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AQUEDUCT AT MISSION SAN JUAN. ANARY AT THE MISSION SAN JOSE. ISSION SAN FRANCISCO DE LA ESPADA. 4™ MISSION.
CATHEDRAL DE SAN FERNANDO. SIEGE OF THE ALAMO, MARCH 6™ 1836. SAN PEDRO SPRINGS. MAIN SPRING. U.S. MILITARY POST, FROM! TOWER. COMMERCE. STREET. LOOKING WEST. BEAUTICS OFSAN ANTONIO RIVER. GUENTHER'S LOWER MILL. REPARING BREAKFAS
OUR MEXICAN CITIZENS. CHILI -CON - CARNE. OR MEXICAN SUPPER. STREET SCENE, "BROKEN DOWN." TEXAS STATE CAPITOL, AUSTIN. S.A3N" .ANTONIO.
San Antonio of to-day, an American, yet cosmopolitan city of some 50,000 inhabit ants is so little the San Antonio of even modern history, it has been deemed proper that the facts should be given to the world by an historian whose words though few will be found impartial to any race or creed, whose fortune it has been to dwell in its delightful climate. Being the oldest incorporated city, in the United States it would seem strange that Histories make so little mention of it were it not for the fact that the whole State of Texas was only annexed to the United States in 1845 just prior to the Mexican war. Situated in latitude 30, longitude 98 at an elevation of 650 feet above the sea level, in the center of the finest grazing lands in the world and some hundreds of miles distant from any other large cities. It has long enjoyed a thrifty commercial activity. The Southern Pacific, the Missouri Pacific, the International and great Northern R. K's and Arrausas Pass K. R. (built by the citizens of San Antonio to the coast,) furnish quick communication with all ports of the United States as well as the republic of Mexico. The mean temperature for the month of January is about 52 degrees; exactly the same as that of Los Angelos, Cal., and the city of Mexico, and ten degrees wanner than the average temperature of sunny Italy during the same period. The mean temperature for the year is about 58 degrees. People can !>it out of doors of evenings on their verandas or porches all winter without inconvenience, except when an occasional norther, (cool north wind) comes, during which tires are needed. Northers occur at intervals of about ten days, but do not last long and are regarded as a pleasant and health-giving change. Thousands of people come yearly to this section to spend the winter, it being regarded as the best suited for con sumptives of all the known winter resorts; for the elevation guarantees about the proper density of atmosphere, and there being no swamps, lakes or stagnant waters within hundreds of miles, a dryness is perceived in the air highly beneficial to those affected with weakness of the lungs. Relief also from malarial effects of decaying vegetation in the swamp, such as is experienced in Florida and other win ter resorts in the south, go far towards guaranteeing renewed vigor to all who will come to this locality, and remain long enough to receive permanent benefit. THE STATEOFTJXAS. The history of Texas differs from that of the other states that have been added to the union in this, that its people had achieved their own independence by revolt ing against Mexico, and had been recognized by the leading powers of the world as a newborn nation. The first white settlement of Texas was made in 1085 when Sieur de La Salle landed a colony of French emigrants on the coast of Lavaca and erected fort St. Louis. In UiitO Captain De Leon, a Spanish officer, with one hun dred and ten men and some Franciscan monks took the place and established it as the mission of San Francisco, but the settlement was abandoned in I(!!)3 on acount of the failure of the crops and hostilities of the Indians. In 1714 Huchereau St. Dluls, a Frenchman, penetrated as far as the Rio Grande, was taken prisoner at the mission of San Juan, married the Spanish governor's daughter, and introduced Span ish missionaries into Texas who founded several missions; among others the one on the banks of the San Pedro river near San Antonio. Then followed a forty-three years of quiet growth when the Indians in 1758 started such cruel wars upon the settlers, they were well nigh exterminated. In 17(>5 there were scarcely seven hun dred and fifty white settlers in the entire domain. By the year 1830, after many changes of administration and sovereignty, the re gion began to attract settlers from the United States, who, it seems, were very badly treated by the Mexican government which confiscated their property and drove them out whenever they could. In 1833, however, the American settlers, now numbering twenty-thousand, held a convention, prepared a constitution, and demanded of the Mexican Government, of which Santa Anna was at the head, that they be admitted as a separate state into the Republic: to this Santa Anna sought to amuse the Texans for a couple of years while lie was preparing an army, and finally entered the country, bent on exterminating the American settlers. Several skirmishes occurred in the Fall of 1835. Goliad was captured by the Texans Oct. 9, and the battle of Conception was fought Oct. 28, near San Antonio. On Nov 3, delegates from all sections met at San Felipede, Austin, and organized a provisional government and a general council with Henry Smith as Governor, Sam Houston, Military Commander, and Austin as Commissioner to the United States. San An tonio was taken Dec. 10, after a cannonade.of six days, and the entire Mexican army driven out of Texas. Ou Dec. 20, the Declaration of Indepedence was pre pared. Santa Anna again set out with an army, this time, of seven thousand live hundred men well equipped. Ou Feb. 23, 1830, he invested the Alamo. On March 0, the Alamo was taken and the whole garrison were put to the sword. Ou March 1, a convention assembled at Washington, on the Brazos, and on the 2nd issued a declaration of independence; on the Kith a provisional president (David G. Burnett and other officers were elected, and a Constitution was adopted which was signed on the 17th.) Meanwhile, Gen. Houston found it necessary, on the approach of Santa Anna, to evacuate Gonzales. The tragedy of the Alamo, the murder of Col. Fannin's command in cold blood at Goliad, March 27, 1830, by Santa Anna's order, in violation of the terms of surrender, and the successive defeats of the Texans, pro duced a short panic. The alarm soon passed away, and having collected a force of about eight hundred troops, he gave battle on April 21 to the Mexican forces which had pursued them, of about twice the number, and defeated them completely, killing six hundred mid thirty, wounding two hundred and eight and taking seven hundred and thirty prisoners; among the latter, though not captured till the next day, was the Mexican president, who commanded in person. The Mexicans were at once demoralized. Santa Anna was held a prisoner, but the war practically ended; and though the Mexican government made several attempts to tit out other armies to reconquer Texas, and refused to acknowledge its independence, their forces did not again invade the country. Gen. Houston, who had been wounded in the battle of San Jacinto, and had resigned his command of the army, was elected President in September, 1830, and on October 22 was inaugurated. The first Congress of the Republic assembled about the same time, the Constitu tion having been adopted in the election of September. In 1843, President Tyler of the United States made propositions to the President of Texas for her annexa tion, which was favorably received. On July 4th, 1845, the Texans ratified the agreement for annexation, and the United States Congress on December 29, 1845, by a joint resolution declared Texas admitted to the Union. At that time its area was 37(1,103 square miles. In 1850 the State ceded to the United States its claim for all territory beyond its present limits in consideration of .f 10,000,000 in bonds, with the proceeds of which the State debt was paid. Until this time San Antonio had always, occupied a position of more or less military prominence, and seemed to have been the point of attack in scores of skirmishes unmentioned in this brief account; from this time on, peace and prosperity commenced, and those who live there to-day, are reaping the harvests their predecessors sowed in much blood and in war-like times, the equal of which is only seen in the histories of the dark ages.
Short description of the different pictures contained in the San Antonio Album, published by PAUL WAGNER. TIRST PAfiE. 11.IIIIO. built 1718. Used tor religious purposes, and served as a fort and protection against Indians until 1835. when it was used as headquarters of Gen. Cos, commanding the Mexican army at the time the city, was captured by the Americans under Ben Milam and Ool, K. W. Johnson. In next year it was tlie fort of the Americans under Travis, Howie jmd Crockett, when it was the scene of the most heroic and deadly contest known in mod ern history. The advance guard of Santa Anna's Army arrived on the 2-2nd Februai-y, 1830. The next day Santa Anna displayed the red flag from the tower of the Cathedral of San Fer nando, and scut a summons to tlie Texans to surrender. He was answered by a canon shot. The siege of tlie Alamo then began, and continued until Sunday morning, March 6th, 1830, when the Mexican troops surrounded the Alamo, and after half an hour's hard lighting, during which the Texans twice repelled their foe??, (who were driven back by their own cavalry with drawn sabres), succeeded in carrying the place by storm, where all the sur viving defenders were put to death, stripped of their clothing,'dragged to the spot when: St. Joseph's Church now stands, piled in with fence.rails, covered with brush and burned. The old ruin was rebuilt in 1850, and is now owned by the State of Texas. Its present size is 112x72 feet, the walls solid masonry 4 feet thick and 22 >£ feet high . SECOND PAGE. Hfittftion de la Concepcion, now called the First Mission, is on tlie immediate left bank of the San Antonio River, two miles below the city, built in 1731. Its style is called Christianized Moorish. The front is a square, flanked on either side by a dome-covered belfry. The principal door is surmounted by a triangular facade. The whole outside of the buildings is covered with a coat of mastic or cement, which was painted in various geometric forms, somewhat after the fashion of tiles. The walls of the interior are paint ed with various emblems, amdng which the cord of the Franciscans, a serpent, and the seven dolores, or sorrows, which pierce the heart of the virgin mother. The entrance to the church is between the towers and through a vestibule. THIRD PAGE, The Second IfliMftion, San .ION*', is four miles below the city of San Antonio. It was commenced in 1718, and was several years in building. It was the most elegant and beauti ful of all the Texas Missions. The celebrated artist, Huica, was sent from Spain, and spent several years in carving the various ornamentations of the building. The front doorway is 35 feet high; the doors, solid live oak, covered with cedar, nicely carved, have gone to keep company with St. Ann and the heads of Sts. Joaquin and Joseph. There were origi nally six life-size statues around this doorway. The first, on the south, St. Ann (gone); on the north, St. Joaquin (headless,); above Lhe door, the virgin; above this a large window with ornamental surroundings of sacred emblems, flowers and foliage. Over this window a statue of St. Joseph; on his left, St. Francis; on his right, St. Domingo. St. Joseph has also lost his head. The spiral stairs of live oak and the cedar ladders are still the means of get ting up in the tower. The old emblems are still used to teach Christianity in all of the Missions. This Mission, between the elements and the festive vandal, will soon be no more. # FOURTH PAGE.—Shows the interior, also more plainly the elegant and beautiful orna mentations of the Mission San Jose. FIFTH PAGE.—The ruins of San Jose Mission, North-East. Tlie Third Jl i»»iou, or Mission San Juan Capistrano, is on the left bank of the San Antonio river, six miles below the city; built 1716. The Old Aqueduct was build in 1725. It seems to be as good to-day as when built, and continues to furnish water for the Mexicans to wash with and for irrigating purposes. The «.i.iiii»i > at Mission San Jose. SIXTH PAGE.—NUudon de 1»« Cuhraa is on a high bluff on the west side of San An tonio river, live miles below Floresville. It wasenclossed in a diamond-shaped lot contain ing about 2 acres, and had a bastion at each end of the diamond with 10 porticos; built 1818. • ii*» C»thedral of «Sau IVriiamlo. was built for a parish church by subscription between Main and Military Plazas, San Antonio, Texas, 1732. From the old tower, now torn down, was displayed the blood-red flag of the butcher Santa Anna, during the mem orable siege and sacrifice of the heroes of the Alamo. Other Mexican Generals at times displayed from the same tower the red and black flags and their own banners. The Fourth Tli-»*iou, or Mission of San Francisco de la Espada, was built in 1730; is nine miles below San Antonio. Siege of the Alamo, the description of which is given under first page. SEVENTH PACE.—Col. Benj. R. Milam, distinguished himself as a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1835 he was in Saltillo, Mexico, and when opposed to the Santa Anna adminis tration he was put in prison at Monterey, from where he managed to escape. He fled to Texas and became one of the storming party that captured Goliad. After the capture of Goliad Milam went to the Texas army, then preparing to capture San Antonio. The pros pect was disheartening. The city was well fortified. A counsel of war in the Texas camp had decided to abandon the idea of storming tlie town . At this junction, when the army appeared in danger of disbanding, Milam stepped out in front and announced that he was going to San Antonio and wanted volunteers to go with him. With a shout the men rallied to the standard of the brave soldier. In the hour of victory Milam was pierced with a rifle ball which killed him instantly. J am«'*. Bowie. This is a true picture of James Bowie, who was a native of Georgia and latter went to Louisiana. His brother was the manufacturer of the celebrated Bowie knife and had given one to James, who shortly afterwards, when fighting a duel and after being shot down, killed his antagonist with this knife. James Bowie became a citizen of Saltillo, Mexico in 1830 and soon after married the daughter of Governor Veramendi of San Antonio. In 183fi he was with the army of Austin and was second in command at the battle of Conception. After resigning his commission and after the taking of San Antonio he was connected with the army at Goliad, where he met Sam Houston. Houston sent him back to San Antonio, with orders to Col. Neil to dismantle the fort and withdraw to the east side of the Guadalupe river. Had this order been executed the sacrifice of the Alamo would have been averted. But Bowie found Travis in command at San Antonio, acting under orders of Gov. Smith. Bowie was then In fertile health and when Santa anna arriv •''I be with the other Texan the Alamo with Travis. When the alamo fell he was found in bed and killed by the Mexicans. *<•*•»*» MI &»m l»*dro MprinifH.-San Pedro Springs are about one mile north ol Main I'la/.a; they are in H tract ol land containing 50 acres, owned by the city and used lor a park. There are Beveral springs gushing oat of the rock, forming San Pedro creek. Among the many at tract ions here are a museum Of natural history, dancing halls dramatic hall, band stand, bat h house, bobby-horses, swings, shooting gallery, roller coaster, shady walks, rustic seats, ( aged animals, semi-tropical plants, etc, The park is used lor picnics. celebrations, etc. it is the north terminus of the North Plores Btreel and San Peoro Springs street car lines. EIGHTH PAGB.—U, H. Military Pott. The 17.8. Govt. depot on Government urn smiles i in- center of the city, is one of the most beautiful and elaborate military posts in the country,andaaa goodly number oi officers and soldiers are always located here, meat pride is taken in the ornamentation and eai-e of the grounds; the avenue of urn I ml la trees in front of the officers' Quarters is a most beautiful sight. Prom the topoi the tower In the center of the grounds is a grand view of the city and country,
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