TO SAN ANTONIO. 
39 
and out of place in the company of their smart-looking 
neighbors. The old church still occupies its promi- 
nent position in the plaza. This is a building charac- 
terized rather by solidity than beauty, and has as 
much the appearance of a citadel as of a church. In- 
deed, during one of the battles of the war of Texan 
independence, it was occupied by the Mexican troops, 
and its tower still bears the scars made by the cannon 
balls of the besiegers. 
San Antonio is delightfully situated. The rivers 
San Antonio and San Pedro run through the place. 
The latter is a small stream, and with us would hardly 
be dignified with the title of river. The San Anto- 
nio is much the larger of the two. It rises about 
three miles from the town, from a number of large 
springs, flowing, like those forming the San Pedro, 
from the solid rock. The largest of these is worth a 
visit. The water rises in a cavity some six or eight 
feet in diameter and twelve or fifteen feet deep, and 
rushes out in an immense volume. The water of these 
springs unite with Olmos Creek, forming a river, which, 
in its course towards the sea, receives the Medina, 
Salado, Cibolo, and other tributaries, and finally, 
uniting with the Guadalupe, empties into Espiritu 
Santo Bay. The San Antonio is capable of affording 
immense water power. At present, in its course 
through the town, it turns but one wheel, and that 
simply by the flow of the current. 
San Antonio contains about 6000 inhabitants, of 
which number it is estimated two thirds are Mex- 
icans, Germans, and French. Yet, notwithstanding 
this preponderance of other nations, the town is es- 
