Evening Star Newspaper, December 13, 1931, Page 91

e 180, and by deduction and approximation he puts the assaulting porty around 3,000 men, with a Joss of bétween five and six hungred. FEW hours aflter the enemy di2d was decently laid away, but not so with th:t Iandful of men who had made such a magniizent fight for their lives, for these were guiberad together piles, mingled with fu:l and burned. a year later, by order much of their remain the massacre had ceased in three Nearby, of Gen. Houston, as as could be found was placed in a large coffin and interred in a peach orchard nearty with military honors. Unfortu- nately, it seems th-: the identical spot where the interment tock place is' now unknown, as the area in which it took place is denscly built over. However, the names of these men, so far as known, ar> today not only enshrined in the hearis of tr> Amoiican people, but are preserved in brenz: where they fell, bravely fighting, for Texas indep>nd:nce. As copied from the several tebl-'s, their names are: Tablet No. 1—J. B. Bournan, D. Bourse, Brown, Burnell, Brrrs, J. Butler, J. M. Co- brera, J. Cane, W. R, Case’, J C. Clark, Wil- liam Cloud, R. Cozir n, G. W. Cottle, 8. Craw- ford, R. Crossran, D. P. Cummins, Cunning- ham, J. Darst, J. Dxis, J. C. Day. Tablet No. 2—I.. Davell, C. Despalier, W. Deardorf, P. de £xnage, D2 Vault, J. Dizkens, A. Dickenson, Di'r~d, L. Duel, 8. Durst, Es- parga, R. Evans, S. B. Evans, J. Ewin, J. Faqua, W. Fishback, J. Flanders, D. Floyd, J. H. Forsythe, J. Gaston, J. C. Garreit, J. E. Gar- win, J. George, G:!more, C. Grimes, Groyn, J. Harris, W. B, H~ mn, C. Haskell, Hawkins, J. M. Hays, Hersic, Hol'and, 8. Holloway, W. Homrell, Huteh<zon, Ingram, Jacinto, P. Jack- son, D. Jackson. Tablet No. 3—D~. Tucompson, J. M. Thurston, Tomlinson, Valentine, Wainall, Warner, Walsh, J. Washingion, Wzl-rs, Wells, D. Wilton, J. Wilson, J. L. Wi'scn, H. 8. Williamson, J. White, R. White, Wolf, Wright, Zoanco. Tablet No. 4—R. All:n, Anderson, M. Autrey, Ayres, Bailey, G. Bzk<r, L. Baker, W. C. M. Baker, Bailess, R. W. Ballentine, L. Baker(?), J. G. Bangle, J. G. Beugh, J. Blair, 8. C. Blair, J. Beard, W. Blazclsy, Bowen, | Tablet No. &—J. Jackson, G. B. Jameson, J. M. Jimenez, John L. Jchnson, W. Johnson, J. Jones, Kedis~, J. Kenney, Kenney, Kent, Kim- ble, J. C. King, W. King, Lanio, W. Lewis, W. C. Lewis, W. Lighifcot, W. Linn, L. Loney. Tablet No. 6—2Mussulman, E. Nelson, G. Nel- son, W. G. Nelson, Nzlson, Neggin, Nolan, Os- tener, Paggan, Parker, Pelone, Pollard, Redden- son, J. R. Reynolds, Robins, Robinson, J. M. Rosz2, Rough, Rusk, Regan. Tablet No. 7—Sears, M. Sewall, W. K. Simp- son, A. Smith, C. S. Smith, J. C. Smith, W. H. Smith, Starn, R. Starr, Stewart, R. L. Stock- ton, .Summers, Summcrline, Sutherland, E Taylor, G. Taylor, J. Taylor, W. Taylor, J. M. Thornton, Thomas. There is also a special tablet containing the names of the commanders at the Alamo: Wil- lam B. Travis, James Bowie, David Crockett and James B. Bonham. DFRHAPS of all these namcs, the one most « closely associatzd wi‘h Washington was the celebrated Davil Crockett, who first came here to Congress as a DRepresentative from Tennessee, in 1827, s rving two terms, and again for a final t2rm in 1333. He was a man of limited education, but made many friends and was a weleome gues!, and as an -advertiser there are few men teday more successful than he, for not only w his quaint sayirngs print- ed abroad, but a story of him was as popular on the continent as it was in his own country. Just a little over a yzar after his death an account appeared in a London magazine tell- ing of his las* stan? ~~° 2¢ the Alamo. It saia “Zefore daybiza: 8un of March, the Alamo was aszaulted by the whole force of the Mexican army, commanded by Santa Ana in person. The bat.l~ was desperate until day- light, when only six men belonging to the Texian garrison wzere found alive. They were instantly sur d and ordered by Gen. Castrillon to surrs r, which they did under a promise of his pvotcetion, finding that re- sistance any longcr weuld bz madness. Col. Cro~k=tt was of the er. He stood alone in an angle of the fo barrel of his shattered rift2 in his rigly® hand, in his left his huge Bowie knife drino'nz blood. There was a frightful gash across ;5 forehwad, while around him there was a c(c t» barrier of about 20 Mexicans, lyiny pril-mell, dead and dpin3z. At his feet lay th> dcad body of thas well kncwn character, ¢ r2d in the colonel’s nar- rative by the assumc? name of Thimblerig, his knife diiven to thg halt in the throat of a Mexican, and his 1-ft hand clenched in his hair. Poor fellow, I kn>w him well, at a time when he was po2s-s<~d of many virtures, out of late years the wecds had choked up the flowers; however, Col. Crockett had succeedad in awakening in his bLo-om a sense of betler things, and the poor fcllow was grateful to the last, and stcod beside his friend throughout the desperate havoc » “Gen. Castrillon va; u.ave and nbt cruel, and disposcd to save th» prisoners. He marched them up to that pa‘'t of th2 fort where stood Santa Ana and his murderous crew. Thae steady, fearless st°p, and undaunted tread of Col. Crockett on th's ozcasion, together with the bold demeanor of the hardy veteran, had a powerful effect on all present. Nothing daunted, he marciisd up boldly in front of Santa Ana, and look d him sternly in the face, while Castrilicn a ‘dressed ‘his excellency’: ‘Sir, here are six prisoners I have taken alive; how shall I dispose of them? Santa Ana looked at Castrillon ficresly, flew into a violent rage, and replied, ‘Have I pot told you before how to dispose of them? Why do you bring them to me?’ At the same time his brave officers plunged tho'r swords into the bosoms of their defenscless prison-rs. “Cel. Crockeott, s2cing the act of treachery, instantly sprang lic a tigor at the ruffian chiaf, but before he could rcach him, a dozen swords were sheathed in his indomitable heart; and he fell, and died without a groan, a frown on his brow, and a smile of scorn and defiance on his lips.” saas gt e G wid THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 13, 141, Church of San Antonio de Valero, “The Alamo.” T cn2 time, when Col. Cirockett was serviug '\ 1n Congress, he resided at Mvs. Ball's bearding hcuse, cppozite Brown's Hofzl, known in tiro:2 days as Brown’s Indian Queecn Hotel, which the city directory t-lls us was located en t':e Capitol. and President's House,” which for more specific directions may be sa'd to have been qn the north sid® of Penn- syl .ania avonue between Sixth and Sevenih streets northwest, or what is now the M-tro- politan Hotel. Later Mrs. B2ll had her board- ing house on the same side of the Avenue and in the same block with the Indian Queen Hotcl It was customary in those days to write piays around Col. Crockett’s adventures which were performed at the theaters by some of the leading actors of the day. Upon one particular occasion when such a play was being performed here at the Washington Theater on Louisiana avenue by Hackett, the celebrated comedian of that period, it was witnessed by a member of Congress named Willlam Hiester, who was so amused that he wrote back home to his father, under date of December 15, 1833, saying: “During last week we had an amusing farce with Col. David Crockett. It was announced that at the particular request of Davy, Mr. Hackett would appear on the boards in his favorite character of Nimrod Wildfire in the play called ‘The Kentuckian; or, a Trip to New York.” This brought out a house full to over- fiowing. At 7 o'clock the colonel was escorted by the managers through the crowd to a front seat reserved for him. As soon as he was recognized by the audience they made the very house shake with hurrahs for Col. Crockett: ‘Go ah-ad!” ‘T wish I may be shot.’ ‘Music! Let us have Crockett’s March.’ “After some time the curtain rose, and Hackett appeared in & hat covered with a wildcat skin and long tail attachzd. After bowing to the audience he turned toward Crockeit and bowed repeatedly. The compli- ment was reciprocated by the colonel to the no smezll amusement, noise, and gratification of the spectators. The play then went on, through the whole of which were used the phrases at- tributed to the colonel: ‘I am a full team,’ ‘I ean whip my weight in wildcats,” ‘I am half hoerse, hall stcamboat,” etc. Really it was the greatest farce imaginable to see a grave Con- gressman the buffoon of such an audience, and ‘Pitigerald came late, with but few backers, and they of a class not fond of breils and d¥f- ficuliles. He was met belcie he reached the grounds, and beggod to rciurn, but h2 could not retreat without disgroce and defcat. “Fitzgerald spoke firct. Upon mounting the stand, he was noticed to loy scmething upon the pine teble in front of h.m, wrappsd in his handkerchief. He comm:nced his speech by an allusion to the reporis that had been made, and when he said that he was here to reassert and prove th2 charges, Crockeil arose and stated that he was present to give them the lie, and whip the little lawyer that would repeat it. When Pitzgerald rcached the objectionzble point, Crockett arose from his seat in the audience and sadvancedf toward the s.and. When within three or four fest of it, Fitzgerald suddenly removed a pistol from his handker- chief, and, covering Col. Crockett's breast, warned him that a step further and he would fire. “The move was so unexpected, the appear- ance of the speaker so cool and deliberate, that Crockett hesitated a second, turned around, and resumed his seat.” EN. SAMUEL HOUSTON, first President of the Republic of Texas, and later one of the first two Senators from that State afier it was admitted into the Union, December 29, 1845, also once lived ai Brown’s Hotel, on the Avenue, in 1850, and at another time at 2107 Pennsylvania Avenue, in one of a row known as the “Six Buildings,” quite likely when he was serving as a member of the House of Reprecentatives from Tennessee. It was he who routed the Mexicans at the battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836, a little less than two months after the fall of the Alamo. In this engagement Santa Ana was among the prisoners taken, but was later released, a course of ac- tion—in view of subsequ at events—generally deemed unwise. The house in which Gen. Houston lived is the sixth one eastward from Twenty-second strect, which was also, in 1800, occupied by Benjamin Stoddert and used as the Navy of- fice. Later Gen. James Wilkinson, General in Chief of the Army, 1796, lived there, as did John Francis Mercer, first president of the C. & O. Canal Co.; James Madison, “father of the Constitution,” and President of the United States, when Secretary of State, and An old picture of the “Six Buildings” with apparently another building added subsequently to the buildings of the original group. he apparently enjoying the sport very much. I have not yet got acquainted with him, but his appcarance and eonduct in the House are good and altogether correct. In haste, I am sir, yours truly, WILLIAM HIESTER.” HERE scems to be a match for every man in this world, and so there was an occasion when Crockett was running for re-election in 1830 that h2 meot his match, at least for once. The story, as told by the correspondent of the Nashville Banner many years ago, follows: “Paris, besides being one of the oldest towns in this portion cf the State, has historic as- sociaticns as rich and pleasant as any in the West. At this point the canvass usually closed between Davy Crockett and ‘Little Fitz’ as William Filzgerald was called. It was here that the memcrable difficuity took place between ‘Davy’ and ‘Little Fitz’ that dez'd>d the elec- tion of the latter for Congress. Fitzgerald had accused Crockctt of drawing more mileage than he was entitled to, and characterized it in very severe terms. Crockett sent him word that if he repzatcd it he would thrash him. Fitz- gerald’s friends represented to him the danger of a repetition, and advised him not to make the issue. When the hour for speaking arrived an immense crowd was present, mostly Cro-kett men, and among them their idolized chief, Richard Rush, the eminent statesman. Jonah Thompson and Richard Veitch, merchants of Alexandria, Va., owned this building, together with 2109 and 2113, at the time it was occupied by the Madisons. -« It was suspected that the admission of Texas into the Union would bring on war with. Mexico, and this anticipation was speedily realized. Gen. Taylor was ordered with his troops into the disputed territory. Actual hostilities lasted until the city of Mexico was taken, September 14, 1847, The writer speaks of this because, back in San Antonio, in the Odd Feilows’ Cemtery, to- day reposes the dust of a man who went from the District of Columbia to the Mexican War and paid the supreme penalty at Huamantla, Mexico, October 9, 1847. His name was Samuel H. Walker, and the Army register gives him as “Captain, Texas Mounted Rangers, April 11, 1846. Lieuienant Colonel, June 24, 1846. Mus- tered out October 2, 1846. Captain Mounted Rifles, May 27, 1846. Killed October 9, 1847, in action at Huamantla, Mexico.” SEVERAL days ago, the writer had a pleasant interview with Maj. Samuel H. Walker, former major and superintendent of the Wash- ington police force, and nephew and name- 71 sake of the intreped soldier killed in Mexico,, The major kindly loaned, for use in this story, a picture of his.uncle and gave the writer per- mission to go over his correspondence dealing with the Mexican War, including a list of the names of the men who volunteered here in Washington to serve under his uncle for that. far-off service. They included: Jonzthan Robey, Chartes K. Sherman, Addison Dent, Richard A. Dement, Samuel T. Cumming, N. ¥.; Llewellin Ball, Md., who was a clerk under John A. Smith, clerk of the D. C. Circuit Court; W. Gorman (?), J. W. Markwood, Prince Georges Co., Md.; Benjamin B. Chambers, Prince Georges Co., Md.; John A. T. Scott, same; R. R. Wellach, Silas W. Conn, Baltimore Co., Md.; D. John Lowe, same; John A. Goodwin, James R. Phillips, Va.; Joscph E. Morrison (?), Anp Arunder Co., Md.; P. O. Gather, L. F. Criffith, T. T. Beavers, Prince William Co., Va.; Henry H. Jones, W. A. Webcter, Jesse Garner, Othello Wayne, Arthur West, Benjamin West, A. W. 1. Russell, Md.; Aillen Bowie, Thomas Moore. George Crawford, Robert F. Martin, John A. J. Smith and William E. Richards, Prince Georges Co., Md. This paper was hecaded: “Roll of Enlisted Men, for the United States Mounted Riflemen, to b2 under the command of Capt. S. H. Walker, opened in the City of Washingten, D. C, January 22, 1847." This was not Col. Walker's first military service, for in 1842 he joined Gen. Summer- ville’s army to punish the M:xizan Gen. Wohl for making forays into Texas territory, and in December of that year was wounded and cap- tured by the enemy. On his way to the hos- pital, it is relatsd, his escort met Gen. Ampu- dia and his army of 2,000 men, when the gen=- eral asked him if “h.s companions, the Texas dogs. would dare to fizal him?” “Yes,” repled Walker, “and they will whip you, too.” ATER Walker made his escape and finally reached San Antonio in the latter part of 1843, and with cther old comrades joined Hayes' Ranging Regiment. It was soon after this that the value of the Colt's revolver was established, although in the engagement with Indians, which followed, Col. Walker received a severe wound from a lance. Incidentally, it was largely due, as correspondence in Maj. Walker's possezsion would indicate, to this in- cident that the Colt’s revolver was finally adopted as an army weapon, so well serving its purpose. “The news of Col. Walker's death,” # is said, “cast a gloom over the State of Texas.™ His remains were brought on to San Antonio, and. with all honors, buried by the side of those of his comrade, Capt. Gillespie, killed in the storming of the he'ghts above the bishop’s palace at Monterey. Later they were remfoved to a beautiful slope overlooking the city of San Antonio, where a marble shaft, erected by a grateful people, marks the place of their final repose. When, in 1856, this removal took place, an address was made by James C. Wilson, which in part follows: “We have met to remove the mortal remains of Sam Walker and Ad. Gillespie, from the spot to which they were a few years ago com- mitted to one more suitable for their resting place. It is truly gratifying that their ashes are not to be sundered. At one time some apprehension was felt that this would be pro- posed; but permit me to say it was an appre=- hension in which I did not participate. I knew that the h'ghly philanthropic and estima- ble order, under whose auspices this solemn ceremony is conducted, would permit the ashes of their distinguished and lamented brother to remain where the hands of his comrades had laid them, rather than attempt to separate them from the mo!dering dust of him whom in life he chose as one of his dearest friends, and in the solemn hour of his heroic death se= lected to be his partner in the grave. “I knew that, although Gillespie was not an Odd Fellow, and under ordinary circumstances might not be entitled to interment in their cemetery, yet neither the order, nor the citizens of San Antonio, nor the people of Texas would entertain the thought of disregarding the last wish of him who was dear alike to them all. “‘I am dying boys, you can do nothing for me now; I'll never see Texas again. Carry me back to San Antonio and bury me with Ad. Gillespie.” “These have been generally recived as the last words uttered by the lamented Walker: but I have just received a note from a geptleman who was by him when he fell, from which I learn that just as the spirit took its flight and his eye glazed in death, his parting words were: “‘I am gone, boys. Never surrender! Nevep surrender! Hand me my six-shooter!” And so took its flight from the tenement of clay which it had honored as its dwelling placc as brawg and true a soul as ever dwelt in human breast, The words may not be deemed very poetical, but they are highly characteristic, and fropm my knowledge of the man, even had I received them from a less reliable source, I should pre> nounce them genuine.” r . > The Farmer Guessed I rong’ THE farmer has suffered during the pas$ year or two without question. show that his return is way below while his expenses remain high. The farmer made a great mistake in fope- casting market conditions this year, and as a result must wait a year for any relief from the situation. The man who plays the market may make a mistake, but he can guess right 2gain, perhaps, a few days or a few weeks later. The farmer must look to new plantings and new crops for his relief. The general situation, so far as the farmer is concerned, shows that his returns average about 70 per cent of pre-war levels, while the things the farmer buys are 125 per cent of the pre-war level. His taxes are 250 per cent and the wages he pays his help 120 per cent. His situation compared to that of the in- dustrial worker shows his percentage of gross income 70 per cent, while the employed worker in industry receives about 200 per cent of the pre-war figure. The comparison leaves the farmer's situa- tion gloomy, yet the industrial worker without a job might look with envy at the farmer, who at least has food, shelt'r and fuel, even if he is running behind finenclally. Statistice standard