NOTES AND FRAGMENTS.

Some Corrections.—In the notes to the Reminiscences of Sion R. Bostick in The Quarterly for October, 1901, the name of Joel W. Robison is incorrectly spelled “Robinson”; and in the number for October, 1902, p. 168, the name “Joel W. Robinson” should be James W. Robinson. See note page 241.

Materials for Texas History at the State University.—The Bexar Archives, the Austin Papers, the Papers of the Texas Veterans' Association, the Roberts Papers, and the most valuable documents belonging to the collection of the Historical Association are now stored in the fireproof vault of the University. The work of classifying and indexing them is being pushed forwarded as energetically as possible. The task, however, is too great to be accomplished quickly. The materials in the Bexar Archives are now arranged in separate groups according to date, one for each year from 1730 to 1835, and it is possible for an industrious and well equipped investigator to exploit the mass for any given year in a comparatively short time and with a fair degree of assurance that he has missed nothing; but the work of reading and indexing, which must follow, is vast. It is much increased by the multitudes of puzzles arising from the bad Spanish and bad chirography of many of the documents, and it will probably require considerable time to put them in anything like good condition for reference.

Landmarks Preserved by Daughters of the Republic of Texas.—In pursuance of one of the objects of this organization, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas have, within the last two years, marked some important places connected with the history of the State. Realizing the importance of preserving the identity of different points on the battle field of San Jacinto, and acting in concert with the Texas Veterans' Association, San Jacinto Chapter carried out the scheme of placing iron markers wherever the truth of history required. The following account of the occasion, July 4, 1901, when the markers were placed, is taken from the Houston Post for June 4, 1901:

“The party leaving the Grand Central depot at 9:45 a. m., on the La Porte train, comprised Mrs. J. J. McKeever, Jr., President San Jacinto Chapter; Mrs. Maggie Houston Williams, Mrs. J. R. Fenn, Miss Belle Fenn, Miss Millie Thatcher, Mrs. Frank Moore, Mrs. J. J. Fenn, members of the Daughters of the Republic, and the following guests and friends of the Association: Judge S. J. Hendrick, member of the Legislature and San Jacinto Commissioner; Mr. J. W. Winters, one of the survivors of the battle of San Jacinto, and his son, J. W. Winters, Jr., of Big Foot, Frio county; Mr. J. W. Maxcy, of Houston, civil and landscape engineer; George A. Hill, Secretary of San Jacinto Commission, and son of Colonel James M. Hill, of Austin, Vice-President of Veterans' Association and survivor of battle of San Jacinto; Col. J. R. Fenn, of Houston; S. Houston Williams, grandson of the immortal hero, Sam Houston; Mr. J. J. Fenn, Houston; Mr. Ingham S. Roberts, Houston, and Mr. T. S. Gibbs, of Huntsville. These were met at Deer Park, on the La Porte and Northern Railway, by Mr. E. E. Adams and J. W. Baldridge, of Deer Park, and teams from La Porte, which took the party to the battle grounds.

“No time was lost after the arrival on the scene where Houston's army encamped on the bayou. Mrs. McKeever called the meeting to order and inaugurated the practical business that brought them to this sacred spot.

“Upon motion, Judge Hendrick was made chairman, and George A. Hill, secretary.

“Judge Hendrick delivered quite an interesting historical talk from a commanding spot, and pointed out at a distance the movements of the two armies from the time of their joint arrival to the noted battles of the 20th and 21st, and using a list of the events prepared by the Daughters suggested that the monuments be at once established, commencing in their order with the camp of General Houston, where he lay wounded under a treee on the bayou, and the spot where Santa Anna was delivered to him a captive.

“The temporary improvised monuments consist of a galvanized one-inch pipe about 12 feet in length, and a cross at the top, which was driven in the ground to a depth of about nine feet. The driving process is not a picnic exercise, but this was not fully understood in the initiatory proceedings, as all of the gentlemen were cheerful volunteers, but Judge Hendrick claimed the privilege of driving in monument No. 1, which he did, but it was observed that he modestly retired and never volunteered thereafter.

“Following No. 1 the other monuments were placed in the following order:

“No. 2. Position of Twin Sisters cannon on 20th, during the cannon battle and cavalry skirmish.

“No. 3. Camp of General Burleson's regiment.

“No. 4. Camp of General Millard's regiment.

“No. 5. Camp of Cavalry regiment.

“No. 6. Camp of General Sherman's regiment.

“No. 7. Line of Sherman's advance on 21st.

“(b) Iron pipe on the line of Burleson's advance on the 21st.

“(a) Iron pipe on the line of artillery advance on the 21st.

“(m) Iron pipe on the line of Millard's advance on the 21st.

“Double locust tree, Lamar's artillery, on the 21st.

“Double post oak tree marked X, position of Mexican artillery on 20th, in Post Oak Grove.

“Iron pipe south of west Post Oak Grove, near old Sewell homestead, in shell bed, where cavalry fought on 20th.

“No. 8. Iron cross south end of Mexican breastworks and cavalry engagement on the 21st.

“No. 9. Where Houston was wounded and lost his first horse, killed from under him.

“No. 10. Iron cross, Mexican cannon.

“No. 11. Iron cross north end of Mexican breastwork.

“No. 11½. Iron pipe cast iron cross No. 10, where General Santa Anna had his hammock swung supported by four brass posts.

“No. 12. Iron cross where Mexicans were captured, including General Almonte, in a grove across the Santa Anna slough, where the dead Mexicans and horses made an effective pontoon bridge for over 100 yards.”

In placing these markers, Mr. J. W. Winter indicated the different localities, he having been appointed by the Texas Veterans' Association for this purpose. Mr. Winters had been on the battle field several times since the memorable battle, thus keeping the recollection of places and events fresh in his mind.

Whenever the State places a substantial fence around the field, making of it a State park, it is designed to replace these iron markers with stone tablets.

At San Antonio, De Zavala Chapter has placed tablets in two historic buildings as follows:

Inscription of tablet on the Veramendi house:

“The Veramendi House,  Where Ben Milam was killed  Dec. 7, 1835,  And where Bowie won his bride.  De Zavala Chapter,  Daughters of the Republic of Texas.”

Inscription of tablet on the Hugo &Schemltzer building, which is part of the old convent of the Mission San Antonio de Valero, and is adjoining the Alamo:

“Part of the Franciscan Mission  San Antonio de Valero,  With the Alamo and this square,  The scene of heroism unsurpassed.  De Zavala Chapter,  Daughters of the Republic of Texas.”

Perceiving that the old Spanish Mission of San José, the most artistic of all these fine old buildings in the neighborhood of San Antonio, was much in need of fencing to prevent our modern vandals from chipping its walls away, a fence was put around it by the same chapter, and some very necessary repairs made in the building itself. In this work the chapter was materially aided by a donation of $50.00 from Miss Helen Gould, and $25.00 from the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the total outlay being $318.38.

The Henry Downs Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at Waco, has pledged itself to assist the Daughters of the Republic of Texas in restoring or preserving the other missions, and it is hoped that their example may be followed by the other chapters throughout the State.

The interest recently awakened among the Federated Women's Clubs of Texas on the subject of Texas history and the preservation of our old missions furnishes a very encouraging note in the hitherto apathetic tone of public spirit regarding this urgent public work.

Adele B. Looscan,  Historian, Daughters of the Republic of Texas.