The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 12, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 24, 2010 Page: 4 of 41
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: The Clifton Record and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Nellie Pederson Civic Library.
- Highlighting
- Highlighting On/Off
- Color:
- Adjust Image
- Rotate Left
- Rotate Right
- Brightness, Contrast, etc. (Experimental)
- Cropping Tool
- Download Sizes
- Preview all sizes/dimensions or...
- Download Thumbnail
- Download Small
- Download Medium
- Download Large
- High Resolution Files
- IIIF Image JSON
- IIIF Image URL
- Accessibility
- View Extracted Text
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
i*mm*1*T*mM*Mf |
fQ|
ByawlMHtfte 1
&
Mexicans Risk Own Lives
To Save Texans At Goliad
Santa Anna overruled
his general on the ground
on Mar. 23, 1836 and gave
the infamous order for the
mass execution of all the
Goliad prisoners
The Tampico captives
served as guinea pigs for
the dictator’s get-tough
policy toward meddlesome
foreigners. A number of
Americans were among the
28 follow ers of Gen. Jose
Antonio Mexia tried for
piracy and put to death in
December 1835. Encour-
aged by the "so w hat?” re-
action in the United States,
Santa Anna issued the in-
famous no-quarter decree
that his puppet congress
made the law of the land
on Dec. 30.
Gen. Jose de Urrea, com-
mander of the eastern army
sweeping north up the
Texas coast, believed the
summary slaughter of pris-
oners was unconscionable
overkill. But he had to do
something with the Texans
taken at San Patricio on
Feb. 27, 1836, and Santa
Anna demanded their im-
mediate annihilation. A
last-minute plea from an
Irish priest gave him a
good excuse tor letting the
rebels live, and he shipped
them off Matamaros.
Urrea faced an identi-
cal dilemma two weeks
later at Refugio, where
33 armed insurrectionists
raised the white flag. He
saved the problem this
time by shooting the half
that hailed from Kentucky
and Tennessee and turning
loose those claiming colo-
nial residency and Mexi-
can citizenshfp.
Later m the week. Urrea
rupted by the Georgian's
sudden and unexpected of-
fer to surrender. Since the
Mexican had already lost
250 soldiers and feared
more fatalities if the fight-
ing continued, he was will-
ing to promise his oppo-
nent the moon.
Negotiations hit a serious
snag, however, when rebel
representatives insisted
upon humane treatment as
POW’s and prompt parole
to the U S. Urrea took Fan-
nin aside for a confidential
chat and privately pledged
complete compliance with
the unacceptable terms, if
only he would lay down
his arms.
Fannin should have
known better than to strike
the fatal bargain. He was
well aware of Santa An-
na's standing order, w hich
had been so mercilessly
carried out at the Alamo.
What on earth made him
think Urrea had the pow er
to keep such a pie-in-the-
sky premise?
Reporting to his superior
by messenger. Urrea rec-
ommended clemency for
the captiv es. Santa 'Anna
answered with a direct
order for the execution of
every last one of the “per-
fidious foreigners" and.
just to be on me safe side,
sent the same instructions
to the colonel in charge of
the Goliad garrison.
Bv the time Jose Nicolas
de (a Portilla received his
orders on Mar. 26. Urrea
was tong gone. Resigned
to the inevitability of the
massacre, he preferred to
be someplace else when
the killing commenced.
The prisoners were in
unusually high spirits that
dreadful night follow-
ing word from Fannin,
whose gullibilitv knew
no bounds, that the Mexi-
cans w ere busy making the
necessary preparations for
their safe departure. The
unsuspecting souls sang
themselves to sleep with
a few choruses of “Home
Sweet Home.”
Haunted by a hellish vi-
sion of what the morning
w ould bring, the brave wife
of a Mexican officer could
not close her eyes. The
kind heart of Francita Ala-
vez already had gone out
to the prisoners at Capano
Bay, where she coaxed the
guards into loosening the
ropes cutting off the circu-
lation in their arms, but that
act of compassion paled in
comparison to her current
mission of mercy.
Senora Laves had a kin-
dred spirit in a colonel
named Francisco Garay,
who was willing to risk his
life to save as many pris-
oners as possible from the
firing squads. At first light
he led a score or so of con-
fused captives to his tent
in a peach orchard and told
them not to budge until he
returned.
As the condemned filed
past, Senora Alavez spotted
a young boy in the doomed
ranks. She pleaded with a
high-ranking German mer-
cenary to leave the lad with
her. and without a word or
change in expression the
request was miraculously
granted.
~ Minutes later, the sound
of musket fire and the
screams of the dying shat-
tered the Palm Sunday si-
lence. “Curse you, Santa
Anna!” Francita Alavez
shouted. “What a disgrace
you have brought to this
country!"
From his sanctuary in the
orchard. Dr. J.H Barnard
heard the murderous mad-
ness “I saw through the
trees several of the prison-
ers running with their ut-
most speed and directly af-
ter some Mexican soldiers
in pursuit of them
l‘f 'olnnol ( ears
‘‘Colonel Gara
ind
gemi
You are safe. This is not
appei
‘Kee
raray now
ared and said to us.
eep still, gentlemen.
from my orders, nor do I
execute the.’”
Three hundred and for-
ty-two died that day shot
down like rabid dogs. Of
the estimated 65 survivors,
no fewer than 37 owed then-
lives to the “Angel of Go-
liad,” as Francita Alavez
always would be known,
and the courageous colo-
nel who refused to obey an
immoral order.
("Secession & Civil
War"-latest "Best of This
Week in Texas History"
collection available for
$10.95 plus $3.25 postage
and handling from Bar-
tee Haile, P.O. Box 152,
Friendswood, TX 77549
or order on-line at twith.
com.)
Cattle Delivery
We looked at some cows
today. Zack may not be 100*/o
yet but we've been without in-
come from cattle for two years
now, and it was time. Made a
deal for a few. The original guy
who was to deliver our ten new
head of cattle had a breakdown
with his truck. His trailer would
have been small enough to
make the turn through our front
gate. (Did you catch that omi-
nous hint of foreshadowing?)
, QIC. So the seller of the cattle
must have been hot to get his
check. Wanted- to deliver to-
day no matter what. He called
another guy who agreed to do
the deed. We had told the seller
there was no rush. It was al-
ready getting late in the day. It
drizzled all day today and more
rain is expected tomorrow . We
told him he could wait days or
even week if necessary . But, oh
no. He had to send them today.
The plan was to put the new
cows in the lot so they could
settle down for a while, then
let them out later. We've been
working on that lot for a month
now.
By the time the other guy got
to the seller’s place and finally
here, it was dark-thirty. And
guess what? His trailer was
about as long as Florida. But
ever optimistic, he tried to make
the turn into the front gate. Got
stuck. I don’t mean sort of
stuck, or just a little stuck. I
mean completely stuck right
across our county road. His
truck tires were making huge
ruts in the soft earth in front
of our gate as he tried to alter-
nately back up and go forward
— to straighten out and make it
through. He couldn’t get trac-
tion. He couldn’t back up to
get away from one of the posts
(that he was actually up against
by that time) to straighten him-
self out. Zack tried to pull him
with the tractor, but that didn't
work too well. When he finally
was able to back up a little bit,
he backed right up into the little
me fine of the property across
the street. Stuck again, still
blocking the road. About five
or six cars were forced to turn
around and go back/around. I
was the traffic cop. — Had the
farm truck there with the flash-
ers on.
Our “across the street neigh-
bor’’ came out to see what was
going on. (At one point, I had
our farm truck in his driveway).
Three guys in a truck asked if
they could help and were huge-
ly relieved w hen I said “Thanks,
but no.” Two neighbors came
by, chatted a bit, backed up
and went around. One came
back a little later to help. Fi-
nally in desperation and with
a sudden inspiration, the driver
detached truck from trailer. At
this point, all the many lights
on the huge trailer went off.
Big hazard, but my headlights
were pointing at it, so hard to
miss. The truck had a couple
of wheels through the gate, in
deep ruts. The trailer was still
completely blocking the road.
Even detached from the trailer,
the truck still wouldn't budge.
Zack pulled it out through the
gate with our tractor. The deliv-
ery guy drove his truck on into
our place, turned around, then
exited through the (unblocked)
cattle guard. Thank goodness
we have two gates at that spot.
He hooked up to his trailer at a
different angle - almost a right
angle. (Big gooseneck connec-
tion ). He tried and tried and was
finally able to pull the trailer on
up the road, turn around, and
come back from the other di-
rection.
We had given up on the idea
of bringing this truck and trail-
er into the place and taking the
cattle to the lot. We were just
relieved the trailer full of cattle
was no longer stuck across the
county road. The driver was
able to back the trailer near to
our open gate (next to the cattle
guard). Our helpful neighbor
parked his truck to block part
of the open space. I parked the
farm truck to block the rest of
the opening. Zack and I stood
on the cattle guard (on the other
side of a low fence. Couldn't
have a skittish cow jump and
land unexpectedly on the cat-
tle guard). We let them come
out slowly on their own, right
there at the front gate, and that
was finally that. Poor cows.
We may not see them for days
now! The whole ordeal took
two hours. I feel like I was out
there for weeks. What a night.
If anyone ever tells you he’s
going to deliver your cows in
the late afternoon of a rainy
day, emphatically insist that
he wait, and don’t take no for
an answer. Then be certain the
trailer’s less than 36 feet long!
Credit Card Scam Alert
The Clifton Record and ing newspaper classified ads.
Meridian Tribune are joining The scammers take classified
newspapers from around the ad listings and call the numbers
state and nation in issuing an listed in those ads. They tell the
alert about a new scam involv- individual that the newspaper's
The Clifton Record
Serving Bosque County Since 1895
The Clifton Racord (USPS-118-100 • ISSN-1086-9352) it puMshtd weekly,
on Wednetdayt, by Bosque County Publishing, LP, 310 Watt Fifth Street,
Clifton, Texas 76634-1611. Periodicals postage is paid at Clifton, TX 76634.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE Bosque County one year S46, Elsewhere, one year: S53
Gwe an address when requesting mange at address Per copy price: 75 cents
POSTMASTER: Please send address change Id’ The CMIon Record, P.O. Box 353,
CNton TX 76634
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday, 9-5: Closed Weekends.
DEADUNES: Fridays 5pm
Mark Henry, PuWlshar
StAFf EOTTORIAL - Mart Henry, Editor-to-Clite*; Dennis Phips, Managing Editor; Carol
Speer ADVERT (SING — Melanie Harvey (Marketing Drector). Tammy Sherion. Timmy Kleine
BUSINESS - Kay Orta (Offic* Manager), Cartkn Snvth (Bookkeepng), CIRCULATION:
Charke Gandy Gqoogte Bel. John Paukon. Pemie Stanford
Tela phone: 264/675-3336 • FAX: 254/675-409
E-mail: newaQcHftonrecord.com
Clifton Record Online: www.cUflonrecord.com
THE CUFTON RECORD welcomes Men at up to 150 words on any puMc issue Any Mv fiat
sxeeds he wort Imil may not be considered for putfeaton We pubteh only oripnat MM addressed
fcl he cthon Recoro An addree* end deytme phone ntrnber must be nduded to he sutler's identity
can De vented No tetters** be published unit authorships contorted. Thoee who ante Uteri are
asted lo Ur* her enktts to one per monh At Men we sublet to edfcig. The Record reserves he
rtgfvt to dsdne pubteahon or any submssion Letters must be signed. Leans enrisn in he pramofonot
pottcaf cendriaes or asues lo be decided by an alecion wi not be cowidoed tor puUcMhn udass
hey ire idiadutod lor puUctenn hrae weeks or moe prior Id he itecton. hdteduNs may pwctaee
adverting space dwng he period prior to he eMckon in support of canfctetet or issues to be voted
upon Laters*r«en as cards or hanks may bs charged desalted ad rate and be paced in dessied
secton or newspaper, a! editors'oplon.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC: Any error or sneweous rarieetion upon the character, stand** or
uprAJpon oT sny pereon, dm, or covporaefcn «rhicim»a)npp«lr antes new ipipw «*> bs
ptwfy corrected upen being brougM to he MSsnUon of fie msnagemsnt
Tbs curton Record and wmactjttonrscord.com. as wad s» ww rtaeonebH dsrtvMivs o( these
names we trademarks of Botque Courty PuMtehtng, IP aid use of Hwee tradamarto erihout
the espnee arisen consent of Basque County PuMMdag, LP H strictly prohMed. The entire
contents of each teeue of Trie CMm Racer* aid nuNMnuaUafll •" protected under
the federal Copyright Act. Reproduction of any pordon dt any tetus wfl not b« panteriad
wlthoul da sepreespemiiiWonor Bosque County Pubttshlng.LP.
computer system has crashed
and all credit card information
has been lost. The caller then
asks for the credit card number
of the newspaper customer.
In all instances, the caller’s
telephone number is blocked
from Caller ID.
“These calls are definitely
not from The Clifton Record
or the Meridian Tribune,” pub-
lisher Mark Henry explained.
Henry urges anyone contact-
ed in this manner to not give out
their credit card information or
any other personal information.
He suggests that the caller ask
for the telephone number and
the name of the individual call-
ing. Then, look up The Clifton
Record or Meridian Tribune
telephone number in the phone
book and call the newspaper to
verify the authenticity of any
such call-before giving out any
information.
While the primary target
to this point has been classified
ads, Henry also suggests that
all advertisers be wary of this
type of call.
“It’s unfortunate we live in
times that require us to be vigi-
lant regarding these scams,”
said Henry. “I want all our ad-
vertisers and readers to know
we don’t do business this way
and our staff would prefer to
handle any number of phone
calls to stop something like this
from happening to even one of
our customers.”
Stargazer
Paul Derrick - Amateur Astronomer
paulderricIcHaco'aiaol co. • stargazerpaul com
left the next night.
• 28 Sun. all night: The
Moon accompanies Saturn
across the sky.
• 29 Mon. morning: The full
Moon is called Lenten Moon,
Sap Moon, Crow Moon, and
sunlight
V NEW MOON V
FULL MOCKS
Moon in orbit around the Sun
NEW
WAXING
CRESCENT %
•
WANING
<9 CRESCENT
l»*Q t)
0
(| 3rdQ
WAXING f)
gibbous'*'
0
O WANING
GIBBOUS
FULL
Moon as it appears from Earth
Only in the night sky does a quarter
equal a half and a half is full. It’s not
new math — it's lunar math. When we
see a first quarter Moon, it looks like
a half moon, so perhaps you've won-
dered why it's called quarter.
Like planets, the Moon emits no
light but rather reflects sunlight as it
orbits Earth every four weeks (more
precisely, 29.53 days). When it’s be-
tween Earth and Sun at new Moon, we
don't see it as the Sun illuminates the
side facing away from us.
A day or so after new Moon, we be-
gin seeing a slight sliver soon after sun-
set, called a waxing crescent -- waxing
because it gets more illuminated each
night and crescent because of its ap-
pearance from our perspective.
In a week, when it has traveled a
quarter of the w ay around Earth, its 1st
quarter phase looks half-lighted to us.
Then for the next week as the Moon
continues to wax, it appears more than
half illuminated, but less than full -
- a phase called gibbous (Latin for
hump).
After two weeks, the Moon has
completed half its journey and is on
the opposite side of Earth from the Sun
which illuminates the entire half of the
Moon facing us -- called a full Moon.
Then for the next two weeks, the
Moon become less illuminated each
night, called a waning Moon. During
the third week it is in its waning gib-
bous phase on its wav to 3rd quarter
(sometimes called last quarter) when it
again appears half illuminated.
And during the last week of it so-
journ, it is in its waning crescent phase
(seen in the morning sky) until it again
reaches new Moon and starts its next monthly
Cycle.
Regardless of how much of its surface we
happen to be seeing on any given night (or
day), half of the Moon, just like half of the
Earth, is always illuminated - whichever half
is facing the Sun.
• Sky Calendar.
• Mar. 21 Sun.: Saturn is at opposition -- on
the opposite side of Earth from the Sun -- when
it rises at sunset, is up all night, and sets at sun-
rise.
• 23 Tue.: The Moon is at 1st quarter.
• 24 Wed. evening: The Moon is to the lower
right of Mars, and then to the planet’s lower
Worm Moon.
• Apr. 3 Sat. morning: The gibbous Moon is
less than two moonwidths above the star An-
tares in the south.
• 6 Tue.: The Moon is at 3rd quarter.
• 8 Thu. evening: Mercury, at its best for this
appearance, is to the lower right of Venus low
in the west at dusk.
• Naked-eye Planets. (The Sun, Moon, and
planets rise in the east and set in the west due
to Earth’s west-to-east rotation on its axis.)
Evening: Saturn is low in the east with Mars
high overhead; Venus is very low in the west
after sunset. Morning: Saturn, low in the west,
is now the only morning planet.
Powering Up For Energy
Efficiency Grants
Special to the Clifton Record
Texas nonprofits constant-
ly pitch in a helping hand to
those in need, and First Choice
Power wants to chip in to give
back through $2,000 energy-
efficiency grants. Organiza-
tions that need to replace their
old inefficient heating/cooling
equipment or lighting can ap-
ply for a Reduce Your Use™
Grant to become more green.
An organization doesn’t
have to be a 501 (c) 3 to ap-
ply, because even a Chamber
of Commerce is eligible. Not
sure if an organization quali-
fies?
The Reduce Your Use Grants
were created so that nonprof-
its didn’t need to worry about
paying to make themselves
more energy-efficient. Instead,
funds can be used toward what
the organization has aligned
for the year, so being green
won’t cut into an annual bud-
get. Reduce Your Use Grants
were established to encourage
nonprofits to create a green
environment in their commu-
nity, and in 2010, First Choice
Power will give $50,000 Re-
duce Your Use Grants.
Organizations such as The
Adult Learning Center of
Pearland have benefitted from
the grants.
“Since we are a nonprofit
every little bit we can do to
lower our electricity cost
helps,” said Dale Pillow, ex-
ecutive director of the Adult
Reading Center.
With 3.8 million people in
Texas without a high school
diploma, the Adult Learning
Center was formed to provide
free instruction to adults with
limited English literacy skills.
The Learning Center has re-
ceived a two grant from First
Choice Power, most recently
for a tankless water heater for
their facility.
“Empowering nonprof-
its to achieve goals of being
more green is something that
First Choice Power can rally
behind,” said Brian Hayduk,
president of First Choice Pow-
er. “Organizations that give
effortlessly back to the com-
munity are partners we natu-
rally gravitate to. Nonprofits
and chamber of commerce are
the building blocks of a com-
munity, and we are proud to
support them.”
Applications must be sub-
mitted online by 5 p.m. on
April 15. Only one application
per nonprofit is accepted each
year.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Matching Search Results
View one place within this issue that match your search.Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Henry, Mark. The Clifton Record (Clifton, Tex.), Vol. 116, No. 12, Ed. 1 Wednesday, March 24, 2010, newspaper, March 24, 2010; Clifton, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth791214/m1/4/?q=%22Texas+Press+Association%22: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Nellie Pederson Civic Library.