Lansing Central High School - Oracle Yearbook (Lansing, MI)

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The Fall of the Alamo Give me Liberty, or give me Death I How many times in the his- tory of the world has the thought contained in these memorable words of Patrick Henry been the key-note of actions which have brought the names of the actors down to posterity. surrounded by a halo of admira- tion and even reverence! In Grecian history. 480 years H. C.. Leonidas. King of Sparta. and about three hundred of his countrymen held the pass of Thermopylze against Xerxes' host of three millions until the last man was slain. and for what reason? Simply because they preferred death to slavery among the Persians. The glory of such names grows brighter as the centuries roll along. But we do not need to go back so far into the history of ages past. Here on our own continent are there not deeds nf heroism which are fully as glorious? The bravery of the Pilgrims. who left their homes and native land to brave unknown perils of savage Indians. starvation. and other dangers of an unsettled countrv, in order to enjoy the liberty of worshiping God in their own way, can scarcely be equaled. Vllhen in 17To the colonies of America threw off the yoke of the mother country. which had become so burdensome, and declared themseives a free and independent people. Liberty was in universal demand. Liberty they would have. and Liberty they did have in spite of the armed pro- tests ol' King George. Today, look at the result! The United States has become the grandest nation under the sun! The example ofthe United States in thus withdrawing their alleg- iance to England was copied by many states of America. the most important of which. and the most interesting to us. was Texas. She had long endured. without resistance. the cruel acts of oppression and tyranny passed by Santa Ana. the renowned president of Mexico. who

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band and family, and in the other the four celebrated women astrono- mers. Elsie Hoppham, Lavina Tobin, Mary Martin and Isabella Side- botham. In another part of his journey he would come upon a partially deserted Manor House. and that in one part he would lind what might be called Old Maids' Hall. In the hall there lived six spinstersg there was Mistress Smith. who tended the eats: and Mistress Bird. who sat in a corner and spun flax: then there was Mistress Csband. who kept the Hall. cooked the meals and was always happy and cheerful. Besides the three domestic women there were three intellectual women: Mil- dred who wrote poetry by the yard: Mistress Newland, who read Greek all day: and Mistress Green, who amused herself with writing short romances. The monk paused and looked thoughtfully into the tire: then rose abruptly and said it was late and he must go on. But as he spoke. he raised his arms in benediction and said: God bless this company! Sir suflm fcM'11. ' CoXsTANcrt BEM1eN'1'.

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had made himself dictator. Hut it is the last straw that breaks the camel's back. He tried one scheme too many by attempting to disarm all the American citizens in Texas, in number about ten thousand. He thus sought to take away that upon which the lives of themselves and families might depend, exposed as they were to warlike Indians. Americans would not submit to such an act. so they headed a revolt against the Mexican government in 1335. From Maine to Florida the neyvs spread on the wings of the wind, and neither money nor soldiers were lacking. for Texas was already considered a part of the Union. A constitutional government was formed and an army provided for. with Gen. Sam Houston as commander-in-chief. Down in the southern part of Texas is the flourishing town of San Antonio, founded far back in the history of this country. Near by is the fortress of the Alamo, renowned as a second Thermopyla-. Hard it is for a visitor now to imagine the scene of desolation and death in this fortress only a little more than fifty years ago. Here were stationed Col. Travis and two hundred men, important among whom were Col. Bowie, and David Crockett. the famous hunter and trapper. Un the first of March, 1330, Santa Ana. at the head of four thousand men, appeared before the Alamo and demanded its surrender. A can- non shot was the answer. Then the bombardment began, and for three days the conflict raged almost without cessation. On the third day Col. Travis, seeing that no help could get to them now, although he had sent messages repeatedly. telling of his difficult situation, called his men together, for the last time, and gave them a chance to choose their manner of death, for death was certain. To a man they stepped across the line which he had drawn, and declared they would die in defense of the Alamo. Even the sick and wounded begged to be carried across the line that they might be joined with their companions. Scarcely were the men arranged when again the battle began, and until the night before the sixth of March the wearied defenders had no rest. On this night all was quiet, save for an unaccountable bustle in the camp of the enemy. At three o'clock in the morning there was a sudden move- ment among the Mexican ranks. Slowly and silently they crept for- ward, scaling ladders in readiness. Vlfhere are the sentries? W'hy do they not give the alarm? The ladders are against the wall: up swarm scores of men. but as the heads of the foremost appear. a volley from a