Part 1

_San Antonio_ CITY OF MISSIONS

By CLAUDE B. ANIOL

HASTINGS HOUSE PUBLISHERS NEW YORK

COPYRIGHT, 1942, BY CLAUDE B. ANIOL PRINTED IN THE U.S.A.

San Antonio

From a village of _Tejas_ Indians has grown the modern city of San Antonio ... not completely modern, for there still remain many evidences of the past, even though towering skyscrapers mark the city as progressive and prosperous. San Antonio is filled with picturesque charm and interesting contrasts. Off busy downtown streets one will find in bold relief buildings, as well as customs, that date back to times when the city was settled by Spanish conquistadors.

The Spanish, fearing encroachment in Texas by the French in the late seventeenth century, set out to make good their original claims by establishing forts and missions in East Texas. Captain Don Domingo Teran de los Rios was named governor of the new Spanish dominion and, in 1691 during a journey across Texas accompanied by Father Damian Massanet, missionary and explorer, paused here at an Indian Village. Mass was said on the site, a great many salutes were fired, and the place was named “San Antonio”.

No permanent settlement was established, however, but later other expeditions passing this way encamped here. The French explorer and trader, Louis Juchereau de Saint Dennis, claiming his interest to be the establishment of trade relations between Louisiana and Mexico, stopped near the headwaters of the San Antonio River in 1714, admired the charms of the place, and declared the location to be an ideal spot for founding a permanent community. St. Dennis’ activity in the area aroused the Spanish authorities. Rivalry for the possessions of Texas broke out anew.

In 1718 the Spanish viceroy, desiring a point midway between the East Texas Missions and the Spanish Presidio of northern Mexico, established here as a fortress the Royal Presidio of _San Antonio de Bejar_, and founded the mission _San Antonio de Valero_ (The Alamo).

This step marked the real founding of San Antonio. Within the next thirteen years the building of four more missions got under way. King Philip of Spain began colonization of the province, when in 1731 sixteen Canary Island families arrived and settled in San Antonio. This settlement was known as the “_Villa de San Fernando_”, and it is on the site of this original settlement that the Old San Fernando Cathedral stands today. This little villa in the wilderness formed the nucleus about which San Antonio gradually developed. Many prominent citizens today are descendants of these early settlers.

Progress for the community during the next half century was slow, for San Antonio was on trails seldom traveled and was brought into little contact with the outside world. The missions established earlier in the century prospered, expanded and then declined. In 1793-94 they were secularized and ceased to function as church settlements. Then followed a period of waning Spanish religious and political influence. In 1811 Mexico revolted against Spain and San Antonio was occupied several times, alternately by Mexican Revolutionists and Spanish Royalists.

In 1820 Moses Austin, a Connecticut Yankee living in Missouri, left his home and traveled to San Antonio, seeking permission of the Spanish authorities, still in power, to establish a colony of Americans in Texas. After Austin’s death from hardships encountered during his trip, approval was granted his plan and it was carried out by his son, Stephen F. Austin. The years 1821 to 1836 saw a flood of Anglo-American immigration pouring in.

Mexico achieved her independence from Spain in 1821 and San Antonio and Texas came under the domination of the newly formed Mexican government which put forth inconsistent confused policies. The earlier liberal grants to the Anglo-Americans were questioned. Following a series of revolutions begun in 1829, unscrupulous rulers successfully seized power in Mexico. Their unjust acts and despotic decrees led to revolution in Texas. The Texans formed an army, and in November 1835 established a provisional government.

In 1836, at the former mission San Antonio de Valero, the famous battle of the Alamo was fought. W. B. Travis, James Bonham, James Bowie, David Crockett and some 180 Texans held off, from February 23 to March 6, the Mexican army of more than 5000 troops under General Lopez de Santa Anna. The Mexicans finally broke over the mission walls on the morning of March 6 and bayoneted or knifed the entire garrison. Santa Anna was decisively beaten by Texans under General Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacinto forty-six days later. Following this San Antonio came under the rule of the newly formed Republic of Texas.

The year 1845 saw the annexation of Texas to the United States. In 1861, during the war between the States, Texas seceded from the Union. New times began in 1865 at the close of the Civil War. San Antonio became the center of a cattle empire. Longhorns were driven northward up the trails to market; mile-long wagon trains from Mexico began to come through the city. The Southern Pacific Railroad was constructed through this section in 1877. In 1898 the Spanish-American War again stimulated military activity in San Antonio and Colonel Theodore Roosevelt trained his Rough Riders at the site now marked by Roosevelt Park.

And so until 1900 San Antonio had a colorful life. Then it settled down to consistent growth and progress. Oil was discovered near the city. Hundreds of new families came to make this their home because of the natural beauty, the mild climate, the healthfulness and business opportunities. But progress proceeds without dimming the past and it is the past that draws thousands of visitors to this unique city of picturesque contrasts.

Today, more than 2,000 acres are included in the city’s 60 parks and plazas. One of the most complete city park systems in the nation, Brackenridge Park embraces 320 acres. Among its interesting features is a Zoo which ranks among the nation’s largest and best.

The San Antonio River which finds its source in numerous flowing springs just north of Brackenridge Park and winds its way through the business section of the city, has been transformed into a beautiful Venetian canal with walkways below the street level along banks lined with semi-tropical flowers and shrubs.

An important military center since its beginning, San Antonio now possesses the largest permanent army post of the nation in Fort Sam Houston, headquarters for the Eighth Corps Area. An arsenal is located here, Normoyle Quartermaster Depot and Camps Stanley and Bullis. San Antonio saw the birth of the air corps in 1910 and today are located here the military flying fields of Randolph, the “West Point of the Air”; Kelly, Duncan and Brooks.

Thus the past two hundred years have seen much colorful drama enacted under the flags of France, Spain, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the Confederacy, and the United States. Each flag has left mirrored a part of its own significance. The curious mixture of old and new which is San Antonio has been recorded in the pages of this book.

Claude B. Aniol