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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