Wikisource:WikiProject Film/Intertitles from GeoCities/Martyrs of the Alamo
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.
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