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

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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

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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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hundred rifles rings out. As many of the foes fall before the sure and steady aim of the noble patriots. But with odds twenty to one against them the result is certain: slowly and in good order the defenders with- draw into the main part of the fortress. where they will make their last stand. All know that death is near at hand, but no murmur is heard against the tardy reinforcements: their thoughts are of their homes and their God. lt is only a sort of outwork that the Mexicans have gained. but it encourages them to still greater efforts. Onward they rush, over the wall they come, and upon the devoted band pour volley after volley, but those who remain continue to tire with the same steadiness and cool- ness that made them so feared among their enemies. For six long hours the hand-to-hand conflict rages, even the wounded in the hospital tiring upon their foes until their own lives are destroyed by the sword or pistol of one of their blood-thirsty enemies. Staunch and true to the last, Col. Travis and David Crockett light side by side until both find the death they preferred to slavery and oppression. . . They come-like autumn leaves they fall. Yet hordes on hordes they onward rush: lVith gory tramp they mount the wall, Till numbers the defenders crush. The last was felled, the fight to gaing VVell may the ruftians quake to tell How Travis and his hundred fell Amid a thousand foemen slain. They died the Spartans death, But not in hopeless strife: Like brothers died, and their expiring breath Was Freedoms breath of life. The news was quickly spread through Texas, and a spirit of revenge was aroused in the hearts of the patriots, but this was changed to rage against their foes when they heard of the slaughter of 412 American prisoners, who had surrendered at Goliad on the condition that they should be treated as prisoners of war are treated by civilized nations. Ezrzjf 0116 qffbcnz :wus sho!! This shows truly the result of the youthful training of the Spanish people in watching scenes of cruelty worthy ofa Caligula. Less than a month later there was a reckoning. On April 21,