Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 16, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 17, 1963 Page: 15 of 32
thirty two pages : ill. ; page 11 x 9 in.View a full description of this newspaper.
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Wednesday, April 17, 1983
The he&tš fot the Distriet I Organižers’
Appreciation BaíiqUet were Bro, and
Sister Vaelav H. Barma, of Koute 1,
Smiíhville.
Lodge officers were present, and eacih.
spoke briefly: President Marek, Vice-
president Joe B. Hejny, secretary Ray-
mond Urbanovsky, and Ben Zabcik, Fi-
nancial Secretary. Tlie editor of the
Věstník was present with his 5V2-year-
old son, Nicholas, and brought with
him Ernest Tobola of the Čechoslovák
Publishing Co. printing staff.
Gifts were presented to the top three
crganizers of Distriet One. At the top
was Bro. John J. Srubar, of Lodge' 17,
who sold $42,500 worth of Insurance
in the year 1952. The next gift was
reserved for Bro. Rudy Matějka, of
Lodge 39, who wrote up the largest
number of new members — 25 — with
$29,000 worth of life insurance. Bro.
Matějka was unable to be present to
aosept his gift, and it was forwarded
to him. T.hird prize was presented to
Bro. E. R. Jakubik of Lodge No, 9, who
sold $30,000 worth of insurance. All
three received high-quality, hand-rnade
billfolds, with the names embossed on
each one.
.For the Supreme Lodge, Vice-Presi-
dent Hejny presented gifts to the
above-named workers, and speciál
plaques to Bro. Srubar and Bro.
Matějka.
Brother Marek was the principál
speaker, and made a very moving pres-
entation. Everyone present was given
the oportunity to spealc, and most did.
The editoFs talk was enjoyed by all,
especially the Czech portion. His son,
Nicholas, availed himself of the oppor-
tunity and made a very impressive 30-
second talk. He received a rousing ova-
tion. Bro. August Kacdig attorney for
the SPJST, was also present and spoke
‘briefly. The Director from Distriet I,
Bro. John A. Kuběna of La Grange,
likewíse spoke briefly. As stated pře-
fiSTNÍK
viously, Bro. Matějka, and his wife,
Lillian, who is our Distriet Youth Di-
rector, were not able to be present due
to the recent death of Bro. Matějka’s
mother.
After the speeches, a number of the
guests gathered aroand Bro. Morris
and the piano to sing spirited and
rousing Czech numbers. This was en-
joyed by everyone.
All in all, it was a very enjoyable
and successful evening. The fruits of
our labors were rewarded, and it is to.
Brother and Sister Barinahs credit that
it was ťhus. As Brother Srubar writes
(in the Cezech section), everyone is
looking forward to Brother Barina’s
Appreciation Banquet next year. Here’s
to an even greater 1963!
—-) O (----
THE, MAGNIFICENT MISFIT
By Ken McMorrough
West, Texas
Located mid-way between Goliad
and Vlctoria, on tlhe plain near Coleto
Creek, a smáli tract of land has been
preserved in mernory of the forces of
James Fannin. Here on Mareh 19,
1836, a halí mile from a thick stand
of timber, a Mexičan force, under Ur-
rera, completely surrounded Fannin’s
army, on its retreat to VMoria, and
after futile skirmishmg, forced it to
surrender. Many historians believe this
to be a monument to a mis také, pro-
testing’ that althougíh. Fannin had the
bulk of the Texas army under his
command at Goliad, he contributed
iittle to the cause of the stfuggle for
independence.
Fannin was young and aggressive.
He had been comrnissioaied, by Austin,
for his brilliant work in the “Batťle of
Concepcion,” where he had demon-
strated military potential. He had but
one blaek marfc on his record. In the
winter of 1835 he had joined with Dr.
Grant cm the “Matamoros Expedition,”
a reckless and ill-fated attempt by a
íew Texans to invade Mexico. This
action was probably motivated by a
lack of exí-itement. and rising ten-
sions, due to the luli in activity.
He was then assigned a command
at Goliad to, as some said, keep him
out of trouble. While Travis was try-
ing to hold his force together in San
Antonio,’ Fannin was organizing his
men into a preelsioned fighting team.
He had a company of artillery, one oif
iinfantry, and another of engineers.
He drilled ťhe regulars and set the
engineers to work fortifying the walls
of La Bahia Mission, for the attack
that he was sure would come from the
south.
On February 25, 1836, after receiving
a request for aid from Travis, he set
out to relieve the defenders of the
Alamo. Tle marched with nearly the
v/hole force of Goliad, leaving only a
smáli group of regulars to guard the
fořt. Upon attempting to; cross the
San Anotnio River, three of his wag-
pns were lost and it was with the ut-
most labor and personál hazard, that
ťhe cannon were conveyed safely
across. He was forced to. make camp
on - the river bank; that night some
of the oxen strayed off and could not
be found. Fannin’s situation becaiiie
delicate in the extreme. If he continu-
ed on, the baggage and artillery would
háve to be left behind. Since tlhe coun-
try between Goliad and San Antonio
v/as completely unsettled, they would
háve to incur tihe risk of starvation.
Fannin made the only sensible de-
cision: to return to Goliad and con-
tinue to fertiíy that plače. That Fan-
nin and his men were anxious to go to
the relief of Bexar is evident; but they
were unwilling to go at the risk of be-
ing murdered along the way ancl of
exp osin g the whole country from
Bexar to the coast to the enemy.
The Alamo fell on March 6, and the
Texans, especially those in exposed
areas, began to flee before the Mexi-
čan adíance. On the lOth Fannin
sent Captain King to Refugio to aid
in evacuating some families there. On
the 14 he received an order from Hous-
ton to retreat, with his entire force
and what refugees he could také, to
Victoria, for the purpose of fortifying
that plače. But Fannin was about- to
make a drastic mistake. Instead of
sending a messenger to inform King of
his intended move, he decided to wait
at Goliad for his return. This eost
him foiur precious clays.
On the morning of March 19 the ex-
odus began. Having gone about seven
miles from Goliad the entire party
stopped for an ihour to graze the
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Morris, Nick A. Věstník (West, Tex.), Vol. 51, No. 16, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 17, 1963, newspaper, April 17, 1963; West, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth625846/m1/15/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Slovanska Podporujici Jednota Statu Texas.