SUMMER MEETING AT BROOKFIELD. 147 



the cotton stalks standing, showing that cotton is their crop. We 

 passed some rough and rocky country, and oftentimes a lime stone for- 

 mation, which would indicate a good soil. Lime is burned in this dis- 

 trict for the city of Austin, and shipment to other points. 



About noon we reached the falls and were taken in charge by 

 the hotels, where we enjoyed a hearty dinner of as fine a fish as ever 

 we ate. 



After dinner we visited the falls, one of the most wonderful water 

 powers in the world, and destined some day to be used for manufac- 

 turing the cotton now raised there, and shipped thousands of miles to 

 be reshipped back again as manufactured goods. The Colorado river 

 here makes a fall of about fifteen feet over a solid granite bed and solid 

 banks on each side, which seem to have been worn by the waters. 



Leaving the falls regretfully we again took the train. On our return 

 we stopped at the foot of the Granite mountain, where all the fine 

 granite was taken for the capitol building. This mountain covers about 

 one hundred acres, and is a solid mass of granite from top to bottom, 

 no knowing how deep. Not a particle of soil or debris is on top of it, 

 and it seems as if it was one solid rock. Stones of any size can be 

 taken from the quarry, and it is only a question of how large they can 

 be handled. 



Returning, we took the train for San Antonio, passing through 

 some lovely country, and the beautiful and bountiful San Marcos 

 springs on the way. 



Reaching San Antonio about eleven p. m., we were compelled to 

 divide and go to different hotels, for the town was full. On Saturday 

 morning we viewed the ancient city of San Antonio, the old Alamo, 

 which has become historic for its noble defenders, who perished within 

 it. On March 6, 1836, 181 citizens defended this place against twenty 

 times their number, and it is now a holy place among Texans. For 

 thirteen days did this small force defend the Alamo against the thou- 

 sands without. All perished in the struggle except one lady, a child 

 and a negro servant. 



The mission of San Antonio was founded in 1741, and used as a 

 mission for fifty years. It was then used as a fortress, and when Santa 

 Anna entered Texas in 1835,it^was the Texans fortress. Santa Anna's 

 forces were defeated and recrossed the Rio Grande in 1S3G. Return- 

 ing, he laid seige to the Alamo. General Travis and Bowie defended 

 it. Col. David Crockett was with them, and it is said was surrounded 

 by sixteen dead who fell by his hand. 



Taking carriages, the party was driven to different parts of the city 

 and the old missions about three miles from the city. This mission 



