is not cleared up however with regard to construction until April 2nd
1781 when Angel Galin reporting that the ditch being newly cleaned, and the
water turned in, he desires to be released from further obligations. And still the
shareholders were not satisfied, and in 1784 the quarrels over the Upper Labor
ditch were waxing so hot, that the Governor by petition, used his influence to
keep the peace.

This ditch, the Upper Labor, taking its waters from the west side of the
head waters of the San Antonio river, takes the course of the Rock Quarry Road,
reaching around Tobin's Hill, across San Pedro avenue, joining the San Pedro
ditch at the Rodriguez property near the west extremity of Laurel street, and by
an overflow here really joins, across the narrow strip of land intervening, the San
Pedro creek. From a point soon after it leaves the Rock Quarry road, a branch
issues from it in a direction towards Madison Square, watering lands between that
point and the San Antonio river. It has another more important but quite mod-
ern branch in the Alazan ditch, this was constructed from plans made by Mr.
Giraud in 1872, and in reality carries the Upper Labor water north up San Pedro
Avenue and around the San Pedro Springs to the west, then taking a southerly

SAN ANTONIO DB BEXAR.

course irrigates all those lands west of the San Pedro creek. The I. & G. N. R.
R. follows pretty closely its line as far as the ditch goes. This ditch finally joins
the Alazan creek some little distance before that creek joins the San Pedro creek.
It was finished and opened June 9th, 1875. It cost the city with the Valley ditch,
a branch of the Alamo Madre ditch, mentioned before, and constructed at the same
date $33,000. The Alazan was a bold and practical conception, but the work
seems to have been inadequately done.

The control of the ditches has long since left private hands. The first Amer-
ican manager of ditches was Capt. T. H. Beck in 1850. In 1858 the city took
them in hand and on January 1st of that year John Fries was appointed first Ditch
Commissioner by A. A. I/ockwood, mayor. That office is at present held by
Mr. Frank Huntress.

The San Antonio River.

But then I love its lazy days'
Perpetual blaze of bluest blue,
And love to bask as oft I do
Down where the river winds its ways,
Where giant trees the Summer through
Seem halls that echo wizard lays,
Where all day long those lays are heard
From throbbing throat of mocking bird
Above the chorus crickets raise,
Where most I miss the purple hue
And scents of heaths and heather,
And where I love to sing the praise
Of Texas Summer weather.

—THE B. B. IN TEXAS.

The story of the river as applied to
the public interests of our city is a story
to make angels weep and to cause the
alligators, if our river had any, not only
to shed crocodile tears, but to actually
feel sad, and this is all the more touching
when it is considered that sadness must
be a feeling strange to animals of such
proverbially good digestions. Of course
the alligators are hypothetical, they
were never pets of our Saint Anthony. The good saint in the first place made
his river too crooked for their comfort and in the second they concluded that he
and his river were entirely too fresh for them, so they returned to the muddy
bayous of Eastern Texas. But this is not to be a history of angels or alligators,
but a word or two about a subject we are just a little chary of handling without
gloves ; this accounts for our quoting poetry and dragging angels in by the nim-
bus and wandering off to such irrelevant subjects as alligators.

THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER. 51

"We would a round unvarnished tale deliver" but it is just this way with
us — we don't know exactly whether to feel glad that the Head of the River is not a
beer garden — or to be sad that a city could sell so grand a birthright, not only to
sell it but to be so blind and remorseless that it refused to buy it back when it
had a good chance. And as

" To mourn a mischief that is past and gone
Is the next way to draw new mischief on "

we won't be sad about it. There is such a variety of ways of looking at this
subject that we will just state some incidents and particulars that we know about,
nor rashly rush into any unseemly display of high spirits. The worst that can
be said about our splendid system of water supply is, that ' ' it gomes a leedle
high." The City of San Antonio is a credit to its Water Works.

It is said that the first permanent settlement on the San Antonio river was
near its head in the year 1692. Nearly two hundred years ago. For years after
this the river source to mouth belonged to the Crown of Spain.* The first char-
ter granted to San Antonio was given by the King of Spain in the year 1733 or
'34. It only has to be remembered that the Recapitulation of the Indies con-
tained strict laws and rules concerning public water rights, to be certain that the
wonderful resources of our river in relation to public comfort and welfare were
duly remembered. True, to the Missions were granted the prior priviliges, but
then the Missions were one of the many starting points of our City's history.
Forty years afterwards neither these privileges nor those alleged to have been
conferred upon the Canary Islanders were held to interfere with the rights of any
other citizens or settlers in and about San Fernando. And it came to pass in
later days when Texas had changed hands the new City Government found it
necessary to establish the boundaries of San Antonio. This was finally done in
the courts, all about which doings can be found in Texas Reports, Vol. 7, page
288 et seq. And Giraud made the " Original City Survey." The lots contain-
ing the Head Springs of the river, or the Worth Springs as they were called
about that time — because General Worth had camped there with his Military
force — were accounted, with much other land, as belonging to the City's public
domain. Now, the finances of the City in the years preceeding 1850 were not in
the most flourishing condition. The Council hardly knew to what quarter they
should turn for funds to build the long talked of Court House, Jail and School
House. The Council felt themselves to be " land poor." In section eight of the
City Charter of December 14th, 1837, it was permitted that certain parcels of
Public Land might be sold. The proceeds of any such sale to be appropriated
to the erection of the buildings mentioned and the endowment of a Public
School. The land was not ordered to be sold until August 24th, 1849. It was
decided on October 29th, 1849, to erect such buildings and in the following year,
September 6th, they were begun on the northwest corner of the Military plaza.
This, the old "Bat Cave," is to be removed soon or as soon as the New City Hall
is completed. And this old ' Bat Cave ' furnished the excuse and grounds upon
which were sold the City's lands. Shortly after this there was appointed by the
City " a committee to regulate the sale of the City Lands " and on November 4th,

* Observe with regard to this in the article on " The Upper L,abor ditch."

52 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

1852 when the folly was ripe another committee which had been similarly ap-
pointed "to decide the manner of selling the City property" reported to the
Council that they had chosen Martin H. Campbell licensed auctioneer to sell the
City lands by public outcry. To Giraud's everlasting credit be it said, that he saw
the mistake that was about to be made and the wrong that would
eventually revert upon the City, and to a meeting of the Council on
November 8th, 1852, he presented a report* which was adopted strongly
advising the reservation of certain lots at the Head of the River to the
use of the City. He thought it would be a good place for the U. S. Arsenal and
other public works. Whilst he was on the subject he wished also to recommend
that a Square be kept at the San Pedro Springs for ' ' a male college. ' ' Also that
certain hard stone quarries on the City properties be not sold, and the wise Engi-
neer continues to beg the Honorable Body to reserve and make a road upon the
east bank of the river, twenty varas wide, also a similar road on the east side of
the Alamo Madre ditch, " as near the river and ditch as they may be placed con-
sistently with public interests." But alas ! on that very day, November 8th,
1852. Lot 31, Range 1, District No. 2, containing ll^Vff acres had been sold
by the auctioneer upon the usual terms, 20 per cent, cash down, the rest in fifty
years bearing interest at 8 per cent, per annum, for the sum of $820. Also
lot 30, same Range and District containing 12 f0\, same terms, for the sum of
$655, — both to Alderman J. R. Sweet. Lot 31 is the land upon which was
erected the old Sweet Homestead, and the lot upon which the fine residence of
Mr. Brackenridge now stands adjoining it. These lots were the nucleus of that
most desirable property that is generally known as the "old Sweet place," with-
out doubt one of the most beautiful, if not the most beautiful, places in Texas, its
woodland grace and parklike beauty so heightened by the perpetual mystery of
its profound and noble springs. This is the Head of the River. There are other
fine properties in this neighborhood with exceptional water advantages and privi-
leges, but this property was really the key to the situation, the Ojo de Agua, the
birthright of the city. The "Sweet place" included besides the two already men-
tioned, five other lots, originally sold at the same time by the City to various pur-
chasers, but all finally acquired by Mr. Sweet by the summer of 1859, and by
him sold on August 29th 1859, to Mr. G. W. Barnes, of Savanah, Ga. These
other lots were Nos. 30 and 31, Range 1, District 3; something over twenty acres
apiece sold by the City to Francois Marchant, Marchant and City to Sweet
through the sheriff. Lot's Nos. 28 and 29, Range 1, District 2, sold by the City to
T. J. Devine, Nov. 8th, 1852, by Devine to O'Hara, by O'Hara to Sweet. Lot
32, Range 1, District No. 2, sold by the City to Geo. M. Martin, by Martin to
Sweet in 1859. These seven original City lots formed the "Sweet property" and
this, G. W. Barnes owned for just ten years when he sold it to Mrs. Isabella H.
Brackenridge, September 15th 1869. It is now owned by Mr. Geo. W. Bracken-
ridge, the well known banker and president of our Water Works, who has by
many improvements, additions and wise investment, made it what it is to-day—
an invaluable possession. If the story of our City's negligence and folly had

* It would be interesting to hear what good the adoption of this Report ever did for the City of San
Antonio, and further to learn why the members of the Honorable Body themselves paid so little heed 01 respect
to its purport. And was it not this same question which so agitated the honest soul of our good Alderman
Mackey, some two years ago. ?

THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER. 53

ended here in the sale of her finest heritage, it would hardly be worth while to
waste further space. But there is a sequel, a lesson it is well for the rising gen-
eration of electors and embryo aldermen to take to heart.

It is highly probable that Mr. Brackenridge, with his keen instinct for real
values, did not underate the prize. It is moreover not wholly surmise upon which
it might be averred that he saw that the City ought to be the owner of this mag-
nificent property. He sees it to-day, but now as before he does not underate his
possession, as far as their value to the City is concerned. The Head of the River
property and the Water Works are too closely linked together by mutual interesst,
to allow a consideration of them apart. That Mr. Brackenridge was willing to
part with the Head of the River at all, is an indication of some disinterestedness,
but what speaks more loudly for this, is, that he was willing to part with it at not
an immoderate price. His terms are sufficient proof of this to-day. The
area of the Sweet tract was altogether 108 acres more or less. This with im-
provements and some important additions, Mr. Brackenridge on January 16th
1872, offered to sell to the City for the sum of $50,000. He offered it upon easier
terms than those upon which the City had sold its lands twenty years before, ex-
cept that he was the better judge of values. He did not even ask for the 20 per
cent., cash down, it appears. He would, he said, rent the place for $4,000 per
annum, the exact amount of interest he asked, viz 8 per cent., the money in fifty
years. It seems almost incredable, yet if the very full reports and large corres •
pondence may be relied upon, these are true particulars. His offer was read and
accepted on January 22d by some members of the council and Mayor Thielepape,
yet there must have been a division of opinion among the members. The matter
at once became a subject of consuming interest in the town. The newspapers
were full of it. People for the time talked of nothing else. A most prophetic
letter, viewed in the light of subsequent developments, appeared in the San An-
tonio Herald over the signature of "Citizen" on February 2nd 1872. It strongly
urged that the purchase be consummated and pointed out that the price and term?
were reasonable. The misguided faction won the day. Governor Davis on
March 12th put a check upon the proceedings. The Secretary of State with many
others unfortunately, threw what influence they possessed, unwittingly, against the
best interests of the community. On March 27th Governor Davis appointed Mr.
Newton in the place of Thielepape removed, and effectually threw the business
into abeyance. Thielepape, as long as he had the power, without doubt had done
all he could to clinch the bargain. He said he saw that the purchase would
prove to be a bargain for the City. It must be acknowledged that the odds are
that he did, and that he was much more of a prophet than the majority of his
fellow citizens. Another clear case of the minority being in the right. On April
3rd a special committee of four — Their names? — It matters not — was appointed by
the council "to test the finality of Ex-Mayor Thielepape's contract with Mr.
Brackenridge. This committee on May 6th, causes the alleged purchase to be
revoked and rescinded. Of course this proceeding does not satisfy Mr. Bracken-
ridge so on August 3rd, he tenders the rent for the property he has been occupy-
ing This is refused by Mayor Newton. Not even content with this and fear-
ing a cloud on his title, Mr. Brackenridge enters suit to try and compel the City

54 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

to its obligations. This suit was however very amicably settled in November
1874. The alleged contract being declared null and void.

This is the true story of how and why the City of San Antonio to-day does
not own the property commonly called "The Head of the River." And where, O
where are your twenty vara roads — good honest hearted Giraud? !

It has already been said what a lovely river the San Antonio is, what a source
of blessing it is, and how it meanders and winds up and down, " in and out and
around about" the City, that this is mentioned again must be excused for we have
acquired the San Antonian love for this dear stream, and we leave the sentiment
with regret to talk of iron pipes, contracts, engineers and incorporaters, and
suchlike soulless articles and beings.

The Water Works.

That our best water brought by conduits hither.

— Coriolanus, Act ii, Scene iii.

The first ' 'Water Works' ' of San Antonio were of course the early irrigation
ditches, supplemented by shallow wells. The abundance of water, apparently
pure, but really impure by reason of generations of drainage over and through
accumulations of filth, was a stumbling block to the minds of the less
enlightened citizens. The constant preaching however of those who knew to
those who wished to know, at last made a system of Water Works possible in the
community. Very gradually the conversion went on, until to-day every citizen
of us is alive to the importance of the handy profusion of sweet pure water, and
keenly sensible of the tremendous growth year by year in monetary value of
"The Water Works" property. The water question was in constant agitation
from i he date of the last visitation of cholera in 1866. Many suggestions and
offers were made and discussed, but the first really definite proposition was made
in May 1873, by Mr. Geo. M. Maverick, but it fell through. In April 1875 there
was a meeting to consider an offer made by ' 'The National Water Works Company' '
of New York. The offer was refused. The matter did not abate in interest, how-
ever, for on May 3d, 1875, a meeting was called, and held on the 6th at the
Menger Hotel, at which much was said in favor of a system of Water Works for
the City. It was hard Missionary work. September 3d a company was sug-
gested, in spite of apathy and indifference prevailing, of which Mr. H. B. Adams
was to be President and F. Giraud Secretary. The time, however, was not quite
ripe, and this company was never probably fully organized.

On April 3d, 1877, the City of San Antonio gave the original contract of the
San Antonio Water Works Company to J. B. lyacoste and associates, in which
the latter were to supply the City of San Antonio with water, using the Head of
the San Antonio River as a source of supply. The work was to be begun ' ' six
months from the date of the arrival of the Railroad," and to be finished within

THE WATER WORKS. 55

fifteen months from and after April 3d, 1877. This arrangement as to time was
literally carried out. The storage reservoir was to be completed within two years
from April 3d, 1877. The City of San Antonio agreed to lease to J. B. Lacoste
and associates for a reservoir, six acres of ground on the upper or western part of
Rock Quarry Road, and also the property at the head of the Upper Labor Ditch,
" heretofore set aside by the City for the purposes of Water Works," so long as
this contract continues in force. Permission for the Company to use rock from
the City quarries was also given.

The contract "shall subsist " for a period of twenty-five years from the com-
pletion of said works, at the end of which time the City shall have the right to
buy the works at an appraised value, but if the City does not buy back at the end
of twenty-five years, the contract shall run until the works are purchased, and
the right to purchase the same shall inure to the City every five years thereafter,
the City to give twelve months' notice of its intention to buy.

The amended contract or ordinance was made on January 29th, 1881, when
Mr. J. H. French was mayor, and when Mr. Brackenridge had acquired the con-
trol of the Water Works Company, he being President of the Company at that
date. The features of the amendment were the relinquishment by the City of the
rental of $500 per annum, that the Company was to pay taxes on an assessment
up to the amount of $250,000, and that at the expiration of the contract if the
City should ' ' avail itself of the right to purchase, and the parties cannot agree as
to price, the matter is to be decided by arbitration."

To return to the work done by J. B. L,acoste and associates under the original
contract. Credit must be given to the first engineer of the works, Mr. W. R.
Freeman, for the simple and effective scheme to utilize the water power of the
River to pump the water of the Head to a still higher level, to obtain sufficient
pressure. The reservoir, was not constructed upon the site originally selected,
but on the summit of a hill higher in the eastern vicinity of the Head of the
River. The raceway, however, was constructed as designed without interfering
to any appreciable degree with the supply of water to the irrigation ditches.
And the turbines did good service for many years. The works were duly
finished under the original contract, and upon completion, they were tested and
re-tested, and on July 5th, 1878, Mr. J. P. Newcomb, Chairman of the Com-
mittee on Water Works, etc., reported to the Council that the Water Works had
been duly finished on July 3d, 1878, and recommended that the following reso-
lution be adopted : " Resolved, That the City of San Antonio hereby formally
accept the Water Works constructed by J. B. L,acoste and associates under the
contract made with the City under Section 560 of Digest of Revised Ordinances.
This acceptance to date from 3d day of July, 1878." This report and the
accompanying resolution was unanimously adopted July 5th, 1878.

There was for some time but poor patronage for the Water Works. People
had to be educated to the importance of their new acquisition. Prejudice had to
be overcome. Mr. L,acoste disposed of his interest, and the Works took a new lease
of life under the Brackenridge rule. With a serene faith in the future of the
City, Mr. Brackenridge has yearly put and advised his Company to put thousands

56 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

and thousands of dollars underground, until to-day the City has a vast network
of iron pipes.

For several years there have been factions, each having a different opinion
as to the proper mode of settling this question as to the ownership of the Works.
For a long time previous to 1885 attacks on the validity of the contract were
constant from certain quarters. This, however, was temporarily set at rest by an
exhaustive opinion by Mr. S. G. Newton, who was City Attorney in that year.
He decided : " I am of the opinion that the City Administration was authorized
under its Charter to make the contract, and that the contract contains no pro-
visions that invalidate it." Others again now advocate that the City should con-
demn the property. This policy could not be defended upon any just ground,
for it behooves a City Council or Corporation to be as just and honest as the indi-
vidual. The purchase of the Water Works is, as we go to press, the burning
question of the hour. An offer from the San Antonio Water Works to sell the
Works for $2,000,000 is before the people. Mayor Callaghan with characteristic
foresight is strongly in favor of the purchase. Being a man of progress and hav-
ing in view first and foremost the best interests of the City, he urges upon the
citizens the necessity of a system of sewers. Such a work he argues cannot be
economically carried out unless the control of water is in the hands of the own-
ers of the system of sewers. Water is indispensable to the best systems.
"Recognizing," he says, "the growing needs of the citizens for proper sewage
works," he held, "that a water supply was of utmost necessity and consideration,
and to this end he would urge the purchase of the Water Works plant." The
citizens trust him. Nothing he has done has forfeited this confidence. He has
done much to win it. Yet no one knows better than he that from some quarters
he will get hard knocks for his pains. No one cares less for hard knocks when he
thinks himself to be in the right. It is this independent and progressive spirit
that has earned for him a long lease of the Mayor's seat. A lease that is not
likely soon to expire unless he seeks or has thrust upon him the honor of repre-
senting this district in the National Congress. His influence is almost an
assurance that the purchase will be favorably voted upon by the citizens on Sep-
tember 30th. It has been shown how on a former occasion, the citizens by
opposing a farseeing Mayor (Thielepape in 1872), upon a similar question, in a
great measure sowed the seeds of the harvest that to-day has to be gathered. It
is wisest to make the best of the crop as it stands.

It is not within the scope of this sketch to discuss the financial aspect of the
question. But it occurs that the Water Works enjoys a large income (which has
hitherto been spent in developing), therefore the purchase could not actually be a
burden on the City., although theorists would try so to prove. Not to mention
the value of Real Estate which the offer includes. Many of the City's influential
men favor the project. The question is to be decided by a vote of the tax-pay-
ers, on September 30th, 1890. Mr. Brackenridge in a recent interview, expressed
himself decidedly as follows :

"Now, the stockholders, after sowing for thirteen years, with the hope of
ultimately harvesting, think it a little hard that their large expenditure of
patience and money should be met by public clamor, as though they had perpe-

TJN

THE SAN ANTONIO RIVER. 57

trated some great wrong upon the community, instead of having added a valuable
and necessary property to the City. Yet they believe strongly in the justice
of mankind and feel confident that the stockholders of the Water Works will be
permitted to reap the benefits which they feel are due them. Should it ba con-
sidered necessary for the public good to deprive them of their property, and
rights under their franchise, they think they will be honestly and fairly dealt
with."

" The Water Works were constructed in 1877, at a time when the City was
unwilling or unable to do anything, and the citizens would have nothing to do
with the scheme, giving it neither countenance nor credit, believing that it would
be a very great advantage to the city, and of little benefit to the stockholders.
These were, I believe, the views entertained by very nearly all the citizens,
including myself. At present the Company is completing what the stockholders
hoped would be the last large addition in the plant, necessary to be made during
the continuance of its contract with the city. I can say truly, that, so far, they
have received less interest on their investment than any citizen in San Antonio
would be willing to accept, even upon the most undoubted and infallible invest-
ment. There has been paid them less than 2 per cent, per annum upon the amount
invested to the present time. For the first seven years the officers contented
themselves to work without salaries. I traveled over the country at my own
expense to make contracts for pipe and material."

These articles on the Head of the River and the Water Works are inserted in
this work in the belief that, whether the vote goes for or against the purchase, the
historical matter they contain will be of more than mere passing interest.

San Antonio as a Health Resort.

"If a man wants to die there he must go somewhere else."

— GEO. WILKINS KENDALL, 1843.

To those that are affected with throat and lung troubles, San Antonio and
its vicinity undoubtedly stand pre-eminent in interest at the head of the list of
the health resorts of this continent; its pure and dry air, and the facilities its
neighborhood affords for obtaining varied temperatures, in the high lands North,
or the low lands South to suit the subject or case, are advantages which speak
for themselves.

The editor of this Guide was anxious to obtain what he felt to be a disinter-
ested estimate of these advantages, and found it when least expecting it; he gives
an old opinion, but he feels it to be the better for the thirty years during which
it has been put to the proof. It stands as just to-day as when it was written,
and has everything to recommend it to health-seekers. It is to be regretted that
it does not touch upon one important item, the northers. Our northers have
been much noised about, and the rapid changes that these boisterous visitors
cause during our short winter, have been much objected to. The writer's eight
years of experience has taught him that their bark is far worse than their bite;
that in the severest stress it is never quite so cold as it seems; the wind is cer-
tainly trying as long as it lasts, but out of the wind, and you are out of the
Norther. They are easily avoided if an invalid desires to do so, all one has to
do is to keep indoors, they are invariably of short duration, lasting three or four
days at most at a time: they come very suddenly, it is true, but they assudddenly
leave, and it should be remembered by visitors that they always come from a
northerly direction, necessarily therefore, from a much colder climate than our
own Sunny South. The longer one lives in Texas the better he likes the North-
ers; they are to a Texan an impersonation almost of everything that is bracing
and invigorating, and they are oftener welcomed with a leap and a whistle than
met with complainings.

The extracts that follow further on, are from a letter written many years
ago by an invalid who had sought San Antonio as a health resort, and who appar-
ently found relief. The letter was published as far back as 1858 in the New
Orleans Crescent. It furnishes, an unbiased and independent opinion by one
who had had much experience, of the restorative qualities of the climate of San
Antonio, all the more unbiased and telling if it is considered that the climate
was at 'that time passing through its probationary period, and that to-day, more
than thirty years after, San Antonio stands unchallenged as a resort, unequalled
for restorative qualities for lung and throat troubles. The letter is given almost
as it stands in the old file, only such paragraphs are eliminated as speak dispar-
agingly of certain malarial districts of Southeast Texas, of the stages, ' 'which are

SAN ANTONIO AS A HEALTH RESORT. 59

running daily and weekly" [and which have long ago given place to the iron
horse,] and of the "white lime dust that is confined entirely to the business por-
tion of San Antonio, and which does not affect the outskirts, which present within
an area of six miles the best situation which I have seen for the enjoyment of
pure air, and cool and refreshing breezes. " This "white lime dust" has never
existed to the younger generation in San Antonio, and is an utter impossibility
in the business portions of a now important city, which are paved, some, with mes-
quite blocks, some, macadamized, and all kept thoroughly well sprinkled.

The writer is spoken of as being "a citizen of Mobile, and has no other
interest in the subject matter than to disseminate truth for the general benefit."

"JULY 25th, 1858.
EDITORS OF THE CRESCENT:

The superiority of the climate of Western Texas over that of other sections,
which have heretofore been resorted to for the cure of pulmonary diseases is
certainly very great. To me it is the most important feature which Texas pre-
sents. I have experienced to a limited extent its curative influence; and, from
what I have seen, felt, and heard of it, I am induced to believe that if fully
understood and appreciated by the country at large, Western Texas would speed-
ily become the most favored resort on the Continent for persons afflicted with
diseases of the throat and lungs.

As far back as I can remember the Medical Faculty of the United States
have been in the habit of recommending patients affiicted with pulmonary disease
to cross the ocean, or take a trip on the sea — to visit Cuba, or take up their resi-
dence in Florida, or some other Southern state. The discovery of Gold in
California led to the discovery of the beneficial effects of the rarified atmosphere
of the plains on pulmonary diseases. Many cases of laryngitis, bronchitis and of
confirmed consumption were said to have been entirely cured by crossing the
Continent to California. The facts sustained by reports received since from the
interior of Asia, have roused the Medical Faculty, and the result is that the most
intelligent of them now believe that sea breezes and humid atmosphere are very
injurious in cases of pulmonary disease, and that the best localities for them are
those where rarified atmosphere prevails.

Such localities are not to be found near the Atlantic or Gulf coasts. The
atmosphere there is necessarily humid and of course too heavy for the weak lungs
of a consumptive to respire with ease. It is also impregnated with salt which is
extremely irritating to the throat and lungs. It is said that in the interior of
Cuba and of Florida, this irritating atmosphere does not exist. This may be cor-
rect, but in its stead is a malarious atmosphere which keeps the consumptive in
continual fever and thus accelerates his disease. Humidity, too, in both Cuba
and Florida, cannot be otherwise than great. The water which surrounds them
and is held in their soils and on their surfaces is sufficient to prove this. In fact,
there is no place in the Gulf or Carribbean sea, nor within one thousand miles
of our Atlantic coast, that presents so favorable a climate for those who are
afflicted with pulmonary disease as Western Texas. I know this to be true. I
speak from experience.

60 SAN ANTONIO DE BKXAR.

For three years before my arrival in Western Texas, I was afflicted with
laryngitis. During that period I tried various localities on the Atlantic and Gnlf
coasts, and in the interior of Florida and other states, and I found that the farther
I removed from the sea, and from lakes, ponds, swamps, and rich cultivated
soils, the better I felt. When exposed to winds which blew over swamps, river
bottoms, or still bodies of water, I invariably experienced a choking sensation.
At all times and in all places I suffered in proportion to the humidity of the sur-
rounding atmosphere. So sensitive was my throat to dampness that I could tell
the approach of rain, even before there was any apparent indication of it in the
heavens. When the atmosphere was dense and heavy with moisture, my throat
was clogged with mucus; but when it was dry, the mucus did not cling with
such tenacity to the membrane, and there was less of it. This, together with my
experience in medical remedies, induced me to believe that nothing but a dry,
rarified atmosphere would restore the mucous membrane of the larynx to healthy
action. Unfortunately for me, I was not governed b^ that discovery until the
disease had reached my lungs. After being confined to my bed three months, on
the coast, I set out for San Antonio. On my arrival there I was very weak and
feeble, suffered much from pain in my lungs, and was not able to do anything
which required any physical strength.

I am now, after a lapse of two months, able to walk two miles without being
fatigued, and can write about three hours each day. This improvement I attribute
to the purer, dry, light atmosphere which prevails here the greater part of the
time. My improvement, however, has not been so rapid as that of many others
of whom I have heard. This may be in consequence of difference in the natural
strength of constitution. *****

That the atmosphere is usually dry and light there can be no doubt. The
intense, piercing heat of the sun, the quick changes of rain clouds from black to
white, and their sudden expansion as they pass over the land towards the West,
together with many other things, such as the impossibility of producing mildew,
etc., prove it.

If the atmosphere here should not prove to be dry enough for particular
cases, excellent facilities are afforded for removal westwardly where the rarefac-
tion increases in proportation to the distance traveled towards the "Colorado
Desert," which affords the lightest and driest atmosphere on the Continent. If
the temperature should be too high for other cases a lower temperature can be
found by proceeding northwardly to the mountainous country. At a distance of
seventy miles is Fredericksburg, which, according to its elevation above and dis-
tance from San Antonio, is, in temperature, equal to seven and two-thirds degrees
further north. And there are many other places of much greater altitude within
one hundred and fifty miles of San Antonio. *****

It is not change of temperature which the consumptive needs, but a light,
dry atmosphere, free from irritating and feverish influences." * * *

Remarking upon this letter, Dr. Cupples said: "That is, I think, a pretty
fair estimate of the case, for a layman. He did not know enough about the sub-
ject to speak quite correctly, for instance, salt is not irritating to the throat and
lungs in such a form, that is to say, naturally in the air, and it corrects the

SOME; OF THE RESOURCES OF WESTERN TEXAS.

humidity, which is an advantage. I believe the summer heat is somewhat inju-
rious, not so much on account of its intensity, but the duration of it — it becomes
wearisome to an invalid. The northers need not be considered — they are not
really so cold as they seem, and as you say, they are invigorating and bracing,
especially to those acclimated. San Antonio is a desirable winter resort for
invalids. The winter climate is good. As to northers, if anyone is afraid of
them — there being always a warning before a norther — it is easy to avoid them
by staying indoors. The advantages of our climate are, freedom from colds, and
the fact that all of our houses are freely and naturally ventilated, the average
weather permitting all of our windows and doors to be left constantly open,
insuring pure air."

Some of the Resources of Western Texas.

In presenting any remarks on the subject of this title, in a work of the
present character, it is important to avoid injudicious exploiting and rash state-
ments.

The following observations aim simply to describe the face of the country as
it actually is, and not to draw immature bills on the future or to anticipate, by
one jot, the prosperity it is destined to enjoy. Many statistics have been pur-
posely avoided, and the reader is presented with an idea of the country, which is
the fruit of ten years' journeyings throughout its length and breadth.

This article must be confined to some of the Resources of Western Texas. The
title is both vast and vague. For the Resources are but partially known and
still less developed, whilst the region itself is a somewhat indeterminate
Geographical expression.

62 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

As a fair generalization we will discuss the country lying west of the Colo-
rado. By a glance at the map, this will be seen to be a great plain, sloping from
the northwest to the southeast, and drained by the following principal rivers,
flowing — with the exception of the tributaries of the Rio Grande — in the direc-
tion indicated. They are the Colorado, Concho, San Saba, L,lano and Per-
denalis, Guadalupe and San Marcos, the San Antonio and Medina, the Frio,
Sabinal, Nueces, L,os Moras, San Felipe, Devil's River, the Pecos and Rio
Grande.

Nearly all these streams head in bold springs of the clearest water, whose
banks are of great natural beauty and whose volume never varies.

In the lower counties, the Frio, Sabinal and Nueces sometimes disappear
from the surface in extremely dry weather. They, however, continue to flow
underground and always maintain abundant pools for stock and other purposes.
These valleys are agricultural — more especially the eastern ones — and with
occasional irrigation, such as is practiced at San Antonio and some points on the
Rio Grande, might become the granary of the continent.

The intervening prairies are given up mostly to stock-raising, and are the
finest breeding grounds of the world.

All of this immense territory has more or less intimate relations with the
City of San Antonio de Bexar, which has ever been the nursing mother of its
phenomenal growth.

So true a parent has San Antonio been to this region, that, even within the
past ten years, happenings and belongings anywhere within its borders have
always had a local savor in the streets of " Santone." Was it a cattle trade or a
round-up ? a death or a wedding ? all the way from here to El Paso or eke the
coast or the L,ower Rio Grande, the parties and incidents were discussed with
quite a personal interest and knowledge. And so it is to some extent to-day.

The evolution of this broad land has been somewhat after this manner :
Twenty years ago the country was a rolling prairie, with occasional islands of
timber giving in places a park-like appearance to the landscape, and under these
clumps of L,ive Oak, Hackberry or Mesquite, the stock of many owners gathered
for shade and rumination. The valleys and canons which we have already
described were filled with a thicker growth of Pecan, Elm, Cypress and Cedar,
the trees festooned with wild grapes and other vines. There are, too, great belts
of Post Oak.

The roads were prairie trails of immense width, crossing the streams at fords
which, sometimes, were not fordable. These roads led by stage stands, frontier
posts and villages and to the small ports on the coast. There were daily stages
North, South, East and West, and endless wagon trains, drawn by many oxen
and mules and driven by picturesque Mexicans armed to the teeth, with a view
to Indians.

The outgoings and incomings of these wayfayers made neighbors of the
whole province of their travels, even far into Mexico, whose trade with Texas
has always been extensive.

SOME OF THE RESOURCES OF WESTERN TEXAS. 63

After a while came the stoppage of the prairie fires, from the increased value
of the nutritious mesquite grass, and the consequent rapid growth of the mesquite
underbrush, which now nearly covers the middle portion of the district, affording
more protection for stock and an edible bean for both cattle and horses. The
various kinds of cacti also became much more luxuriant.

In the seventies, fencing began in the South, but this revolution of the stock
interests from the primitive "round-up" only fairly set in during the eighties,
and at the present time it is almost complete in the more desirable pasture lands.

With the barbed-wire fence came the railway and the hoe, the agents of a
still newer revolution now going, rapidly forward.

Formerly the Colorado was thought to mark the western limit of farming in
Texas. Undoubtedly the seasons have improved with the country, and vice
versa, for farming is now carried on, even without irrigation, throughout the ter-
ritory under discussion, cotton, corn, wheat, oats, millet, sorghum and sugar
cane being raised in more or less abundance.* With irrigation the agricultural
wealth of this country would be incalculable, and at a very conservative estimate
would maintain in affluence and humble comfort 20,000,000 people. The present
population of this section is certainly not one-twentieth of that number.

Let us see how this future may be provided for by glancing at our present
resources.

The general character of the country is still pastoral and the staples are
cattle, sheep, horses, wool and hides. On the coast are extensive oyster and
other fisheries, particularly the delicate red fish, a dainty denizen of the lagoons.

The increasing growth of Cotton is enormous and although not a staple of
Western Texas proper, it is rapidly becoming so.

Below are some figures for 1889 for the market of San Antonio only :

Horses, 70,000 head ; cattle, 84,000 head ; sheep, 160,000 head ; wool,
7,000,000 pounds ;f hides, 2,000,000 pounds ; cotton, 12,000 bales.}

With such an abundance of raw material at our doors, it is natural to con-
sider the question of power for their manufacture.

The City of Austin is engaged in a gigantic scheme for a dam on the Colo-
rado, estimated to cost nearly $1,500,000. There is a fine site at Columbus, on
the same River.

On the Guadalupe are innumerable opportunities to establish power,
especially at New Braunfels and Seguin. A fine power is already established at
San Marcos, and also at Marble Falls.

* To produce such crops implies a varied soil, limestone hills, alluvial valleys, wide stretches of sandy loam
and " black waxy,1' deep river bottoms and in the Post Oaks and Black Jacks some sandy and gravelly lands,
These are the soils of Western Texas.

t WOOL— 1875, 300,000 pounds ; 1876, 400,000 pounds ; 1877, it suddenly sprang to 2,287,241 pounds. This in-
crease was probably owing to the increase of flocks and to the new railroad facilities of San Antonio. The ship-
ments have steadily grown year by year to the present large market of 1889.

1 12,000 bales local wagon receipts, including country consignments by rail would probably amount to 20,000
bales, and the amount of cotton handled by San Antonio merchants, by order and otherwise, would not be less,
say, than a total of 120,000 bales. The Mexican cotton trade was almost the only cotton business here for the
years previous to 1881. In this year the Mexican market was 5000 bales and the next season shows the first nota-
ble increase in the San Antonio market, on account, probably, of new railroad facilities.

64 SAN ANTONIO DB BEXAR.

The San Antonio has many mills on its banks, and its capacity for water-
power is everything that could be desired.

Coal-mines are being extensively worked at Eagle Pass and Laredo, on the
frontier, and in the vicinity of San Antonio. There is also a fine seam in the
Eagle Spring Mountains, near the junction of the Southern and Texas Pacific
Railways.

Iron ore of great purity and inexhaustible quantity is found at Llano with a
fine Lime-stone flux immediately adjacent. In the same neighborhood and sur-
rounding counties are many beautiful marbles and granite of the hardest texture.
Good clay of various colors is abundant and brick-making is extensively carried
on in Laredo, Eagle Pass, San Antonio and vicinity and many other places.

In Uvalde county are deposits of guano and kaolin ; asphaltum has been
found in many localities, and lately while boring for artesian water in San An-
tonio and its neighborhood, both natural gas and oil have been found.

Of the precious metals, Silver is being worked in paying quantities in the
Chinati mountains. This Range, as well as the Chisos and Diabolo abound in
Galena ore, rich in Lead and Silver.

There are also strong indications of Copper, Iron and Coal in this moun-
tainous country of the extreme West, but from inaccessability and lack of trans-
portation, the subject has not received adequate attention. A geological survey
of the state is now being made under the direction of Prof. Bumble, of Austin,
from which much additional light is hoped.

Of the Fruits of Texas, the most successful are the Fig, Vine, Peach and
Mulberry. Melons of all sorts and varieties grow to perfection, together with the
usual vegetables — maturing early, and, in fact, with care, a garden may be main-
tained all the year around.

This brings us to say a few words about the climate : — There are perhaps
twenty days in the year, on an average, that a man cannot work out of doors.
The heat of summer is tempered by a breeze from the Gulf which fans the whole
country by 3 o'clock in the afternoon, an hour which would otherwise be the hot-
test part of the day. The nights are always cool, and at an elevation of 1,500
feet a blanket is needed the summer through. The official mean temperature,
Post of San Antonio is :— Summer, 82.43° ; Winter, 51.67° ; Rainfall; 24 to 36
inches.

In the Winter the northers are disagreeable while they last, as their duration
is generally not longer than forty-eight hours, the objection is slight.

The climate is a good one, and in conjunction with the country we have
been briefly ..describing, will in a few years rear a people which will have the
controlling voice in all our dealings with our neighbors to the South, and, grow-
ing as it must, in culture as in material wealth, it will be a people of ideas, and
yet not lose that resourceful Western character which disposes of obstacles by
destroying them and dissolves difficulties in a solution of success.

As for those who come to the land and grumble that everything is not
achieved, let them remember, that, in that event, there would be nothing left for
them to do.

SELLO

1.CUARTILLO

SLLLO CUATRO.

IVVCIVRTE

' ™'5v .

AMOS DE

Y 2S.

Y 18 33,

SPANISH AND MEXICAN-TEXAS SEALS.

LIST OF CHARTERS OF THE CITY OF SAN ANTONIO. 65

Moreover, the generation passing away, has done all the hard work. Pioneer
heroism has finished its self appointed task. The battle of barbarism and law-
lessness has been fought. The Indian and the outlaw are almost extinct and the
institutions of our fathers are established.

We may enter upon our inheritance in peace, and, in its literal sense, the
dweller in Western Texas may sit under his own Vine and Fig-tree, fanned by
the cool Gulf breeze, and thankfully murmur to the Goddess of plenty.

O DULCE DOMUM.

List of Charters and Amendments to the Same of the City of

San Antonio,

FIRST. Charter granted by King of Spain in 1733 or 1734.

SECOND. An act to incorporate the town of Nacogdoches and other towns
herein named, by the Republic of Texas, January 5, 1837.

THIRD. Act of Incorporation, December 14, 1837.

FOURTH. Act Supplementary, January 26, 1839.

FIFTH. Act of Incorporation, January 14, 1842.

SIXTH. Act to incorporate the City of San Antonio, January 24, 1852.

SEVENTH. An act to amend the act of January 14, 1842, November
26, 1855.

EIGHTH Act of Incorporation, July 17, 1856.
NINTH. Act of Incorporation, August 13, 1870.

TENTH. Amendments to Sections 5, 6, 24, 33, 46, 131, 135, 189, 230, made
by the people at an election held December 15, 1874.

ELEVENTH. Amendments to Sections 5, 24, 43, 45, April 18, 1879, by
Sixteenth Legislature.

TWELFTH. Amendments of March 4, 1885.

66 SAN ANTONIO DE BKXAR.

List of Mayors of the City of San Antonio.

FROM ITS INCORPORATION, JUNE;, 1837, TO JANUARY, 1890.

September 19, 1837, to March 9, 1838— Mayor, John W. Smith (all the aldermen
and city officers are Mexicans).

March 9, 1838, to July 20, 1838— Mayor, William H. Dangerfield.
July 20, 1838, to January 8, 1839 — Mayor pro tern, Antonio Menchaca.
January 8, 1839, to January 8, 1840 — Mayor, S. A. Maverick.
January 8, 1840, to January 9, 1841— Mayor, John W. Smith.

January 9, 1841, to April 18, 1842 — Mayor, Juan N. Seguin (died September,
1890, at New Laredo. From August 17, 1841, to September 7, 1841, Francis
Guilbeau, Mayor pro tern.).

April 18, 1842, to March 30, 1844— Mayor, John W. Smith.
March 30, 1844, to February 18, 1845— Mayor, Edward Dwyer.
February 18, 1845, to January 1, 1846 — Mayor, Edward Dwyer.

January 1, 1846, to January 1, 1847 — Mayor, Bryan Callaghan (C. F. King, pro
tem).

January 1, 1847, to January 1, 1848 — Mayor, Charles F. King, (and from Jan-
uary 27, 1847, to January 1, 1848, S. S. Smith, pro tem).

January 1, 1848 to January 1, 1849 — Mayor, Chas. F. King, (and from April 3,
1848 to January 1, 1849, S. S. Smith, pro tem.)

January 1, 1849, to January 1, 1850 — Mayor, J. M. Devine.

January 1, 1850, to January 1, 1851 — Mayor, J. M. Devine.

January 1, 1851 to January 1, 1852 — Mayor, J. S. McDonald.

January 1, 1852, to January 1, 1853— Mayor, C. F. King.

January 1, 1853, to January 1, 1854 — Mayor, J. M. Devine.

January 1. 1854, to January 1, 1855 — Mayor, John M. Carolan.

January 1, 1855, to January 1, 1856 — Mayor, James R. Sweet.

January 1. 1856, to the first Monday of January, 1857- Mayor, J. M. Devine.

January 1, 1857, to June 30, 1857— Mayor, J. M. Devine.

June 5, 1857, to June 30, 1857— Mayor pro tem, J. H. Beck.

July T, 1857, to January 1, 1858 — Mayor, A. A. Lockwood.

January 1, 1858, to January 1, 1859 — Mayor, A. A. Lockwood.

January 1, 1859, to January 1, 1860 — Mayor, James R. Sweet.

January 1, 1860, to January 1, 1861 — Mayor, James R. Sweet.

January 1, 1861, to January 1, 1862 — Mayor, James R. Sweet.

January 1, 1862, to May 26, 1862— Mayor. James R. Sweet.

LIST OF MAYORS. 67

May 26, 1862, to January 1, 1863— Mayor, S. A. Maverick.
January 1, 1863, to January 1, 1864 — Mayor, P. L. Buquor.
January 1. 1864, to January 1, 1865 — Mayor, P. L,. Buquor.

January 1, 1865, to October 1, 1865— Mayor, J. H. Lyons, to August 15, 1865 ;
Mayor pro tern, from August 15 to October 9, 1865, C. F. Fisher.

APPOINTEES OF GOVERNOR HAMILTON, PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR OF TEXAS. •

From October, 9, 1865, to August 23, 1866— Mayor, D. Cleveland.

Old officers reinstated by act of Legislature, from August 24, 1866, to December
31, 1866— Mayor, J. H. Lyons.

CHARTER ELECTION.
January 1, 1867, to November 8, 1867 — Mayor, J. H. Lyons.

Military appointees, by Colonel J. J. Reynolds, U. S. Army, November 8, 1867,
to March 28, 1870— Mayor, W. C. A. Thielepape.

APPOINTMENTS OF E. J. DAVIS, GOVERNOR, UNDER ENABLING ACT, FROM
MARCH 28, 1870, TO NOVEMBER 12, 1872.

Mayor W. C. A. Thielepape— From March 28, 1870, to March 12, 1872.
Mayor S. G. Newton— From March 13, 1872, to November 12, 1872.

CHARTER ELECTION.

November 13, 1872, to January 13, 1873— Mayor, F. Giraud.
January 14, 1873, to January 19, 1875— Mayor, F. Giraud.
January 19, 1875, to January 19, 1877 — Mayor, James H. French.
January 19, 1877, to January 25, 1879 — Mayor, James H. French.
January 25, 1879, to January 25, 1881— Mayor, James H. French.
January 25, 1881, to January 25, 1883 — Mayor, James H. French.
January 25, 1883, to February 1, 1885— Mayor, James H. French.
February 1, 1885, to February 1, 1887 — Mayor, Bryan Callaghan.
February 1, 1887, to February 11, 1889 — Mayor, Bryan Callaghan.
February 11, 1889, to— - Mayor, Bryan Callaghan.

San Antonio de Bexar.

BY SIDNEY L,ANIER.

F peculiarities were quills, San Antonio de Bexar would be a rare porcupine.
Over all the round of aspects in which a thoughtful mind may view a city, it
bristles with striking idiosyncracies and bizarre contrasts. Its history, popula-
tion, climate, location, architecture, soil, water, customs, costumes, horses, cattle,
all attract the stranger's attention, either by force of intrinsic singularity or of
odd juxtapositions.

San Antonio de Bexar, Texas, had its birth in 1715. It was, indeed, born
before its time, in consequence of a sadden fright into which its mother, Spain,
was thrown by the menacing attitudes of certain Frenchmen, who, upon other
occasions besides this one, were in those days very much what immortal Mrs.
Gamp has declared to Mrs. Harris "these steam-ingines is in our business," a
frequent cause of the premature development of projects. For Spain had not
intended to allow any settlements, as yet, in that part of her province of the New
Philippines which embraced what is now called Texas. In the then situation of
her affairs, this policy was not without some reasons to support it. She had
valuable possessions in New Mexico ; between these possessions and the French
settlements to the eastward, intervened an enormous breadth of country, whose
obstacles against intruders, appalling enough in themselves, were yet magnified
by the shadowy terrors that haunt an unknown land. Why not fortify her New
Mexican silver-mines with these sextuple barriers, droughts, deserts, mountains,
rivers, savages, and nameless fears ? Surely, if inclosure could be made impreg-
nable, this would seem to be so ; and accordingly the Spanish Government had
finally determined, in 1694, not to revive the feeble posts and missions which had
been established four years previously with a view to make head against the
expedition of L,a Salle, but which had been abandoned already by soldier and
friar, in consequence of the want of food and the ferocity of the savages.

But in 1712, Anthony Crozat, an enterprising French merchant, obtained
from L,ouis XIV a conditional grant to the whole of the French province of
Louisiana. Crozat believed that a lucrative trade might be established with the
northeastern provinces of Mexico, and that mines might exist in his territory.
To test these beliefs, young Huchereau St. Denis, acting under instructions from
Cardillac, who had been appointed Governor of Louisiana by Crozat' s influerice,
started westward, left a nucleus of a settlement at Natchitoches, and proceeded

This sketch was written by Sidney I<anier in 1872, so that some of the references to the modern city must
to-day be taken cum grano salts, or at least, to a certain extent, as historical. The history throughout. the article
is, as a rule, excellent and reliable. Exclusive rights in this article have been purchased by the publishers of
this work.— W. C., IjD.

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 69

across the country to the Rio Grande, where his explorations, after romantic
adventures too numerous to be related here, came to an inglorious suspension
with his seizure and imprisonment by the Spanish Vice-regal authorities in
Mexico.

It was this expedition which produced the premature result hereinbefore
alluded to. Spain saw that instead of surrounding New Mexico with inhospita-
ble wastes and ferocious savages, she was in reality but leaving France free to
occupy whatever coigns of vantage might be found in that prodigious Debatable
Land, which was claimed by both and was held by neither.

Perhaps this consideration was heightened by Spain's consciousness that the
nimsiness of her title to that part of the ' ' New Philippines ' ' which lay east of
the Rio Grande, really required an actual occupation in order to bolster it up.
Pretty much all that she could prove in support of her claim was, that in 1494
Pope Alexander VI., acting as arbitrator between Portugal and Spain, had
assigned to the latter all of the American possessions that lay west of a meridian
running three hundred and seventy miles west of the Azores ; that De Leon, De
Ay lion, De Narvaez, and De Soto, in voyages made between the years 1512 and
1538, had sailed from Cape Florida to Cape Catorce ; and that Philip II. had
denounced the penalty of extermination against any foreigner who should enter
the Gulf of Mexico or any of the lands bordering thereupon.

These were, to say the least, but indefinite muniments of title ; and to them
France could oppose the unquestionable fact that La Salle had coasted the shore
of Texas westward to Corpus Christi inlet, had returned along the same route,
had explored bays and rivers and named them, and had finally built Fort St.
Louis on the Lavacca river in 1685. Here now, in 1714, to crown all, was this
daring young Lord Huchereau St. Denis traversing the whole land from Natchi-
toches to the Rio Grande, and thrusting in his audacious face like an apparition
of energy upon the sleepy routines of post-life and mission-life at San Juan
Bautista.

This was alarming ; and in 1715 the Duke of Linares, Viceroy of Mexico,
despatched Don Domingo Ramon to Texas with a party of troops and some Fran-
ciscan friars, to take steps for the permanent occupation of the country. Ramon
established several forts and missions : among others he located a fort or presidio
(Spanish, " a garrison"), on the western bank of the San Pedro river, a small
stream flowing through the western suburbs of the present city of San Antonio
de Bexar, about three-fourths of a mile from the present Main Plaza. This
presidio was called San Antonio de Valero. In May, 1718, certain Alcantarine
Franciscans, of the College of Queretaro, established a mission under the protec-
tion of the presidio, calling it by the same invocation, San Antonio de Valero. It
was this mission whose Church of the Alamo afterwards shed so red a glory upon
the Texan revolution. It had been founded fifteen years before, in the valley of
the Rio Grande, under the invocation of San Francisco Solano ; had been removed
to San Ildefonso in 1708, and again removed back to the Rio Grande in 1710
under the new invocation of San Jose. It had not indeed yet reached the end of
its wanderings. In 1 1'l'l both the presidio and mission of San Antonio de Valero

70 SAN ANTONIO DB BEXAR.

were removed to what is now known as the Military Plaza, and a permanent
system of improvements begun.

Here then, with sword and crozier, Spain set to work at once to reduce her
wild claim into possession, and to fulfill the condition upon which Pope Alex-
ander had granted her the country — of christianising its natives. One cannot but
lean one's head on one's hand to dream out, for a moment, this old. Military
Plaza — most singular spot on the wide expanse of the lonesome Texan prairies —
as it was a hundred and fifty years ago. The rude buildings, the church, the
hospital, the soldiers' dwellings, the brethren's lodgings, the huts for the con-
verted Indians ( Yndios Reducidos) stand ranged about the large level quadrangle,
so placed upon the same theory of protection which "parks" the wagon-train
that will camp this night on the plains. Ah, here they come, the inhabitants of
San Antonio, from the church-door ; vespers is over ; the big-thighed, bow-
legged, horse-riding Apache steps forth, slowly, for he is yet in a maze — the
burning candles, the shrine, the genuflexions, the chants, are all yet whirling
in his memory ; the lazy soldier slouches by, leering at him, yet observing a
certain care not to be seen therein, for Sefior Soldado is not wholly free from fear
of this great-thewed Senor Apache ; the soldiers' wives, the squaws, the cate-
chumens, the children, all wend their ways across the plaza. Here advances
Brother Juan, bare-footed, in a gown of serge, with his knotted scourge a-dangle
from his girdle ; he accosts the Indian, he draws him on to talk of Manitou, his
grave pale face grows intense and his forehead wrinkles as he spurs his brain on
to the devising of arguments that will convince this wild soul before him of the
fact of the God of Adam, of Peter, and of Francis. Yonder is a crowd : alas, it
is stout Brother Antonio, laying shrewd stripes with unsparing arm upon the back
of a young Indian — so hard to convince these dusky youths and maidens of the
wide range and ramifications of that commandment which they seem most prone
to break. Ha ! there behind the church, if you look, goes on another flagel-
lation : Brother Francis has crept back there, slipped his woollen gown from his
shoulders, and fallen to with his knotted scourge upon his own bare back, for
that a quick vision did, by instigation of the devil, cross his mind even in the
very midst of vespers — a vision of a certain senorita as his wife, of a waim all-
day sunned hacienda, of children playing, of fruits, of friends, of laughter — " O
blessed St. Francis of Assisi, fend off Sathanas ! " he cries, and raises a heavier
welt.

Presently, as evening draws on, the Indians hold meetings, males in one
place, females in another ; reciting prayers, singing canticles : finally it is bed-
time ; honest Brother Antonio goes around and locks the unmarried young male
Indians into their sleeping apartments on one side, the maidens on the other side
into theirs ; casts a glance mayhap towards Mexico, breathes a prayer, gets him
to his pallet, and the Plaza of San Antonio de Valero is left in company of the
still sentinel, the stream of the San Pedro purling on one side, that of the San
Antonio whispering on the other, under the quiet stars, midst of the solemn
prairie, in whose long grass yonder (by all odds) crouches some keen-eyed
Apache bravo* who has taken a fancy that he will ride Don Ramon's charger.

* Spanish, Yndios Bravos: Unconverted Indians.

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 71

The infant settlement soon begins to serve in that capacity which gives it a
" bad eminence " among the other Texas settlements for the next hundred years:
to-wit, as the point to which, or from which, armies are retreating or advancing,
or in which armies are fighting. Already,. in 1719, before the removal to the
Military Plaza, the scenes of war have been transacting themselves in the young
San Antonio de Valero. On a certain day in the spring of that year, the peaceful
people are astonished to behold all their Spanish brethren who belong to the
settlements eastward of theirs, come crowding into the town ; monks, soldiers,
women and all. In the confusion they quickly learn that in the latter part of the
year before, France has declared war against Spain ; that the Frenchmen at
Natchitoches, as soon as they have heard the news, have rushed to arms with
Gallic impetuosity, and led by La Harpe and St. Denis, have advanced west-
ward, have put to flight all the Spanish at Adaes, at Orquizaco, at Acs, and at
Nacogdoches ; and that these are they who are here now, disturbing the peaceful
mission with unwonted sights and sounds, and stretching its slender hospitalities
to repletion. The French do not attack, however, but return towards Natchi-
toches. In a short time enter from the opposite side of the stage, that is to say
from Mexico, the Marquis de Aguayo, Governor- General of New Estremadura
and the New Philippines, with five hundred mounted men. These march
through, take with them the men of Orquizaco, of Adaes and Aes, re-establish
those settlements, and pursue the French until they hear that the latter are in
Natchitoches ; De Aguayo then returns to San Antonio and sets on foot plans for
its permanent improvement.

About this time occurs 3 short and spicy correspondence, which for the first
time probably announces the name of the State of Texas, and which explicitly
broaches a dispute that is to last for many a year. The Spanish Viceroy in
Mexico appoints Don Martin D'Alarconne Governor of Texas. Soon afterwards
La Harpe leaves the French post of Natchitoches and busies himself in advanc-
ing the French interests among the Nassonite* Indians. In beginning this
enterprise La Harpe sends "a polite message" to the Spanish Governor, who
thereupon writes :

" Monsieur : — I am very sensible of the politeness that M. de Bienville and
yourself have had the goodness to show to me. The orders I have received from
the King my master are to maintain a good understanding with the French of
Louisiana ; my own inclinations lead me equally to afford them all the services
that depend upon me. But I am compelled to say that your arrival at the
Nassonite village surprises me much. Your Governor could not be ignorant that
the post you occupy belongs to my government, and that all the lands west of
the Nassonites depend upon New Mexico. I counsel you to inform M. Bienville
of this, or you will force me to oblige you to abandon lands that the French have
no right to occupy. I have the honor, etc.

D'ALARCONNK.

" Trinity River, May 20,

* A tribe, or set of tribes, whose seat of government seems to have been a village called Texas, on the east
k of the Neches River.

72 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

To this La Harpe makes reply :

"Monsieur: — The order from his Catholic Majesty to maintain a good
understanding with the French of Louisiana, and the kind intentions you have
yourself expressed towards them, accord but little with your proceedings. Permit
me to apprise you that M. de Bienville is perfectly informed of the limits of his
government, and is very certain that the post of Nassonite does not depend upon
the dominions of his Catholic Majesty. He knows also that the Province of
Lastekas,* of which you say you are Governor, is a part of Louisiana. M. dela
Salle took possession in 1685, in the name of his most Christian Majesty, and
since the above epoch possession has been renewed from time to time. Respect-
ing the post of Nassonite, I cannot comprehend by what right you pretend that
it forms a part of New Mexico. I beg leave to represent to you that Don
Antonio de Minoir, who discovered New Mexico in 1683, never penetrated east
of that province or the Rio Bravo. It was the French who first made alliances
with the savage tribes in this region, and it is natural to conclude that a river
that flows into the Mississippi and the lands it waters belong to the King my
master. If you will do me the pleasure to come into this quarter I will convince
you I hold a post I know how to defend. I have the honor, etc.,

DE LA HARPE.
"Nassonite, July 8th,

For several years after the permanent location round the Military Plaza no
important events seem to be recorded as happening in San Antonio ; but the
quiet work of Post and Mission goes on, and the probable talk on the Plaza is of
the three new Missions which De Aguayo establishes on the San Antonio River,
below the town, under the protection of its garrison ; or of the tales which come
slowly floating from the northward concerning the dreadful fate of a Spanish
expedition which has been sent to attack the French settlements on the Upper
Mississippi, and which, mistaking the hostile Missouris on the way for friendly
Osages, distributes fifteen hundred muskets, together with sabres and pistols, to
the said Missouris to be used against the French, whereupon the Missouris next
morning at daybreak, fall upon the unsuspecting Spaniards, butcher them all
(save the priest, whom they keep for a "magpie," as they call him, to laugh at),
and march off into the French fort arrayed in great spoils, their chief wearing
the chasuble and bearing the paten before him for a breastplate ; or of Governor
De Aguayo' s recommendation to the home government to send colonists instead
of soldiers if it would help the friars to win the Indians ; or of the appointment
of a separate Governor for Texas in 1727 ; or of the withdrawal of ten soldiers in
1729, leaving only forty-three in garrison at San Antonio. About 1731,
however, an important addition is made to the town. Under the auspices of the
home government — which seems to have accepted De Aguayo's ideas — thirteen
families and two single men arrive, pure Spaniards from the Canary Islands,
also some Tlascalans, and a party from Monterey. These set to work around a
Plaza (the " Plaza of the Constitution," or " Main Plaza") just eastward of and

*I<astekas, /. e. Las Tekas : Texas. The Frenchmen in those days appear to have great difficulty in in-
venting orthographies for these odious Indian names. The Choctaws, for instance, appear in the documents
of the time as " Tc/iactas," the Chickasaws as " Clucachats," the Cherokees as " C/terayuis," and they can get
no nearer to " Camauches " than " C/ioumaus," or " Cannensis" \

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 73

adjoining the Military Plaza, and commence a town which they call San
Fernando.* They are led, it seems, to this location by the same facility of
irrigation which had recommended the Military Plaza to their neighbors. The
new colonists impart vigor to affairs. The Missions prosper, Indians are captured
and brought in to be civilized whether or no, and on the 5th of March, 1781, the
foundation is laid of the Mission of La Purisima Concepdon de Acuna, on the San
Antonio River, a mile or so below the town.

Meantime a serious conspiracy against the welfare of San Antonio and San
Fernando is hatched in the northeast. The Natchez Indians wish to revenge
themselves upon the French, who have driven them from their home on the
Mississippi. They resolve to attack St. Denis at Natchitoches, and to prevent
the Spaniards from helping him (the French and Spanish are now friends, having
united against England), they procure the Apaches to assail San Antonio. St.
Denis, however, surprises and defeats the Natchez ; and the Apaches appear to
have made an organized attack, but to have confined themselves to murdering
and thieving in parties. These Apaches, indeed, were dreadful scourges in
these days to San Antonio and its environs. The people of the presidio of San
Fernando and of the Missions on the River complained repeatedly (says the
Testim.onio de un Parecer* in the archives of Bexar) that they cannot expand (si?i
podcr estenderse) on account of " las frequienttes hosttilidades qiie experimenttan de
los Yndios Apaches. " This great tribe had headquarters about the Pass of Ban-
dera, some fifty miles to the northwestward, from which they forayed not only
up to San Antonio, but even as far as to Coahuila. Moreover, they manage (says
the Testimonio) horses, firearms, and arrows con mucha desttreza y agilidad.
Finally the men of San Antonio and San Fernando get tired of it, and after some
minor counter- forays, they organize an expedition in 1732 which conquers com-
parative peace from the Apaches for a few years.

Nothing of special interest is recorded as happening in San Antonio from this
time until 1736. In September of that year arrives Don Carlos de Franquis, who
immediately proceeds to throw the town into a very pretty ferment. Franquis had
come out from Spain to Mexico to be Governor of Tlascala. On arriving he
finds that someone else is already Governor of Tlascala. Vizarron, Arch-
bishop of Mexico, and acting Viceroy since Casa Fuerte's death, disposes of him —
it is likely he made trouble enough till that was done— by sending him off to Texas
to supersede Governor Sandoval, a fine old veteran, who has been for two years
governing the Province with such soldierly fidelity as has won him great favor
among the inhabitants. Franquis begins by insulting the priests, and follows this
up with breaking open people's letters. Presently he arrests Sandoval, has him
chained, and causes criminal proceedings to be commenced against him, charging
him with treacherous complicity in certain movements of St. Denis at Natchitoches.
It seems that St. Denis, having found a higher and drier location, has removed his
garrison and the French Mission of St. John the Baptist some miles further from
Red River toward the Texas territory, and built a new fort and settlements; that

* The Villa Capital de San Fernando was not exclusively the Main Plaza settlements— the Plaza de Annas,
or Military Plaza, was also of it.— W. C., Eo.

* Testimony of a witness; this document is hereinafter described.

74 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Sandoval, hearing of it, has promptly called him to account as an intruder en Span-
ish ground; and that a correspondence has ensued between St. Denis and Sandoval,
urging the rights of their respective governments in the premises, which has just
been brought to the point of a flat issue upon which to go to the jury of war when
Sandoval is ousted by Franquis. The Viceroy sends the Governor of New L,eon to
investigate the trouble; and the famous law-suit of Franquis versus Sandoval is
fairly commenced. The Governor of New Leon seems to find against Franquis,
who is sent back to the presidio on the Rio Grande. He gets away, however, and
off to the Viceroy. But Sandoval is not satisfied, naturally, for he has been mulcted
in some three thousand four hundred dollars, cost of the investigating commission.
He pays, and in 1738 files his petition against Franquis for redress of his injuries.
Franquis, thus attacked in turn, strengthens his position with a new line of accusa-
tions. He now, besides the French business, charges Sandoval with living at San
Antonio instead of at Adaes, the official residence; with being irregular in his
accounts with the San Antonio garrison; and with peculation in the matter of the
salaries of certain paid missionaries, whom Sandoval is alleged to have discharged
and then pocketed their stipends. The papers go the Viceroy, and from the Viceroy
to Attorney-General Vedoya. In 1740 Vedoya decides Sandoval guilty of living at
San Antonio, though it was his duty to be there to defend it against the Apaches;
guilty of irregular book-keeping, though through memoranda it is found that there
is a balance in his favor of thirteen hundred dollars; not guilty of stealing the mis-
sionary money. Upon the French matter Vedoya will not decide without further
evidence. With poor Sandoval it is pay again; he is fined five hundred dollars for
his "guilt." Meantime, some months afterward an order is made that testimony
be taken in Texas writh regard to the French affair, said testimony to embrace an
account of pretty much everything in, about, and concerning Texas. The testi-
mony being taken and returned, the Attorney- General, in November 1741, entirely
acquits §andoval. But alas for the stout old soldier! this is in Mexico, where from
of old, if one is asked who rules now, one must reply with the circumspection of
that Georgia judge who, being asked the politics of his son, made answer that
he knew not, not having seen the creature since breakfast. Vizarron has gone out;
the Duke de la Conqtiista has come into the Viceroyalty; and Sandoval has hardly
had time to taste his hard-earned triumph before, through machinations of Fran-
quis, he finds himself in prison by order of the new Viceroy. Finally, however, the
rule works the other way: in December, 1743, anew Viceroy, Count Fuenclara,
gets hold of the papers in the case, acquits Sandoval, and enjoins Franquis from
proceeding further in the matter.

It was in the course of this litigation — a copy of the proceedings in which,
"filling thirty volumes of manuscript, " was transmitted to Spain — that the old doc-
ument hereinbefore referred to as the testimonio de un Parecer had its origin. In
this paper San Antonio is called San Antonio de Vejar o Valero: Vejar being the
Spanish orthography of the Mexican Bexar (pronounced Vay-har.) This name
San Antonio de Bexar, seems to have attached itself particularly to the military
post, or presidio; its origin is not known. The town of San Fernando was still so
called at this time; and the town and mission of San Antonio de Valero bore that
name. In 1744 this latter extended itself to the eastward, or rather the extension
had probably gone on before that time and was only evidenced then. At any rate,

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 75

on the 8th of May, 1744, the first stone of the present Church of the Alamo was
laid and blessed. The site of this church is nearly a quarter of a mile to the east-
ward of the Military plaza, where the mission to which it belonged had been
located in 1722. Prom an old record-book purporting to contain the baptisms in
"the Parish of the Pueblo of San Jose del Alamo,'" it would seem that there must
have been also a settlement of that name. San Antonio de Bexar, therefore —
the modern city — seems to be a consolidation of the presidio of San Antonio de
Bexar, the mission and pueblo (or villa) of San Antonio de Valero, and the pueblos
of San Fernando and San Jose del Alamo.

For the next forty years after the foundation of the Alamo in 1744, the colonists
and missionaries seemed to have pursued the ordinary round of their labors without
unusual events; in point of material prosperity San Antonio seems to have led but
a struggling existence. Yoakum * estimates the whole European population of
of Texas in 1744, to have been fifteen hundred, which, together with about the
same number of converted Indians, "was divided mostly between Adaes and San
Antonio. ' ' The same author again f estimates the population of Adaes and San
Antonio in 1765 to have been "hardly five hundred" Europeans, besides converted
Indians, of whom he adds that there were only about seven hundred and fifty in
the whole province of Texas. It was impossible indeed during these years that
any legitimate prosperty could have been attained. Up to the year 1762, when
France, to save Louisiana from the clutches of England, ceded it to Spain, trade had
been prohibited by the latter between her Texan colonists and the French settlers
in Louisiana, though some intercourse always went on in a smuggling way between
the two, whenever they could get a Spanish official to wink his eye or turn his back;
and even after the cession of Louisiana matters were little better in point of com-
mercial activity. There were also restrictions even upon the agricultural energies
of the colonists; they were, it is said, prohibited from cultivating the vine and the
olive, and also from the manufacture of many articles. Indeed, the immediate nec-
essity of settlements having passed away with the removal of the danger of French
occupation, the old policy of Spain seems to have been resumed in full force, that
of keeping her provinces around New Mexico and Mexico impenetrable wastes, as
barriers against enterprising neighbors.

Nor was the spiritual prosperity much greater. The arduous toils and sublime
devotions of the Franciscan brethren bore but moderate • fruit. Father Marest had
declared in 1712 that the conversion of the Indians was " a miracle of the Lord's
mercy," and that it was " necessary first to transform them into men, and afterward
to labor to make them Christians. ' ' These noble brothers too had reason to believe
in the inhumanity of the Indians. They could remember the San Saba Mission;
where, in 1758, the Indians had fallen upon the people and massacred every human
being, lay and clerical ; and here, in 1785, they could see for themselves the
company of San Carlos de Parras driven by the fierce Comanches to place their
quarters within the enclosure of the Alamo.

In 1783-85 San Antonio de Valero ceased to be a Mission. For some reason
it had become customary to send whatever captive Indians were brought in to the

* History of Texas, vol. 1, p. 87.
fVol. l,p.97.

76 SAN ANTONIO DE

Missions below the town for Christianization. The town, however, which had
been built up about the Mission buildings, remained, having a separate alcalde, and
an organization politically and religiously distinct from that of San Antonio de
Bexar and San Fernando for some years longer. In 1790 the population around
the Alamo was increased by the addition of the people from the Presidio de los
Adaes ; this post was abandoned, and its inhabitants were provided with lands
which had been the property of the Mission of San Antonio de Valero, lying in the
neighborhood of the Alamo to the north. " The upper labor* of the Alamo," says
Mr. Giraud, in an interesting note which constitutes Appendix iv. of Yoakum's
History of Texas, " . . . is still commonly called by the old inhabitants the
labor de los Adaesenos" These Mission lands about the Alamo seem to have ceased
to be such about this time, and to have been divided off to the Mission people, each
of whom received a portion, with fee-simple title, f In 1793 the distinct religious

* Labor: a Spanish land-measure of about one hundred and seventy-seven acres.

f[THE PARTITION OF THE LANDS OF THE MISSION OF SAN ANTONIO DE VALERO OR ALAMO MISSION TO THE
SETTLERS OF THE EXTINGUISHED POST OR PRESIDIO OF ADAES WHO HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO THIS MISSION UPON
THE BREAKING UP OF THAT POST.

The Presidio of the Adaes was a Spanish frontier Post of Eastern Texas. Its site was almost due east
from Nacogdoches between the Sabine and Red Rivers, in Louisiana Territory. It was abandoned and broken
up about 1790. It had been of some importance in its day. Upon its extinction its settlers were brought to San
Antonio de Valero. It would appear that the Spanish Government, about the year 1784, were a little dissatisfied
with results in the Province of Texas, and became curious or anxious to know something of the general welfare
and condition of the Missions of Texas, and an order was issued under the mandate of the King for an official
report of the Texas Missions. This report was not concluded and forwarded uutil December 27th, 1793, when it
was done by El Conde de Revilla-gigedo, Viceroy of Mexico. He instituted some changes, apparently sug-
gested to him by his enquiries and by petitions sent to him by certain resident Adaes. San Antonio de Valero
was now no longer a Mission, but of course it enters into his report. The following is a letter from a tran-
slated copy deposited in the City Engineer's Records in 1858, apparently addressed to Manuel Muuioz, Pro-
visional Governor, in 1792 :

" I return you the enclosed proceedings marked P. Y. number 21, pages 19, which you sent me with your
letters marked 394, dated the 29th of last October, and in which the residents of San Antonio de Bexar petition
for the distribution amongst them of lauds in consideration of their having been the settlers of the extinguished
Presidio of the Adaes, so that in conformity with the opinion of the War Auditor with which I have agreed in a
superior decree of the 17th, present, (month) you shall order its compliance. God keep you many years.

" Mexico, November the 20th, 1792.

" The Count of Revilla-gigedo,

" S. Dn. RAMON DE CASTRO, Secretary.
"(A copy. Coahuila, 27th December, 1792. Castro.)"
(Translated by A. A. Lewis, October 2d. 1858.)

The document translation from which this is an excerpt, is headed : " Copy of Proceedings sent to the
Commander General on July 27th, 1793, respecting the Partition of lands to the Adaes and returned by that
Superiority to the Government so that the interested parties have it more in their reach to apply for testimonies
that may serve them as titles.

" M. MUNIOZ,
" Lieut. Col. of Cavalry of the Royal Armies of His Majesty, Political and Military Governor of the Province of

" Texas and New Philippines."

So, it seems, that these Adaes might be fittingly provided for, the Count issued an order to Manuel
Munioz to divide amongst them the Alamo Mission lands. Accordingly Don Pedro Huizar is ordered to survey
the suertes and Bernardo Zervantes is appointed to divide the lands among the Indians and settlers, January
17th, 1793. A drawing or lottery was to be held to decide who should have first choice of the suertes surveyed,
each individual to be granted by lot a piece of laud, as much as 4 pecks of seed corn will cover, and they are all
cautioned to be satisfied with what falls to their lot or luck, whether they draw land bordering the irrigating
ditches or merely ordinary pasture land. "On February 24th, 1793, the following named Adae Indians received
their portions of laud," then follows in the recordsof the County a list of names, viz :

" No. 1. Suerte ,'i Manuel Martinez.

" No. 2. Suerte & Jose Rodriguez.

" No. 3. Suerte d Manuel de los Santos.

"No. 4. Suerte d Joachin Musquiz, etc., etc. 56 Grants altogether."

The only condition under which these Indians seem to have held their lands, was that they were to pay
a Church debt out of a part of the crops and produce of their lands. At this date, Father Francisco Jose Lopez
was President of the Missions. — W. C., ED.]

MEM. The Labor of Abajo to pay with its products the debts that the Mission might have at the time of
its delivery over to the public.

MEM. Ramon de Castro was Count of Sierra Gorda. — W. C. , ED.

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 77

organization of the Mission of San Antonio de Valero terminated, and it was
aggregated to the curacy of the town of San Fernando and the presidio of San
Antonio de Bexar ; as appears by the following note which is found on the last
page of an old Record book of baptisms in the archives of Bexar :—

" On the 22d day of August, 1793, I passed this book of the Records of the
piieblo of San Antonio de Valero to the archives of the curacy of the town of San
Fernando and presidio of San Antonio de Bexar, by order of the most illustrious
Senor Dr. Don Andres de lylaiios y Valdez, most worthy Bishop of this diocese,
dated January 2d, of the same year, by reason of said pueblo having been aggre-
gated to the curacy of Bexar ; and that it may be known, I sign it.

" FR.' Josfe FRANCISCO LOPEZ, Parroco."

In the year 1800 San Antonio began to see a new sort of prisoners brought in.
Instead of captive Indians, here arrived a party of eleven Americans* in irons, who
were the remainder of a company with which Philip Nolan, a trader between
Natchez and San Antonio, had started out, and who, after a sharp fight with one
hundred and fifty Spanish soldiers in which Nolan was killed, had been first
induced to return to Nacogdoches, and there treacherously manacled and sent to
prison at San Antonio. Again, in 180o, three Americans are brought in under
guard. In this year, too, matters begin to be a little more lively in the town.
Spain's neighbor on the east is not now France ; for in 1803 Louisiana has been
formally transferred to the United States. There is already trouble with the latter
about the boundary line betwixt Louisiana and Texas. Don Antonio Cordero, the
new Governor of Texas, has brought on a lot of troops through the town, and fixed
his official residence here ;._and troops continue to march through en route to
Natchitoches, where the American General Wilkinson is, menacing the border.
Again, in 1807, Lieutenant Zebulon M. Pike, of the United States Army, passes
through town in charge of an escort. Lieutenant Pike has been sent to explore the
Arkansas and Red Rivers, and to treat with the Comanches, has been apprehended
by the Spanish authorities in New Mexico, carried to Santa Fe, and is now being
escorted home.

At this time there are four hundred troops in San Antonio, in quarters near
the Alamo. Besides these, the town has about two thousand inhabitants, mostly
Spaniards and Creoles, the remainder Frenchmen, Americans, civilized Indians,
and half-breeds. New settlers have come in ; and what with army officers, the
Governor's people, the clergy, and prominent citizens, society begins to form and
to enjoy itself. The Governor, Father McGuire, Colonel Delgado, Captain Ugarte,
Doctor Zerbin, dispense hospitalities and adorn social meetings. There are, in the
evenings, levees at the Governor's ; sometimes Mexican dances on the Plaza, at
which all assist ; and frequent and prolonged card parties.

But these peaceful scenes do not last long. In 1811 the passers across the San
Antonio river between the Alamo and the Main Plaza behold a strange sight: it is
the head of a man stuck on a pole, there, in bloody menace against rebels. This
head but yesterday was on the shoulders of Colonel Delgado, a flying adherent of
Hidalgo, in Mexico: Hidalgo, initiator of how long a train of Mexican revolutions!

* Americans, /. e. United States people ; in which sense, to avoid the awkwardness of the only other equiv-
aleut terms, I shall hereafter use the word.

78 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

having been also put to death in Chihuahua. It was not long before this blood was
(as from of old) washed out with other blood. Bernardo Gutierrez, a fellow-rebel
of the unfortunate Delgado, escaped to Natchitoches, and met young Magee, an
officer of the United States army. In a short time the two had assembled a mixed
force of American adventurers and rebellious Mexican republicans, had driven the
Spanish troops from Nacogdoches, marched into Texas, captured the fort and sup-
plies at L,a Bahia, enlisted its garrison, and sustained a siege there which the enemy
was finally compelled to abandon with loss. It was in March, 1813, that the
Spanish besieging force set out on its retreat up the river to San Antonio. Gutier-
rez— Magee having committed suicide in consequence of mortification at the
indignant refusal of the troops to accept a surrender which he had negotiated soon
after the beginning of the siege — determined to pursue. On the 28th of March he
crossed the Salado, en route to San Antonio, with a force consisting of eight hundred
Americans under Colonel Kemper, one hundred and eighty Mexicans led by Man-
chaca,* under Colonel James Gaines, three hundred L,ipan and Twowokana Indians,
and twenty-five Cooshattie Indians. Marching along the bank of the San Antonio
river, with the left flank protected by the stream, this motley army arrived within
nine miles of San Antonio, when the riflemen on the right suddenly discovered the
enemy ambushed in the chaparral on the side of a ridge. Here the whole force
that Governor Salcedo could muster had been posted, consisting of about fifteen
hundred regular troops and a thousand militia. To gain time to form, the Indians
were ranged to receive the opening charge of the Spanish cavalry; the enemy mean-
time having immediately formed along the crest of the ridge, with twelve pieces of
artillery in the centre. The Indians broke at the first shock; only the Cooshatties
and a few others stood their ground. These received two other charges, in which
they lost two killed and several wounded. The Americans had now made their
dispositions, and proceeded to execute them with matchless coolness. They charged
up the hill, stopped at thirty yards of the enemy's line, fired three rounds, loaded,
then charged again, and straighway the slope towards San Antonio was dotted with
Spanish fugitives, whom the Indians pursued and butchered regardless of quarter.
The Spanish commander, who had pledged sword and head to Governor Salcedo
that he would kill and capture the American army, could not endure the sting of
his misfortune. He spurred his horse upon the American ranks, attacked Major
Ross, then Colonel Kemper, and while in the act of striking the latter, was shot by
private William Owen. The Spanish loss is said to have been near a thousand
killed and wounded.

Next day the Americans advanced to the outskirts of San Antonio and de-
manded a surrender. Governor Salcedo desired to parley, to delay. A second
demand was made — peremptory. Governor Salcedo then marched out with his
staff. He presented his sword to Captain Taylor ; Taylor refused, and referred
him to Colonel Kemper. Presenting to Colonel Kemper, he was in turn referred
to Gutierrez. No, not to that rebel ! Salcedo thrust his sword into the ground,
whence Gutierrez drew it. The victors got stores, arms, and treasure. Seven-
teen American prisoners in the Alamo were released and armed. The troops
were paid — receiving a bonus of fifteen dollars each in addition to wages — clothed

* A prominent Mexican, of Texas, of strong but uncultivated intellect.

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 79

and mounted out of the booty. The Indians were not forgotten in the distribu-
tion ; they "were supplied," says Yoakum, "with two dollars' worth of ver-
milion, together with presents of the value of a hundred and thirty dollars, and
sent away rejoicing."

And now flowed the blood that must answer that which dripped down the
pole from poor Colonel Delgado's head. Shortly after the victory, Captain Del-
gado, a son of the executed rebel, falls upon his knees before Gutierrez, and de-
mands vengence upon the prisoner, Governor Salcedo, who apprehended and
executed his father. Gutierrez arrays his army, informs them that it would be
safe to send Salcedo and staff to New Orleans, and that it so happens that ves-
sels are about to sail for that port from Matagorda Bay. The army consents (we
are so fearfully and wonderfully republican in these days : the army consents)
that the prisoners be sent off as proposed. Captain Delgado, with a company of
Mexicans, starts in charge, ostensibly en route for Matagorda Bay. There are
fifteen of the distinguished captives : Governor Salcedo, of Texas, Governor
Herrera, of New L,eon, Ex-Governor Cordero, whom we last saw holding levees
in San Antonio, several Spanish and Mexican officers, and one citizen. Delgado
gets his prisoners a mile and a half from town, halts them on the bank of the
river, strips them, ties them, and cuts the throats of every man : " some of the
assassins," says Colonel Navarro, whetting "their knives upon the soles of their
shoes in presence of their victims."

The town of San Antonio must have been anything but a pleasant place for
peaceful citizens during the next two months. Colonel Kemper, who was really the
commanding officer of the American army, refused further connection with those
who could be guilty of such barbarity, and left, with other American officers.
Their departure left in the town an uncontrolled body of troops who feared
neither God nor man ; and these immediately proceeded to avail themselves of
the situation by indulging in all manner of riotous and lawless pleasures. With
the month of June, however, came Don Elisondo from Mexico with an army of
royalists, consisting of about three thousand men half of whom were regular
troops. His advance upon San Antonio seems to have been a complete surprise,
and to have been only learned by the undisciplined republican army in the town,
together with the fact that he had captured their horses, which had been out
grazing, and killed part of the guard which was protecting the caballada. If El-
isondo had marched straight on into town, his task would probably have been an
easy one. But he committed the fatal mistake of encamping a short distance
from the suburbs, where he threw up two bastions with a curtain between, on a
ridge near the Alazaii Creek.

Meantime the republican army in the town recovered from the confusion into
which they had been thrown by the first intelligence of Elisondo's proximity,
and organized themselves under Gutierrez and Captain Perry. It was determined
to anticipate the enemy's attack. Ingress and egress were prohibited, the senti-
nels doubled, and all the cannons spiked except four field-pieces. In the darkness
of the night of June 4th the Americans marched quietly out of town, by file, to
within hearing of the enemy's pickets, and remained there until the enemy was
heard at matins, The signal to charge being given — a cheer from the right of

80 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

companies — the Americans advanced, surprised and captured the pickets in front,
mounted the enemy's work, lowered his flag and hoisted their own, before they
were fairly discovered through the dim dawn. The enemy struggled hard, how-
ever, and compelled the Americans to abandon the works. The latter charged
again, and this time routed the enemy completely. The royalist loss is said to
have been about a thousand in killed, wounded and prisoners; and that of the
Americans, ninety-four killed and mortally wounded.

For some reason Gutierrez was now dismissed from the leadership of the
army (we republican soldiers decapitate our commanders very quickly if they
please us not !), and shortly afterwards troops and citizens went forth in grand
procession to welcome Don Jose Alvarez Toledo, a distinguished republican
Cuban who had been forwarding recruits from Louisiana to San Antonio ; and
having escorted him into town with much ceremony, elected him commander-in-
chief of the Republican Army of the North. Toledo immediately organised a
government ; but ihe people of San Antonio enjoyed the unaccustomed blessing
of civil law only a little while.

In a few days enter, from over the Mexican border, Gen. Arredondo, with
the remnant of Elisondo's men and some fresh troops, about four thousand in all,
en route for San Antonio. Toledo marches out to meet him with about twenty-
five hundred men, one-third of whom are Americans, the balance Mexicans under
Manchaca ; and on the 18th of August, 1813, they come together. Arredondo
decoys him into an ingenious cul de sac which he has thrown up, just south of the
Medina River, and has concealed by cut bushes ; and pours such a murderous
fire of cannon and small arms upon him, that in spite of the gallantry of the right
wing where the Americans are, the retreat which Toledo has ordered too late
becomes a mere rout, and the republican army is butchered without mercy. One
batch of seventy or eighty fugitives is captured by the pursuing royalists, tied,
set by tens upon a log laid across a great grave, and shot !

On the 20th Arredondo enters San Antonio in great triumph, and straight-
way proceeds to wreak fearful vengeance upon the unhappy town for the massacre
of his brother governors. Seven hundred citizens are thrown into prison. Dur-
ing the night of the 20th eighteen die of suffocation out of three hundred who are
confined in one house. These only anticipate the remainder, who are shot, with-
out trial, in detachments. Five hundred republican women are imprisoned in a
building, derisively termed the' Quintet, and compelled to make up twenty-four
bushels of corn into tortillas every day for the royalist army. Having thus sent
up a sweet savor of revenge to the spirits of the murdered Salcedo, Cordero.
Herrera, and the others, Arredpndo finally gathers their bones together and
buries them. In all this blood the prosperity of San Antonio was drowned. To
settlers it offered no inducements ; to most of its iormer citizens it held out noth-
ing but terror ; and it is described as almost entirely abandoned in 1816.

In December, 1820, arrived a person in San Antonio who, though not then
known as such, was really a harbinger of better times. This was Moses Austin,
of Connecticut. He came to see Governor Martinez, with a view of bringing a
colony to Texas. The two. with the Baron de Bastrop, put in train the prelimi-
nary application for permission to Arredondo, Commandant-General at Monterey.

qH 'I' H

&xYaiv£/ '*\ ^c

FAC-SIMILES OF SIGNATURES OF HISTORICAL PERSONAGES.

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 81

Austin, it is true, died soon afterwards ; but he left his project to his son Stephen
F., who afterwards carried it out with a patience that amounted to genius and a
fortitude that was equivalent to the favor of Heaven.

On the 24th of August, 1821, Don Juan O'Donoju and Yturbide entered into
the Treaty of Cordova, which substantially perfected the separation of Mexico
from the mother-country. When the intelligence of this event had spread, the
citizens of San Antonio returned. Moreover, about this time a tide of emigra-
tion began to set towards Texas. The Americans who had composed part of the
army of Gutierrez had circulated fair reports of the country. In 1823 San
Antonio is said to have had five thousand inhabitants ; though the Comanches
appear still to have had matters all their own way when they came into town, as
they frequently did, to buy beads and other articles with skins of deer and
buffalo. One would find this difficult to believe, but reasoning a priori, it is
rendered probable by the fact that in the decree of the the Federal Congress of
Mexico of the 24th of August, 1826, to provide for raising troops to serve in
Coahuila and Texas as frontier defenders, it is ordered that out of the gross levies
there shall be first preferred for military service " los vagos y mal entretenidos"
vagrant and evil- disposed persons ; and a posteriori, it is quite confirmed by the
experience of Olmsted in San Fernando (a considerable town west of the Rio
Grande) so late as 1854, where he found the Indians "lounging in and out of
every house .... with such an air as indicated they were masters of the
town. They entered every door," adds Olmsted, " fell on every neck, patted the
women on the check, helped themselves to whatever suited their fancy, and dis-
tributed their scowls or grunts of pleasure according to their sensations. ' '

In the year 1824 a lot of French merchants passed through San Antonio en
route to Santa Fe on a trading expedition. Some distance from town their pack-
animals were all stolen by Indians ; but they managed to get carts and oxen from
San Antonio, and so conveyed their goods finally to Santa Fe, where they sold
them at an immense profit. In 1831 the Bowie brothers, Rezin P. and James,
organised in San Antonio their expedition in search of the old reputed silver
mines at San Saba Mission. In the course of this unlucky venture occurred their
famous Indian fight, where the two Bowies, with nine others, fought a pitched
battle with one hundred and sixty-four Indians who had attacked them with
arrow, with rifle, and with fire from sundown to sunset, killing and wounding
eighty-four. They then fortified their position during the night, maintained it
for eight days afterwards, and finally returned to San Antonio with their horses
and three wounded comrades, leaving one man killed.

It is related that in 1832 a Comanche Indian attempted to abduct a Shawnee
woman in San Antonio. She escaped him, joined a party of her people who were
staying some thirty -five miles from town, and informed them where the Comanches
(of whom five hundred had been in town for some purpose) would probably camp.
The Shawnees ambushed themselves at the spot indicated. The Comanches
came on and stopped as expected : the Shawnees poured a fire into them, and
repeated it as they continually rallied, until the Comanches abandoned the con
test with a loss of one hundred and seventv-five dead.

82 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Early in 1833 (or perhaps late in December 1832) arrives in San Antonio
for the first time one who is to be called the father of his country. This is Sam
Houston. He comes in company with the famous James Bowie, son-in-law of
Vice-Governor Veramendi, and holds a consultation with the Comanche chiefs
here, to arrange a meeting at Cantonment Gibson with a view to a treaty of
peace. Meantime trouble is brewing. Young Texas does not get on well with
his mother. What seems to hurt most is the late union of Texas with Coahuila.
This we cannot stand. Stephen F Austin goes to the City of Mexico with a
memorial on the subject to the federal government. He writes from there to the
municipality of San Antonio, Oct. 2d, 1833, informing the people that their
request is likely to be refused, and advising them to make themselves ready for
that emergency. The municipality hand this letter over to Vice-President Farias,
who, already angry with Austin on an old account, arrests him on his way home
and throws him in prison, back in the city of Mexico.

In October, 1834, certain people in San Antonio hold what Yoakum calls
' ' the first strictly revolutionary meeting in Texas;" for Santa Anna has pronounced,
and got to be at the head of affairs, and he refuses to separate Texas from Coa-
huila. So, through meetings all over the state ; through conferences of citizen
deputations with Col. Ugartechea, Mexican Commandant at San Antonio, for
the purpose of explaining matters ; through confused arguments and resolutions
of the peace party and the war party ; through confused rumors of the advance
of Mexican General Cos with an army ; through squabbling and wrangling and
final fighting over the cannon that had been lent by the Post of Bexar to the
people of Gonzales ; through all manner of civic trouble consequent upon the
imprisonment of Governor Viesca of Texas by Santa Anna, and the suspension of
the progress of the civil law machine, we come to the time when the committee
of San Felipe boldly cry : -'Let us take Bexar and drive the Mexican soldiery out
of Texas!" and presently, here, on the 28th of October, 1835, is General Cos
with his army in San Antonio, fortifying for dear life, while yonder is Austin
with a thousand Texans, at Mission Concepcion, a mile and a half down the river
below town, where Fannin and Bowie with ninety men in advance have a few
hours before waged a brilliant battle with four hundred Mexicans, capturing their
field-piece, killing and wounding a hundred or more, and driving, the rest back
to town.

General Austin believes, it seems, that Cos will surrender without a battle ;
and so remains at Concepcion till November 2d, then marches up past the town
on the east side, encamps four or five days, marches down on the west side, dis-
plays his forces on a hill side in terrorem, sends in a demand for surrender — and
is flatly answered no. He resolves to lay siege. The days pass slowly, the
enemy will not come out though allured with all manner of military enticements,
and the army has no "fun," with the exception of one small skirmish, until the
20th, when "Deaf" Smith* discovers a party of a hundred Mexican troops, who
have been sent out to cut prairie-grass for the horses in town, and reporting them
in camp, brings on what is known as the "grass-fight." Colonel James Bowie

*One of the most celebrated and efficient scouts of the revolution. [Whose grandchildren are well known
in this city to-day. — W. C. ED.]

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 83

attacks with a hundred mounted men ; both sides are quickly reinforced, and a
sharp running fight is kept up until the enemy get back to town ; the Texans
capturing seventy horses and killing some fifty of the enemy, with a loss of but
two wounded and one missing. Meantime discontents arise. On the day before
the "grass-fight" Austin resigns, having been appointed Commissioner to the
United States, and Edward Burleson is elected by the army to the command.
General Burleson, for some reason, seems loth to storm. Moreover, one Dr.
James Grant seduces a large party with a wild project to leave San Antonio and
attack Matamoras, when he declares that the whole of Mexico will rise and over-
whelm Santa Anna ; and on the 29th of November it is actually announced that
two hundred and twenty-five men are determined to start the next morning.

But they do not start. It is whispered the town will be stormed. On the
3rd of December, Smith, Holmes, and Maverick escape from San Antonio, and
give the Texan commander such information as apparently determines him to
storm. Volunteers are called for to attack early next morning ; all day and all
night of that December 3rd the men make themselves ready, and long for the
moment to advance : when here comes word from the General's quarters that the
attack is put off! Chagrin and indignation prevail on all sides. On the morning
of the 4th there is open disobedience of orders ; whole companies refuse to parade.
Finally, when on the same afternoon orders are issued to abandon camp and
march for L,a Bahia at seven o'clock, the tumult is terrible, and it seems likely
that these wild energetic souls, failing the Mexicans, will end by exterminating
each other.

Midst of the confusion here arrives Mexican Lieutenant Vuavis, a deserter,
and declares that the projected attack is not known (as had been assigned for
reason of postponing), and that the garrison in town is in as bad order and dis-
content as the besiegers. At this critical moment a brave man suddenly crystal-
lised the loose mass of discordant men and opinions into one compact force and
one keen purpose. It is late in the morning, Col. Benjamin R. Milam steps forth
among the men, and cries aloud : " Who will go with old Ben Milam into San
Antonio ? " Three hundred and one men will go.

A little before daylight on the 5th they "go," Gen. Burleson agreeing to
hold his position until he hears from them. Milam marches into and along
Acequia Street with his party ; Johnson with his along Soledad Street. Where
these debouch into the Main Plaza, Cos has thrown up breastworks and placed
raking batteries. The columns march parallel along the quiet streets. Pres-
ently, as Johnson gets near the Veramendi House (which he is to occupy, while
Milam is to gain De la Garza's house), a Mexican sentinel fires. Deaf Smith
shoots the sentinel. The Mexicans prick up their ears, prick into their cannon-
cartridges; the Plaza batteries open, the Alamo batteries join in ; spade, crowbar,
rifle, escopet, all are plied, and the storming of Bexar is begun.

But it would take many such papers as this to give even meagre details of
all the battles that have been fought in and around San Antonio, and one must
pass over the four days of this thrilling conflict with briefest mention. It is
novel fighting ; warfare intramural, one might say. The Texans advance inch
by inch by piercing through the stone walls of the houses, pecking loop-holes

84 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

with crowbars for their rifles as they gain each room, picking off the enemy from
his housetops, from around his cannon, even from behind his own loop-holes.
On the night of the 5th with great trouble and risk the two columns succeed in
opening communication with each other. On the 6th they advance a little
beyond the Garza house. On the 7th brave Karnes steps forth with a crowbar
and breaks into a house midway between the Garza house and the Plaza ; brave
Milam is stricken by a rifle ball j ust as he is entering the yard of the Veramendi
house and falls instantly dead ; and the Navarro house, one block from the Main
Plaza, is gained. On the 8th they take the ' ' Zambrano Row ' ' of buildings,
driving the enemy from it room by room ; the enemy endeavor to produce a
diversion with fifty men, and do, in a sense, for Burleson finds some diversion in
driving them back precipitately with a six-pounder ; at night those in the Zam-
brano Row are reinforced, and the "Priest's House" is gained amid heavy
fighting.

This last is the stroke of grace. The Priest's House commands the Plaza.
Early on the morning of the 9th General Cos sends a flag of truce, asking to sur-
render, and on the 10th agrees with Gen. Burleson upon formal and honorable
articles of capitulation.

The poor citizens of San Antonio de Bexar, however, do not yet enjoy the
blessings of life in quiet ; these wild soldiers who have stormed the town cannot
remain long without excitement. Presently Dr. Grant revives his old Mata-
moras project, and soon departs, carrying with him most of the troops that had
been left at Bexar for its defense, together with great part of the garrison's winter
supply of clothing, ammunition and provisions, and in addition "pressing" such
property of the citizens as he needs, insomuch that Col. Neill, at that time in
command at Bexar, writes to the Governor of Texas that the place is left desti-
tute and defenceless. Soon afterward Col. Neill is ordered to destroy the Alamo
walls and other fortifications, and bring off the artillery, since no head can be
made there in the present crisis against the enemy, who is reported marching in
force upon San Antonio. Having no teams, Col. Neill is unable to obey the
order, and presently retires, his unpaid men having dropped off until but eighty
remain, of whom Colonel Wm. B. Travis assumes command. Colonel Travis
promptly calls for more troops, but gets none as yet, for the Governor and Coun-
cil are at deadly quarrel, and the soldiers are all pressing towards Matamora?.
Travis has brought thirty men with him ; about the middle of February he is
joined by Colonel Bowie with thirty others, and these, with the eighty already in
garrison, constitute the defenders of San Antonio de Bexar. On the 23d of Feb-
ruary appears General Santa Anna at the head of a well-appointed army of some
four thousand men, and marches straight on into town. The Texans retire
before him slowly, and finally shut themselves up in the Alamo ; here straight-
way begins that bloodiest, smokiest, grimiest tragedy of this century. William
B. Travis, James Bowie, and David Crockett, with their hundred and forty-five
effective men, are enclosed within a stone rectangle one hundred and ninety feet
long and one hundred and twenty-two feet wide, having the old church of the
Alamo in the southeast corner, in which are their quarters and magazine. They
have a supply of water from the ditches that run alongside the walls, and by way

SIDNEY LANIER'S .HISTORICAL SKETCH. 85

of provision they have about ninety bushels of corn and thirty beef cattle, their
entire stock, all collected since the enemy came in sight. The walls are un-
broken, with no angles from which to command beseiging lines. They have
fourteen pieces of artillery mounted1, with but little ammunition.

Santa Anna demands unconditional surrender. Travis replies with a cannon-
shot, and the attack commences, the enemy running up a blood-red flag in town.
Travis dispatches a messenger with a call to his countrymen for reinforcements,
which concludes : " Though this call may be neglected, I am determined to sus-
tain myself as long as possible, and die like a soldier who never forgets what is
due to his own honor and that of his country. Victory or death ! " Meantime
the enemy is active. On the 25th Travis has a sharp fight to prevent him from
erecting a battery raking the gate of the Alamo. At night it is erected, with
another a half-mile off at the Garita, or powder-house, on a sharp eminence at
the extremity of the present main street of the town. On the 26th there is skir-
mishing with the Mexican cavalry. In the cold — for a norther has commenced to
blow and the thermometer is down to thirty-nine — the Texans make a sally suc-
cessfully for wood and water, and that night they burn some old houses on the
northeast that might afford cover for the enemy. So amid the enemy's constant
rain of shells and balls, which miraculously hurt no one, the Texans strengthen
their works and the siege goes on. On the 28th Fannin starts from Goliad with
three hundred troops and four pieces of artillery, but for lack of teams and pro-
visions quickly returns, and the little garrison is left to its fate. On the morning
of the first of March there is doubtless a wild shout of welcome in the Alamo ;
Captain John W. Smith has' managed to convey thirty-two men from Gonzales
into the fort. These join the heroes, and the attack and defence go on. On the
3rd a single man, Moses Rose, escapes from the fort. His account of that day*
must entitle it to consecration as one of the most pathetic days of time.

"About two hours before sunset on the 3rd of March, 1836, the bombard-
ment suddenly ceased, and the enemy withdrew an unusual distance Col-
onel Travis paraded all his effective men in a single file, and taking his position
in front of the centre, he stood for some moments apparently speechless from
emotion ; then nerving himself for the occasion, he addressed them substantially
as follows : —

"'My brave companions: stern necessity compels me to employ the few
moments afforded by this probably brief cessation of conflict, in making known
to you the most interesting, yet the most solemn, melancholy and unwelcome

fact that humanity can realise Our fate is sealed. Within a very few

days, perhaps a very few hours, we must all be in eternity ! I have deceived you
long by the promise of help ; but I crave your pardon, hoping that after hearing
my explanation you will not only regard my conduct as pardonable, but heartily

sympathise with me in my extreme necessity I have continually received

the strongest assurances of help from home. Every letter from the Council, and

* As transmitted by the Zuber family, whose residence was the first place at which poor Rose had dared to
stop, and with whom he remained some weeks, healing the festered wounds made on his legs by the cactus-
thorns during the days of his fearful journey. The account from which these extracts are taken, is contributed
to the Texas Almanac for 1873, by W. P. Zuber, and his mother, Mary Ann Zuber.

86 SAN ANTONIO DB BF.XAR.

ever)* one that I have seen from individuals at home, has teemed with assurances
that our people were ready, willing and anxious to come to our relief. . . . These

assurances I received as facts In the honest and simple confidence of my

heart I have transmitted to you these promises of help and my confident hope of
success. But the promised help has not come, and our hopes are not to be
realised. I have evidently confided too much in the promises of our friends; but

let us not be in haste to censure them Our friends were evidently not

informed of our perilous condition in time to save us. Doubtless they would
have been here by the time they expected any considerable force of the enemy.
.... My calls on Colonel Fannin remain unanswered, and my messengers have
not returned. The probabilities are that his whole command has fallen into the
hands of the enemy, or been cut to pieces, and that our couriers have been cut
off. [So does the brave simple soul refuse to feel any bitterness in the hour of

death.] .... Then we must die Our business is not to make a fruitless

effort to save our lives, but to choose the manner of our death. But three modes
are presented to us ; let us choose that by which we may best serve our country.
Shall we surrender and be deliberately shot without taking the life of a single
enemy ? Shall we try to cut our way out through the Mexican ranks and be
butchered before we can kill twenty of our adversaries ? I am opposed to either

method L,et us resolve to withstand our adversaries to the last, and at

each advance to kill as many of them as possible. And when at last they shall
storm our fortress, let us kill them as they come! kill them as they scale our wall!
kill them as they leap within! kill them as they raise their weapons and as they
use them! kill them as they kill our companions! and continue to kill them as
long as one of us shall remain alive! .... But I leave every man to his own
choice. Should any man prefer to surrender . . . or to attempt an escape . . .
he is at liberty to do so. My own choice is to stay in the fort and die for my
country, fighting as long as breath shall remain in my body. This will I do
even if you leave me alone. Do as you think best ; but no man can die with me
without affording me comfort in the hour of death ! ' '

"Colonel Travis then drew his sword, and with its point traced a line upon
the ground extending from the right to the left of the file. Then resuming his
position in front of the center, he said, 'I now want every man who is determined
to stay here and die with me to come across this line. Who will be the first?
March ! The first respondent was Tapley Holland, who leaped the line at a
bound, exclaiming, ' I am ready to die for my country ! ' His example was
instantly followed by every man in the file with the exception of Rose. . . . Every
sick man that could walk, arose from his bunk and tottered across the line.
Colonel Bowie, who could not leave his bed, said, ' Boys, I am not able to come
to you, but I wish some of you would be so kind as to remove my cot over there.'
Four men instantly ran to the cot, and each lifting a corner, carried it across the
line. Then every sick man that could not walk made the same request, and had
his bunk removed in the same way.

" Rose too was deeply affected, but differently from his companions. He
stood till every man but himself had crossed the line. ... He sank upon the
ground, covered his face, and yielded to his own reflections. ... A bright idea

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 87

came to his relief ; he spoke the Mexican dialect very fluently, and could he once
get safely out of the fort, he might easily pass for a Mexican and effect an
escape. . . . He directed a searching glance at the cot of Colonel Bowie. . . .
Colonel David Crockett was leaning over the cot, conversing with its occupant in
an undertone. After a few seconds Bowie looked at Rose and said, ' You seem
not to be willing to die with us, Rose.' ' No,' said Rose ; ' I am not prepared to
die, and shall not do so if I can avoid it.' Then Crockett also looked at him, and
said, ' You may as well conclude ,to die with us, old man, for escape is impossi-
ble.' Rose made no reply, but looked at the top of the wall. ' I have often done
worse than to climb that wall,' thought he. Suiting the action to the thought,
he sprang up, seized his wallet of unwashed clothes, and ascended the wall.
Standing on its top, he looked down within to take a last view of his dying
friends. They were all now in motion, but what they were doing he heeded not;
overpowered by his feelings, he looked away and saw them no more. . . . He
threw down his wallet and leaped after it. . . . He took the road which led down
the River around a bend to the ford, and through the town by the church. He
waded the river at the ford and passed through the town. He saw no per-
son .... but the doors were all closed, and San Antonio appeared as a de-
serted city.

' ' After passing through the town he turned down the River. A stillness as of
death prevailed. When he had gone about a quarter of a mile below the town, his
ears were saluted by the thunder of the bombardment which was then renewed.
That thunder continued to remind him that his friends were true to their cause, by
a continual roar with but slight intervals until a little before sunrise on the morning
of the 6th, when it ceased and he heard it no more." *

And well may it ' ' cease ' ' on that morning of the 6th ; for after that thrilling
3d, the siege goes on, the enemy furious, the Texans replying calmly and slowly.
Finally Santa Anna determines to storm. Some hours before da}rlight on the
morning of the 6th, the Mexican infantry, provided with scaling ladders, and
backed by the cavalry to keep them up to the work, surround the doomed fort. At
daylight they advance and plant their ladders, but give back under a deadly fire
from the Texans. They advance again, and again retreat, A third time — Santa
Anna threatening and coaxing by turns — they plant their ladders. Now they mount
the walls. The Texans are oyei whelmed by sheer weight of numbers and ex-
haustion of continued watching and fighting. The Mexicans swarm into the fort.
The Texans club their guns; one by one they fall fighting — now Travis yonder by
the western wall, now Crockett here in the angle of the church-wall, now Bowie
butchered and mutilated in his sick-cot, breathe quick and pass away; and presently
every Texan lies dead, while there in horrid heaps are stretched five hundred and
twenty-one dead Mexicans and as many more wounded! Of the human beings that
were in the fort five remain alive : Mrs. Dickinson and her child, Colonel Travis'
negro-servant, and two Mexican women.

* Rose succeeded in tnakitig his escape, and reached the house of the Zubers, as before stated, in fearful
condition. After remaining here some weeks, he started for his home in Nacogdoches, but on the way his
thorn-wounds became inflamed anew, and when he reached home " his friends thought that he could not live
many months." This was " the last" that the Zubers " heard of him."

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The town did not long remain in the hands of the Mexicans. Events followed
each other rapidly until the battle of San Jacinto, after which the dejected Santa
Anna wrote his famous letter of captivity under the tree, which for a time relieved
the soil of Texas from hostile footsteps. San Antonio was nevertheless not free
from bloodshed, though beginning to drive a sharp trade with Mexico, and to make
those approaches towards the peaceful arts which necessarily accompany trade.
The Indians kept life from stagnating, and in the year 1840 occurred a bloody battle*
with them in the very midst of the town. Certain Comanche chiefs, pending nego-
tiations for a treaty of peace, had promised to bring in all the captives they had;
and on the 19th of March, 1840, met the Texan Commissioners in the Council-
house in San Antonio, to redeem their promise. Leaving twenty warriors and
thirty-two women and children outside, twelve chiefs entered the council-room and
presented the only captive they had brought — a little white girl — declaring that
they had no others. This statement the little girl pronounced false, asserting that
it was made solely for the purpose of extorting greater ransoms, and that she had
but recently seen other captives in their camp. An awkward pause followed.
Presently one of the chiefs inquired, How the commissioners liked it? By way of

reply, the company of Captain Howard, who had been sent for, filed into the room,
and the Indians were told that they would be held prisoners until they should send
some of their party outside after the rest of the captives. The commissioners then
rose and left the room. As they were in the act of leaving, however, one of the
Indian chiefs attempted to rush through the door, and being confronted by the sen-
tinel, stabbed him. Seeing the sentinel hurt, and Captain Howard also stabbed, the
other chiefs sprang forward with knives and bows and arrows, and the fight raged
until they were all killed. Meantime the warriors outside began to fight, and en-
gaged the company of Captain Read; but, taking shelter in a stone-house, were sur-
rounded and killed. Still another detachment of the Indians managed to continue
the fight until they had reached the other side of the river, when they were finally
despatched. Thirty-two Indian warriors and five Indian women and children were
slain, and the rest of the women and children were made prisoners. The savages
fought desperately, for seven Texans were killed and eight wounded.

*For oarticulars of this terrible encounter see memoirs of Mrs. M. A, Maverick. — W. C., E)D.

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 89

The war between Texas and Mexico had now languished for some years. The
project of annexation was much discussed in the United States; one great objection
to it was that the United States would embroil itself with a nation with which it
was at peace — Mexico — by annexing Texas, then at war. The war, however,
seemed likely to die away; and to prevent the removal of the obstacle to annexation
in that way, Mexico made feeble efforts to keep up such hostilities as might at least
give color to the assertion that the war had not ended. Accordingly in the year
1842 a Mexican army again invested San Antonio. After a short parley Colonel
Hays withdrew with his small force, and the Mexicans, numbering about seven
hundred men under General Vasquez, took possession of the place and formally reor-
ganized it as a Mexican town. They remained, however, only two days, and con-
ducted themselves, officially, with great propriety, though the citizens are said to
have lost a great deal of valuable property by unauthorized depredations of private
soldiers and of Mexican citizens who accompanied the army on its departure.

Again on the llth of September, 1842, a Mexican army of twelve hundred
men under Gen. Woll, sent probably by the same policy which had despatched
the other, surprised the town of San Antonio, and, after having a few killed and
wounded, took possession, the citizens having capitulated. Gen. Woll captured
the entire bar of lawyers in attendance on the District Court, then in session, and
held them as prisoners of war. He did not escape, however, so easily as Gen.
Vasquez. The Texans gathered rapidly, and by the 17th had assembled two
hundred and twenty men on the Salado, some six miles from town. Capt. Hays,
with fifty men, decoyed Gen. Woll forth, and a battle ensued, from which the
enemy withdrew at sunset with a loss of sixty killed and about the same number
wounded, the Texans losing one killed and nine wounded. It is easy to believe
that the honest citizens of San Antonio got little sleep on that night of the 17th
of September, 1842. Gen. Woll was busy making preparations for retreat; and
the Mexican citizens who intended to accompany him were also busy gathering
up plunder right and left to take with them. At daylight they all departed.
This was the last time that San Antonio de Bexar was ever in Mexican hands.

After annexation, in 1845, the town began to improve. The trade from cer-
tain portions of Mexico — Chihuahua and the neighboring States — seems always to
have eagerly sought San Antonio as a point of supplies whenever peace gave it
the opportunity. Presently, too, the United States Government selected San
Antonio as the base for the frontier army below El Paso, and the large quanti-
ties of money expended in connection with the supply and transportation of all
materiel for so long a line of forts have contributed very materially to the pros-
perity of the town. From a population of about 3500 in 1850, it increased to
10,000 in 1856.*

Abandoning now this meagre historical sketch, and pursuing the order indi-
cated in the enumeration of contrast and eccentricities given in the early part of
this paper : one finds in San Antonio the queerest juxtaposition of civilisations,
white, yellow (Mexican), red (Indian), black (negro), and all possible permuta-

*San Antonio has now an estimated population of 50,000. — W. C., Ku.

90 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

tions of these significant colors. Americans, Germans, and Mexicans; besides
these there are probably representatives from all European nationalities.*

Religious services are regularly conducted in four languages, German, Span-
ish, English and Polish.

Perhaps the variety of the population cannot be better illustrated than by the
following " commodity of good names," occurring in a slip cut from a daily paper
of the town a day or two ago :

MATRIMONIAL.— The matrimonial market for a couple of weeks past has been unusually
lively, as evidenced by the following list of marriage licenses issued during that time : Cruz
de la Cruz and Manuela Sauseda ; Felipe Sallani and Maria del R. Lopez ; G. Isabolo and
Rafaela Urvana ; Anto. P. Rivas and Maria Quintana ; Garmel Hernandez and Seferina Rod-
riguez ; T. B. Leighton and Franceska E. Schmidt ; Rafael Diaz and Michaela Chavez : L,evy
Taylor and Anna Simpson, colored ; Ignacio Andrada and Juliana Baltasar ; August Dubiell
and Philomena Muschell ; James Callaghan and Mary Grenet ; Albert Anz and Ida Pollock ;
Stephen Hoog and Mina Schneider ; Wm. King and Sarah Wilson, colored ; Joseph McCoy
and Jesse Brown ; Valentine Heck and Clara Hirsch ; John F. Dunn and E. Annie Dunn.*

Much interest has attached, of late years, to the climate of San Antonio, in
consequence of its alleged happy influence upon consumption. One of the rec-
ognized " institutions " of the town is the consumptives, who are sent here from
remote parts of the United States and from Europe, and who may be seen on fine
days, in various stages of decrepitude, strolling about the streets. This present
writer has the honor to be one of those strolling individuals ; but he does not in-
tend to attempt to describe the climate, for three reasons : first, because it is sim-
ply indescribable ; second, if it were not so, his experience has been such as to
convince him that the needs of consumptives, in point of climate, depend upon
two variable elements, to wit, the stage which the patient has reached, and the
peculiar temperament of each individual, and that therefore any general recom-
mendation of any particular climate is often erroneous and sometimes fatally de-
ceptive ; and third, because he fortunately is able to present some of the facts of
the climate, which may be relied upon as scientifically accurate, and from the
proper study of which each intelligent consumptive can make up his mind as to
the suitableness of the climate to his individual case. For the past five years,
Dr. F. v. Pettersen, a Swedish physician and ardent lover of science, resident in

*Sidney Lauier here says of the old bridge which preceded the present one :

"At the Commerce Street bridge over the San Antonio River, standsa post supporting a large sign board,
upon which appears the following three legends :

Walk your horse over this bridge, or you will be fined.
Schuelles Reiten uber diese Krucke ist verboten.
Anda despacio con su caballo, 6 teme la ley.

To the the meditative stroller across this bridge— and on a soft day when the Gulf breeze and the sunshine are
king and queen, any stranger may be safely defied to cross this bridge without becoming meditative — there is a
fine satire in the varying tone of these inscriptions— for they are by no means faithful translations of each
other ; a satire all the keener in that it must have been wholly unconscious. For mark : ' Walk your horse,
etc.,oryomvillbejitied!' This is the American's warning : the alternative is a money consideration, and the
appeal is solely to the pocket, but now the German is simply informed that scline/les Reiten over this bridge ist
•verboten — is forbiddi-n; as who should say: 'So, thou quiet, law-abiding Teuton, enough for thee to know that
it is forbidden simply.' And lastly, the Mexican direction takes wholly a different turn from either: Slow
there with your horse, Mexicano, ' o teme la ley,' — or 'fear the lev!' "

* This refers more appropriately to the date of Sidney Lanier's remarks. Since that day there has been an
increasing influx of Americans. — W. C., ED.

74.33

84.33

71.33

54.66

66.43

83.10

67.53

52.93

68.70

83.43

70.66

51.30

71.28

87.45

68.38

54.31

70.58

83.13

68.96

49.75

77 '

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 91

San Antonio, has conducted a series of meteorological observations with accurate
apparatus ; and the results which follow have been compiled from his records :

MEAN THERMOMETER.

Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter.

Seasons of 1868

1869 ....

1870 ....

1871 ....

1872 ....

MEAN HYGROMETER.

Seasons of 1868 .... 65* 78 64 49

1869 ....

1870 ....

1871 ....

1872 ....

TOTAL RAINFALL.

For the year 1868 . . . . . . 46.60 inches.

1869 49.03

1870 . . . . . 35.12

1871 24.86

1872 ...... 31.62

These are averages, but the view which they present of the climate, although
strictly accurate as far as it goes, is by no means complete

San Antonio is at an altitude of 564 feet above the level of the sea, in latitude
29 ° 28', longitude 98 ° 24'. It is placed just in the edge of a belt of country one
hundred and fifty miles wide, reaching to the Rio Grande, and principally de-
voted to cattle-raising Inside, the location of the city is picturesque. Two

streams, the San Antonio and San Pedro rivers, run in a direction generally par-
allel, though specially as far from parallelism as capricious crookedness can make
itself, through the entire town. The San Antonio is about sixty feet wide; its
water is usually of a lovely milky-green. The stranger, strolling on a mild sunny
day through the streets, often finds himself suddenly on abridge, and is half start-
led with the winding vista of sweet lawns running down to the water, of weeping
willows kissing its surface, of summer houses on its banks, and of the swift yet
smooth-shining stream meandering this way and that, actually combing the long
sea-green locks of a trailing water-grass which sends its waving tresses down the
centre of the current for hundreds of feet, and murmuring the while with a palpa-
ble Spanish lisping, which floats up among the rude noises of traffic along the
street, as it were some dove-voiced Spanish nun out of the convent
yonder praying heaven's mitigation of the wild battle of trade. Leaving this
bridge, walking down the main (Commerce) street, across the Main plaza, then
past the San Fernando Cathedral, then across the Military Plaza, one come pres-
ently to the San Pedro, a small stream ten or fifteen feet in width, up which the

* Fractions omitted.

92 SAN ANTONIO DB BKXAR.

gazing stroller finds no romance, but mostly strict use; for there squat the Mexican
women on their haunches, by their flat stones, washing the family garments, in a
position the very recollection of which gives one simultaneous stitches of lumbago
and sciatica, yet which they appear to maintain for hours without detriment. . . .

Crossing the San Pedro we are among the jacals, .... more pretentious
dwellings are built of adobes, or sun-dried brick. The majority of the substantial
houses of the town are constructed of a whitish limestone, so soft when first quar-
ried that it can be cut with a knife, but quickly hardening by exposure into a
very durable building material. In the more pretentious two-storied dwellings
there are some very good Moorish effects of projecting stone and lattice- work.

A fine architectural example in the town is the San Fernando Cathedral,
which presents a broad, varied and imposing facade upon the western side of the

Main Plaza The curious dome, surrounded by a high wall over which

its topmost slit-windows just peer — an evident relic of ancient Moorish archi-
tecture, which one finds in the rear of most of the old Spanish religious edifices
in Texas — has been preserved, and still adjoins the queer priests' dormitories,
which constitute the rear end of the cathedral building.

There are other notable religious edifices in town. Going back to Com-
merce Street, one can see a fine large church for the German Catholics (San
Fernando Cathedral is Mexican Catholic). Crossing a graceful iron bridge, that
turns off to the north from Commerce Street, one glances up and down the stream,
which here flows between heavy and costly abutments of stone to protect the rear
of the large stores whose fronts are on the Main Street, and whose rear doors
open almost immediately over the water. Across the bridge in this odd nook of
the stream is St. Mary's, the American Catholic Church, its rear adjoining a long
three-storied stone convent building, and its yard sloping down to the water.
Strolling up the river a quarter of a mile, one comes upon a long white stone
building, which has evidently had much trouble to accommodate itself to the site
upon which it is built, and whose line is broken into four or five abrupt angles,
while its roof is varied with dormer windows and sharp projections and spires and
quaint clock-faces, and its rear is mysterious with lattice-covered balconies and
half-hidden corners and corridors. This is thellrsuline Convent; and standing as
it does on a rocky and steep (steep for Texas plains) bank of the river, whose
course its broken line follows, and down to which its long stern-looking wall
descends, it is an edifice at once piquant and sombre, and one cannot resist figuring
Mr. James' horseman spurring his charger up the white limestone road that winds
alongside the wall, in the early twilight, when dreams come whispering down the
current among the willow-sprays.

There are notable places about the town which the stranger must visit. He
may ride two miles along a level road between market gardens which are vital-
ised by a long acequia, or ditch, fed from the river, and come presently upon the
quaint gray towers of the old Mission Concepcion.* The old church, with its high-
walled dome in the rear, is in a good state of preservation, and traces of the sin-
gular many-colored frescoing on its front are still plainly visible. Climbing a very

* The Mission of Our Lady of the Concepcion de Acuna.

SIDNEY LANIER'S HISTORICAL SKETCH. 93

shaky ladder, one gets upon the roof of a long stone corridor running off from the
church building, and, taking good heed of the sharp-thorned cactus which
abounds up there, looks over upon a quaint complication of wall-angles, nooks,
and small-windowed rooms

Further down the river a couple of miles one comes to the Mission San fose
de Aguayo. This is more elaborate and on a larger scale than the buildings of
the first Mission, and is still very beautiful. Religious services are regularly con-
ducted here; and one can do worse things than to steal out here from town on
some wonderfully calm Sunday morning, and hear a mass, and dream back the
century and a half of strange, lonesome, devout, hymn-haunted and Indian-
haunted years that have trailed past these walls. Five or six miles further down
the river are the ruins of the Mission San Juan irAiuch dilapidation.

Or the visitor may stroll off to the eastward, climb the hill, wander about
among the graves of heroes in the large cemetery on the crest of the ridge, and
please himself with the noble reaches of country east and west, and with the
perfect view of the city, which from here seems " sown," like. Tennyson's, " in a
monstrous wrinkle of the ' ' prairie. Or, being in search of lions, one may see the
actual animal, by a stroll to the "San Pedro Springs Park," a mile or so to the
northward. Here, from under a white-ledged rocky hill, burst forth three crystal-
line springs, which quickly unite and form the San Pedro. With spreading
water-oaks, rustic pleasure buildings, promenades along smooth shaded avenues
between concentric artificial lakes, a race-course, an aviary, a fine Mexican lion, a
bear-pit in which are an emerald-eyed blind cinnamon bear, a large black bear, a
wolf and a coyote, and other attractions, this is a very green spot indeed in the
prairies. Or one may drive three miles to northward and see the romantic spot
where the San Antonio River is forever being born, leaping forth from the moun-
tain, complete, totus, even as Minerva from the head of Jove. Or one may take
one's .stand on the Commerce Street bridge and involve oneself in the life that goes
by this way and that. Yonder comes a long train of enormous blue-bodied, can-
vas-covered wagons, built high and square in the stern, much like a fleet of Dutch
galleons, and lumbering in a ponderous way that suggests cargoes of silver and
gold. These are drawn by fourteen mules each, who are harnessed in four tiers,
the three front tiers of four mules each, and that next the wagon of two. The
" lead " mules are wee fellows, veritable mulekins ; the next tier larger, and so on
to the two wheel-mules, who are always as large as can be procured. Yonder
fares slowly another train of wagons, drawn by great wide-horned oxen, whose
evident tendency to run to hump and fore-shoulder irresistibly persuades one of
their cousinship to the buffalo.

Here, now, comes somewhat that shows as if Birnam Wood had been cut into
fagots and was advancing with tipsy swagger upon Dunsinane. Presently, one's
gazing eye receives a sensation of hair, then of enormous ears, and then the legs
appear, of the little roan-gray burros, or asses, upon whose backs that Mexican
walking behind has managed to pile a mass of mesquite firewood that is simply
astonishing. This mesquite is a species of acacia, whose roots and body form the
principal fuel here. It yields, by exudation, a gum which is quite equal to gum
arabic, when the tannin in it is extracted. It appears to have spread over this

94 SAN ANTONIO DK BEXAR.

portion of Texas within the last twenty-five years, perhaps less time. The old
settlers account for its appearance by the theory that the Indians — and after them
the stock-raisers — were formerly in the habit of burning off the prairie-grass
annually, and that these great fires rendered it impossible for the mesquite shrub
to obtain a foothold ; but that now the departure of the Indians and the transfer
of most of the large cattle-raising business to points further westward, have
resulted in leaving the soil free for the occupation of the mesquite. It has
certainly taken advantage of the opportunity. It covers the prairie thickly, in
many directions as far as the eye can reach, growing to a pretty uniform height of
four or five feet — though occasionally much larger — and presenting with its tough
branches and innumerable formidable thorns, a singular appearance. The wood
when dry is exceedingly hard and durable, and of a rich mahogany color. This
recent overspread of foliage on the plains is supposed by many persons to be the
cause of the quite remarkable increase of moisture in the climate of San Antonio
which has been observed of late years. The phenomena — of the coincident
increase of moisture and of mesquite — are unquestionable ; but whether they bear
the relation of cause and effect, is a question upon which the unscientific lingerers
on this bridge may be permitted to hold themselves in reserve

And now as we leave the bridge in the gathering twilight and loiter down
the street, we pass all manner of odd personages and "characters." Here
hobbles an old Mexican who looks like old Father Time in reduced circumstances,
his feet, his body, his head all swathed in rags, his face a blur of wrinkles, his
beard gray-grizzled — a picture of eld such as one will rarely find. There goes a
little German boy who was captured a year or two ago by Indians within three
miles of San Antonio, and has just been retaken and sent home a few days ago.*
Do you see that poor Mexican without any hands ? A few months ago a wagon-
train was captured by Indians at Howard's Wells ; the teamsters, of whom he
was one, were tied to the wagons and these set on fire, and this poor fellow was
released by the flames burning off his hands, the rest all perishing save two.
Here is a great Indian-fighter who will show you what he calls his ' ' vouchers, ' '
being scalps of the red braves he has slain ; there a gentleman who blew up his
store here in '42 to keep the incoming Mexicans from benefiting by his goods, and
who afterwards spent a weary imprisonment in that stern castle of Perote away
down in Mexico, where the Mier prisoners (and who ever thinks nowadays of that
strange, bloody Mier Expedition ?) were confined ; there a portly, handsome,
buccaneer-looking captain who led the Texans against Cortinas in '59 ; there a
small, intelligent-looking gentleman who at twenty was first Secretary of War of
the young Texan Republic, and who is said to know the history of everything
that has been done in Texas from that time to this, minutely ; and so on through
a perfect gauntlet of people who have odd histories, odd natures or odd appear-
ances, we reach our hotel SIDNEY L,ANIER.

*This was written of 1873.— W. 0., ED.

Interviews and Memoirs of Old Time Texans.

Extracts from the Memoirs of Mrs. M. A. Maverick.

We have been permitted by the kindness of the family to examine this
remarkable document, — "This little family history necessarily private," as it is
modestly described in the preface.

In reality the Record is a portion of the annals of Texas, and from the earl}7-
days of trial and difficulty it reads us besides, a latter-day lesson of courage, pati-
ence and fortitude.

From the point of view of the historical trifler, the feeling that impresses one,
on laying down the manuscript after scanning all its lines, is as though one had
stumbled upon the diary of a noble Roman matron of the days of Regulus.

The few extracts and running comments which follow will give an idea of
the story — A tale not told in heroics, but which simply worded, never falls short
of heroism, and which, in the unaffected courage, and affecting piety of its writer
is probably unique.

Samuel Augustus Maverick was born July 23, 1803, at Pendleton, South Car-
olina of distinguished revolutionary stock of English and Huguenot extraction.
Mrs. Maverick was an Adams — the Massachusetts family transplanted to Virginia
and intermarried with a L,ewis of that state.

Mrs. Maverick was married August 4th. 1836, near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, her
mother's home. The family started for Texas October 14th, 1837; Mr. Sam Mav-
erick being then a baby of five months. Mr, Maverick senior, had been in Texas
in 1835, and his friends thought him killed in the Alamo fight. As a record of
old time travelling, and to illustrate the up-building of the Southwest, their
progress to the L,one Star State is of interest in these days of Pullman sleepers;
Mrs. Maverick says: "Father accompanied us half a day. . . . We traveled
in a carriage, Mr. Maverick driving and nurse Rachel and baby and myself the
other occupants. In a wagon with Wiley as driver, was Jinny our future cook
and her four children. We reached mother's, (Tuscaloosa, Alabama, from Pendle-
ton, South Carolina) about the last of October, and stopped with her about six

months making final preparations December 7th, 1837, we set out

for Texas. . . . Our party was composed of four whites and ten negroes.
The negroes were four men Griffin, Graiiville, Wiley and Uncle Jim — two women
Jinny and Rachel, and Jinny's four children We had a large car-
riage, a big Kentucky wagon, three extra saddle horses and one blooded filly.
The wagon carried a tent, a supply of provisions and bedding, and the cook and
children. . . . We occasionally stopped several days in a good place to rest
and to have washing done, and sometimes to give muddy roads time to dry. We

96 SAN ANTONIO DB BBXAR.

crossed the Mississippi at Rodney, and Red river at Alexandria, and came through
bottoms in Louisiana where the high-water marks in the trees stood far above our
carriage-top, but the roads were good there when we passed. We crossed the
Sabine, a sluggish, muddy, narrow stream, and stood upon the soil of the Republic
of Texas about New Year's day 1838.

"January 7th, 1838, we occupied an empty cabin in San Augustine, while the
carriage wheel was being repaired. This was a poor little village principally of
log cabins, on one street, but the location was high and dry. We laid in a supply
of corn and groceries here and pushed on through Nacogdoches, to the place of
Colonel Durst, an old acquaintance of Mr. Maverick. . . . There we met
General Rusk. . . . We now had to travel in occasional rains and much
mud, where the country was poor and sparsely settled and provisions for man and
beast scarce. We, on advice, selected the longest but the best road, namely, the
one leading by the way of Washington, high up on the Brazos. From Washing-
ton we went to Columbus on the Colotado, and thence about due south towards
the L,avaca River. Now came a dreadful time. About January 26th we entered
a bleak, desolate, swampy prairie, cut up by what are called dry bayous, and now
almost full of water. This swamp, covered by the "Sandy," Mustang and head
branches of the Navidad, was fourteen miles wide. . . . Every step the
animals took was in water. We "stalled " in five or six of the gullies and each
time the wagon had to be unloaded in wind, water and rain, and all the men and
animals had to work together to pull out. The first "norther " struck us here, a
terrific, howling north wind with fine rain, blowing and penetrating through
clothes and blankets. I never before experienced such cold. We were four days
crossing this fourteen miles of dreadful swamp. The first day we made three
miles and that night my mattress floated in water. No one suffered from the
exposure, and Mr. Maverick kept cheerful all the while. Our provisions were
almost gone when, on the 30th, we crossed the Navidad, stopping at Spring Hill,
Major Sutherland's place. Mr. Maverick now went on to see if it was safe to take
us to San Antonio, and visited other points with a view to settling, especially
Matagorda, where he owned land.

"At Major Sutherland's boarded Captain Sylvester, from Ohio, who had
captured Santa Anna after the battle of San Jacinto. I attended a San Jacinto
ball at Texana on April 21st. Here, too, I met old 'Bowles,' the Cherokee
chief, with twelve or thirteen of his tribe.

"After tea we were dancing when Bowles came in dressed in a breech cloth,
anklets, moccasins and feathers and a long clean white linen shirt which had been
presented to him in Houston. He said the pretty ladies in Houston had danced
with, kissed him and given him rings. We, however, begged to be excused, and
even requested him to retire. . . . He stalked out in high dudgeon, and our
dance broke up. Bowles told us of President Houston living in his Nation, and
that he had given Houston his daughter for a squaw, and had made him a big
chief.

' 'June 2nd we set off for San Antonio de Bexar, in those days frequently

simply called Bexar June 12th, late in the afternoon, we reached camp

again, and were loading up to move two or three miles further to a better camp-

MEMOIRS OF MRS. M. A. MAVERICK. 97

ing place, when several Indians rode up. They said ' mucho amigo,' and were
loud and filthy and manifested their intention to be very intimate. More and
more came, until we counted seventeen of them. They rode in amongst us,
looked greedily at the horses, and without exaggeration annoyed us very much.
They were Tonka was and kept repeating ' mucho amigo,' telling us further that
they were just from the Nueces, where they had fought the Comanches two days
previously and gained a victory. They were in war-paint and well armed and
displayed in triumph two scalps, one hand and several pieces of putrid flesh from
various parts of the human body. These were to be taken to the tribe, when a
war-dance would ensue over the trophies, and they and their squaws would
devour the flesh. I was frightened almost to death, but tried not to show my
alarm. They rode up to the carriage window and asked to see the ' Papoose.'
I held up the baby and smiled at their compliments, but took care to have my

pistol and bowie knife visible and kept cool I kept telling Griffin to hurry

the others, and Mr. Maverick worked cooly with the rest. Jinny said, ' L,et's
cook some supper first,' and grumbled mightily when Griffin* ordered her into
the wagon and drove off. Imagine our consternation when the Indians turned
back and every one of the seventeen followed us. It was a bright moonlight
night and finally the Indians, finding us unsociable and dangerous, gradually
dropped behind."

On June 15th, 1838, the travellers reached San Antonio, having left home
October i/j-th of the previous year. While Mrs. Maverick was at Spring Hill,
Mr. Maverick made one journey back to purchase household effects in New
Orleans.

Mrs. Maverick goes on to describe the San Antonio of the period and gives
a charming picture of the society of the little coterie of Americans then living
here.

" Early in February 1839, we moved into our own house at the Northeast cor-
ner of Main and Soledad streets. This house remained our homestead until July
1849 — over ten years — altho' five of the ten years, those from '42 to '47 we wand-
ered about as refugees " L,et Mrs. Maverick describe a San Antonio

home of the better class at that period "The main house was of

stone, and had three rooms, one fronting South on Main street and West on Sole-
dad street, and the other two fronting West on Soledad; also a shed along the
East wall of the house toward the north end. This shed we closed in with an
adobe wall, and divided it into a kitchen and servants' room. We also built an
adobe room for the servants on Soledad street, leaving a gateway between it and
the main house, and we built a stable near the river. We put a strong picket fence
around the garden to the North, and fenced the garden off from the yard. In the
garden were sixteen large fig trees, and many rows of pomegranates. In the
yard were several china trees, and on the river bank, just below our line on
the De la Zerda premises, was a grand old cypress which we could touch through
our fence, and its roots made ridges in our yard. It made a great shade, and we

*This Griffin was a faithful slave, who after Mr. Maverick's capture at Sail Antonio, in 1S42, determined to follow
his master into Mexico to serve him as he best might. He was killed fighting bravely with Dawsou's com^
maud in the beginning of the journey. Mr. Maverick often remarked: " We owe Griffin a monument,"

98 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

erected our bath-house and wash place under its spreading branches. Our neigh-
bors were the De la Zerdas. In 1840 their place was leased to a Greek, Roque
Catahii, who kept a shop on the street and lived in the back rooms. He marrried
a pretty bright-eyed, laughing Mexican girl of fourteen years. He dressed her
in jewelry and fine clothes and bought her a dilapidated piano. He was jealous
and wished her to amuse herself at home. The piano had the desired effect, and
she enjoyed it like a child with a new trumpet. The fame of her piano went
through the town, and after tea, crowds would come to witness her performance."

' ' Our neighbors on the north we,re Dona Juana Varcinez and her son
L,eonicio. She sold us milk at 25 cents per gallon, pumpkins at 25 cents each, and
spring chicken at liy? cents each. Butter was 50 cents $ ft. When we returned
from the coast in '47, she had sold her place to Sam S. Smith. (The Court House
stands there now, and the son, Thacl. Smith, is there too as County Clerk). My son
I^ewis Antonio, was born at this house of ours, and, until quite recently, I was of
the opinion that he was the first child of pure American stock born in San Antonio.
But now I understand that a Mr. Brown came here with his wife in 1828 from
East Texas, and during that year a son was born to them. That son, John
Brown, is said to be now a citizen of Waco

''This summer (1839) M. B. Jaques brought his wife and two little girls and
and settled on Commerce Street. Also Mr. Elliott came with his wife and two
children and bought a place on Soledad street, opposite the north end of our
garden.*

. . . . " Mr. Maverick was a member of the Volunteer Company of ' Minute
Men,' commanded by the celebrated Jack Hays, an honored citizen of Cali-
fornia. He came to Texas at the age of eighteen and was appointed a deputy
surveyor. The surveying parties frequently had ' brushes ' with the Indians and
on these occasions Jack Hays displayed marked coolness and military skill, and
soon became by unanimous consent the leader in all encounters with the Indians.
There were from fifty to seventy-five young Americans in San Antonio, at this
time, attracted by the climate, the novelty or by the all-absorbing spirit of land
speculation. They came from every one of the United States. Many had engaged
in the short and bloody struggle of '35 and '36 for the freedom of Texas. Some
possessed means and others were carving out their own fortunes ; all were filled
with the spirit of adventure and daring and more or less stamped with the weird
wildness of the half-known West.

"They were a noble set of ' boys,' as they styled one another, and were ever

ready to take horse and follow Hays to the Indian strongholds They

accomplished wonders, for in a few years they crushed the Comanche Nation and
the country around San Antonio became habitable.

" The signals for their expeditions were the ringing of the Cathedral bell and
the hoisting the flag of the Republic in front of the Court House."

Mrs. Maverick tells of many depredations by Mexicans and Indians, showing
the insecurity of the place even up to the very walls of San Antonio.

* Mr. Thomas Higgiubotliam, a carpenter and his wife, took the house opposite us on the corner of
Commerce Street and Main Plaza, where the Daueubauer building now stands,

MEMOIRS OF MRS. M. A. MAVERICK. 99

" This year (1839) our negro men plowed and planted one labor above the
Alamo, and were attacked by Indians. Griffin and Wiley ran into the River and
saved themselves. The Indians cut the traces and took off the work horses. We
did not farm again."

Here is a riding party of the period : —

" In November, 1839, a party of ladies and gentlemen came from Houston to
visit San Antonio. They rode on horseback. The ladies were Miss Trask, of
Boston, Mass., and Miss Evans, daughter of Judge Evans, of Texas. The gentle-
men were Judge Evans and Col. J. W. Darcey, Secretary of War of the Republic
of Texas. Ladies and all were armed with pistols and bowie knives. I rode with
this party and some others around the Head of the San Antonio River. We gal-
loped up the West side and paused at and above the Springs long enough to admire
the lovely valley of the San Antonio. The leaves were almost all fallen from the
trees, leaving the view open to the Missions below town. The day was clear, cool
and bright, and we could see as far as San Juan Capistrano, seven miles below
town. We galloped home down the east side, and doubted not that the Indians
watched us from the heavy timber of the River bottom.

" In the fall of 1839 or '40, eighteen dead bodies were brought in from the
edge of town and laid out in the Court House. They were the remains of a party
who had been surprised and cut off while out riding, a Mr. Campbell alone
escaping by the fleetness of his horse. The bodies had been found naked, hacked
with tomahawks and partly eaten by wolves. The following day the nine Ameri-
cans were buried in one large grave west of the San Pedro, outside of the Catholic
burying ground, and very near its southwest corner. The nine Mexicans were
buried inside the graveyard. ......

' ' Indians being so numerous and ' bad ' makes agricultural produce dear.
Farming reminds one of the difficulties of the Jews on their return from the captivity
or the first plantings of the Pilgrim Fathers. Corn selling from two to three dollars a
bushel."

Mrs. Maverick was an eye witness of the terrible hand to hand conflict with
the Comanche braves in 1840. The fight was nothing less than Homeric. We
give it in her own words : " On Tuesday, March 19th, 1840, (dia de San Jose)
sixty-five Comanches came into the town to make a treaty. They brought with
them, and reluctantly gave up, Matilda Lockhart, whom they had captured with
her younger sister, in December, 1838, after killing two others of the family. The
Indian chiefs and men proceeded to the Court House where they met the city and
military authorities. The jail then occupied the corner formed by the east line of
Main Plaza and the north line of Calabosa (now Market) street, and the Court
House was north of and adjoining the jail. The Court House yard, back of the
Court House, was what is now the City Market on Market street.* The
Court House and Jail were of stone, one story, flat roofed and floored with dirt.
Captain Tom Howard's Company was at first in the Court House yard. The
Indian women and boys came in there too and remained during the pow-wow.

* See maps.

100 SAN ANTONIO DK BEXAR.

' ' The young Indians amused themselves shooting arrows at pieces of money
put up by some of the Americans.

" I adjourned over to Mrs. Higginbotham's, whose place adjoined the Court
House yard, and we watched the young savages through the picket fence.

" This was the third time the Indians had come for a talk, pretending to seek
peace and trying to get ransom money for their American and Mexican captives.
Their present proposition was that they should be paid an enormous price for
Matilda L,ockhart and a Mexican they had just given up, and that traders be sent
with paint, powder, flannel, blankets and such other articles as they should name
to ransom the other captives. This course had been adopted once before, and when
the traders reached the Indian camp the smallpox broke out amongst them, and
they killed the traders, alleging that they had introduced the disease to kill off the
Indians. After the slaughter they retained both the captives and the goods. Now,
the Americans, mindful of the treachery and duplicity of the Indians, answered as
follows :

" ' We will, according to a former agreement, keep four or five of your chiefs
and the others of you shall go to your Nation and bring all the captives here, and
then \ve will pay all you ask for them. Meanwhile, the chiefs we hold we will
treat as brothers, and not one hair of their heads shall be injured. This we have
determined upon, and if you resist our soldiers will shoot you down.'

"The above ultimatum being interpreted, the Comanches, instantly, and as
one man, raised a terrific war-whoop, drew their bows and arrows and com-
menced firing with deadly effect, at the same time endeavoring to break out of the
Council Hall. The order, ' Fire ! ' was given by Capt. Howard and the soldiers
fired into the midst of the crowd. The first volley killed several Indians and two
of our own people. Soon, all rushed out into the public square, the civilians to
procure arms, the Indians to escape and the soldiers in close pursuit. The Indians
generally struck out for the River. Some fled southeast towards Bowen's Bend,
some ran east on Commerce street and some north on Soledad. Soldiers and citi-
zens pursued and overtook them at all points: Some were shot in the River and
some in the streets. Several hand-to-hand encounters took place, and some
Indians took refuge in stone houses and closed the doors. Not one of the sixty-five
Indians escaped ; thirty-three were killed and thirty-two taken prisoners.

' ' Six Americans and one Mexican were killed and ten Americans wounded.
Our killed were Julian Hood the Sheriff, Judge Thompson an attorney from
South Carolina, G. W. Cayce, from the Brazos, and one officer and two soldiers
and one Mexican whose names I did not learn. Those severely wounded were
Lieutenant Thompson brother of the Judge, Captain Tom Howard, Captain Mat.
Caldwell a citizen volunteer from Gonzales, Judge Robinson, Mr. Morgan Deputy
Sheriff, Mr. Higginbotham and two soldiers. Some others were slightly wounded.

' ' When the deafening war-whoop sounded in the Court Room, it was so loud
and shrill, so sudden and inexpressibly horrible, that we women, looking through
the fence cracks, for a moment could not comprehend its purport. The Indian
boys, however, instantly recognized its meaning, and turning their arrows upon
Judge Robinson and other gentlemen standing near by, slew the Judge on the spot.

MEMOIRS OF MRS. M. A. MAVERICK. 101

We fled precipitately, Mrs. Higginbotham into her house and I across the street to
my Commerce street door. Two Indians rushed by me on Commerce street and
another reached my door, and turned to push it, just as I slammed it to and beat
down the heavy bar. I rushed into the house and in the north room found my
husband and my brother Andrew sitting calmly at a table inspecting some plats of
surveys. They had heard nothing ! I soon gave them the alarm, and hurried by to
look after my boys. Mr. Maverick and Andrew seized their arms. Mr. Maverick
rushed into the street and Andrew into the back yard where I was, now shouting
at the top of my voice, ' Here are Indians ! Here are Indians ! ' Three Indians
had gotten in through the gate on Soledad street and were making towards the
River. One had stopped near Jinny Anderson, our cook, who stood bravely in
front of the children, mine and hers. She held a great stone in her hands, lifted
above her head, and I heard her cry out to the Indians : ' G'way from heah, or
I'll mash your head with this rock ! ' The Indian seemed regretful that he hadn't
time to dispatch Jinny and her brood ; but his time was short, and. pausing but a
moment, he turned and rushed down the bank, jumped into the River and struck
out for the opposite shore. As the Indian hurried down the bank my brother ran
out in answer to my loud calls. While the Indian was swimming, Andrew drew
his unerring bead on him. Another Indian was climbing the opposite bank
and was about to escape, but Andrew brought him down also. Then Andrew
rushed up Soledad street looking for more Indians.

' ' I housed my little ones and then looked out of the Soledad street door.
Near by was stretched an Indian wounded and dying. A large man, an employe
of Mr. Higginbotham, came-tip just then and aimed a pistol at the Indian's head.
I called out, ' Oh, don't ; he Is dying ! ' and the big American laughed and said,
'Well, to please you I won't ; but it would put him out of his misery.' Then I
saw two others lying dead near by.

" Captain L,ysander Wells, about this time, passed by riding north on Soledad
street. He was mounted on a gaily caparisoned Mexican horse, with silver-
mounted saddle and bridle, which outfit he had secured to take back to his native
State on a visit to his mother. As he reached the Veramendi house, an Indian
who had escaped detection, rushed out from his hiding place, and jumping upon
the horse behind Wells, clasped his arms and tried to catch hold of the bridle reins.
The two men struggled some time, bent back and forwards and swayed from side
to side, until at last, Wells managed to hold the Indian's arms with his right hand
and with his left to draw his pistol from the holster. He turned partly round,
placed the pistol against the Indian's body and fired, — a moment more and the
Indian rolled off and dropped dead to the ground. Wells put spurs to his horse
and did good service in the pursuit.

" I had become so fascinated by this struggle that I had unconsciously gone
into the middle of the street, when lieutenant Chevalier, who was passing, called
out to me : ' Are you crazy ? Go in or you will be killed ? ' I obeyed ; but my
curiosity and anxiety again got the better of me, and I peeped out on Commerce
street where I saw the dead bodies of four or five Indians. ... It was dark
when Mr. Maverick and Andrew returned.

102 SAN ANTONIO DK BEXAR.

" Several incidents occurred soon after the fight of the 19th which are worth
narrating. On March 28th, 250 or 300 Comanches under a dashing young chief,
Isimanica, came close to the edge of the town, where the main body halted, while
Chief Isimanica and another warrior rode daringly into the Public Square and
circled around the Plaza, then rode some distance down Commerce street and back,
shouting all the while, offering to fight, and heaping abuse and insults on the
Americans. Isimanica was in full war-paint and almost naked, He stopped quite
a while in front of Bluck's saloon, on the northeast corner of the square. He
shouted defiance, rose in his stirrups, shook his clenched fist, raved, and foamed at
the mouth.

"The citizens, through an interpreter, told him that the soldiers were all
down at the Mission San Jose de Aguayo, and that if he went there Colonel Fisher
would give him fight enough.

' ' Isimanica took his braves to San Jose, and with fearless daring bantered the
soldiers for a fight. Colonel Fisher was sick in bed and Captain Redd, the next in
rank, was in command. He said to the chief: ' We have made a twelve days'
truce with your people, in order to exchange prisoners. My country's honor is
pledged, as well as my own, to keep the truce, and I will not break it. Remain
here three days, or return in three days, and the truce will be over. We burn to
fight you.' Isimanica called him 'liar,' 'coward,' and other opprobrious
names, and hung around for some time ; but; at last, the Indians left and did not
return. Captain Redd remained calm and unmoved throughout this stormy talk,
but his men could with difficulty be restrained ; and, in fact, some of them were
ordered into the Mission church and guarded there.

"When Captain Lysander Wells, who was in town, heard of all this, he wrote
Captain Redd a letter, in which he called him a ' dastardly coward, ' and alluded
to a certain petticoat government, under which he intimated the Captain was
restrained. This allusion had reference to a young woman who, dressed in boy's
apparel, had followed Redd from Georgia and was now living with him. This

letter of Wells was signed, much to their shame, by several others in San Antonio.

"Colonel Fisher removed his entire force of three companies to the Alamo in
San Antonio. Redd challenged Wells to mortal combat, and one morning at 6
o'clock they met where the Ursuline Convent now stands. Facing his antagonist,
Redd coolly remarked: ' I aim for your heart ' ; and Wells replied: 'And I for
your brains.' They fired! Redd sprang into the air, and fell dead with a bullet
in his brain. Wells, too, in fulfillment of their fearful repartee, was shot very near
the heart ; he, however, lived a fortnight in great agony, begging every one near
him to dispatch him or furnish him with a pistol to kill himself. Dr. Weidemann, of
whom more anon, nursed him tenderly. It turned out that the girl before referred
to was married to Redd, and they found the marriage license and certificate in his
pocket ; also letters to members of his own and her families, speaking of her in the
tenderest manner and asking them to protect and provide for her. She followed
him to the grave and seemed heart-broken, and soon thereafter returned to her
people." ....

MEMOIRS OF MRS. M. A. MAVKRICK. 103

Mrs. Maverick gives terrible accounts of the fearful treatment of captives by the
Indians, and her narrative is another warrant for the belief that the only " good
Indian is a dead one."

" Matilda L,ockhart, who came in on March 19th, had been in captivity about
two years. When she was taken, two of her family were slain and she and her
little sister were taken prisoners. At that time she was thirteen and her sister
three years old. She came along with the Indian party as a herder driving a herd
of extra horses — thus the Indians could change horses from time to time for

fresher ones She was in a frightful condition, poor girl Her head,

arms and face were full of bruises and sores, and her nose actually burned off to
the bone.

"March 26th, Mrs. Webster came in with her three-year-old child on her back.
The poor, miserable being was so unlike a white woman that the Mexicans hailed
her as ' Indio ! Indio ! ' She came into the Public Square from the west and
was dressed as an Indian, in buckskin, her hair was cut short and square upon her
forehead, and she was sunburned dark as a Comanche. She called out in good
English, however, saying she had escaped from Indian captivity. She was im-
mediately taken into John W. Smith's house, and we American ladies gathered
to see her and care for her. She was very tired and hungry and almost exhausted.
.... Her story was as follows: She came to Texas from Virginia early in 1835,
with her husband, who, she claimed, was a relative of Daniel Webster. They built
a house northeast of Austin; and in August of that year her husband was removing
her and her four children to to this wild home. They had also in the party two
negroes and one white man. They were camped one evening on Brushy Creek,
not far north of Austin, when a large body of Comanches suddenly attacked them.
The three men fought bravely, but were overpowered and killed. Mrs. Webster's
infant was taken from her arms and its brains dashed out against a tree and her
second child killed. She and her eldest boy, ' Booker ' were tied upon horses
and she held her child of two years so tightly to her breast .and pleaded so pite-
ously for its life that the Indians left it with her. They were taken by rapid
marches to the mountains, where they stripped ' Booker ' and shaved his head.
He was attacked with brain fever, and an old squaw, who had just lost a son of
his age, adopted him and nursed him very tenderly. The Indians let her keep her
little girl, but forbade her talking to her son. They made her cook and stake out
ponies and beat her continually. She had been nineteen months in captivity when
she seized a favorable opportunity to escape. It was one night after a long day's
march, when, having learned the general direction of San Antonio, she quietly
slipped out of camp with her child in her arms and bent her steps towards Bexar.
She spent twelve terrible days on the road without meeting a human being. She
sustained herself all this while on berries, small fish which she caught in the
streams and on bones which she sucked and chewed. Sometimes she gave up and

almost resigned herself to death The morning of the 26th a fog came on,

and unable to see any distance through the fog, she gave up all for lost and lay
down in utter despair. Soon the sun shone out and the fog disappeared, when,
looking towards the East, she saw a " golden cross shining in the sky." Then
she felt that God had answered her prayers, and again took up the march with a

104 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

thankful heart. She approached the golden cross with earnest steps. It proved
to be the cross of the Cathedral of San Fernando* in San Antonio "

In the great raid to L,avaca Bay, in August, 1840, when L,innville was
sacked and General Felix Houston inflicted a memorable defeat on the Indians,
Mrs. Maverick lost many household effects en route from New Orleans. Amongst
other things, was a set of law books for Mr. Maverick. These were heard from
as being ' ' tacked by strings to the Indians' saddle-bows and then used as cigar-
ette papers. This shows how little respect the Indians had for Blackstone and
the law."

The temptation to quote is constant ; in 1841 we read about the society of
San Antonio as follows :

"We began, now, to have a society and great sociability amongst ourselves,
the Americans. During this summer, 1841, Mr. Wilson Riddle brought his bride
and Mr. Moore his family. These gentlemen were both merchants on Commerce
street. Mr. John Twohig (the present banker) started a small grocery on the cor-
ner of Commerce street and Main Plaza. Mrs. Jaques had a boarding house at south
west corner of Commerce and Yturri streets. She had a considerable place rented
from Yturri, boarded all the nice young Americans, and was very hospitable and
pleasant. She was a good nurse, very kind to the sick and wounded, and was

very popular with the gentlemen President L,amar, with a very

considerable suite, visited San Antonio in June. A grand ball was given him in
Mrs. Yturri's ' long room,' — all considerable houses had a ' long room ' for recep-
tions— the room was decorated with flags and evergreens, flowers were not much
cultivated then ; at the ball General L,amar wore very wide trousers which, at the
same time, were short enough to show the tops of his shoes. The General and
Mrs. Juan N. Seguin, wife of the Mayor, opened the ball with a waltz.
We were forced to smile, for the gallant President, although a poet and a first rate
conversationalist, could not dance. ... At this ball Hays, Chevalier and
Howard had but one dress -coat between them, and they agreed to use the
coat and dance in turn ; the ones not dancing would stand at the door and watch
the happy tenant of the garment disporting himself on the floor, at the same time
continually making faces to remind him that his time was up. Their by-play and
good humor furnished quite a diversion and amused us very much

" During this summer the American ladies led a lazy life of ease. We had
plenty of books, including novels. We were all young, healthy and happy, and
were content with each other's society. We read, joked and laughed away the
time and in those days there were no envyings and no backbiting. . . . Now
that merchants were establishing themselves on Commerce street, bathing at our
place had become rather public, so we ladies got permission of old Senora
Trevino to erect a bath house on her premises, some distance north on Soledad
street, afterwards the homestead of the Jaques family. Thither we went in a
crowd every afternoon at about four o'clock, taking the children and their nurses
with us and a dainty lunch prepared by one of us in turn to eat after the bath."

* Then the Parish Church.

SKETCHES OF WESTERN TEXAS.
COWBOY LIFE.

MEMOIRS OF MRS. M. A. MAVERICK. 105

An eccentric character of those days was a Doctor Weide maun, — his memory
is worth keeping green as showing that the present cosmopolitan characteristics
of San Antonio are congenital, so to speak. . . . " He was a Russian scholar
and naturalist, and an excellent physician and surgeon ; a highly cultivated man
and spoke many languages, and he had been a great traveler. He lived on the
old Chavez place on Acequia street. I remember that on the night of the Indian
fight of March 19th, 1840, I visited Mrs. Higginbotham, as I have before stated.
While I was there Dr. Weideinann came up to her grated front window and
placed a severed Indian head upon the sill. The good Doctor bowed courteously,
and saying: 'With your permission, Madam,' disappeared. Presently he
returned with another bloody head, when he explained to us that he had exam-
ined all the dead Indians and had selected these heads, male and female, for the
skulls, besides two entire bodies, to preserve as skeletons. He said, ' I have
been longing exceedingly to secure such specimens, and now, ladies, I must get
a cart to take them home.' Dr. Weidemann had taken an active part in the
fight, and done good service mounted on his fine horse, and now he was all
begrimed, bloody and dirty, the result of his labors as a warrior, surgeon and
scientist. He soon returned with the cart loaded with his magnificent speci-
mens, took the two heads from the window and departed

That night he stewed the bodies in a soap boiler, and when the flesh was com-
pletely dessicated, emptied the cauldron into the Acequia. Now, this ditch
furnished the drinking water generally for the town ; it being understood that
the River and the San Pedro were reserved for bathing and washing. There was
a city ordinance to this effect-coupled with a heavy fine. On the 21st it dawned
upon the dwellers on the banks of the ditch that the Doctor had defiled the
drinking water, and that probably they had taken in particles of Indian in their fluid.
The people, very properly, gathered in indignation, a mob rushed to the Mayor's
office, the men talked in loud and excited tones, the women shrieked and cried,
they rolled up their eyes in horror, they vomited, and some of them were so
frightened that they suffered mis-carriage. Many thought they were poisoned
and would die. Dr. Weidemann was arrested and brought to trial ; they
overwhelmed him with abuse, and called him 'diablo,' ' demonic, '
'sin verguenza,' and so forth. He took it calmly, assured them the
Indians had all sailed by in the night, paid his fine, and went away
laughing. Once the Doctor lost his watch. He suspected one of his
servants — Jose ; and after waiting in vain for him to confess and give
up the property, he determined to get his own again by magic. He invited
a party to see the fun, and arraying himself in a figured gown and a
conical hat, and preparing a fire and cauldron on the roof of his house, he
summoned all his servants to his presence and announced that they were all to
dip their hands into the pot ; at the same time informing them that the hand of
the guilty one would turn black. The conscience-stricken Jose waited till the
last, all the others had come through the ordeal with clean hands. He at last
approached, plunged in his hand, and when he withdrew it, lo, it was black !
The wretched man confessed in terror, and immediately gave up the watch.
Thereafter no Mexican passed Dr. Weidemann without crossing himself, for they
all firmly believed he was in league with the Devil, The Doctor told them that the

106 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

spirits of the boiled Indians were under his control and told him everything. He
set their skeletons lip in his summer house and defied any one to steal from him ;
it is needless to say his property was not further molested. The Doctor was
drowned in 1843 or 1844 in attempting to swim Peach Creek near Gonzales,
during a rise."

Mrs. Maverick gives a graphic account of the flight from San Antonio in 1842
on the approach of Vasqnez. She mentions the burying of valuables, the disposing
of doubloons in bustles manufactured for the occasion, the turning over of furniture
to Mexican friends and other incidents of what is known as the " Runaway of '42."
Mr. Maverick and many gentlemen escorted the ladies as far as the Capote Farm,
the Erskine place, on the Guadalupe. ' ' On the way from Capote Farm to
Gonzales we passed King's rancho, which had just been deserted by the owners.
Here was desolation amidst plenty. The corn-crib was full, the smoke-house
well supplied, and chickens and hogs were running around as usual. On the
front door was pasted the following notice : ' To all refugees, welcome; help your-
selves to what you need. Also to all marching to repel the invaders, take what you
want but leave the remainder to the next comers.' Hays reoccupied San Antonio,
but the fugitives continued their flight first to Gonzales and afterwards to L,a Grange.
Mr. Maverick made a trip to Alabama and returning to San Antonio to the fall
term of Court, was taken prisoner in the raid by Woll after a gallant but ineffectual
resistance to a complete surprise."

San Antonio was again reoccupied by the Texans after the battle of the Sal ado,
but too late to rescue the prisoners, largely on account of the jealousy of the
commanding officers of the Texan forces, Moore, Morehead and Caldwell.
Caldwell was the hero of the Salado, but Moore was the ranking officer. Each
division wanted its own commander to lead, leaving Hays, who had already
captured the Mexican Artillery, to maintain himself unsupported. The troops
returned disgusted, in small squads, to San Antonio, Woll getting off in safety,
his prisoners being already far on their way. Mr. Maverick was liberated in the
City of Mexico on March 30th, 1843, through the good offices of General Waddy
Thompson, a connection of his, and then United States Minister to Mexico. The
remainder of the prisoners were not released by Santa Anna until June 16th of
the same year. Mr. Maverick started for home on April 2d, and on ' ' May 4th he
dismounted at cur cabin on the Colorado." The family afterward removed to
Decrow's Point, on Matagorda bay, remaining until October 15th, 1847. They
found the town on their return much changed since '42, "emigrants arriving
daily." . . . "We moved directly to our old home, the fence was nearly
gone and everything dilapidated." In July, 1850, what is known as the
Maverick Homestead, was begun on the corner of Alamo Plaza and Houston
street, although that street then had no existence, and years after its opening,
was known as Paseo.

This date brings our quotations to an appropriate end. but we close the MS. ,
this mirror of by-gone days, with regret. Our extracts have been limited to
matters of general interest, and we commend them to the reader who lives in
calmer times, and who would learn somewhat of the struggles to which he owes
his present comfort, with the admonition to profit by them, not only by informing
himself of the facts of history, but also by observing some of the spirit of that
society which has created his own.

INTERVIEW WITH MRS. CANTERBURY. 10?

Interview with Mrs. Canterbury.

"The Republic of Texas!" Nowadays when "The State of Texas" is so con-
stantly in our ears we are apt to "disremember" that our wide, broad, giant Texas
was a star "apart", "lone," by itself and not of the great and glorious constellation.
Every year makes the fact of the Republic less familiar, less palpable to us.
Every year thins the ranks of that remnant which can claim that they were citizens
of the Republic of Texas. Soon this will be a coveted family tradition. To-day
real old timers are accorded a certain respect, not more indeed than is their due.
One cannot help being reminded of that exquisite touch of Canon Kingsley in
his famous "Westward Ho" by which he illustrates the deference — almost filial —
of a younger generation to the old pioneer "Pelicans" who had sailed the world
about with their revered and worshipful Master Drake. What had not the
"Pelicans" not enduied? Fire, battle, murder, sudden death, torture, all this and
more, was the portion of these "wilder comrades sworn to seek." What was
there then for the sons of such fathers to do, but to emulate as far as easier times
would allow so high an example? Now and then in those annals — mention is
made of noble women who dared to share these perils and hardships. And in
the annals of Texas — of the Texas Republic — that sort of woman was not so very
rare. Scientists have adopted an "irresistible impulse theory" with regard to
the tendency of people and races to travel — to pioneer — ever Westward, the course
of the sun. Not an altogether new theory if one may credit the verse maker.

"The sun goes West,

Why should not I?
I still deem best

That old time cry
Of 'Westward Ho!'

My love don't you think so?"

SHE

"My sun goes West

Why should not I?"

It was such impulses that built the best of the Texas of the new regime. It
required no weak impulses to dare the dangers of those early days — war —
Indians — and an almost untried future were no inconsiderable trifles. There is
something "deeper than the lips" in such a simple communication as "I came to
Texas a bride in 1841."

"On May 22d 1841," said Mrs. Canterbury, "I came to San Antonio, a
bride, with my husband Wilson Irvine Riddle. He was one of the earliest
American merchants on Main street. I was a native of Virginia, my maiden name
was Elizabeth Menefee. There was a Menefee, one of the signers of the Declara-
tion of Independence of Texas, of our family I believe. I was married however
in Tennessee. Colonel Hays, the noted Indian fighter was a connection of mine
by marriage, he married my first cousin — a Miss Calvert of Seguin. My husband's
store was that little quaint two-storied building that still stands next to
Sullivan's shoe store, now one door east of the corner of St. Mary's and
Commerce streets. At that date it was one of the most important buildings
on Main or Commerce street, and altogether considered to be the finest
house in the town. It was some years subsequently rented by General

108 SAN ANTONIO DH BEXAR.

Harney for $60 per month, as his residence and for a while military headquarters,
and still later Major Belger made use of it as a Quartermaster's Depot. It
was here that my daughter Mrs. Eagar, was born, as also my son James Wilson
Riddle, a merchant of Eagle Pass, Texas. Mrs. Eagar was a child only ten days
old when the Mexicans came on March 7th 1842, I was the last American
lady to leave the city. I went to Gonzales and remained there from March to
October 1842. In my flight I stayed at Don Manuel Flores ranch, a stopping place
between San Antonio and Seguin. Mrs. Maverick went afterwards to Decrow' s
Point on the coast and stayed there about five years. It was a terribly anxious
time for the women. After all, these Mexicans under Vasquez, were little more
than a band of marauders. And when in September of the same year, Woll was
reported as advancing upon San Antonio with a large force, many of the citizens
determined if possible to make some kind of defence, but so strong a force was
very much of a surprise, and many of the citizens were made prisoners, even as the
District Court was sitting. It was a much more serious affair than the investment
of the city under Vasquez in the spring. Our store was robbed of all our goods —
and a claim against Mexico for the damage done us, is still unsettled. The claim
was made through the British government, for my husband was a British subject,
but in the midst of the many important events that quickly followed each other at
that epoch, the claim although acknowledged to be a just one was neglected.
When it will be settled I know not. Fifty-three good citizens were taken and
put in chains by Woll, and marched all the weary way to the City of Mexico. I
knew most of them well. My husband was chained to Wm. E. Jones. His
brother to John Twohig, the banker — at the time John Twohig had a general store
at the corner of Main Plaza and Main street, where Deutsch's store is. He coolly
blew up his store — declaring that no man should rob him of his goods. Sam
A. Maverick had for a companion Major Colquhoun, I believe — then there were
John Bradley the father of Mrs. Waelder, James Truehart, Judge Hutcheson, Dr.
Hatch, Dr. Booker, Dr. Mackay, Duncan B. Ogden and many others. I have a
list but don't know just whereto find it now. Many men were killed a few days
after in the fight on the Salado. It was a dreadful time. I also knew many of
the Mier prisoners — that was a .sad bit of history — you have heard all about that
I expect.

Soon after I came, my husband gave me a piano — it was about the first in
Texas. I was the only player in San Antonio then — I still play a little. I had
that piano until a few months ago, when I sold it for $16; I am sorry now that I
sold it. I still have my old music stool. When the Mexicans came I had my
piano hastily boxed, and on my return, that, my music stool and a rocker were
almost my only household possessions. Many of the prominent Mexican families
were at first wealthy and well-to-do, but they had to live, and they were not mer-
chants, and extensive farming was out of the question on account of the great
danger of Indian raids — they did not dare trust themselves for long, out of town,
so their great estates dwindled, and passed into the hands of others. I have seen
many and vast changes in San Antonio."

Many other interesting matters were discussed by Mrs. Canterbury, and per-
sonal recollections were given of events, the history of which will be learnt in
school by the children of Texas for many future generations.

INTERVIEW WITH RT. REV. BISHOP NERAZ. 109

A Talk with the Rt. Rev. Bishop Neraz

About the Old Records of the Church and the Missions.

I shall not soon forget my interview with Bishop Neraz. The meeting at
which much of the information herein written was obtained was one which im-
pressed me much. It was an appointment.

The morning was a lovely one in June, warm outside but cool and airy in the
high rooms of the plain but comfortable house on Dwyer Avenue. Would I
please come up stairs, the Bishop was somewhat lame by reason of advancing
years, and found it difficult to move about ? I found him busy in his rooms but
he put aside his work upon my entrance and bid me draw a chair towards his desk.
He received me with a direct kindliness of manner at which had there been any
restraint it must have vanished at once. A mixture of quiet dignity and simplic-
ity one does not wonder in his presence that he is Catholic Bishop of San Antonio.

Said the good Bishop "I have brought here the records that you wished to
see, some of the old archives of our Church and the Missions, we will look them
over together — there they are," said he, pointing to his bookshelf — "Will )'ou
please bring them to the desk here?" Taking up the top volume I found the
leaves of the second one to be loose, and before I could secure them a gust of the
breeze through the open windows had scattered them over the floor. The Bishop
in spite of my remonstrance hastened to help me to gather them up and laughingly
remarked " We must take great care of these, the wind is fresh this morning,"
and then we sat down to talk and write. I had written to the Bishop some few
days previously, enclosing at his desire, a string of questions, so he knew just
about what I wanted. " Your letter came to me," he said, "and I know what
you require. I wish that you had come to me some years ago, for my memory is
not so good as it used to be for these things. I used to have charge of the
records and formerly made it my business to know all abount them, but I will tell
you what I remember. It is very much to be regretted that many of our church
records were destroyed by the fire in the Priest House on March 23rd, 1869.
Many of the older records were removed to Zacatecas by the Mexican military
authorities in 1824. I do not know why they took them from here nor if they are
still in existence at Zacatecas or elsewhere, but it is a fact that many were taken
there. The volumes that I have here are very old and about the most interesting
that we now possess, they are of various matters concerning the church." The
books were in manuscript and bound in thick brown rudely tanned leather or hide,
worn smooth by much use and stitched here and there with laces of hide, most 01
them were quarto shape, eight by ten inches or thereabout, varying a little. The
character of the writing was mostly good, some of it, however, was difficult to
decipher, many of the " ss " were made in the old fashioned way like " f f " and
this made some of the Indian names at first sight a little doubtful, for instance.
Tilosa read like Tilofa ; Pasala, like Pafala and there were other peculiarities of the
times and style in which they were written, The Bishop made many running
translations from the Spanish which I did my best to follow.

' ' Here is an old book, ' ' continued the Bishop, " It is the Record of Marriages
of Mission Concepcion, I think it will interest you. There is the original record

110 SAN ANTONIO DK BKXAR.

you see 'Mission Conception, Pueblo de Acuna, founded March 5th, 1731, on the
border of the River of San Antonio.' Here follow 'Marriages of the same
Mission 1733 to 1790,' let us make excerpts of the different Indian nations men-
tioned in this record of marriages. The first marriage is Joseph Flores of the
nation Patumaco with Efiegenia of the nation Pasalat. The second is Juachin
Antonio, of the nation Patumaco, with Brigida of the nation Pachalque. The
third is Christoval, of Nacioii Grande de Patalca, with Beatriz, of the nation
Tilosa, and so on, in 1736 there appear to have been no marriages. Other
nations recorded here are Narame, Siquipil, Tilpocopal, Pusan, Pasalat, Pamache,
Chayopina and the eighty-first marriage is that of Berndino Chaygoya of the
nation Patumaco, with Antonia of the nation Apache. ' '

"Here is a 'Book in which are entered the Baptismal Records which were
made of the children of the Second Company of Volunteers de San Carlos de
Parras which stayed (or remained) in the Alamo. The Chaplain of it being Brn.
Don Manuel Saenz de Juan Corena, and it begins on March 1st, 1788.' The book
is apparently opened however on February 6th 1788. The Alamo is also herein
mentioned as 'The Pueblo of San Jose,' a style it bore at one short period of the
Mission's History; this book runs on till after 1806 when there is a note to the
effect that the Chaplain Jose Bravo having died then, one Clemente de Arocha
took the place of him. It is in the beginning of this book that we find the memo-
randum that 'On May 8th, 1744 the first (or corner stone) of the new Church
of San Antonio (de Valero) was blessed, being at the time Clergymen of the
Mission, Diego Martin Garcia, Mariano Francisco de los Dolores and Friar Juan
de los Angeles. In proof of which I sign my name in the Mission of San Antonio
September 29th, 1745' — here follow the three signatures — this however is appar-
ently a copy of an original entry, made at the date of the opening of this book.

' 'The next volume is a book of Episcopal orders, the first signed August 6th
1761 concerning various matters of Church Government, these orders were
brought by courier in advance of the visitation of the Bishop, we shall see men-
tion of this later. The first lengthy order in this book refers to previous general
orders from Rome dated 1681, this is in October 1761. Very likely if we went
through all this we should find many interesting references to doings of the times.
"This book," said the Bishop, taking up another, "is of similar intention to the
last, it is the record of 'The Bishop of the 2nd Mitre, begining 1795' — it is styled
Book 2. Number 1 was probably lost in the fire. It contains copies of 'Letters
Pastoral and orders which belong to the town of San Fernando, Royal Province
of San Antonio de Bexar,' they seem to have been sent in advance of the Bishop
of New lyeon (Nueva L,eone) by courier and in order that there shall be no miscar-
riage of the document, note that the instructions to the recipients are 'and you will
hold this until the Bishop makes his visitation, when it is to be signed by him,'
afterwards it is sent to the next church and so on and here is a list of the parishes
to which this letter was sent : Cordillera, (Hills), Cerrio, Santiago, San Cantez(?)
San Nicholas, Croizer(?) Cruallay, Burgos, San Fernando,* Reynosa, Camargo,
Mier, Bahia, Bexar, Nacogdoches. (Some names are difficult to decipher) "and
see the careful way," said the Bishop, turning to the end of the volume, "in

*Probably the San Fernando a Mexican border town, i. e. Rio Grande border.

INTERVIEW WITH RT. REV. BISHOP NERAZ. Ill

which any interpolations or additions to the letters were avoided or made imposible,
'This book has 752 pages used but there could be used 757,' and here are the five
blank pages at the end."

"The next book we come to is a book of the Baptisms, etc., of the Mission
of San Jose — the Second Mission as we call it — here is a memorandum of its
contents :

Baptisms of the Mission of San Jose 1777 to 1823, and one of 1824.

Marriages'1 " " " " " 1778 to 1824.

Burials (i " " " " 1781 to 1824.

This same book also contains the same records for San Juan and San Francisco de
la Espada Missions from 1818 to 1824 which is evidence perhaps that the
Missions were already becoming of less importance.

"This last is a 'Book of the Government (or Administration) and Visitation
of the Foreign Vicar of the Province of Texas, being Don Juan Nepomuceno de
la Peiia. Anode 1825.' It opens with a circular letter sent by courier, dated
December, 1824, entitled 'Orders of the Church concerning Civil and Eclesiastical
administration together,' and signed Sor. Col. Cont. Citizen Estevan de Ostin.
It also contains the orders of the Bishop to the Priest.

"We have other Records but this is a representative lot and perhaps these
are as interesting as any.

"I am not sure whether Don Juan Nepomuceno de la Pena, the Foreign
Vicar (Vicario foraneo) of 1825 was the last President of the Missions, or more
likely perhaps Francisco Maynes who was named Foreign Vicar by Senor Dn. D.
L,eon L,obo Guerrero, Vicar Capitular and administrator of the Diocese of Mon-
terey, on September 30th 1825. Ah — I remember — certainly F. Maynes for he
was the Reverend President at the time when the Superior of the Franciscans
came and passed, or delivered to the Bishop of Monterey all the Missions and their
lands. Most of the lands of the Missions had been divided among the Indians be-
longing to each, with the exception of, it appears, fifteen acres which the Mexican
Government attached to and granted to each Mission. The lands were I believe
given or distributed to the Indians by suertes or lots. Bishop Odin bought back
some of the suertes and the taxes of this land have been paid by the Church ever
since. The Church has been in possession of the Mission properties since 1 824 or
January 1825. Some of these facts may be seen in the deeds to Bishop Odin.
The state never excluded the rights of the occupants as has been averred, on the
contrary, it recognized their rights as is proved by the result of the law suits
gained by Bishop Odin in 1856. Mr. Altgelt knows a good deal about these
matters. He has in his possession a book which gives the history and laws re-
garding these lands and transactions.

"Who was San Antonio? He was St. Anthony of Padua, he was born in
the year 1195 and entered the Franciscan Order in 1221, he died June 13th 1231."

112 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Interviews with Dr. Cupples— 189O.

To Dr. Cupples thanks are due for many valuable hints and suggestions to
the compilation of this work. Was the editor at a loss to trace the date of any
particular happening of the earlier days after the Texan Declaration of
Independence, if Dr. Cupples could not give it out of his excellent memory, in
talking over the event, some old and apparently insignificant recollection would be
incidentally dropped that would be sure to lead to the elucidation of the point in
question. It is interesting to note how closely linked in one's memories are
stirring and momentous actions with the commonplaces of every day life. Once
was discovered the name of a man who had done some action worthy to be
forgotten, but which was not inconsequent to a more important event, by the
Doctor remembering that he had cured the man's brother of an extraordinary
gall stone. It is the evidence and aid of such witnesses as Dr. Cupples that the
historian even of modest pretensions knows how to value . Documentary evidence
is one thing in its strength and firmness, but that of the contemporary or eye
witness is another. A dear, musty-smelling, frayed, don't-touch-me-or-I-shall
fall-to-pieces kind of document, written all over with the rigmarole of other days
in quaint old-fashioned characters and signatures of familiar sounding names and
lots of dates, is indeed a treasure and invaluable in the eyes of a searcher. But
for that keen interest and enjoyment which is peculiar to triflers with the past,
there is nothing to compare with the excitement of hearing that of a truth, such a
man looked thus and another did that in this manner at such a moment, when
each actor's senses were strained and quivering, and the listener feels that the
emotions of men and facts in some momentous doings of the past are being recalled
with a vividness that no second hand or written evidence could array.

Dr. Cupples has seen, experienced and endured much in a long, active and
useful life, and to his taste for action he has brought the relish of a learned and
enlightened observation. The editor here wishes to acknowledge the value to
him of many comments by Dr. Cupples, upon notes of his prior to their final
preparation for the press.

" I note," said the Doctor, " the curious discrepancy and anachronism in the
fac simile drawings of those seals. You see this Royal seal dated 182o, sometime
after the secession of Mexico, is on the same document with a Mexican Govern-
ment seal of even an earlier date. My explanation would be that in the desire to
have the document legal at all hazards, it was thought best in that unsettled
period to make sure of having the right seal by using both. I don't know
that it was so, but it looks as if it were, does it not ?

' ' I think you should note that the original settlement of the Canary Islanders
was not around the Military and Main Plazas, as is commonly supposed ; that
was an after move. The first settlement was at the San Pedro Springs, between
the crossing on North Flores street and the head springs. They subsequently
removed to the location of those Plazas, concluding that it could be more easily
defended against the incursions of hostile tribes than the settlements at the
Springs. The Head of the San Pedro had always been a favorite watering place
of the Apaches and other hostiles of the hills to the north and northwest.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. CUPPLES. 113

' Yes, I remember many of the old erections around the enclosure of the
Plaza de Armas (Military Plaza). I knew the man Goodman, you speak of; I
remember him well, and the years of trouble he gave the city before he was finally
ousted from the property on the Plaza, just opposite where Kalteyer's drug store
is now was the location of the property he claimed. I remember he once came
near to killing Ed. Dwyer over that and other matters, that was the late Mr.
Dwyer's father, the present boys' grandfather. You say Juan Seguin* is still alive
at L/aredo — well, I shouldn't wonder ; he wouldn't be so very old. I knew his
father very well, Senor Erasmo Seguin, a perfect and courtly old Spanish
gentleman. Juan Seguin was Gefe Politico here in 1835 or '36, I believe. Grad-
ually, and piece by piece, the city acquired the properties that private citizens
claimed on the Plazas, and finally the whole space was cleared. The Bat Cave is
a remnant of these old properties and the store owned by the Russis and rented
by Dullnig, on the northeast corner of Military Plaza, was the last of all^the en-
closing buildings to disappear, in 1888. The Plaza de las Yslas or Main Plaza,
was similarly afflicted, but the city became possessed of all the Plaza, finally.
The Callaghan and Groesbeeck properties were the last to be improved off this
Plaza.

" That portion of the city around Market street from Main Plaza, was in ante-
Independence days about out of the thickly settled limits. It was called the
Potrero, or the place for horses, because that was where all the horses of those
who came to town were put for the night. L,ater, Manuel Yturri, probably the
grandfather of the present M. Yturri, (the Yturris' are a family from the Basque
Provinces, I believe) built a house on Market street, and — let me see — McGloin
lived there, too, the Empresario who settled up the San Patricio country. On the
west side of the Plaza de Armas in Spanish and Mexican times, the entries used
to be closed at nightfall by rawhides hung on chains tightly stretched across the
narrow roads. Behind these the settlers in the Plaza enclosure were safe from sur-
prises by Indians and their arrows. The rawhide was arrow-proof.

"And the 'Plaza House' was a prominent institution in its days. This
hostelry used to stand just about where the White Elephant was and Wolfson's.
It was the starting place of the stages to Seguin, Port Lavaca, Victoria and a
number of other places. It belonged to the late Mr. Billy Elliott's father, the
present boy's grandfather. It was a two-story building. It was there that old
Winchell tried hard to break his neck by falling from the upper gallery. Then
Alsbury had the house. I forget who was the last holder of the old place. The
Padre Garza House was another old landmark of which I have a lively recollection.

" I came here on April 27th, 1844, with Castro's Colony. Dr. Herff says he
finally settled in San Antonio in 1850. I think the Doctor is mistaken in the
year ; it must have been in 1849. I am pretty sure about that. Yes, I was in
the First Carlist War. I was Staff Assistant Surgeon to the British Legion in
Spain in 1836. Afterwards I went to Paris, where I met Castro and came here-
Without knowing it I located the present townsite of Castroville, and I cut the
first brush there for the first clearing. On account of the troubles with Mexico
and the hostile Indians, it was found impracticable to locate on the Colony's

*,Siuce this was written Juan Seguiu has died at New Laredo. It is alleged that he was over !W years of age.

114 SAN ANTONIO DK BEXAR.

chosen lands, so Castro bought a league of land, paying the sum of $2000 for it,
which he gave to the colonists ; but there were suits brought for the land,—
disputed title, — and finally the colonists had to pay for their lots at Castroville
twice over to two different claimants, to Illis and to another. Mrs. Cupples, my
wife, was a Miss Jaques. Mr. and Mrs. Jaques, her parents, were very old-timers
in Texas. They were intimate with Stephen F. Austin and many others of the
earlier settlers. My wife still possesses a watch which Austin gave Mr. Jaques as a
memento of his gratitude for aid rendered him in his escape from Mexico in 1835.
Mr. Jaques' house was burned by Vasquez in 1842, and again when Woll invested
the city he was placed under guard and would undoubtedly have been shot but for
the intervention of Colonel Carasco, of General Woll's staff, who pleaded for his
life. Colonel Carasco was friendly to Mr. Jaques because of some favor rendered.

"You spoke of the Recapitulation of the Indies," continued Dr. Cupples.
" Perhaps I can tell you something about that. It was a kind of code and record
of the Council of the Indies. This Council had its seat in Seville, I believe, and
its members were appointed by the Crown. It had control and direction of Spain's
Colonies in all parts of the world. Recognizing that water was a chief necessity
to the existence, not to say success, of a Colony, they devised exhaustive
regulations and laws concerning the preservation of water rights, the construction
of works of irrigation and the control of such water always to the best public
advantage and the division of Suertes of the Regadios to Regadors. The lot on
which this house stands" (the Doctor's residence on Soledad street) "is entitled
to so many hours of water daily from the San Pedro Acequia. It was formerly
considered to be an inalienable right of the property holder. How the city over-
ruled the privilege I cannot explain. The importance of land was formerly reck-
oned by the hours of water to which it was entitled. One of the rules in the Re-
capitulation was that navigable streams should have reserved for public needs, on
either bank, a strip of land twelve varas wide. The San Antonio River was con-
sidered to be in their sense a navigable stream, and the rule undoubtedly applied
to our River. Giraud was right as to this, but he lacked firmness. He was a
good man, and had he sufficiently insisted, perhaps the city would be able to-day
to boast of a remnant of a splendid possession. Giraud was one of the few who
saw the right of the matter clearly."

And now what a book might be written from the Doctor's recollection of
the know-nothing movement here, of the great war and of the famous Vigilance
Committee troubles. But as Mr. Kipling would say — that is another story.

INTERVIEW WITH DR. FERDINAND HERFF, SR. 115

An Interview with Dr. Ferdinand Herff, Senior,

May 19th, 189O.

Dr. Herff said, "I came for the first time to America in 1846. I was one
of a Socialistic Colony and Society founded by a number of young men of good
family and position for the purpose of emigrating to Wisconsin. Our Society
made some stir among certain circles, principally the upper in Germany.
A few years previous to the organization of our Society an Emigration Association
had been formed by a company of noblemen in Germany under the Presidency of
Boos-Waldeck. This company had partly purchased, partly obtained by
Empresario Grants a large tract of land near San Saba. Prince Solms was the
next subsequent president of this company and obtaining further land concessions
New Braunfels, named after Prince Solms' German home or castle, was founded.
Other presidents of this company were Meusebach and Spies. This Association
having heard of our Society and its intention of emigrating to Wisconsin made
overtures to us pointing out the advantages that Texas offered and asked us to
join them and settle in their territory. We agreed to do so if they could offer us a
sufficient number of inducements to make us change our minds, for while at that
date Wisconsin was well within the pale of civilization, Texas was a wild, rough and
dangerous region. We finally decided to change our destination to Texas. I landed
in New York in 1846. The railroad south only reached as far as Wheeling, Va.,
from whence we staged it to New Orleans and thence by water to Galveston and
from Galveston to Indianola which was then the western Texas Port, we arrived at
the latter place at the end of April 1847. I was one of the earlier arrivals of the Socie-
ty to which I belonged, the bulk of my associates came over in August, 1847. The
scheme in the end was not a success and in the course of a year or two I returned
to Germany and was there married and re-emigrated on my own account to San
Antonio with my wife, arriving at San Antonio early in April 1850, and I perma-
nently settled there. You see I had frequently been in this city, on visits, before
this time, but when I first came to Texas I was settled some two hundred miles
from here. Many of our old German citizens came to Texas in those years. All
sorts of people came under the auspices of these and similar Societies. Texas has
received its population from many sources, this was one and an important one.
Any one whom they could induce came. This Society expected to reap a profit
of course. Principally by Jetting out and selling at cheap rates alternate parcels
and sections of lands in their settlements and grants, but in the end it came to
little more than nothing and the company 'busted up' and the colonists for the
most part scattered.

Dr. Herff continued :

"Another important Colony was that of Castro which was one mostly French
or rather Alsatian. That was in the days when Alsace, you know, belonged to
France. If I remember correctly Dr. Cupples told me he came to Texas with this
Colony in 1844. I am not quite sure of these following facts but it is what I
think I remember him to have told me. Dr. Cupples was Staff Assistant Surgeon
to the British Auxiliary Legion which went to Spain during the first Carlist War
there in 1836. He afterwards returned to Paris — he speaks French fluently — it
was there I believe that he met Castro who induced him to emigrate to Texas.
Castroville was founded by this Colony in 1844, September 3rd.

116 SAN ANTONIO DH BEXAR.

An Interview with Mr. John Dobbin — 189O.

' ' Can you tell me when such and such an event happened ? " Is a question
that we have had occasion to ask of many an old timer. In the event he were at a
loss for the date we could be pretty sure of the answer to come. ' ' Now let me see, ' '
would be the meditative reply, " I have forgotten for the moment the date of that,
but," and with a smile of perfect satisfaction that the question was as good as
answered, ' ' I can tell you who knows more about that than any other man living,
just ask John Dobbin, he'll tell you all about it. ' ' And if we had not very recently
teased Mr. Dobbin about some other knotty question, to him we should go for our
information,, al way finding him a willing witness of the "golden days" and their
eventful hours. They were not alway golden, there was in these early days at
times a good deal of lead. But then, pioneer days are long gone by in Texas. If
some of our romantic northern friends could only be persuaded of this, there
would be less money wasted on "bulldogs" and "frontiers." These ideas are a
relic of stormier times, times when the Great West was being opened up, and
when all that vast territory was perhaps less quiet and law abiding than it ought
to have been. Such episodes as the one narrated here went out of fashion in
Texas earlier than in any other part of the wild west. It is an event of '57, and
since then it may be fairly said that Western Texas, and without doubt, San Antonio
has seen less of lynch law than any section of western country. Mr. Dobbin tells us
so and he has been in the best official positions to judge of the matter. This event
was the shooting of Bill Hart. Bill Hart was about one of the worst desperadoes
to whom Texas ever gave a home. According to all local tradition, " he was a
pretty bad man," — he was, — but 'de mortuis' — and the rest — we may speak of the
good work of the V. C.

" I had better write it down," said Mr. Dobbin, " I shall recall the circum-
stances more accurately," and forthwith the following graphic account was penned :

" Bill Hart was killed on the 29th day of May, 1857, and along with him his
companion Miller and a government teamster named Wood. Fieldstrop also was
killed. Fieldstrop was a discharged soldier and had been employed by the Vigi-
lance Committee to watch Hart and his party the night previous and when Hart
and his friend Miller, passed on their way down Mission street, they were fired
upon by Fieldstrop who had a doubled barreled gun. Miller was killed dead,
falling in the alley north of the Brewer house. Bill Hart, too, was mortally
wounded, his right wrist and left thigh broken, besides having eleven buckshot
wounds in the region of his kidney on the left side, nevertheless, such extraordi-
nary vitality he had that he reached the Brewer house where he took shelter from
his numerous enemies, Fieldstrop having reloaded his gun in Supervielle's
house (just behind where Wolf & Marx's store is now, on Alamo street) ap-
proached the Brewer house with the intention of giving Hart the coup de grace,
when WTood, the government teamster, before mentioned, came out of the door
and ordered Fieldstrop off, saying that Fieldstrop had done enough harm already,
also that he, Wood, was Bill's friend: "That is enough," replied Fieldstrop
raising his gun and firing, killing Wood instantly. At the same moment Hart
appeared at the other door supporting himself on an old shovel shaft, with a pistol

SENORA CANDELARIA. 117

in his left unwounded hand, the right wrist having been, as I say, shattered by
Fieldstrop's first shot. Immediately Fieldstrop's gun was aimed at Bill Hart's
breast, bat it snapped and missed fire. Hart then instantly fired at Fieldstrop,
shooting him fairly in the centre of the forehead. Hart then retired in a dying
condition into the back room of the house. At this crisis Tirh Taylor came up,
rushed into the house, his head and shoulders well down to lessen the risk of
bullets penetrating, they glance from the body quicker that way. Hart shot him
in the right breast as he entered the backroom. Taylor, however, got Hart by
the hair of the head and dragged him into the backyard, shooting him repeatedly
in the body. Then a horrible sight — everybody, the small street gamins even,
coming in at the death by the dozen, discharging their little pops into the dying
man, making a perfect lead mine of him. Yes, it was a terrible morning's work.
He might have richly deserved his fate, but believe me and I know of what I
speak, these matters are best settled by the law. "

Senora Candelaria.

On Saturday, March 17th 1888, St. Patrick's Day: I believe, I went with a
friend (who took his Photographic Camera along for he had the amatuer craze)

and Mr. — , who was an acquisition on account of his fluent knowledge

of the two languages, Spanish and English, to call on the old, very old, Senora
Candelaria. Our interview lasted for upwards of an hour and knowing but little

or nothing of Spanish myself I asked her through Mr. - a few questions

that I thought would elucidate what some deemed to be obscure pretentions. The
result of this and other later interviews are here given, and the reader must judge
for himself the value of the statements and evidence. She is at least a very old
and interesting person, lively and full of the recollection and reminiscences of
the men and the stirring times of the Texan Revolution.

I asked her was she inside the fortifications of the Alamo during the fight ?
She answered unhesitatingly "Yes." Was she in the Alamo Church building
during the last stand ? She replied as before without reflection that she was, in
those moments she was nursing Colonel James Bowie who was in bed very ill of
typhoid fever, and that as she was in the act of giving him a drink of water the
Mexican soldiery rushed in, wounding her in the chin — showing an old scar — and
killing Bowie in her arms. She demonstrated this scene in quite an active
fashion and showed us exactly how she was holding Bowie, her left arm around
his shoulders and a drinking cup in her right hand.

I next asked her what was done with the bodies of the Texans ? She said
all were cremated. With the bodies of the dead Mexicans ? All were cremated.
Were there many American families living in San Antonio then ? Some, but they
all fled or the men took refuge within the Alamo. Did she know Mrs. Dickinson ?
Yes, but not well. She adopted an expression of considerable repugnance at this
question, and said with some snap that Mrs. Dickinson hated Mexicans. Perhaps

118 SAN ANTONIO D£ B£XAR.

Mrs. Dickinson had some reason to do so ! I was particular to ask her about a
child of Mrs. Dickinson and she said that the husband of Mrs. Dickinson was
fighting as one of the defenders of the Alamo and that when he saw the cause was
lost he hastened down from the walls and took his son, a little child, and tied
him around his waist in front of him, got to the top of the wall at the front of the
Church and jumped dowrn among the fighting Mexicans below and both were
killed. This is very dramatic but it is not I believe elsewhere recorded. Being
anxious to know about the daughter of Mrs. Dickinson I asked her if she had not
heard that such a child had escaped the massacre with her mother. She believed
she said, that Mrs. Dickinson had taken a daughter with her in her flight, she
had been told so at any rate.

She said that she recollected David Crockett before the fight. But she could
not have known him well, for Crockett was only in San Antonio a few weeks
before he lost his life in the Alamo. The rest of the Texans she did not know so
well. Most of these men came to San Antonio just previous to the siege. She
did not know anything of Ben Milam who was killed in the Veramendi House at
the storming of San Antonio in December, 1835. She had not heard of him nor
was she aware that he was buried on Milam Square, and that there was a stone
to his memory there, though her house and jacal were almost within a stone
throw of the place.

I then asked her age. The old lady said one hundred years and three
months, holding out three very wrinkled fingers. Her hands were large for a
Mexican. She looked quite the age she said, or older, for that matter, great
deep ridges, wrinkles and furrows of skin on her face and hands as ' ' brown as is
the ribbed sea sand." She was almost toothless, very little hair of a light
yellowish color. Never suffered any sickness, quite active, alert and quick to
perceive and understand. A cigarette smoker. Her eyes she feared were
beginning to fail her ; they were rheumish with red circles underneath.

My friend next interviewed her with his camera and took two excellent
negatives in different positions. I then asked her a question upon a matter which
had puzzled me and which puzzles me still, though she had a ready answer to it
as she had for any other asked. She informed me that the water from the
Acequia was used constantly by the defenders of the Alamo during the siege. I
naturally asked why the besiegers did not cut off the water or divert it and so
distress those within ? She said the Indians at the Missions would not have
allowed this !

She remembered perfectly that there was a roof formerly to the Alamo Church
prior to the siege, but that it was destroyed during the siege by the cannonading.

She had given, when her memory was better, full depositions and statements
of all her recollections to Major Teel, and that he held the same. As to Mr.
Gentilz's picture that was compiled from her personal descriptions and recollec-
tions. It was very good : that it was an exact representation of the Alamo as it
was at the time of its fall, and that it gave a fair idea of the fight.

She mentioned Mr. John Twohig, saying that she knew him ' ' Como mis
manos," — "Like my hands," which is a favorite idiom of the old woman.
" Visitors come every day to see me to hear my story of the Alamo."

COIv. FORD'S MEMOIRS. 119

Returning to the subject of David Crockett, the old Sefiora said he was
one of the first to fall ; that he advanced from the Church building ' 'towards the
wall or rampart running from the end of the stockade, slowly and with great
deliberation, without arms, when suddenly a volley was fired by the Mexicans
causing him to fall forward on his face, dead."

She was quite anxious to remember everything. With reference to a man
whom many regard to be an imposter, and of whom no one has ever gleaned
anything authentic, Sefiora Candelaria said she could endorse him as another
child of the Alamo. She remembered his frightened condition during the
bombardment. " He clutched her dress as children do," trying to hide his face.

Such are her recollections ; the reader must make many allowances. So
long and active a life as hers must be crowded — more — overcrowded, and jumbled
with the multitude of things to remember.

On other occasions, in April of this year, I revisited her twice with a good
interpreter as a companion, and she said: "My maiden name was Andrea
Castanon. I was born on St. Andrew's day, in November, 1785, at L,aredo. I
am 105 years old. I have been twice married ; my first husband was Silberio
Flores y Abrigo ; my second was Candelario Villanueva, * but I am called
familiarly Sefiora Candelaria."

I may add that I read to my companions these interviews at the dates of our
visits. I wrote them from notes taken at the time upon arriving home, and my
companions subscribed to every particular.

* I find the following in the County Records.— ED.

" I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of Texas at the date of the Declaration of
Independence. That I did not leave the country during the Campaign of the spring of 1836 to avoid participation
in the War, and that I did not aid nor assist the Knemy ; that I have not previously received a title for my
quantum of land, and that I conceive myself to be justly entitled under the Constitution and laws to the
quantity for which I now apply. April 29th, 1837. CANDELARIO VILLANUEVA."

Col. Ford's Memoirs.

The Fighting of the Alamo.

The following description of the fall of the Alamo is from the memoirs of Col. Ford, a gentleman mentioned
many times in this work — a pioneer, an Indian fighter, a Texan. The information he gives is derived first hand
from informants he well knew:

In 1835 General Santa Anna overturned the republican form of government
in Mexico and violated the constitution of 1824. This instrument the colonists ot
Texas had sworn to support. He reduced the number of militia in each state or
Mexico to one for every five hundred inhabitants, and issued a decree to disarm
the remainder. The people of Texas though numbering less than 100,000, saw
the meaning and intent of these movements. They prepared for resistance. They
sent troops to invest San Antonio. It was surrendered by General Cos on Decem-
ber 10, 1835, to the Texans under General Edward Burleson.

The Texas troops were disbanded and went to their homes, except a small
force left in San Antonio, commanded by Colonel Neill. General Cos and his com-

120 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

mand moved in the direction of Laredo. They were paroled and promised not to
bear arms against Texas during the war.

The body known as the "Consultation" reassembled at San Felipe de Austin
November 1, 1835. They formulated a provisional government, elected Henry
Smith, governor ; James W. Robinson, lieutenant-governor ; Sam Houston, com-
mander-in-chief, and elected five of their members to remain and assist the gov
ernor in the discharge of his duties. The "Consultation" adjourned to meet at
Washington, on the Brazos, March 1, 1836. The five members remaining at San
Felipe de Austin took it upon themselves to control the governor and General
Houston. Deposed the governor, advocated the invasion of Mexico, appointed
officers to command, and had a large number of troops in the west where they
were beaten in detail.

Colonel Bowie aided General Houston in his efforts to concentrate the Texas
troops. He came to San Antonio, saw Colonel Neill, who soon after left, with a
view, as many affirm, to procure transportation to move the artillery and munitions
of war. He carried Deaf Smith with him. He left Colonel James Bowie in com-
mand. Bowie fell sick. In a few days Colonel Travis arrived and assumed com-
mand. Juan N. Seguin sent a cousin of his to Laredo with orders to report the
appearance of a force from Mexico of sufficient strength to invade Texas. He
returned and affirmed that General Santa Anna had crossed the Rio Grande with
an army. He forced General Cos and his men to violate their parole, and to take
service against the Texans.

When the report was made at San Antonio, the Texans refused to believe it.
They remained too near the town to learn what was transpiring outside. A sen-
tinel was placed in the church on the west side of the river. One day he reported
Mexican troops westward of the town. A man ascended to him and was unable to
see any armed men. The sentinel was accused of reporting falsely. Eventually
Travis ordered Dr. John Sutherland and J. W. Smith to go out on horseback and
ascertain the truth. They proceeded to the top of Prospect Hill, and found them-
selves within 150 yards of the Mexican army. They started back at a run. Suth-
erland's horse gathered mud on his feet, turned a somersault, crippled Sutherland
and broke his gun. Smith dismounted and relieved Sutherland. When they
reached town and reported all was in commotion. Travis marched the Texans to
the Alamo. On the way they found twenty or thirty beeves, which they drove into
the fort. All was activity now. The first thing was to place the building in a
position to stand the seige. That night they tore down a number of "jacales"
(huts) not far from the Alamo, and brought in the wood for cooking. Men were
told what part of the walls they were to defend. David Crockett and his twelve
brave Tennesseeans were allotted a conspicuous point to cover. Every man was
at his post and ready for duty. This is learned from Dr. Sutherland who wrote an
article on the fall of the Alamo, full of information. He was too badly hurt by the
fall of his horse to do good duty, and for that reason Col. Travis directed him to
proceed to Gonzales and procure reinforcements, a duty he performed properly and
promptly.

Gen. Santa Anna reached San Antonio February 22nd or 23rd. Two nights
previously he encamped on the Medina where he learned the Texans were attend-

COL. FORD'S MEMOIRS. 121

ing- a fandango. He formed the idea of reaching and attacking them before day-
light. He was encamped on both sides of the Medina. His ammunition wagons
were on the west bank. A rain had fallen and the river had risen suddenly and he
found it impossible to get ready. A norther was blowing. Under the circum-
stances he gave up the movement.

He was of the opinion that the Texians would occupy the Mission Concep-
cion. He said it afforded more facilities for defense by a small force than the
Alamo.

General Santa Anna's army numbered about 4,000. General Tolsa was
expected to arrive soon at the head of 2,000 men.

Dr. Sutherland mentions the sending of a couple of officers, under a white flag
to demand a surrender of the Alamo. Colonel Travis dispatched Major Morris
and Captain Martin to meet them. They had a conference on a foot-bridge just
above the present bridge on Commerce street. Colonel Travis answered by a cannon
shot.

General Santa Anna intended crossing the river below the Alamo, out of reach
of Colonel Travis' guns. He directed General Castrillon, with two companies of the
battalion of Matamoras, to gather timbers to make a bridge from houses on the
Alamo side. They were in reach of the rifles of the Texians. Within a few minutes
thirty of the Mexicans were killed. General Castrillon requested General Santa
Anna to order their withdrawal, if he wished to save their lives. They were
withdrawn at once.

The unequal contest wasjiow opened.

On the third day of March, Travis addressed a last appeal to the president ol
the convention at Washington on the Brazos. He said that "the blood red ban-
ners which waved on the church at Bexar and in the camp above him were tokens
that the war was one of vengeance against rebels." To a friend in Washington
county he wrote: "Take care of my little boy. If the country should be saved I
may make him a splendid fortune, but if the country should be lost and I should
perish, he will have nothing but the proud recollection that he is the son of a man
who died for his country."

On February 23rd Travis wrote to Fannin at Goliad, asking for assistance.
Fannin attempted to march to San Antonio on the 28th, but failed for want of trans-
portation. This was the last chance apparently available to aid the defenders of
the Alamo.

On March 3rd Tolsa reached San Antonio. General Santa Anna began to pre-
pare for the final assault on the Alamo. On the 5th day of March, Santa Anna
issued an order for an assault on the Alamo, naming the officers to take charge of
the four attacking columns, the columns to be in readiness at 4 o'clock a. m., and
to move at the sound of the bugle at the north battery, where he would be sta-
tioned.

Sergeant Becera thus describes the contest of March 6th, 1836:
"The troops under General Castrillon moved in silence. They reached the
fort, planted scaling ladders and commenced ascending, some mounted upon the

122 SAN ANTONIO DB BEXAR.

shoulders of others. A terrible fire belched from the interior. Men fell from the
scaling ladders by the score, many pierced through the head by balls, others felled
by clubbed guns. The dead and wounded covered the ground. After half an
hour of fierce conflict, after the sacrifice of many lives, the column of General Cas-
trillon succeeded in making a lodgment in the upper part of the Alamo to the
northeast. It was a sort of outwork. I think it is now used as a lot or a court-
yard. This seeming advantage was a mere prelude to the desperate struggle
which ensued. The doors of the Alamo building were barricaded by bags of sand
as high as the neck of a man; the windows also. On the top of the roofs of the
different apartments were rows of sandbags to cover the besieged.

"Our troops, inspired by success, continued the attack with energy and bold-
ness. The Texians fought like devils. It was at short range — muzzle to muzzle,
hand to hand, musket and rifle, bayonet and bowie knife — all were mingled in con-
fusion. Here a squad of Mexicans, there a Texian or two. The crash of fire arms
the shouts of defiance, the cries of the dying and the wounded, made a din almost
infernal. The Texians defended desperately every inch of the fort — overpowered
by numbers they would be forced to abandon a room. They would rally in the
next, and defend it until further resistance became impossible.

"General Tolsa's command forced an entrance at the door of the church
building. He met the same determined resistance without and within. He won
by force of numbers and a great sacrifice of life.

"There was a long room on the ground floor. It was darkened. Here the
fight was bloody. It proved to be the hospital. A detachment of which I had
command had captured a piece of artillery. It was placed near the door of the
hospital, doubly charged with grape and canister, and fired twice. We entered
and found the corpses of fifteen Texians. On the outside we afterward found
forty-two dead Mexicans.

"On the top of the church building I saw eleven Texians. They had some
small pieces of artillery and were firing on the cavalry and on those engaged in
making the escalade. Their ammunition was exhausted and they were loading
with pieces of iron and nails. The captured piece was placed in a position to
reach them, doubly charged, and fired with so much effect that they ceased work-
ing their pieces." * * * * * *

Sergeant Becera was of opinion that the two last men killed were Travis
and Crockett, though he admitted he did not know them personally and might be
mistaken as to their identity.

The Alamo, as has been stated, was entered at daylight; the fight did not
cease till 9 o'clock.

"General Santa Anna directed Colonel Mora to send out his cavalry to bring
in wood. He ordered that they should make prisoners of all the inhabitants they
might meet, and force them to pack wood to the Alamo. In this manner a large
quantity of wood was collected. A large pile was raised. It consisted of layers
of wood and layers of corpses of Texians. It was set on fire. The bodies of those
brave men who fell fighting that morning, as men have seldom fought, were
reduced to ashes before the sun was set. It was a melancholy spectacle."

COL. FORD'S MEMOIRS. 123

Don Lino Ruiz, a respectable Mexican of Brownsville, claimed to have been
one of the men compelled to pack wood on that occasion. * * *

Mr. Nagle, an Englishman, inscribed their names on a stone of the Alamo.
It has an inscription: "Thermopylae had her messenger of defeat, but the Alamo
had none." That memorial is at Austin.

The number of Texians who fell cannot be accurately ascertained. Dr.
Sutherland placed it at 172. About twenty Mexicans joined them. But four of
these remained to be massacred.

Eight or ten Mexican ladies were in the Alamo when it fell. Mrs. Als-
bury, an adopted daughter of Governor Veramendi and her little sister, Sefioras
Candelaria, Losoyo and others were present at the end of the siege. Seiiora
Candelaria was nursing Bowie, sick of typhoid fever. She says she raised
his head to give him water, when the Mexican soldiers came in bayoneted him
and gave her a wound in the face. Mrs. Alsbury told Mrs. Maverick that the
Mexican soldiers hoisted Colonel Bowie's body on their bayonets until the blood
covered their clothes. A Mexican colonel rushed to them and stopped them.

Sergeant Becera thus speaks of the Mexican loss and is corroborated by Dr.
Sutherland:

"There was an order to gather our own dead and wounded. It was a fear-
ful sight. Our lifeless soldiers covered the ground surrounding the Alamo. They
were heaped inside the fortress. Blood and brains covered the earth, the floor,
and had spattered the walls. The ghastly faces of our comrades met our gaze.
We removed the bodies with- despondent hearts. Our loss in front of the Alamo
was represented at two thousand killed, and more than three hundred wounded.
The killed were generally struck on the head. The wounds were generally in the
neck or shoulders, seldom below that. The firing of the beseiged was fearfully
precise. When a Texas rifle was leveled at a Mexican he was considered as
good as dead. All this indicates the dauntless bravery and the cool self-posses-
sion of the men who were engaged in a hopeless conflict with an enemy number-
ing more than twenty to one. They inflicted on us a loss ten times greater than
they sustained. The victory of the Alamo was dearly bought. Indeed the price
in the end was well nigh the ruin of Mexico."

124

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The Alamo Monument. *

FROM coi,. FORD'S MEMOIRS.

The monument of the Alamo at Austin, has Travis on the South front,
Bowie on the East front, Crockett on the North front and Bonham on the West

front. Beneath these, inscribed on the North and South fronts, by Mr. Nagle,
are the following names :

M. Autrey, J. E. Garwin, Nelson,

R. Alleu, Gillmore, Wm. G. Nelson,

M. Andress, Hutchason C. Ostiner,

Ayers, S. Hollaway, Pelone,

Anderson, Harrison, C. Parker,

W. Blazeby, Hieskell, N. Pollard,

J. B. Bournan, J. Hayes, G. Paggan,

Baker, Horrell, McQuerry,

S. C. Blair, Harris. S. Robinson,

Blair, Haiikins, Reddenson,

Brown, J. Holland, N. Rough,

Bowin, W. Hersie, Rusk.

Balentine, Ingram, Robbius,

J. J. Baugh, John W. Smith,

Burnell, J. Jones, Sears,

J. Butler, L, Johnson, C. Smith,

J. Baker. C. B Jamison, Stockton,

Burns, W. Johnson, Stewart,

Bailey, T. Jackson, A. Smith,

J. Beard, D.Jackson, J. C. Smith,

Baliess, Jackson, Sewall,

Bourne, G. Kemble, A. Smith,

R. Cunningham, A. Kent, Simpson,

J. Clark, W. King, R. Star.

J. Cane, Kenney, Starn,

Cloud, J. Kenny, N. Sutherland,

S. Crawford, Lewis, W. Summers,

Cary W. Linn, J. Summerline

W. Cummings, Lanio, Thompson,

R. Crossman, W. Lightfoot, Tomlinson,

Cockran, Win. Lightfoot, E. Taylor, )

G. Cottle, G. W. Lynn, G. Taylor, I Bros.

S. Dust, Lewis, J. Taylor, J

J. Dillard, • J. Lonly, W. Taylor,

A. Dickinson, W. Mills, Thornton,

C. Despalier, Micheson, Thomas,

L. Davell, E. T, Mitchell, J. M. Thruston,

J. C. Day, E. Melton, Valentine.

J. Dickens, McGregor, Williamson,

Devault, T. Miller, J. L. Wilson,

W Deadruff, J. McCoy, Warner,

J. Erving, E. Morton, D. Wilson,

T. R. Evans, R. Mussalman, Walsh,

D. Floyd, Millsop, Washington,
J. Flanders, R. B. Moore, W. Wells,
W. Fishpaugh, W. Marshall, C. Wright,
Forsythe, Moore, R. White,

G. Fuga, R. McKenney, J. Washington,

J. C. Goodrich, McCaferty, ' T. Waters,

J. George. J. McGee, Warnall,

J. Gaston, G. W. Main, J. White,

J. C. Garrett, G. Nelson, D. Wilson,

C. Grimes, Nelson, J. Wilson,

Groyn, J. Noland. A. Wolf.

To these Mrs. Candelaria adds the following Mexicans:

Jose Marera Cabrera, Tula, Mexico. Jose Maria Jimenes, Mexico.

EHjio or Elias Losoya, San Antonio. — Jacinto, from the coast of Texas.

These make 170 slain. Dr. Sutherland stated 172.

* It is also designed to rear a shaft 111 the centre of Alamo Plaza, to commemorate, in marble or in granite,
the incidents of the fight of the Alamo, and of other contests of the revolution against Mexico; the ground
for this monument has already been set aside by the city council of San Antonio.

THE COUNTY RECORDS. 125

The County Records.

The expression "hunting it up in the records" is an apt phrase. It must
have been coined by a man who could appreciate the similarity of the keen feel-
ing of the chase with that ardor that an elusive fact arouses in one when it is traced
and followed from document to document until — ping ! and you have it on the
point of your Faber. It is almost like the pig sticking of India — for ' 'facts are stub-
born things." Many an enjoyable ' 'run" has been made in the County Vault, with
what measure of success we leave the reader and critic to judge. If our bag is
not full and we fail to obtain a mede of admiration for good sport, we still have
the relish of the pursuit, not to speak of the remembrance of the encouragement
and help that has ever generously been accorded by that Nimrod of the records,
Mr. Thad. Smith. To him our thanks are due for many a hint. His aid was found
invaluable. His intimate knowledge of the vast amount of writing stowed
away enabled us to take many a short cut. The task we set ourselves is all but
completed and space only allows of the merest mention of so much that would
make the most interesting reading if intelligently edited and compiled. Suffice
it to say that there is material enough and to spare to weave either history or
romance interminable. Romance of real events and life, stranger than the
strangest fiction. Deeds, documents, proclamations, letters, wills, statements,
dispatches, grants and agreements, in fine every form of documentary evidence
relating to the doings of Bexar and its restless children for a hundred and fifty
years.

Here, a document relating to deep water on the coast — not by any means a
new question it appears for it speaks of the exploration of Matagorda and Aran-
zuzu Bays, by the Conde de Galvez in 1690, one expedition going by land and
another by sea, when it was reported among other things that "the port of Mata-
gorda has a good depth." Again, in June, 1804 an expedition went forth to
explore, and the explorers had to anchor, we are told, for three days in Espiritu
Santo bay. Other papers endorsed "Geographical" are doubtless of historical inter-
est. Here, are papers relating to the partition of the Mission Concepcion lands,
with the names, sexes and condition of the recipients, dated A. D. 1786.

The next paper is a description of a disastrous flood of the San Antonio river
and ditches which destroyed much property, with a list of drowning casualties,
July 5th, 1819. Following is a royal decree making vaccination compulsory,
dated May 20th 1804. Another census of the Missions. Decrees of Coahuila
and Texas, 1808. Census of the Alamo, Dec. 31st, 1808. City ordinances 1827-28.
Boundaries of Texas. Anglo-Americans and their doings. Description of jail
and barracks built by Ripperda in 1773. Then an intensely interesting letter
from Antonio Morales, from New Orleans just after the battle in 1815, concern-
ing the pirates of the gulf coast and the part they took in the fight. Ordinances
of La Villa Capital de San Fernando founded November 28th, 1730 by Antonio
de Aviles, or rather the growing settlement was then erected into a Royal
Presidio. Large numbers of military papers, rosters and rolls of the Spanish
armies. Papers relating to American colonists and their " uprisings" — prisoners
of war.

126 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

This is only a partial list of the historical evidence accumulated in the county
vault. It is sufficient to show that there is much material for an ambitious local
historian.

MEM. — In the County Records may be seen a power of attorney to Domingo Bustillo from James Bowie, to
administer James Bowie's properly and the property belonging to James Bowie's deceased wife, Ursula de Vera-
mendi, during his, the said James Bowie's absence from San Antonio, Dated June 29th, 1834.

MEM. — The Saints are usually spoken of in the documents as "Sefior San Jose, etc."

The Founding of the Town of San Fernando

By the Canary Island Settlers, 173O-31.

On pages 293 et seq., of the work "Apuntes para la Historia Antigua de Coa-
huila y Texas," por Esteban L,. Portillo, already mentioned in a note appended to
the plan of Mission Concepcion, are some interesting passages of earliest San Anto-
nio history. The author, Portillo, gives at length a document which he says is
to be found in the City Records of Saltillo conceining certain aid and assistance
rendered by Don Mathias de Aguirre to the sixteen families of Canary Island
emigrants when on their way through Saltillo to the Presidio of San Antonio de
Bexar. The document as it stands is not quite lucid, at least not from the modern
reader's point of view. It requires some explanation here and there, and the edi-
tor regrets that for the present he is unable to inspect the original document,
to see if there is not "more to it." For instance, these sixteen Canary Island fam-
ilies, numbering, as the document avers, fifty-six persons, arrived in San Antonio
according to accepted history and tradition, on November 28th, 1730, and here
apparently, are fifteen persons representing sixteen families, four of whom rep-
resent one family of themselves, * already (Jan. 29th, 1731), back in Saltillo,
witnessing to this voucher of substance delivered to them, all in order that
Don Mathias de Aguirre may be paid. Are we to suppose that these men
made the long weary journey back to Saltillo just for this purpose and noth-
ing more, or was Saltillo the early trading post of this new Texas Territory and
did they visit Saltillo for these two or more purposes? The reader must answer
for himself this and other questions that will naturally arise upon the perusal of
the following most interesting matter :

The author E. L. Portillo says :

" By a Royal decree of 10th May, 1723, the King of Spain ordered that four
hundred families from the Canary Islands should emigrate (pasaran) to populate
Texas.

"I think it opportune that the names of the founders of Bexar should be
known, after having remained forgotten for so many years. In an official docu-
ment existing in the Archives of the Town Hall of this cityf is to be found a
valuable record leading back to the year 1731."

*This reads something like one of those equations in Algebra with which the good Bishop Colenso used to
puzzle us. —

f Saltillo, Mexico.

THE FOUNDING OF THE TOWN OF SAN FERNANDO. 127

Iii the town of Santiago del Saltillo de la Nueva Vizcaia, on the twenty-ninth of January,
1731, appeared present before me the Notary Public and the undersigned witnesses :

Juan Leal Goraz, Juan Leal the boy, Antonio Santos, Salvador Rodriguez, Josephe
Cabrera, Manuel de Niz, Francisco Arocha, Vicente Alvarez, Juan Delgado, Marino Melano,
Juan Curbelo, and Phelipe Perez, Josephe Antonio, Martin Lorenzo, Ignacio Lorenzo.
These last four comprise one family. They are sixteen families, although the Derrotero
counted but fifteen. It was resolved here by Captain Don Mathias de Aguirre, at the request
of the above named parties, to adjust (or regulate) for sixteen families, numbering altogether
fifty-six persons, and these families declared that having presented and represented in writing
to Captain Mathias de Aguirre that they came without provisions of any kind and were with
neither mules nor horses, as stated to his Honour (or to his Worship) and proved by the fact
that the horses they had exchanged were unable to continue the journey, and the mules had
been returned to their owners ; that in order that they might be enabled to continue the
journey to the Presidio of San Antonio de Vejar* they were given what was most convenient
and necessary, namely : Eighty-six horses, as stated in detail in the account of the repartition
that was made to each one of the families ; also, seventy-seven mules loaded with provisions
for their maintenance during the journey from this town to San Antonio; also, twenty-seven
mules moreover to carry biscuit, meat and everything needed and necessary ; also, four mules
employed to carry four panier loads (cargas de arganas), making in all the number alluded
to, seventy-seven f mules. Also, sixteen }-okes of oxen. But His Excellency ordered Captain
Don Mathias de Aguirre to give only fifteen yokes, yet there was added one yoke for the four
single men who make up a family, adding to said yoke the necessary ploughshare, an axe and
a pickaxe. In the same manner they declared having received from the said Captain sixteen
metatesj with their grinding stones, as His Excellency had ordered the said Captain. And
they said that the said Captain had delivered faithfully and without fault in the said Presidio
de San Antonio de Bejar the sixteen yokes of oxen. All of which contained in aforesaid
arrived as expressed (or stated). They confessed and acknowledged to have received con-
formably all the above-mentioned, remaining satisfied, renouncing the laws of the delivered
(las leyes de la ciilrega) and the proof of the receipt contained in them. Leaving the payment
of the amount to the will and convenience of His Excellency the Viceroy, Governor and Cap-
tain General of this New Spain, which amount the said Don Mathias de Aguirre will give in
detail to the officials of the Royal Treasury in the City of Mexico, and to his Attorney, in
order that he be paid the sum that would be equivalent to the above named in conformity with
that which His Excellency would be pleased to determine and order to be executed, and in
order that all agreed upon remain as expressed in the above named contents, they signed it,
the witnesses being

Joseph Ramon Ramos, Diego de los Santos and Augustin de Imenarrieta, present, and
neighbors of this said town, and who signed it at the request of those who could not sign, and
those that could sign for themselves before me, the present Notary, I certify

Juan Leal Goraz, Francisco Arocha, Bisente Alvarez, Francisco Antonio Santos Juan Del-
gado, at request of Juan Curbelo, Manuel de Niz, Juan Leal the boy, Josephe Cabrera, Salvador
Rodriguez, Josephe Padron, and the four that comprised the extra family ; and for the widows
Maria Rodriguez and Maria Meleano. (Witnesses) Diego de los Santos, Josephe Ramon Ramos,
Augustin Imenarrieta. Before me, JUAN SANCHEZ DE TAGLE,

Royal Notary Public and of the Corporation. ||

"At that epoch the Marquis of Casa Fuerte was Governor in New Spain, it
was he who ordered General Don Mathias de Aguirre to provide the settlers of
San Antonio de Bejar with necessaries to enable them to continue their expedi-
tion to the said Presidio.

*The various spellings of Bexar are indicative of the plasticity of Spanish pronunciation.

t The translation is not at fault, but there seems to be an error here in addition on the part of some one,

I The Mexican hand-mill for crushing grain.

|; Cabildo.

128

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

"General Aguirre died before the Viceregal Government had paid him the
value of the animals and provisions that he had furnished from his own resources.
For this reason Sefiora Ana Maria de Almandos, wife of the defunct Aguirre exe-
cuted a power in Saltillo on the first of October, of the year 1732, before the Pub-
lic Notary Dn. Juan Sanchez de Tagle, in favor of Dn. Fernando de Ugarte, of
the vicinity of the Capital of Mexico, in order to attend before the Viceroy to the
payment which was due her defunct husband.

"The four hundred families, that the King had ordered to be transported to
Texas instead of having been sent direct to that province, were disembarked at the
Port of Vera Cruz so that they might arrive at their destination overland, and we
see that only sixteen families arrived in Bexar and they were the founders of San
Fernando contiguous to the Mission of San Antonio."

UNIVERSITY

Historical, Statistical and Interesting Dates of, and
Relating to the City of San Antonio.

JANUARY.

First prominent settlement near the head of the vSan
Antonio River, 1692.

The first charter was granted to San Antonio by the
King of Spain in 1733 or 1734.

La Salle landed about this time on the Texas coast , . . . 1B85

Edward King writes "A Visit to San Antonio," A sketch for Scribner's Magazine

for January 18T4

Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express opens here for the Sunset Road 1883

The Puebla of San Antonio de Valero is aggregated to the curacy of the town of San

Fernando and Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar \^l 93

Sam Houston comes to San Antonio for the first time about this date in company

with James Bowie 1833

One hundred men of the Third Michigan Cavalry arrested for mutiny 1866

Mr. W. G. Tobin shows his great skill as a pistol marksman by shooting an apple, at
a distance of thirty feet, off the head of Thomson Green of New York, at a shoot-
ing gallery here 1858

East Commerce Street Railroad is begun . 1884

San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad gets to Floresville 1886

An Act to incorporate the town of Nacogdoches and other towns (in which is in-
cluded San Antonio) herein named, by the Republic of Texas (2nd document) . .183*7

130 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

First meeting of San Antonio Literary Association 1860

Kalteyer's drug store about completed 1872

First passenger and mail train goes out to Floresville 1886

Umbrella China Trees are introduced by Mr. C. L. Lege, Senior. He plants two on
North Flores street as an experiment. Nearly all San Antonio Umbrella China
trees have been propagated from these two (are still standing, 1890) 1863

The German English School has 265 pupils 1870

We have a pretty cold spell, but the thermometer reads 11° above Zero 1886

General Winfield Scott Hancock is received at the Post 1884

Wild Turkeys are so plentiful in the market as to be a drug at 15 and 20 cents a piece. 1878
We get a small snowstorm J 886

La Salle still in Texas. See March 30 1687

Sunset Road makes connection with the Southern Pacific, 247 miles West of San

Antonio, 400 miles East of El Paso. A silver spike is driven at the meeting . . . 1883

Sam Houston is mentioned for President of the United States 1860

Act of Incorporation of the City of San Antonio (5th document) 1842

"Uncle Billy" Lytle an old Texan veteran dies 1878

Two men in a boat are descending the San Antonio River to the sea. They started

on January i3th 1886

Haas & Oppenheimer's Store begun on Main St 1883

Moses Austin obtains the first colonist Empresario grants 1821

The Casino on Market St. opened with a German performance 1858

Contract is let for the completion of the Court House on Soledad St 1883

Wolfson buys the "White Elephant" • • 1886

THE MONTH OF JANUARY. 131

General Robert E. Lee's birthday ......................... 18O6

First issue of the "Evening Light" (continuation of the "Surprise. See April 3rd) . 1881

Ben Thompson is acquitted by the Jury of murder, in the District Court

First ground broken for the laying of Mesquite blocks on Alamo Plaza ....... 1889

First stone street crossings are made ........................ 18*78

The wet weather interrupts for some weeks the laying of Mesquite Blocks and the

improvements on Alamo Plaza ....... ................. 1889

An Act to incorporate the City of San Antonio was voted upon and rejected by the

people (sixth document) ....................... t ..... 1852

Buffalo hides and meat from the frontier. (See May 24) ............. 1877

The "Military Headquarters" now the Maverick Hotel, are completed ......... 1878

Supplementary Act to act of Incorporation of San Antonio (fourth ducnment) . . . -1839

The building of St. Mark's Episcopal Church is completed. (See April 25th) . . . -1875

Foundation of San Antonio Water Works pump house made ............ 1878

The first Railroad train crosses the Brazos on the Texas and Central Road ..... 1861
A County election for the Pierce Railroad subsidy of $300,000. County vote polled
2694. Vote required 2636. 58 Majority. This vote procured the Sunset Road for
San Antonio ................................. 1876

The Alamo Literary Society adopts a plan for a Hall to be erected on the large lot

given by Mr. S. A. Maverick for that purpose on Houston St ......... '-1872

This Hall was never finished, it was afterwards used as a wholesale commission store
and wras burned out. In the meanwhile it was transferred to J. H. Kampman.
Four handsome stores were erected on this lot in March, 1890 ..........

The Menger Hotel is hospitably opened ...................... 1859

Judge Noonan's special court is dispersed by Kickapoo Indians at Uvalde ..... 1869

Quartermaster's depot buildings at the Post are completed ........ • .... 1878

Callaghan is first elected Mayor of San Antonio ................ • • 1885

132

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

FEBRUARY.

Santa Anna starts from Saltillo with six thousand men to invade Texas 1836

First English Cricket Club established 1873

Travis in San Antonio 1836

First R. R. train conies from San Francisco to San Antonio on the Southern Pacific

Route. (See February 6) 1883

Alteration to "Headquarters" building otherwise Maverick Hotel begun. (See

September 15, 1877 and April n, 1883.) 1882

C. Elmendorf, a prominent New Braunfels immigrant of '44 dies in San Antonio . 1878
Very cold and very slippery with ice. Telephone wires and trees break with the

burden of ice caused by the wet norther from the 4th to the 6th 1883

Mr. Morton introduces a bill into the Senate to constitute San Antonio a ''Port of

Delivery" 1868

First R. R. train leaves San Antonio with U. S. Officers as passengers for New York

on the Sunset or G. H. & S. A. R. R 1877

E. H. Terrell, U. S. minister to Belguim (1890) is nominated for Mayor of S. A. but

Callaghan is elected on February i4th 1887

Texas volunteers elect John S. Ford, (Col. Rip.) Edward Burleson and F. L. Paschal

as officers 1858

First Waterworks Mains are laid on Avenue C, in 1878

Military Headquarters are moved to the buuilding now the Maverick Hotel on Houston

Street 1878

First through freight train on Southern Pacific R. R. passes San Antonio on the

way to New Orleans 1883

"'Uncle Jack" Leslie, Texas veteran, dies 1885

THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY. 133

First freight train on Railroad construction work arrives at San Antonio depot (Sunset). 1877
James P. Newcomb appointed Postmaster 1883

A remarkable political illustration published in the S. A. Kxpress, drawn by an Artist

Iwonski 1868

Banquet given in honor of 25th anniversary of fire company No. i 1883

First appearance of Lawrence Barrett in San Antonio 1883

First Jail Guard House and Military Quarters erected under Baron Ripperda on the

Military Plaza (old document in County records) 1773

Mexican Royalists are defeated at Goliad and return to San Antonio 1813

J. D. Logan, the founder of the first daily paper in Texas, "San Antonio Herald" diesl878

Maverick Ranch fence, on Bandera Road, cut 1885

Frank Scott sent to the Penitentiary for life for the murder of Frank Harris, this is

one of the final chapters in the frightful Robber Cave incidents 1887

Carl Schurz lectures at the Casino 1885

Joseph Jefferson says he will not come to San Antonio because there is no Railway.

(See. April nth, 1888) , 1872

Supplementary act to supt. act to San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad approved -1854

Supplementary act to San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad enacted 1852

Sunset Road really reaches San Antonio, i. e. first freight for business men received

this day. J. H. Kampmann receiving a carload of lumber 1877

Two new bridges on Navarro Street tested 1879

Annexation of Texas to the United States consummated 1846

Government property surrendered by General Twiggs at San Antonio to the Secession

Convention Commissioners I860

The old Conception Ditch abandoned on Pagalda Street and the Mill Dam subse-
quently lowered 18 69

Resolution adopted in the City Council to donate forty acres to the General Govern-
ment for army purposes in the eastern portion of the City, on the site of the
Government corral, near the present site of the Post • • • • • 1 8 7 O

International Railroad arrives at last. First passenger trains arrive and depart . . -1881

134 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Band of Lipan Indians only nine miles from San Antonio, on the Castroville Road,
try to stampede a bunch of mules in charge of a Mexican who holds on to the
bell mule. The Indians fail and shoot a mare with arrows, the arrows were

afterwards gathered by Mr. Froboese and handed to Gen. Carleton 187O

Government takes possession of the Mexican Gulf Railroad 1870

Edwin Booth, the actor, here again 1888

Dr. J. H. Bernard, one of Fannin's men, who was spared at the Goliad massacre, be-
cause of his necessity to the Mexican wounded, revisits San Antonio and finds
"all the old landmarks vanishing" 1860

Major James Longstreet in San Antonio on his way East "to the States" 1858

Torch light procession, 8,000 strong, in honor of the arrival of the Sunset, first Rail-
road for San Antonio 1877

Paul \VagnerbeginshisnewstoreonCommerce Street 1879

San Antonio and Aransas Pass Engineers make one more start for the Gulf 1885

Supt. act to supt. act to supt. act of S. A. & Mexican Gulf Railroad 1856

Indians kill a woman and children in Bandera County 187O

Contract let for Bexar County new jail. Work begun February 2yth 1878

Colonel Robert E. Lee, Lieutenant Colonel of 2nd regiment of cavalry arrives at

San Antonio to take charge of the Department of Texas I860

Honore Grenet dies 1882

Marshall Hal. Gosling shot and instantly killed on the train at New Braunfels by
Pitts and Yeager. Pitts and Mrs. Downes are killed. Rosa Yeager and Charles
Yeager are wounded. Yeager jumps with Pitts from the train, train going at
forty miles an hour, Yeager mashes with a stone Pitts' dead hand and escapes.
Deputy Marshall Manning, who had made a brave fight almost alone, is wounded
in five places 1885

Santa Anna's advanced troops arrive in San Antonio 1836

Travis retires with 150 men to the Alamo 1836

J. S. Friend advertises for two children stolen by Indians in Llano County 1868

A meeting called to consider the advisability of petitioning U. S. Congress to divide

Texas into two States, East and West Texas 1868

Yeager is captured after an exciting trail 1885

Large excursion trains are now constantly coming in from New England on their way

West 1887

The Texans in the Alamo are summoned by Santa Anna to surrender, he is answered

by a cannon shot 1836

Adams and Wicks' wagon master is killed by the Indians near Fort Mason 187O

The County withdraws from the agreement to build a joint City and County Hall . . ] 888

THE MONTH OF MARCH.

135

The Dreiss building on Alamo Plaza is completed. ... 1878

Sarah Bernhardt passes through on her way East from Mexico 1887

Clock tower on the Convent erected 1868

First Odd Fellows' Hall on Houston Street dedicated. (Rebuilt 1889-90) 1878

Work on San Antonio's first Street Railroad begun to-day from San Pedro Springs to

corner of Alamo Plaza 1878

Yoakum, in his History of Texas, says, funeral honors were accorded the ashes of
the heroes of the Alamo. "The dead had been burnt in three piles. The ashes
were collected and placed in a neat black coffin, and interred by Juan Seguin by

order of the General in Chief." 1837

Turner Hall on Houston Street is begun 1879

Edwin Booth at the Opera House 1887

Colonel R. E. Lee is ordered to follow Cortinas into Mexico if necessary 1860

It is decided to enlarge the Casino 1877

Corner stone of the first Presbyterian Church (corner of Flores and Houston Streets)

is laid with much religious ceremony 1860

A committee on Public Improvements reports favorably on the planting of trees in

Main Plaza __ 1870

MARCH.

Texas Annexation Bill signed by U. S. President Tyler 1845

Marshal Hal. Gosling receives the reward of $9730 for the capture of Polk, the ab-
sconding Tennessee treasurer 1883

136 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Sam Houston born 1*793

Royalists defeated here. Fourteen Royalist officers killed and the Republicans enter

San Antonio 1813

Declaration of Texan Independence 1836

Capt. J. W. Smith arrives at the Alamo with thirty men from Gonzales 1836

Moody and Sankey here 1886

Col. Travis ''draws the line" in the Alamo •. „ • 1836

Bonham returns to the Alamo, having been sent out with a last express message to

Fannin 1836

Fitzhugh L,ee lectures at the Casino on the Battle of Chancellorsville 1883

The old "Jack Harris" and "Vaudeville" corner is burnt out 1886

Siege of the Alamo 1836

Amendments to the City Charter (twelfth document) 1885

Foundation of the Concepcion Mission

It is completed

Mission of San Jose completed

San Juan and Espada Missions begun

First district court held at the New Court House on Soledad street

Fall of the Alamo, Sunday morning . . 1836

Death of Travis, ]

Bowie, I and about 170 others.

Crockett, J

Vasquez, with 700 Mexicans, takes possession of San Antonio. Shew of authority on

the p;irt of Mexico 1842

L. Uhjazzi, a Hungarian patriot of Kossulh's party, shoots himself here at the age of

almost 80 years 1870

Wolfson makes additions to his store 1880 antl 1883

The Government accepts a contract for the erection of the new Federal Building and

Post Office 1888

Fin-t fight at the Mission Refugio (see March 10 and 11) 1836

The Mexicans under Vasquez retire from San Antonio after two days' occupation . . . 1842

Retreat of Houston from Gonzales 1836

Second battle of Mission Refugio, Mexicans worsted (see March 11) 1836

Retreat from Refugio 1836

General Sherman in San Antonio 1882

Ben Thompson and King Fisher shot and killed at Vaudeville theatre, Joe Forster

wounded in the same scrape 1884

J. T. Raymond at the Opera House 1887

THE MONTH OF MARCH. 137

Groos' Bank and Store begun 1879

La Salle killed by his men (see March 30) 1687

First telephone wire erected in San Antonio from City office of Water Works to the

office at the head of the River -1878

The building of Alameda block begun 1882

Phil. Sheridan is here again. From Laredo this time 1883

Governor Davis is given a reception at the Menger Hotel 1870

Population of San Antonio is estimated to be between ten and twelve thousand . . . I860

U. Lott elected President of the S. A. & A. P. R, R 1885

T. J. Devine, a much respected old citizen of San Antonio, having occupied many
high public offices, came to San Antonio in 1843, identified with nearly all the
best interests of the city, dies at the age of 78 1890

Battle of Coleta Creek, where the Texans under Fannin gain the advantage 1836

Big overflow of the river. A man named Tannenberg is drowned on Commerce Street

bridge. Two children of Mr. Staarke are drowned the same day 1865

John Twohig lays the foundation stone of his wall on St. Mary's Street 1869

Fannin surrenders to Urea at Coleta Creek 1836

Telephone system is about to be established • • • 1881

A bloody battle with Comanche Indians on the Main and Military Plazas ; 37 Indians
killed, 7 whites killed. Mrs. M. A. Maverick was an eye witness of this battle
from a place of vantage in the original Maverick Home at the corner of Main
Street and Soledad Street 1840

A party on an outing start from the Head of the River in a boat, after many difficulties

arrive in the city by nightfall 1870

A similar feat was performed by John and Joseph Weber (see January 15, '86) .... 1858

Nolan is defeated and killed by Mexicans 18O1

Josh Billings is in San Antonio 1878

Joe Forster dies of a wound received in the Vaudeville shooting scrape of March llth 1884

13<S SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

No. 1 of the Weekly San Antonio Herald appears 1854-

No. 1 of the Daily San Antonio Herald, the oldest Texas daily newspaper, appears . . 1857
Confederate Tannery was turned over to the " Freedman's Bureau" 1866

The Mier prisoners are decimated by order of Santa Anna, 17 are shot upon drawing

black beans at the Hacienda Salado, Mexico 1843

General Grant and party arrive here and get a grand reception. He stays here four

days 1880

Mrs. Andrea Castanon de Villanueva, alias Candelaria, petitions for a pension as being

the last survivor ot the Fall of the Alamo 1889

First Public Meeting (of what proved to be a very bitter campaign) of the Prohibition-
ists at Turner Hall 1887

The Fannin Massacre, 330 men are shot by the order of Santa Anna at Goliad . . . -1836

No. 1, of Vol. 4, of San Antonio Weekly Herald is issued 1858

The Fl ores Street Street Railroad is completed 1884

The work of paving the Alamo Plaza with mesquite blocks is begun in earnest .... 1889

Battle of Salado. after the death of Magee, the Americans under Kemper and Mexican
Republicans under Menchaca, (''Rebels") with some Indian bauds, are victorious
over the San Antonio Royalist troops under the officers in the command of Gov-
ernor Salcedo 1813

A band of squaws and a notorious hostile Indian buck, Castalito, are in town, brought

in by Mackenzie 1873

Some skeletons are unearthed in the Alamo Church Building 1878

La Salle murdered by one of his own men near the Neches River 1687

Total miles of Railroad graded on all lines in Texas 257 miles) -g oco

Total miles of Iron laid on this 132 miles ( 1»5»

E. H. Terrell is appointed Minister to Belgium 1889

Incident in the "Magee Expedition" (see March 28): Governor Salcedo, Governor
Herrera of New Leon, Ex-Governor Cordero and twelve officers of the defeated
Royalist troops are murdered a few miles from San Antonio in revenge by the son
of Colonel Delgado and others. Kemper and the Americans leave disgusted at
this barbarity 1813

THE MONTH OF APRIL.

139

APRIL.

First case of cholera in the great epidemic (last case June 10th) 1849

Adolph Korn, a boy, stolen by Indians in Llano Co., on Jan. 1st, is now advertised for 187O

The Mavericks sell Fort Clark for $60,000 1884

Dr. Carver is beaten by Penrose at San Pedro Springs in a shooting contest . . . . 1885

First issue of San Antonio Light. "Evening Light" from January 20, 1881. (See

January 20,1881.) . . •'." . 1883

Amendments to the City Charter enacted by the legislature 1889

Federal Court chooses rooms in the French building, Main Plaza, for Court Room . . 1879

R. A. Procter lectures at the Casino 1885

Water carts first used for street sprinkling 1878

John Chinaman is here 1875

James Burns, well known citizen, dies of a rattlesnake's bite 1883

President Bustatrente prohibits Americans entering Texas 1830

John L. Sullivan gives an exhibition at the Turner Hall 1884

Col. Frank W. Johnson, one of the most famous Texas veterans, President of the
Texas Veteran Association since its inauguration, second in command under
Milam and who assumed command at the death of Milam at the storming of San
Antonio, dies at Agua Calientes, Mexico 1884

Mexican troops are stationed at San Antonio to check American influence 1830

General Sheridan, W. W. Belknap secretary of war, and General Myers are tendered

a big reception at San Pedro Springs, and " winecf and dined " at the Menger . -1873

140 SAN NATONIO DE BEXAR.

St. Mark's parsonage was begun 1884

Belknap and San Antonio Rifles are ordered out to quell disturbances at L,aredo, Texas . 1886

First League base ball game played in San Antonio 1888

Dr. P\ Herff, Senior, permanently settled in San Antonio about this date. (Dr. Herff

came first to Texas the end of April, 1847.) 185O

A band of 73 Indians arrive under government escort on their way to Fort Mason, Flor-
ida. (This is not the Geronimo and Natchez band.) 1886

The Avenue C extension of the street car line is begun 188O

A mass meeting is called in San Antonio to devise means for removing the Kickapoo

Indians from the Texan and Mexican frontier 1868

Rear enlargement of the Maverick Hotel begun. (See also Sept. 15, '77, and Feb. 3, '82.)1883
Joseph Jefferson plays Rip Van Winkle at the opera house 1888

First Baptist Church begun 1873

French Building is constituted the County Court House 1868

The sixteenth saengerfest is begun to be held here 1887

Tom Green dies in the Confederate war of a wound 1864

A fight is arranged just outside the city limits, at the old Fair grounds, between a bull

and a lion and a lioness. The bull gets much the best of it 1878

Bishop Pellicer, first Bishop of San Antonio, dies 1880

A home market for wool is established, first wool bought and warehoused here . . . 1859
Capt. King, the great cattleman and land owner, dies in 1885

Uriah Lott is in San Antonio, talking about narrow gauge railroads . 1880

The corner stone of the additional infirmary at Santa Rosa Hospital is laid 1884

Belknap Rifles go to New York 1889

Amendments to certain sections made to the city charter of San Antonio by the Six-
teenth Legislatxire (llth document) 1879

A Mexican named Martinez, suspected of horse theft, was hanged by vigilantes near

the Medina. After hanging six hours he was cut down by friends and he recovered . 1 882

THE MONTH OF APRIL. 141

Session of Grand Lodge of Knights of Pythias in San Antonio, with grand procession . 1887

Paris, Texas, gains the first prize for the best drilled uniform division of the Knights of

Pythias . . 1887

Battle of San Jacinto. " Remember the Alamo." " Remember Goliad." The Mexi-
cans under Santa Anna are routed 1836

First San Antonio Baseball Club organized. J. S. Lockwood, president ; Russell Nor-
ton, secretary 1867

First Railroad shipment of cotton into San Antonio by B. Oppenheimer 1877

Santa Anna is captured on the prairies and brought to the Texan camp . 1836

The first market house, hitherto known as the principal Cuartel, is established by the

city 184O

The Alamo church building is bought by the State under an Act of April 23, for

$20,000, from the Catholic church authorities. (See May 16.) 1883

Indians at Boerne 187O

Moody and Sankey in town 1880

Losoya street is opened to intersect Commerce street 1872

Dick Lombard attacks Billy Sims with a six-shooter at the Vaudeville ........ 1884

One hundred and fifty-six Tonkaways leave for the mountains forty miles north under

charge of the United States Government 1866

St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral Church is consecrated 1881

Myriads of grasshoppers are seen overhead flying in a northwesterly direction . . . . 1858
The German English school is enlarged to accommodate 500 pupils about this date . . 1870

Terrible Indian outrage at Howard's Springs • 1872

Odd Fellows Hall on Houston street dedicated. (Since rebuilt 1889-90.) 1878

Dr. Cupples arrives in San Antonio 1844

Bexar County Court House rebuilt on Soledad street 1882

Susan J. Hannig (widow of Lieutenant Al. Marion Dickinson, who was killed in the
Alamo) revisits the Alamo with H. B. Andrews, Bishop Ouintard of Tennessee, and
some early Texan friends. She and her daughter were the sole white survivors
of the fall of the Alamo 1881

General Twiggs is unjustly court-martialed 1858

Cornerstone of Bexar County Jail laid . . 1878

142

SAN ANTONIO DK BEXAR.

The old central dome of San Fernando Cathedral is demolished

The Maverick Hotel just opened

The Odd Fellows Cemetery dedicated

General Schofield visits San Antonio .

1872

1882
1883

1885

Edward Miles and Antonio Menchaca, two very well known "old San Jacinto heroes,"

were in town at this date 1873

The Taxpayers vote $150.000 for the new City Hall and other improvements 1887

MAY.

The removal of the Alamo Mission "San Jose del Alamo " is ordered by the Marquis
Valero, viceroy of New Spain, from the Rio Grande to its present site, and
named "San Antonio de Valero." (This Mission was originally founded on the
Rio Grande in 1703.) ' 1718

Guenther's second or upper mill begun 1868

Major Wasson "loses" $24,000, for which on the 8th he is charged with embezzlement 1883

San Antonio and Aransas Pass Depot located 1885

Chapel at the Concepcion Mission, as repaired, is rededicated to our Lady of Lourdes

by Bishop Neraz 1887

A young bull buffalo is run down through Commerce street by a cowboy horseman

from the plains 1869

Mexican Gulf Railroad compromise bonds signed by the County Clerk

1882

Maverick Bank building, corner of Alamo Plaza and Houston Street, is begun . .

1884

THE MONTH OF MAY. 143

W. W. Belknap, Secretary of War, orders work on the Government Military Depot to

be begun, and directs that the appropriation be applied for 1875

The Grenet Alamo property is sold for $40,200 to Hugo & Schmeltzer. (This prop-
erty was condemned by the City Council on the same date 1889.) 1884

General Worth died at the James residence on Commerce Street. (His remains were
taken to Greenwood Cemetery, thence to New York. His monument is promi-
nent on Madison Square, New York.) 1849

Corner stone of Groos Bank building laid 1879

The foundation stone of the Alamo Mission Church laid 1744

Death of F. P. Giraud 1877

Right Rev. J. C. Neraz consecrated second bishop of San Antonio . .... 1881
General Stanley, new Department Commander, arrives here 1884

Colonel Reeves surrenders with 318 soldiers to Van Dorn, San Antonio 1861

Organization of a Jockey Club 1868

Victor Considerant, returns to France 1868

The City Government moves to the French building on Main Plaza 1879

Terrell Block, Presidio Street, begun • 1881

The earliest agitation for Water Works begins about now 1870

San Antonio Street Railroad Company is inaugurated 1874

Captain J.' S. Ford engages in a fierce fight with Indians on Canadian River, New

Mexico. (Colonel "Rip" again.) 1858

The first foundation stone of San Fernando Church, between Main and Military
Plazas, was laid. (It was rebuilt and reopened with much ceremony October

6, 1873.) 1734

First marriage of Americans in San Antonio, F. L. Paschal to Miss F. Roach of South

Carolina. 1844

Potter and McDaniels receive a life sentence for murder and mail robberies, Federal

Court. (See June 5 and July i.) 1885

New Braunfels is founded by Prince Solms and a number of German families . . . 1845
Van Dorn has another great fight with Indians on the Wichita expedition in which
fifty Indians are killed. Fitz-Hugh Lee was reported mortally wounded in
this fight 1859

144 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Military telegraph completed to San Antonio 1876

The sale of the Alamo Church is finally consummated at Austin for $20,000. (Ne-
gotiations had been pending since February 18, 1883, when the committee of the

Legislature decided to report favorably to buy. See April 23rd.) 1883

Much building going on at this date in San Antonio. Stumberg's, Winslow's, and
Kampmann's (opposite the Maverick Hotel), and other new blocks of stores go-
ing up on Houston Street. Real estate transactions have been very active this
spring- 1890

Important meeting in relation to Columbus and San Antonio Railroad 1867

Ignatius Coyle smashes the image of Saint Theresa at Alamo Church and is arrested

by Captain Tom Rife 1887

Five Indians attack a camp six miles from Bandera 1867

First ground broken for San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad 1885

The Garza Block, an historic corner, sold for $61,300 1889

Terrible hailstorm or shower of ice ; pieces weighing 2^ pounds fall, doing upwards
of $100,000 worth of damage in the city and neighborhood, besides ruining
crops 1868

Belknap Rifles get second prize for company drill at Austin. San Antonio Rifles get

fifth prize. Captain Badger, San Antonio Rifles, gets first prize for best captain -1888

D'Alarconne, Spanish Governor of Texas, writes to De la Harpe, French Repre-
sentative, claiming all the lands West of the Nassonites. (See July 8th.) . . . - 1719

Vaccination made compulsory by order of the King of Spain. (County Records, old

document.) 1804

A band of thirty-seven Digger Indians in town on their way to their reservation

Nome L,ackwa 1859

A sea-gull was found on the Arsenal grounds, supposed to have been killed by hail on

the i9th 1868

San Antonio Rifles organized 1884

An election held to decide if bonds for $50,000 shall be issued for additional school
buildings and other facilities for education, the income of permanent fund to go
to the sinking fund of bonds. The proposition is carried by a majority of 329 . . 1885

Dry Buffalo meat, "just from the plains," is on sale in San Antonio. (See Jan. 25th.) . 1874

First Mass said at Mission San Francisco on the coast 1 69O

THE MONTH OF MAY.

145

San Antonio's first velocipede is seen careering around .

The cattle trail to Kansas is now in constant public use .

Archbishop Odin died at Ambiech, France. (He was formerly Bishop of Galveston
and this district, and took a lively interest in San Antonio and Texas — an old

Texas Bishop.)

1869
1873

1870

Bill Hart, a notorious gambler and desperado, was killed with two of his companions
on Alamo Street in the Superveille House, behind Wolf & Marx's store, by the
Vigilance Committee, headed by Fieldstrop, who was also killed. Bill Hart,
Miller, Wood killed on one side ; Fieldstrop killed and Taylor wounded on the
Vigilance Committee side. No killing, perhaps, in San Antonio, ever created so
much excitement as this -.

Organ for the Episcopal church is built in St. Mark's

Four Mexican horse thieves are found hanging on a tree near San Jose' Mission —

probably more Vigilance Committee work

San Antonio is last becoming a market for wool. (Total wool brought in for year
1874, 400,000; total wool brought in for year 1875, 600,000. Merino 28% cents,
1875; lowest Mexican grades 17 cents, 1875.)

Belknap Rifles take third prige for company drill, San Antonio Rifles take fourth
prize, Staacke, of San Antonio Rifles, takes first prize for best drilled man,
all at Washington, D. C

Ground is now being broken for the Southwestern Texas Lunatic Asylum, about five
miles South of the city, on land donated for that purpose by the city

1857
1875

1858

1874

1887
1890

An Indian fight takes place near Hondo ; two whites and several Indians killed. The
Indians are found to possess breech-loading rifles, which "had been exchanged
for stolen horses" 1872

146 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

First Volksfest held 1882

Joe Brannon, another of the gang, killed 1886

The bones of Fannin's men buried with honors of war by order of General Rusk at

Fort La Bahia on the San Antonio River 1836

Bids on the new Federal building .. 1886

The Belknap and Maverick Rifles are in Galveston to-day. (Belknaps win first prize

on June llth.). ... 1889

Battle of Alazan, San Antonio ; Spanish Royalists defeated ; one thousand Royalists

killed and wounded, ninety-four Americans killed 1813

New Fire Engine arrives. A. A. Lockwood chief of the Fire Company . 1858

McDaniels, the robber, makes a marvelous escape from the County Jail in broad day-
light, cutting his shackles with a saw made of a bootspring. (See July 1 and
May 14) . 1858

Beautiful Parhelia are seen. "First a halo of prismatic colors, afterwards an im-
mense red belt that stretched from North to South of equal width all along" . . 1870

First Steam Fire Engine arrives in the city 1868

Very noisy Prohibition meeting on Government Lot 1887

The Meny property is bought by the County Commissioners 1888

Ten loads of buffalo hides are in town from " out west " 1877

Alamo Monument Association chartered. (This Association held its first meeting on

February 27, 1879, organized March 6, 1879.) 1879

Guenther's third mill begun about this date 1878

Last case of Cholera in San Antonio of the Great Epidemic of , 1849

First consignment of fruit from Tampico, Mexico, via Indianola. Bananas, plantains

etc., sold by auction by F. L. Paschal 1859

San Antonio Rifles take first prize at Paris, Texas, for best company drill 1887

Adams and Wickes' train attacked by Indians on Devil's River 1869

Skeleton of Frank Harris unearthed in the Robber's Cave at Helotes. His saddle and
remains are identified. This is a last chapter in the history of the notorious
robber gang . 1886

THE MONTH OF JUNE. 147

Crockett Block on Alamo Plaza begun 1882

Mason County offers $500 for any hostile savage delivered dead or alive at the Mason

County Court House doors. Big Foot Wallace thinks he can make about $500 . . 1872

Indian raid only two miles from San Antonio ; several mules stolen and one shot with

arrows 1870

An Iron Bridge arrives 1869

Mrs. M. A. Maverick came to San Antonio. (Mrs. Maverick is the widow of one of
the best known old time Texans, S. A. Maverick. Mr. Maverick came to Texas
before the fall of the Alamo, and narrowly escaped perishing with Travis' devoted
band and he took an active part in many stirring incidents of the city's history) -1838

The Cremation Society elects its officers 1885

Menger Hotel foundations are now being beguu by Wm. A. Menger. Hotel to cost
$16,000, J. H. Kampmann builder. Many additions have been made to this
Hotel since this date 1858

Foundation laid of St. Mary's Street Iron Foot Bridge. (This street was widened at
Commerce Street end in January, 1890, it being merely an alley at that point
before) . . 1869

A second District Court is established in San Antonio about this date and W. W. King

is the first appointed Judge (on 22nd) 1890

Work on the Quartermaster's Depot and Water Tower is begun by Braden &
Angus. Height of Tower 88 feet. United States Congress had appropriated
$100,000 for work on this Depot 1877

Oscar Wilde lectures here 1882

San Antonio Street Railroad is formally opened by a party of gentlemen under the
leadership of Colonel Belkuap. They leave in a car at Northwest corner of Alamo
Plaza for San Pedro Springs, Colonel H. B. Adams acting as driver of car No. 1 . -1878

Hildebrand is brutally murdered by Thumm at Castroville. Thumm is sent to the pen-
itentiary for twenty-five years for this 1887

Augustus Belknap dies 1889

Corner stone of Elliott Memorial Hall laid . 1889

148

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Agitation for more sidewalks is now the order of the day ... 187O

Texan Congress passes a bill approving the annexation of the Republic of Texas to the

United States . 1845

Fort Velasco taken by Texans under John Austin from Ugartechea 1832

McDaniels and Potters, two very desperate stage robbers and murderers, are captured . 1884

Soledad Block, corner Houston and Soledad Streets, begun 1883

Belknap Rifles hold Memorial services in memory of Colonel Augustus Belknap and

Major John Cresson . 1889

The subscription for the Northwest Extension of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass

Railroad now reaches to $82,000 1886

Adams and Wickes' train attacked by Indians near Howard's Springs ; 1-50 mules

stolen and one teamster killed \ 869

The Belknap Rifles at Lampasas win this month the first of a long series of victories,

second prize for company drill 1885

JULY.

San Antonio is first designated a Money Order office 1869

McDaniels, escaped convict and highwayman, is shot and killed by Deputy United
States Marshals Van Riper and Stevens at Ben Coffee's goat camp about eight miles
from Boerne, in Bexar County, whither he had gone to see his sweetheart. He
wrote a threatening letter to the Daily Express on June 19th. (See also June
5 and May 14.) • 1885

THE MONTH OF JULY.
2

A minute of the City Records this day reads as follows : "In consequence of the
Council and citizens generally being engaged in making preparations to repel the
aggressions of the Indians there was no meeting of the Corporation this day.
Signed, W. P. Delmour Secretary, July 2nd" 1838

Buildings now occupied by Goldfrank, Frank & Co., Main Street, are about half

completed 187O

H. Yoakum completes Volume I, History of Texas (Published 1856) 1854

Rainfall in San Antonio from Saturday, July 3rd, midnight, to Tuesday morning, July

6th, is fourteen and a half inches 1869

The old front of San Fernando is torn down 18T3

Annexation Bill passed by the Convention of Delegates at Austin . ... 1845

The present (1890) Iron Bridge on Commerce street is begun 1881

Scholz's new Palm Garden is opened with a concert. 1885

Joseph Moore, wife and children, are killed in their wagon by Indians at Bandera. One

child escaped 1873

Jose Cordova hanged according' to law at the Bexar County Jail for the murder of R.

Trimble 1879

First gan>e of Polo between Blues and Reds (another game on July 9) 1883

De la Harpe replies to D'Alarconne's letter and claims the Nassonite lands for France -1719

A quiver of arrows and a bow is exhibited at the San Antonio Express office as a

curiosity. The trophy was captured in the "upper Country." 187O

Cornerstone of County and City Hospital laid 1888

Ten troops of United States Cavalry ordered out for Indian service 1885

Indians reported eleven miles from the city 1870

Ben Milam's grave is marked by a stone on Washington Square Park 1878

Bias Herrera, Texan veteran, dies 1878

Jack Harris is shot by Ben Thompson in the saloon at "Jack Harris' corner" .... 1882

Groos' house on "Alameda" street begun (Alameda now E. Commerce street) ... 1872
Sbinniforth is murdered with two bullets in his brain as he sleeps 1885

ISO SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Indian raid (by Kiowas) at Fredericksburg 1867

The Daily Herald discontinues to be published 188O

Death of Father Johnston, a well known Catholic priest of this city y . -1885

The Alamo Insurance Company, a local company, formed .... | 88Q

Avenue C is graded . 878

Curb hydrants are first established 1878

H. Brauer is mysteriously murdered at the San Pedro Springs 188^

Act of incorporation of City of San Antonio (eighth document) 1856

$7o, 000 additional is voted for quarters and barracks at the Post 1885

The Old Lewis mill stopped. For nearly 20 years this mill had supplied ground corn

to San Antonio 1869

This mill was rebuilt and still "goes round" 1890

Goliad citizens take justice into their own hands and consummate terrible vengeance

on horse thieves and bandits. They hang and shoot six and arrest others . . . 1858

The building which preceded the new Kampmann bank building and took the place of
the original Maverick House, corner of Main and Soledad streets, is now being
built. . .... 1869

J. H. Kampmann's bank building, corner of ?vlain and Soledad streets, is begun .... 1883

The work on the Federal building, Alamo plaza, is busily going on when J. R. Gordon

pronounces some of the work done defective 1888

Sam Houston dies at Huntsville 1863

Another noisy prohibition meeting on Government Lot. The campaign is now grow-
ing bitter 1887

R. Bragance (Texan veteran) dies here 1886

The Vance building on Houston street was the old military headquarters before the war. 1859

THE MONTH OF AUGUST.

151

The Santa Rosa hospital is in progress of being built (additions have been made to this).

It was built on the site of the old Mexican burying ground ........ . . 1869

The stone structure of the Federal building on Alamo plaza is rapidly being pushed to-

wards completion ................................ 1889

An armadillo is caught by some children in the eastern suburbs

Captain W. G. Tobin dies

Ground broken for the Club and Opera house on Alamo plaza .

1882
1884
1886

Corner stone of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church laid 18*79

James Short relates a terrible and prolonged hand-to-hand encounter with a bear in

Bandera county 1859

Senator and General Rusk, one of the chiefs of the Texas war for independence, sui-
cides through grief for the death of his wife -1857

AUGUST.

•v

San Antonio Herald, daily edition, No. 112 of Vol. 1, issued (this is the first existing

file issue) •. 1857

Battle at Nacogdoches between Texans and Mexicans 1832

Belknap battalion formed

1889

152 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The Menger hotel is already being enlarged (see January 31) 1859

Five Indians are seen on the Bandera road by Walter Tynan
Prohibition is defeated bv a large majority

San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad is first organized 1884

Masonry work of Commerce street bridge is being done 18TO

The troops were withdrawn from the San Antonio Post (see August 28) 1873

Jacques Mainline hanged here according to law, for the murder of Peter Maddox . . . 1879

The Kampmann, Steves and Bennett buildings are now going up on the south side of

Commerce street 187O

The Mexican cart and teamster troubles of Goliad and Karnes counties excite consider-
able public attention 1857

Bel knap and San Antonio Rifles return from Galveston 1886

The city charter passes the legislature 187O

Stephen Fuller Austin arrives in San Antonio 1821

Act of incorporation of San Antonio (ninth document) 1870

French building, southeast corner of Main plaza, is nearly completed 1858

The Alamo Rifles resolve to disband, but did not do so until a short time afterwards . -1878
Opening of the Confederate and Federal re-union at San Pedro Springs 1888

Notorious counterfeiters arrested and many stolen drafts and coin dies are found in a

jewelry store on Commerce street 1859

David Crockett born . . . • • • • 1786

THE MONTH OF AUGUST. 153

Battle of Medina — Mexican Royalists are victorious under Arredondo 1813

The Mexicans are growing very jealous of the growing influence of Americans in Texas

about this time 1829

Arredondo enters the city in triumph; 700 of the citizens are imprisoned, eighteen die

of suffocation out of 300 in one house; the remainder are shot 1813

The "Great August Storm;" wind from the northeast; many thousands of dollars dam-
age done to roofs and houses in the city, and the people are badly scared 1886

Delegates to Denver Deep Water Convention are selected 1888

Tin roof workers are autocratic just now (see August 20) 1886

Indian raid at Castroville 1867

Third Volksfest was almost abandoned on account of the adverse decisions of the city

attorney (see October 22) 1884

Jim McCoy hanged at County Jail for the murder of Sheriff McKinney 1889

Treaty of Cordova perfected by which Mexico separates from Spain •••1821

Vance & Bros, give one lot of land, for the erection of an Episcopal place of worship, to
St. Mark's congregation. Mr. S. A. Maverick also donates four city lots for
church purposes 1858

Ferd. Niggli shot at Castroville by Sheriff Thumm. He dies August 30. Thumm

refuses to surrender to San Antonio officers subsequently 1885

First experiments in raising "Chinese Sugar Cane," or Sorgho, now known as Sor-
ghum, mentioned in the Herald 1857

Right Rev. Bishop Elliott, Episcopal Bishop of Western Texas, dies 1887

The Street Railway Company begins its extension to the International depot 188O

Great fire at Hugo & Schmeltzer's on Commerce Street; very heavy loss; three men

severely burned; two subsequently die of their injuries 1883

Mexico revolts against Spain to become a Republic 1821

The Military Post is re-established here (see August 7) ....... 1875

A plague of crickets is upon us 1888

154

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

The way we got ice in those days; an advertisement announces, "Arrival of Ice

Wagons from the Bay." 1857

Another advertisement (Saturday): "The El Paso mail will close next Tuesday morn-
ing at nine o'clock 18 51

Henry Karnes, one of the old remarkable trappers and pioneers, raised in Tennessee,
and was at the battle of Concepcion, dies in the month of August in San Antonio.
(Karnes County gets its name from him. ) J § 4.0

George Hoerner dies 1885

San Antonio Gas Works are inaugurated about this date ....
Two car loads of ponies are shipped from San Antonio to England

1859
1877

SEPTEMBER.

San Antonio and Monterey this day connected by railroad 1882

Letter carrier system established 1882

Joske Bros, introduce copper pennies into their business. (They had previously been

introduced into the city on December 17, 1886.) 1887

Copper pennies are very little used 1890

Very brilliant Aurora Borealis seen here (see September 24) 1859

First case of the Cholera epidemic was near Concepcion Mission. (Last case October

12, 1866. Total fatal cases 292.) ' . 1866

Mr. S. A. Maverick dies. (Texan pioneer of early thirties, was intimately identified

with the city and state's history and interests for upwards of 40 years.) 1870

Comanche Indians troublesome around the city. Two surveyors were killed on the

Leon Creek. The Indians were followed and seven killed 1838

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER.

155

Corner stone of Joske's building, corner of Commerce and Alamo streets, laid . .

1888

Sam Houston elected President of the Republic of Texas 1836

Six Mexicans found hanging on trees on the Cibolo Creek, near Boerne 1868

Stephen F. Austin returns to Texas about this date, after a prolonged enforced deten-
tion since April or May, 1833, in Mexico. (He is shortly elected General of the
Forces at Gonzales, 1835, and says : "I fully hoped to have found Texas at peace
and in tranquility, but regret to find it in commotion and threatened

with immediate hostilities." The Texas Revolution is now beginning in earnest.) -1835

The old " Bat Cave " Court House, northwest corner Military plaza, begun 185O

A Southern Pacific Railroad is being strongly urged at this early date 1857

Bob Augustin, who came up from Goliad with others of his kidney to join Sibley's
Brigade, is arrested by Wm. Lyons for disorderly conduct, upsetting and over-
riding the chile stands on Main Plaza (see September 9th) 1861

Meeting held to devise means of turning the Olmos creek into the Alazan to prevent
overflows in the San Antonio River .

1868

Bob Augustin is released by the Mayor, but is taken in charge by a determined mass
of citizens and one of the most exciting lynchings in the history of the city fol-
lows. Bob is hanged on a tree at the southeast corner of Military Plaza at the en-
trance of Flores street (this tree was grimly named *La Ley de Mondragon) at the
hands of a vigilance committee and by the unanimous consent of a large mass of
citizens, who had concluded that Bob was a bad man (see September 7, 1861) . . .1861

Ox carts are seeing their great day 1870

Saengerfest in San Antonio 187O

The Jewish Synagogue on Travis Park is dedicated

1875

General Woll and his Mexican army invests San Antonio (also General Vasquez,

March 7, 1842)

1842

* LA L,EY DE MONDRAGON— FLORES STREET.

A little tree once grew
In a street of San Antone,

That little tree we knew

As " La ley de Mondragon,"

Which in a street of flowers
Put forth no blossom fair,

Yet by the Holy Powers
A ghastly fruit it bare,

Whose seed was sudden death,
Whose stem a tight drawn rope.

The Vigilante saith

'• Well founded is the hope

That the law of Mondragon

All Texas will endorse
That ' here in San Antone

You must not steal a horse.' "

156 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Sixth Annual Fair is held 1875

Lone Star Brewery is opened 1884

Additional Barracks and Quarters are to be built at the New Post. Contract let Sep-
tember 13 1888

A German named Thulle is killed by Indians at Castroville 1867

At an election held this day (1566 votes for and 46 against) the Columbus or "Sunset"
route is subsidized by the city and count}- $500,000. (This did not materialize, see
January 29th) 1873

Celebration in San Antonio of the one hundredth anniversary of Humboldt's birthday . 1869

A Light Artillery Company reorganized, Stanley Welch, Captain 1870

Pancoast's building on Commerce street begun 188O

Through communication with Saltillo completed 1883

Last stone of the New Federal Building on Al-imo Plaza laid 1889

Great " Indiauola" storm on the coast, 321 lives lost at Indianola, which city is de-
stroyed ( Herald says September 17?) 1875

The Military Headquarters begun (now Maverick Hotel, see also April 11 and Feb-
ruary 3> 1877

The Texas State University is opened at Austin with 103 students 1883

Belknap Rifles inaugurated 1884

Mexican Independence Day. Don Miguel Hidalgo proclaims in favor of liberty . -1810

The Colored Catholic Church is dedicated by Bishop Neraz 1888

The corner stone of the City Hall, Military Plaza, is laid 1889

Captain Hays defeats General Woll on the Salado creek. Captain Dawson's command

loses 36 men oil the same day. General Woll retires to the Rio Grande 1842

George Wilkius Kendall advertises "Merino Bucks;" this is probably one of the

earliest introductions of this breed into Texas 1857

First issue of the San Antonio Daily Times 1880

St. Joseph's Church is almost finished 1872

While yellow fever is raging at Houston and Galveston there is none in San Antonio . 1867
The San Antonio Daily Herald is sold by auction 1878

The Dullnig block, corner of Commerce and Alamo streets, is begun 1883

THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER. 157

General H. P. Bee came to Texas via Galveston, on the first trip of the Morgan line of
steamers, steamship Columbia, Captain Wright. (The General took part in the
Indian battle at Plum Creek between San Antonio and Austin, in 1840, and he
finally came to San Antonio in 1842, during the Vasquez campaign. He served
with distinction in many Indian campaigns, and in the invasion of Mexico by the
United States 1837

A wrangle over the "Head of the River " is now going on in the city, all to little pur-
pose, since the ?ity had sold its birthright securely and legally 1886

Brilliant Aurora Borealis visible at 9 p. in. (see September 2, 1859) 1870

Bill Whitley, the desperado and train robber, is killed, resisting arrest, by United

vStates marshals. His body is brought to San Antonio and viewed by hundreds . . 1888

Horns first become an article of commerce here 1868

The first regular trip in San Antonio of an electric motor car was made on the Alamo
Electric Street Railway Company's track from Navarro Street to the International
Fair Grounds, south of the city (Thompson-Houston system). Since this date, all
the main street car lines have adopted electric motor cars of this and the Sprague
system 1890

The corner stone of the new Cathedral of San Fernando is laid with impressive cere-
mony on Sunday 1868

Danenhauer block, corner Main street and Main plaza, completed and Sol Deutsch goes

into business there 1877

The Governor of Texas issues a proclamation of a severe character against fence cut-
ters ; also against persons unlawfully enclosing land by fences 1883

James Mann, a farmer, ploughs up an old Spanish coat of mail and some copper coins

on the Medina river, a relic of long bygone diys 1885

The Alamo Mission Church is still being Used as a United States commissary store . . 1858

The Government Hospital at the Post is begun 1885

The Crosstown "Street" Railroad makes its first trip 1888

The James residence was built in September. (This house, still standing on Commerce

street, 1890, is perhaps the oldest American residence of two stories in the city.

General Worth died in this house, and it is also a house that General Robert E.

Lee frequented when he was here in charge or the military department. ... 1847
Nat Lewis, Sr.', came to Texas about this date 1842

158

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

OCTOBER.

Major Van Dorn engages in a severe Indian fight ; 06 Indians killed

1858

Skirmish at Gonzales between Texans and Mexicans over the possession of the Gon-
zales cannon. The Texans are victorious ; this opens the War of Texan Inde-
pendence . . 1835

Guenther's lower (first) mill begun 1859

Henry Ward Beecher lectures at the Casino on the Reign of the Common People . . . 1883

The Vance building, on Houston street, is still used as a military depot 1858

Great swarms of grasshoppers infest vSan Antonio from a southeasterly direction . . . 1867

The mail from San Antonio arrives at San Diego, Cal., in 26)4 days. "Fastest time
on record ; complete triumph of the Southern route." (It is afterwards done in

much less time.) 185T

Second annual Volksfest ; very brilliant parade ; great success 1883

Dr. Howard is appointed Postmaster 1885

San Fernando Cathedral is opened with much ceremony 1873

Indians kill three boys and a girl named Dowdy, above Kerrville, on the Guadalupe -1878
Grenet begins the inartistic wooden building for a grocery store adjoining the Alamo

Church, and partly on the site of the convent walls and convent yard 1878

San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad is completed to Kerrville 1887

The first St. Mary's street bridge is erected 1858

Ground is broken for the old San Antonio National Bank building (now occupied by

O'Connor & Sullivan, bankers) 1867

Ygnacia Cortez is acquitted of the murder of Stanniforth 1885

THE MONTH OF OCTOBER.
9

Collinsworth and Milam capture Goliad 1835

Mrs. Hannig, who was a survivor of the storming of the Alamo, and was the wife of
Lieutenant Dickinson who was killed there, dies. (Mrs. Dickinson was the
mother of " The Child of the Alamo.") 1883

Stephen F. Austin assumes command of the Texans at Gonzales 1835

Case of San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad v. City of San Antonio is decided

against the city 1868

Bancroft Librarf
11

El Paso and San Antonio mail attacked by Indians ; two of the escort are killed . . . 1867

S. F. Austin, commanding the Texans, starts for San Antonio against Cos ...... 1835

Ivast case of cholera epidemic (see September 2) 1866

First revolutionary meeting held in San Antonio 1834

Citizens are breathing more freely and are thankful that the cholera was no worse (see

September 2 and 12) 1866

City authorities are talking of widening Commerce street, along by Groos' bank . . . 1867
Ground broken for the new San Antonio National Bank building, Commerce street. . -1885

Many fences are being cut and burned about this time 1883

A three hundred dollar foot-bridge is opened on Commerce street 1866

Nearly all the American Texans are becoming convinced that it is now complete inde-
pendence from Mexico or nothing • • 1835

J. Ernest Smith, express messenger, is given a rousing reception for having so effect-
ually disposed of train robbers on the Southern Pacific Railroad near El Paso . . 1887

Eighty-two camels are imported by private enterprise from the Canary Islands .... 1858

Austin arrives with the Texan forces at the Mission Espada 1835

The colored " Excelsior Guards " are organized 1882

The Prospect Hill Street Railroad is organized 1883

160 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

George Wilkins Kendall, a good and true friend to San Antonio and Texas, dies at

Boerne . . 1867

It is to-day decided to build the Southwestern Lunatic Asylum in Bexar County . . . 1889

Case of Rhodes v. Whitehead et al. is decided in favor of defendant. This suit was to
test certain rights to use the old Concepcion ditch. This ditch was afterwards
abandoned ; it ran along Garden street from the old dam, now the Lewis
mill dam, and was constructed about the time of the founding of the Con-
cepcion Mission, probably about the year 1729, and it watered the lands of that
Mission. This case was decided 1858

Suit City v. Bishop Odin begun — Alamo property .. • •••••185O

Second day of the third annual Volksfest. The Belknaps now win first prize for best

drilled company. San Antonio Rifles win second 1885

J. B. Lacoste, old and progressive citizen, first president of San Antonio Water Works

and the San Antonio Ice Factory, dies 1887

Some genuine Gypsies encamp this week at San Pedro Springs 1873

Fastest record of stage mail from El Paso in six days 1868

Fanuin, with a force of Texans, arrives at Mission Concepcion 1835

Captain W. G. Tobin hastens with a company of 60 men to relieve the frontiersmen

from the aggressions of Cortina's invasion '-1859

Battle of Concepcion between Fannin's force of 90 Texans and the Mexican troops from
San Antonio, under Cos. The latter are driven back to the city. Richard
Andrews is killed, the first in this campaign 1835

First Convent foot-bridge is built by subscription ; it is afterwards washed away .... 1868
Cardinal Gibbons is here, and next day he officiates at San Fernando Cathedral . . -1887

General Cos is fortifying San Antonio _> 1835

One thousand Texans under Austin at Mission Concepcion. (Many of them disperse
shortly afterwards to escape the severity of the weather. Having been hastily
summoned, they came unprepared to winter.) 1835

The bell of St. Mark's arrives from Troy, N. Y. It was cast from an old cannon dug

up in the Alamo, and was cast at the expense of S. A. Maverick 1874

[Mem. — The revolutionary ideas of the Texan party had arisen by the refusal of Santa

Anna to separate Texas from Coahuila.] ....... 1834

THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER,

101

NOVEMBER.

The United States Arsenal is begun to be built on its present site

Antonio Manchaca, a prominent Mexican-Texan veteran and citizen, born 1800, dies

this day

Mr. Herman Kampmann takes the Menger Hotel in hand

First match game of base ball played in this city

The Belknap Rifles receive their charter

The first survey of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad is completed . . .

1859

1879

1887

1867

1884
1884

The city is first lighted with gas

The Edison Phonograph makes its first appearance here at the Alamo Literary Hall .

Floresville and San Antonio are connected by wire ; first message on the 5th . .

1886

Corner stone of German Catholic Church of St. Joseph laid with great ceremony . . . 1868
The new building of the San Antonio National Bank, on Commerce street, is occupied. 1886

San Antonio National Bank is organized
The second International Fair is opened

1866
1889

Magee is at Goliad with the " Republicans ;" the Royalists are defeated 1812

The Texans take up a position at Powder House Hill overlooking San Antonio . . . -1835
Giraud, City Engineer (afterwards Mayor), begs the City Council to reserve the lots
and head springs at the head of the river, and to reserve a strip of land on the east

bank of the river within the city limits 1852

T. C. Frost's residence, Soledad street, begun 1881

Milam Block begun 1881

162 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

A large train of United States camels pass through Commerce street 1859

"Ledger and Texan Daily Newspaper," No. 1, published 1859

Foundation stone of joint City and County Hospital laid 1886

The Vance House is first opened as a hotel. (This was the old Military Headquarters

before and for some years after the war.) 1872

First trial of the new steam roller for street improvements 1885

The first International Fair held at the new Fair grounds, at Riverside Park, opened by

President Diaz, of Mexico, by telegraph 1888

The corner stone laid of the original Odd Fellows' Hall building, on Houston street.

(This hall was added to and remodeled in 1889-90.) 1878

Reunion of the Terry Rangers in San Antonio 1889

Lorenzo de Za valla dies at San Jacinto (not at the battle) 1836

San Antonio thoroughly aroused over the Cortinas invasion at Brownsville. Much

excitement in town 1859

The West End Town Company is organized and receives the final transfer of the

property. 1887

It is finally seen that Victor Considerant's Socialistic Colony, near Dallas, does not

prove to be a success 1858

J. J. Duerler secures a charter for a street railway to San Pedro Springs (it does not

materialize) \ 866

The charter of the San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad is renewed 1857

A committee is appointed to solicit subscriptions to St. Mark's Church 1858

Sunday law does not prove acceptable to San Antonians about this time 1887

Continued and persistent rain interrupts the success of the International Fair here . . 1888

The Mexican Royalists from San Antonio are defeated at Goliad 1812

James and Resin Bowie defeat the Indians in tht-ir celebrated fight at San Saba . . . 1831
San Antonio Ice Factory established 1866

THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.
21

The present (1890) Commerce street bridge is begun about this date 188O

The National Editorial Association meets here t . . 1888

The first city ordinance against carrying concealed deadly weapons 1867

B. L. Crouch receives the news that several of his nearest relatives are brutally mur-
dered. No trace of the murderer 1883

The Berg Electric Light starts with 65 lights. This is the second visitation of San

Antonio by electricity and the dynamo 1887

Fire Company established about this date, A. A. Lockwood, chief 1857

Thomas William Ward, Captain of Artillery at the storming of San Antonio, 1835, dies

at Austin 1872

John James, an old citizen of the early forties, dies (see September 30) 1877

" The Grass Fight." The Mexicans fight for grass for their cavalry, and are defeated

by the Texans 1835

An act to amend the act of January 14th, 1842, enacted (seventh document relating to

city charter) 1855

Lieutenant Egglestou ordered to cross the Rio Grande to pursue Indians, if necessary . 1884

Emigrants from Canary Islands arrive in San Antonio — sixteen families 173O

La Villa Capital de San Fernando founded (old document in County Records con-
taining ordinances of San Antonio) 1730

Austin resigns command of the army of Texans on being appointed United States Com-
missioner 1835

Fence cutting is rampant still 1884

Grenet purchases part of the Alamo property 1877

First Presbyterian Church, Houston street, dedicated 1879

James L. Truehart, Texas veteran, dies 1882

Cornerstone of Madison Presbyterian Church laid 1882

"Deaf," or Erastus Smith, a celebrated scout and pioneer of Texas revolutionary
times, was born April 19, 1787. He took an active part in the preparation of the
defense of the Alamo, but was absent on duty during the seige, and shortly after-
wards did good service at the battle of San Jacinto ; dies 1836

164

SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

DECEMBER.

Postmaster Johnson takes charge of the San Antonio Post Office

1889

George Dullnig finds petroleum on his ranch by drilling for artesian water 1887

The population of the City of San Antonio is reported about this date by the assessor
as 7142. (It is supposed to be incorrectly estimated on August 13, 1858, as City
of San Antonio, 5281 ; County of Bexar, 4897.) 1856

Stock amounting to $50,000 taken by the city in the San Antonio Mexican Gulf Rail-
road. (J. M. Devine, Mayor.) See December 30 185O

Experimental " tube well" sunk on Military Plaza, 26 feet deep 1868

San Antonio is assaulted by the Texans under Milam and F. W. Johnson ; one Texan

killed and fifteen wounded 1835

The abandoned wires of the Military Telegraph are purchased by the Erie Telephone

and Telegraph Company 1883

Five Texans wounded in the assault this day 1835

George Hoerner's saloon opened on Commerce street 1858

First raid by the city on gamblers 186T

Death of Milam and two others in the assault 1835

Texans succeed in taking a house on Main Plaza 1835

General Cos surrenders the city to General Burleson, commander of the Texans . . 1835

THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. 165

Henry Elmendorf's residence begun •••••1881

Memorial services held ill the Opera House in memory of Jefferson Davis 1889

National cattle trail has been the principal topic among the cattlemen at their meeting

this week. (The trail had "to go" before the land-grabbers and the railroads !) . 1884

Railroad communication with New Orleans is much agitated at this date 1858

The Alazan ditch is nearly completed 1876

Act of incorporation of the City of Sail Antonio. (This is the third document of incor-
poration. vSee January, 1733 and 1734. Also January 5, 1837) 1837

Indignation meeting of citizens held strongly condemning fence cutting 1883

Amendments to certain sections of the City Charter of San Antonio made at the elec-
tion held this date (tenth document) 1874

Buffalo Bill entertains us at the Casino 1879

The City Council decides to open Crockett street across the river to St. Mary's street.

(This is an important improvement.) 1889

Kit Carson's letter published in the San Antonio Daily Herald, dated from Taos, New
Mexico, saying that a little Texas boy had been recovered from the Indians and he
wishes him to be advertised 1859

Copper pennies are introduced into the city into commerce 1886

The Alamo Rifles give a grand dress and military ball at the " New " Casino Hall . . 1857

vS. M. Wills, who had been held for four years a captive by the Comanches, escapes

and relates his experiences in San Antonio 1878

Emma Abbott opens the Grand Opera House, Alamo Plaza 1886

Veager is arrested, and on the 22d of this month Pitts and Yeager are identified as the

much wanted postoffice and mail robbers 1884

The first Fair of the Agricultural and Industrial Association of Western Texas is opened!868
Fourteen thousand dollars is appropriated by the United States Congress to purchase

land to enlarge the Arsenal grounds 1880

!66 SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAR.

Gallagher's corner, near Menger Hotel, is occupied on this date by the San Antonio

Postoffice 1 S7Q

James Kerr, the oldest American settler \vest of Colorado river, dies 1850

We hear of a battle with the Geroiiimo band of Apaches in which two officers are

killed and some men 1885

Right Reverend Anthony Dominic Pelicer is installed at San Fernando Cathedral as

first Bishop of San Antonio (he was buried in this Cathedral April 17, 1SSO .... 1874

Stephen F. Austin, Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas, dies at Columbia . . -1836

The battle at Mier, Mexico, is fought 1842

The International Railroad track is completed to Laredo; first train this day 1881

Santa Anna and Almonte are released by President Houston 1836

The Texans on the Mier expedition surrender to the Mexicans 1842

Cortinas is beaten by the Texans under Ford and Tobin, near Brownsville 1859

San Antonio is just beginning to feel the possibility of becoming a market for cotton . 1858

The Maverick Printing House have just moved into their fine new five-story building

on Avenue R 1890

A city election is held to consider the advisability of taking stock in the San Antonio and
Mexican Gulf Railroad ; 267 votes cast, of which 2o3 were in favor of the £50,000
subscription 1850

Dedication of the Elliott Memorial Hall 1889

Moses Austin was in San Antonio about this date 1820

German-English school established about this date . 1858

James and Resin P. Bowie are in San Antonio to organize the San Saba expedition . -1831

We have the most populous city of Texas, three main railroad lines, a perfect system of
water works, the purest water, wood block-paved plazas and streets, several electric
street car systems, the prettiest Opera and Club House in the South, beautiful public
buildings, good electric lighting and gas systems, good hotels, a lovely river, a cli-
mate second to none on this continent, efficient schools, three daily newspapers,
the most important military post in the United .States, immense markets for horses,
cattle, wool and cotton, a progressive mayor, a history inexhaustible in interest,
and a magnificent future 1890

FINIS.

JAMES DURYEE STEVENSON,

(Formerly of the Bar of New York City)

Attorney «? Counselor at

Also, Solicitor and Standing Master in Chancery of the
Circuit Court of the United States; also,

TJItTZI'IEID

THE KAMPMANN BUILDING. TAKE ELEVATOR.

SPECIALTIES: Commercial Law, Collections, and Real Estate Law in all its branches.
I refer (without permission) to United States and State Judges and Court Officers in the
Western District of Texas, and to all Banks and Bankers of the city.

MANUFACTURER OF

Saddlery tJlaFness

Wholesale and Retail Dealer in

Leather, Saddlery Hardware,

Heady-Hade Baggy Tops

Rubber, Enameled and White Duck,

AND EVERYTHING IN THE CARRIAGE TRIMMING LINE.

JVIexiean Hai* Bridles, Quirts (l^idin<$ LCthips),
and liassoes,

ANGORA SKINS AND OTHER PELTS.

309 and 311 Main Plaza, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

The Healthiest and fflost Attractive Section of Texas

IS FOUND AMONGST THE HILLS AND FERTILE VALLEYS ON THE LINE OF THE SAN
ANTONIO AND ARANSAS PASS RAILWAY, NORTH OF SAN ANTONIO. SEE S. A. & A.
P. RAILWAY MAP.

I have Farms and Ranches for sale in Kendall and Handera Counties, and City Property In

The well known Health Resort and County Seat of Kendall County. There is a Daily Mail and

Stage Line between

MND

A Distance of 25 Miles, the latter Town being the County Seat of Bandera County.

W. G. HUGHES, Heal Estate Agent.

Post Office, Hastings, Kendall County (on horder of Kendall and Bandera Counties).

ELITE RESTAURANT AflD SAltOOfl

*~* FISH,- GAME ANB OYSTERS *~*

AND ALL THE DELICACIES OF THE SEASON ALWAYS ON HAND.
MEALS TO ORDER AT ALL HOURS,

WITH EXCLUSIVE DINING ROOM FOR FAMILIES.

Main Plaza and Soledad Street. Ladies' Entrance, Soledad Street.
J. LOUSTAUNAU & CO., Proprietors.

FACULTY.

W. C. BUCKMAN,

President.

B. F. WILLIAMS,

Principal.

E. M. BARBKR,

Principal.

C. E. BALL,

Principal.

T. T. DOWNEY,

Principal.

CHARLES JOHNSON,

Operator.

COURSES.

BUSINKSS COURSE.

SHORTHAND (Eclectic and
Sloan-Duployan Systems).

TYPE-WRITING.
TELEGRAPHY.

NORMAL, SCIENTIFIC AND
MATHEMATICAL.

NORMAL PENMANSHIP.

ENGLISH, SPANISH AND
GERMAN.

^^15-***^ - *w**p«S£
GEO. DULLNIG BLOCK.

Occupies the third floor of this large and handsome building, and is, without doubt to the
knowing, the only absolutely first-class institution of its kind in the State of Texas.

Its illustrated catalogue is a master-piece of art and beauty, and should be in every
household as an index to a School of Business and Normal training, whose influence and
popularity are felt and recognized throughout the land.

ortT

B. F. COBB, PRESIDENT. GEO. A. DASCOMB, VICE-PRESIDENT. A. J. SCHUREMAN,

lpu 151393 tu /T) be rQo.,

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

LONG LEAF YELLOW PINE

AT WHOLESALE.

MrtTERML ti SPECIALTY.

J. S. ALEXANDER, President. A. A. ALEXANDER, Cashier.

TEXAS NATIONAL BANK,

£}58 Commerce Street,

ANTONIO,

DIRECTORS :

J. S. ALEXANDER, President.

H. B. ANDREWS, Capitalist.

WM. HEUERMANN, Hugo & Schmeltzer, Wholesale Grocers.

AMOS MORRILL, Heywood Bros. & Co., Gardner, Mass.
A. A. ALEXANDER, Cashier.

The Accounts of Business Firms, Corporations and

Capitalists Solicited.

BILLS DRAWN ON THE CITY BANK, LONDON

Mexican Dollars and other Foreign Money Bought and Sold,

flpartment jtoase

Cor. Houston tf> Jefferson Sts.,

Fitted up with all modem improvements, on

PLAN.

RESTAURANT CONNECTED WITH HOUSE.

New Building, fitted up with Entirely New Furniture.

Reception room on tirst floor for convenience of guests. Southeastern

exposure. Large, airy rooms. Steam heated throughout.

Hot and cold baths. Gas. Electric bells.

Elevators. Fire escapes.

EVERYTHING ENTIRELY NEW.

MRS. HOCKETT

Has had five years experience.

SUITES OF ROOMS, WITH PRIVATE BATH ROOMS.

Houston Street, opp. Maverick Hotel.

15 COMMERCE STREET AND
OPERA HOUSE BLOCK,

OF-

PURE CANDIES,

Decorated Cakes of all Kinds, Styles and Sizes.

RESTAURANT AND CONFECTIONERY, OPERA HOUSE BLOCK

THEY ALSO MAKE A SPECIALTY OF

FINEST ICE CREAM AND FRUIT ICES,

Orders Delivered with Neatness and Dispatch

HERM HARMS,

TAILOR-MADE C

• -sgl- •»- ^^

CELTS' PUNISHING GOODS, HATS, SHOES and NOVELTIES.

SPECIALTY:

Custom Made Shirts and Clothing,

Opera House Building, Alamo Plaza,

San Antonio, :-: Texas

Commerce, Navarro and Crockett Streets, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

— :THE LARGEST:—

House-furnishing Goods Establishment

Crockery, China, Earthernware

and Glassware from every

part of the Globe.

Bric-a-Brac, Cut Glassware, Silverware,
Cutlery, Lamps, Gas Fixtures, Man-
tels, Fire-place Goods, Wrought Iron
Goods, Japanese and Chinese Goods.
Household articles, Gasoline Stoves,
Kitchen utensils, Tinware, Wooden-
ware, Brushes, Washing Machines and
General Laundry articles, etc., etc.

Hotel and Saloon Supplies.

OUR MOTTO: " WE CANNOT BE UNDERSOLD,"

1858

ESTABLISHED

1858

F. i. ME;YE;H,

No. 35 West Side Alamo Plaza. :

• 1 1 1 1 1 ii 1

•Telephone No. 280.

The Pioneer Wine Merchant,

WHOLESALE AND RETAIL DEALER IN

IMPORTER OF

Foreign and California Wines, Liquors,

CORDIALS, Etc.

Sat\ A.t\tor\io, «*

Texas.

ALL COUNTRY ORDERS PROMPTLY FILLED.

(N. V Si T. S. S. CO.)

The only Line of Steamships Sailing Between

Steamers Lieave Pier 2O, East River, fletu York, for Galveston, Texas, Every Wed-
nesday and Saturday at 3 O'clock P. fll.

Steamers Lieave Oalveston for J4ecu York Direct Every LUednesday and Saturday

\to suit the Tide).

I I I I I II II I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I II II I I I I I I I I I I

II I III I I I I I

(Building). . 3,51)0 Tons

LEONA 3,500 Tons

NUECES 3, 500 Tons

COMAI 3,000 Tons

LAMPASAS 3,000 Tons

ALAMO 3,000 Tons

SAN MARCOS 2,840 Tons

COLORADO 2, 764 Tons

Rio GRANDE. ..... 2,566 Tons

STATE OF TEXAS .. . .1,096 Tons

CITY OF SAN ANTONIO . 1,052 Tons

OFFERING ?e FIRST SLASS TRAVELERS

Magnificent Accommodations, with Cuisine and Attendance equal to the finest on land
or sea, and at rates including everything on Steamer

The (Cheapest and 3/Lost Somfortable

Between New York, all Eastern Cities, Europe and Texas. Try it and be convinced. THIS
IS THE ONLY LINE that can offer a ticket COVERING ENTIRE EXPENSES to or from
New York.

For Tickets, Sailing Schedules, Plans of Steamers, and full information, apply to Mallory
Line Agents throughout the country, or address

SETH SPRAGUE, General Eastern Agent, 306 Washington Street, Boston.

H. MCMURTRIE, Agent, Cor. 3d and Chestnut Street, Philadelphia.
H. MCMURTRIE, Agent, 203 East German Street, Baltimore.

B. E. HARRISS, Agent, Dallas, Texas. W. L. WRIGHT, Agent, Denver, Colorado.
MoSE RAPHAEL, Agent, Houston, Texas. R. W. SOUTHWICK. Agent, Key West, Florida.

J. N. SAWYER & Co., Agents, 54 Strand, Galvestou, Texas.

W. J. YOUNG, General Southern Passenger Agent, San Antonio, Texas.

C, H. MALLORY & CO., Gen. Agts., Pier 20 E, R. and 362 Broadway, New York.

fi. par;eoa5t 8 §09,

-^MERCHANT . TAILORS

AND THE -LEADING HOUSE IN

CLQTtflNQ. HATS and FURNISHING GOODS,

i
38 AND 40 WEST COMMERCE ST., SAN ANTONIO, TEX.

H. E. HILDEBRAND. BEN. A. STRIBUNG.

A A A

HILDEBRAND & STRIBLING,

Estate

We have special advantages for conducting a general land business and

have the only complete abstract of titles to lands in Bexar

County and City of San Antonio.

273 W. Commerce St., SAN ANTONIO, TEX.

The "Old Reliable Furniture House" of

BECIOR,

Furniture, Carpets, Matting, Art Squares, Oil Cloth

KND L.1NOL-EU7VS.

«»« ] Small Profits and Quick Sales. We are >:°urs ver>- respectfully,

REINHOLD BECKER,

Established 157O 19-2O WEST COMMERCE ST., SAN ANTONIO,

ADOLPH DREISS,

PHAKPGIST AflD

DEALER IN T.OILET ARTICLES, SPONGES, CHAMOIS, TRUSSES, CRUTCHES,
BANDAGES, ETC. ALSO A LINE OF FINE CUTLERY.

PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS GIVEN TO THE PRESCRIPTION DEPARTMENT, DAY AND NIGHT.

NO. 19 ALAMO PLAZA,

M. E. JACOBSON,

PHOTOGRAPHER,

NO. 2. EAST HOUSTON STREET,

ANTONIO,

For Fine Photographic Work in all Styles go to this place

you will be pleased.

PICTURESQUE

The Best Collection of San Antonio Scenery. Also For Sale at

BA1NBRIDGE & CORNER, Alamo Plaza, and all first-class

Book and Fancy Stores.

FORTY NICELY FURNISHED ROOMS,

WITH OR WITHOUT MEALS,

FOR RENT BY DAY, WEEK OR MONTH.

ELECTRIC BELLS, BATHS, ETC., ETC.,

ON ALAMO PLAZA, 100 YARDS FROM

U. S. COURTHOUSE AND POSTOFFICE.

THE LEADERS

216 UJ. Commepee Street.

F ULrr^i^l^irig Groocli->,

GLOVES, HANDKERCHIEFS, HOSIERY, ETC.
for Foster, Centemeri & Alexandre KID

G. R.

Leading Dealer in

INDIES', GENTS' and CHILDREN'S

Boot5,

\ A. Iarf5e stock, of Kine
Medium, lines
on

flT)tOT)io, Jexas.

RLEX. SMRTOR,

ONYX BLOCKS.

US Commerce Street, S<m >

ESTABLISHED 1875.

C. H. T^UELLER,

Whole sale and Retail Dealer in

flutists' and Painters' Supplies,

Picture Frames, I-^lote arjd Window

Mirrors, Ete.

COMMERCE STREET. ••• * SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

S. K. MARTIN, Chicago. A. C. SCHKYVKR, San Antonio.

MARTIN & SCHRYVER,

Of all sorts, kinds and qualities.

Of all Kinds, Shapes and Sizes.

A large assortment of ornamental goods always in stock. We keep constantly on
hand large quantities of the never yet, surpassed

j. HAISK'S BJPLK.BHIID FEISTCH:

We are successful competitors in price and goods. Come and be convinced.
,— OFFICE OF YARDS- -- CHAIN OFFICE - ^

South of Sunset Depot. 2 West Commerce St.

ANTONIO, TEXAS.: :

STRANGERS should not fail to visit this Paradise of Tropical Plants. Three Stories
of Airy Galleries. Regular Musical Evenings. Exquisite String and Brass Band. Electric
Service and Lights. Frequented by the best families. Card Tables, Lunch Stand, and
most complete Billiard Rooms in the city.

Alamo Plaza to Liosoya Street.

ENTRANCES'

CO.

Clumbers .

225 E. Houston St., SAN ANTONIO, TEX.

All kinds of Plumbing, Gas and hteam Fitting executed with neatness and dispatch.

CLOTHING,
BOOTS «SP SHOES,

m
Gi

B^OS.

• DRV GOODS,

NOTIONS.

BQQTH,

WHOLESALE

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

CAR LiOAD PRICES ON HAY, GRAIN AND SALiT AT ANV POINT IN TEXAS, THE
SOUTHWESTERN STATES AND mEXICO.

H. VOGLER & CO.'S

Alamo Trunk Factory

Manufacturers of and dealers in

TRUNKS, TRAVELING BAGS, SATCHELS, STRAPS, COLLAR
AND CUFF BOXES, LEATHER TRAVELING CASES.
LEATHER GUN CASES, ETC., ETC.

I 223

ALAMO PLAZA,

OPP. THE ALAMO.

San flntonio,

Trunks and Sample Cases made to order.

PAUL . WAGNER'S . BAZAAR,

IMOS. 22, 24 &. 26

COMMERCE STREET,

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

IMPORTER AND DEALER IN

Jri^yeles,

l/elo<;ipede5,
Express . U/a<$OQ5,
U/illou/-U/are,
Bird <?a<}es,
picture prames,
Albums,

Dolls.

"Souvenir Albums of 5a9

ROBT. A. WOODS.

WOODS & LAURAINE,

W. V. LAURAINE.

REPRESENTING'

LAUREL HEIGHTS PROPERTY,

PARK PLACE PROPERTY.

PROSPECT HILL PROPERTY.

BUSINESS PROPERTY.
WEST END PROPERTY,

ALAMO HEIGHTS PROPERTY,
EAST END PROPERTY,

RESIDENCE PROPERTY.

Real Estate Brokers,

2O9 flLtflmO PlaAZA,

FAROIING AND RANCH

ANTONIO, TEX.

N- H. FORD.

C. H. PICKFORD.

CO.

DEHUERS Ifl

ROCK SHUT.

AGENTS FOR "THE SPRINGFIELD WAGON COMPANY."

SAN ANTONIO, TEiXAS

No. 16 EAST MAIN PLAZA,

Telephone No. SOI.

. J.

|\eal testate, Lioan aqd (general

. 2 W. Commepee St. • San Antonio, Texas.

Will pay Taxes for residents and non-residents. Lands for sale in all parts of the State.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
LIBRARY

This is the date on which this
book was charged out.

[30m-6,'ll

San Antonio de Pexnr

Oct 9*13

Sem 35

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