Martyrs of the Alamo

1 [reconstructed main title?]
Martyrs of the Alamo

        or

   "The Birth
    of Texas"

2
  An historical drama suggested by the
crisis in Mexico, 1835 to 1836, and the
immortal fall of the Alamo, which 
ultimately resulted in Texas becoming an
independent republic and later the largest
state of our union.

3
        Story Arrangement by
W. Christy Cabanne and Theodosia Harris
   Directed by W. Christy Cabanne

4
  The immediate cause of the Texas
Revolution.
		  _______

  Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, elected
president of Mexico in 1833, was shortly
declared Dictator by his army, ignoring
the constitution of Mexico of 1824, which
provided for a republican form of
government.

5
  Liberty-loving Americans who had built up the
Texas colony were denied their rights by Santa
Anna. They demanded that Mexico should
return to the Constitution of 1824, and that Texas
should have a state government.

  Santa Anna crossed the border to crush this
dangerous spirit of revolution.

6
  But Santa Anna had failed to reckon 
with the undaunted valor of the hardy
American pioneers of that age--an age
that wrote large on the pages of history
the names of Crockett, Bowie, Travis,
Dickinson, Houston and "Silent" Smith.

7
  Santa Anna's quarters near San Antonio, Texas,
inside the chapel of the Alamo, a former Spanish
mission converted into a fortress--a settlers' refuge
in case of hostility.
                     _______

  Despotic and vain, he was called "The Napoleon
of the West" and aped the great French Emperor
even to his dress.

Santa Anna   .   .   .   .   .   Walter Long

8
            In San Antonio.
                ________

  Under the dictator's rule the honor and
life of American womanhood was held
in contempt.
                ________

  Continued insults of Santa Anna's
troops caused constant rebellion among 
the few American colonists.

9
  An old Irish patriot of the War
of 1812.

10
  Memories of the days when the 
stars and stripes gave them the 
right to protection.

11
  In those heroic times no man worked
more for the cause of independence than
the famous guide and spy, "Silent" Smith.

"Silent" Smith   .   .   Sam De Grasse

12
  The wife of Lieut. A. M. Dickinson
annoyed by a petty officer of the
garrison.

13
  Chivalrous Tennesseean blood 
was up.
           _______

  Lieut. Dickinson threatened to 
avenge the insult by making an
example of the offender.

Lieut. Dickinson . . Fred Burns

14
  Brought to the Alamo before
Santa Anna, who was awaiting
other excuses to provoke the
Americans.

15
  As a result Santa Anna decreed
that all Americans must be disarmed
and surrender all weapons of war.

16
  Meanwhile, James Bowie and David
Crockett, resolved to stand by the cause,
waited with other patriots the next move
of Santa Anna.

James Bowie  .  .  .  Alfred Paget
 
David Crockett  .  .  .  A. D. Sears

17
  Bowie, the inventor of the famous
hunting knife, in good-natured
contention with Crockett, known for
his sure aim.

18
"You might tickle a fellow's ribs a
 long time with this little instrument
 and never make him laugh."

19
  Santa Anna's proclamation for the
surrender of arms posted.

20
  The troops were to make a search 
of every American home.

21
"I am surprised, Crockett, the floor
      has not been fixed before this."

22
  Silent Smith came to reassure
his lady-love.

23
END OF PART ONE

24
THE MARTYRS OF 
  THE ALAMO

  Part Two

25
"Wait until that fox, 
          Santa Anna, leaves."

26
  Bowie and his comrades now
obliged to keep within doors to
save themselves from insult.

27
  Believing the small band of Americans
were now overawed, Santa Anna left
San Antonio in charge of a small garrison
under General Cos.

28
  Santa Anna out of the way,
Silent Smith put his plan into
execution.

29
  The storming of San Antonio by
the Americans the first effective blow
struck for Texas' independence.

30
Beaten back into the Alamo.

31
  The Americans' magnanimity.
           _______

  The commanding officer, General 
Cos, was allowed to depart with his
sword, provided he never take up
arms against Texas.

32
Under the new regime.

33
  Santa Anna hearing of the capture
of San Antonio vowed he would
never rest until Texas was crushed.

34
  Because at San Antonio the
Mexicans had received their first
disgraceful defeat, here Santa Anna
resolved to strike the first blow.

35
  A rival faction among the Texans.
             ______

  General Travis with his staff was
sent by General Houston to take
command of the garrison, replacing
Bowie, now stricken with a dangerous 
illness.

36
  Crockett reminded them they were
all fighting for one cause-- Texas.

37
  Silent Smith informed them of
Santa Anna's intended attack.

38
  They resolved in the name of liberty
never to surrender.
              _____
  Using the Alamo for a fortress, the
handful of American heroes proceeded to
arm it with the only three available guns,
against the approach of Santa Anna's
numerous army.

39
  The inhabitants retired inside
the Alamo.

40
  On the 22nd of February, 1836,
Santa Anna arrived suddenly
outside San Antonio.

41
  Santa Anna at once sent a 
courier demanding an unconditional
surrender.

42
Santa Anna's message to Travis.
            _______

"If you refuse to surrender the
    Alamo, every man shall be 
    put to the sword."

43
"If Santa Anna wants the Alamo,
          let him come and take it."

44
  Learning of the Texans' defiance
instead of their expected surrender,
Santa Anna formed his troops for
immediate assault.

45
  Meanwhile, at the Texas Convention,
many miles away, General Sam Houston
signed the declaration of Texas' in-
dependence of Mexico.

Sam Houston   .   .   .   Tom Wilson

[[
45a [missing title]
END OF PART TWO

45b [missing title]
THE MARTYRS OF 
  THE ALAMO

  Part Three
]]


46
  Inside the Alamo on the first day's 
fight.
              ______

  Crockett because of his sure aim
was placed in command of the wall.

47
  On every side the Mexican troops
closed in upon the Alamo.

48
  At a nearby adobe hut Santa 
Anna expectantly awaited the
fall of the Alamo.

49
  On the morning of the tenth day.
             _______

  Travis told his men death was 
inevitable in the Alamo, but escape 
or surrender was possible.

  He had waited vainly hoping for
reinforcements.

50
"Those who wish to die like heroes
 and patriots, cross this line to me."

51
  Even Bowie, now near death,
accepted.

52
  Again came the onslaught of 
the Mexicans.

53
  Later in the day Travis, declaring
he would hold out or perish, sent
Silent Smith to General Houston with
a last call for reinforcement.

54
The last farewell.

55
The secret underground passage.

56
  At this point in the siege four
thousand reinforcements joined
Santa Anna.

57
  Silent Smith brought the news of 
the siege to Houston who had set out 
for the Alamo in defiance of the 
Texas Convention.

58
  For a time, Crockett's unerring rifle
kept the enemy from planting their 
artillery.

59
END OF PART THREE

60
THE MARTYRS OF 
  THE ALAMO

  Part Four

61
  The young rivals still contended--
the Bowie or Travis men--which were
the bravest.

62
  The underground passage into 
the Alamo discovered.

63
  Unable to realize the full danger of 
the Alamo, Houston made a slow 
advance to save the resources of 
his men.

64
  The cannon in position to break 
the wall, Santa Anna ordered the 
cavalry to the rear to force his fast 
rebelling troops through the Alamo's 
walls.

65
  The Mexicans, bleeding and
wounded, dared not hesitate.
The lances of the cavalry forced
them on.

66
  While the flag of the Mexican
republic still unfurled to the
breeze.

67
  Death and Santa Anna held the
Alamo, but before each patriot's
death, many a foe had fallen.

68
  After the struggle, the Dictator of
Mexico entered San Antonio and the
Alamo in triumph.

69
  In keeping with Santa Anna's 
character certain prisoners were
spared.

70
  But the few remaining male 
prisoners were shot as rebels.

71
The release of Mrs. Dickinson.

72
"Go tell the rebellious ones
           what happens to traitors."

73
  The terrible news reached Houston
but a day's march from the Alamo.

74
  Houston deemed the more prudent 
plan to go onward to San Jacinto and
there await the arrival of Santa
Anna.

75
  An inveterate drug fiend, the 
Dictator of Mexico also famous 
for his shameful orgies.

76
END OF PART FOUR

77
THE MARTYRS OF 
  THE ALAMO

  Part Five

78
  Sent out to spy on the enemy,
Silent Smith, posing as a deaf mute,
became game hunter for Santa 
Anna's forces.

79
  While Santa anna planned the
complete subjugation of Texas.

80
  Suspicious of his claim to 
deafness.

81
  With the full liberty of the camp,
Silent Smith found not only valuable
facts but also his sweetheart.

82
  Reaching Houston's camp near
San Jacinto, Silent Smith reported
the demoralized state of Santa
Anna's troops.

83
  While the Mexicans indulged 
in their afternoon siesta.

84
  General Houston set out to avenge
the fall of the Alamo.

85
   The battle of San Jacinto.
            ______

  A cry of vengeance burst from
every Texan: "Remember the
Alamo!"

86
  In about twenty minutes the battle
was won.
           ______

  Houston having fallen with a
broken leg was obliged to receive
the prisoners under a mammoth oak.

87
  While the more violent would have 
killed Santa Anna, Houston saw he 
must live for the future of Texas.

88
  And thus on May 14, 1836,
Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna,
President of Mexico, signed the
treaty, acknowledging Texas free
and independent.

89
  While some hearts felt the coming 
joys of future years.

90
  The sole surviving widow could
not forget at what a price came
victory.

91
but on the martyrdom of those
fallen heroes was built the "Lone
Star State."
              ______

        The flags of Texas.