San Antonio de Bexar: A Guide and History Page: 108
vi, 166 p. : ill., maps, ports. ; 27 cm.View a full description of this book.
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SAN ANTONIO DE BEXAk.
Harney for $60 per month, as his residence and for a while military headquarters,
and still later Major Belger made use of it as a Quartermaster's Depot. It
was here that my daughter Mrs. Eagar, was born, as also my son James Wilson
Riddle, a merchant of Eagle Pass, Texas. Mrs. Eagar was a child only ten days
old when the Mexicans came on March 7th 1842, I was the last American
lady to leave the city. I went to Gonzales and remained there from March to
October 1842. In my flight I stayed at Don Manuel Flores ranch, a stopping place
between San Antonio and Seguin. Mrs. Maverick went afterwards to Decrow's
Point on the coast and stayed there about five years. It was a terribly anxious
time for the women. After all, these Mexicans under Vasquez, were little more
than a band of marauders. And when in September of the same year, Woll was
reported as advancing upon San Antonio with a large force, many of the citizens
determined if possible to make some kind of defence, but so strong a force was
very much of a surprise, and many of the citizens were made prisoners, even as the
District Court was sitting. It was a much more serious affair than the investment
of the city under Vasquez in the spring. Our store was robbed of all our goods-
and a claim against Mexico for the damage done us, is still unsettled. The claim
was made through the British government, for my husband was a British subject,
but in the midst of the many important events that quickly followed each other at
that epoch, the claim although acknowledged to be a just one was neglected.
When it will be settled I know not. Fifty-three good citizens were taken and
put in chains by Woll, and marched all the weary way to the City of Mexico. I
knew most of them well. My husband was chained to Wm. E. Jones. His
brother to John Twohig, the banker-at the time John Twohig had a general store
at the corner of Main Plaza and Main street, where Deutsch's store is. He coolly
blew up his store-declaring that no man should rob him of his goods. Sam
A. Maverick had for a companion Major Colquhoun, I believe-then there were
John Bradley the father of Mrs. Waelder, James Truehart, Judge Hutcheson, Dr.
Hatch, Dr. Booker, Dr. Mackay, Duncan B. Ogden and many others. I have a
list but don't know just where to find it now. Many men were killed a few days
after in the fight on the Salado. It was a dreadful time. I also knew many of
the Mier prisoners-that was a sad bit of history-you have heard all about that
I expect.
Soon after I came, my husband gave me a piano-it was about the first in
Texas. I was the only player in San Antonio then-I still play a little. I had
that piano until a few months ago, when I sold it for $16; I am sorry now that I
sold it. I still have my old music stool. When the Mexicans came I had my
piano hastily boxed, and on my return, that, my music stool and a rocker were
almost my only household possessions. Many of the prominent Mexican families
were at first wealthy and well-to-do, but they had to live, and they were not mer-
chants, and extensive farming was out of the question on account of the great
danger of Indian raids-they did not dare trust themselves for long, out of town,
so their great estates dwindled, and passed into the hands of others. I have seen
many and vast changes in San Antonio."
Many other interesting matters were discussed by Mrs. Canterbury, and per-
sonal recollections were given of events, the history of which will be learnt in
school by the children of Texas for many future generations.1Os
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Corner, William. San Antonio de Bexar: A Guide and History, book, 1890; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth143549/m1/162/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Texas Health Science Center Libraries.