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Show HOI HOCKETT Preserved as Memorial to Hero of the Alamo. San Antonio, Where American Troops Concentrated, Former Home of One of Most Picturesque Frontiersmen Fron-tiersmen of Nation. The center of interest in America today is historic old San Antonio," which is the point of concentration for the bulk of troops that have gathered in Texas to be utilized in the present emergency. Just beyond Fort Sam Houston, which may be termed the citadel of San Antonio, is a grass covered cov-ered plain, 800 acres In extent, where the great camp is situated. The troops are massed by regiments, which are encamped in squads, all facing in . the direction of Gen. Carter's headquarters, head-quarters, which are located on top of a little hill that is the only elevation to break the monotony of the landscape. land-scape. The interesting city of San Antonio consists of three parts: the old town, or San Antonio proper, between the San Pedro and the San Antonio rivers; riv-ers; Chihuahua, west of the San Pedro j and Alamo, east of the San Antonio. The old town is the business busi-ness quarter and has in great part lost its Mexican character, Saving been almost entirely rebuilt since 1860. Chihuahua is almost exclusively Mexican in character and population. The houses are one story high, built partly of stone and partly of upright logs with cane roofs. Alamo is the largest quarter of the city, is considerably consid-erably larger than the other two and is mostly inhabited by Germans. In the north part is the Alamo plaza, with the fort of that name which, 64 years ago, was the scene of a savage and sanguinary encounter between a small company of Texans "and Americans, and a greatly superior force of. Mexicans, which resulted in the capture of the fort and the mas- i vwy i Wmkk SLJl i'Sw 1 Davy Crockett Home. sacre of the entire garrison. Among the valiant defender was the famous Davy Crockett, who had gone to help the Texans in their fight for independence, indepen-dence, and who fell surrounded by the bodies of those he had slain ere he wag cut down. The heroic valor of the garrison and the barbarity of the Mexicans thrilled the American people. The cry of "Remember "Re-member the Alamo!" was heard throughout the country; and the feeling feel-ing which it excited did much to bring on the war with Mexico, in which an American army swept triumphantly into the capital of the Montezumas. Hard by this historic place is the old cabin of Davy Crockett, which has been preserved by the patriotic Texans Tex-ans as a lasting memorial to the hero, who lost his life in the sublime cause of liberty. |