pegleglooker
Bronze Member
- Jun 9, 2006
- 1,857
- 237
- Detector(s) used
- ace 250
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
hey gang, Thought you boys inTexas might like this...
Enjoy
PLL
Myth and Mystery
Countless hours have been spent proving or disproving the legends, lies and half-truths that have in them selves been woven into the Alamo's historical record. The only problem with trying to debunk the Alamo myths is the fact that theoretically, all of the American witnesses were killed, one way or the other, at the conclusion of the battle.
The first and probably most important question is how did Davy Crocket really die and is the fictionalized account of his death really accurate? Some historians believe that Crocket did not die in the heat of battle as immortalized by the Duke. Instead, it is surmised that Davy and several other survivors located in the ruins of the Alamo were given no quarter and executed on the spot.
In an attempt to answer this question, investigators have turned to the available Mexican records that chronicled the "victors" version of what happened after the battle. Translated documents written by José Enrique de la Pena, an aide to Santa Anna, indicate that Crocket, always the politician, attempted to talk his way out of his dire predicament. Claiming that he was a citizen of the United States, Crocket spun a yarn saying that he had sought refuge in the Alamo rather than have his "Foreigner" status called into question by any Mexican forces that he may have encountered while coincidently exploring the countryside in and around the old mission. Apparently the triumphant Santa Anna was unimpressed with Davy's silver tongue and he ordered Crocket and 6 other survivors be put death. The horrified De la Pena writes that upon Santa Anna's command, several Mexican officers, "fell upon these unfortunate, defenseless men just as a tiger leaps upon his prey."
Even thought this version of Crockets death raises the hackles of Alamo revisionist's everywhere, the fact remains that the surrender of Crocket and his subsequent execution was reported by several highly respected newspapers of the time. It proves just how barbaric and untrustworthy Santa Anna really was.
Either way, Davy Crocket died a heroic death as evidenced by De la Pena's final words about the execution, "though tortured before they were killed, these unfortunates died without complaining and without humiliating themselves before their torturers."
Another reoccurring conundrum is the location of certain documents and personal belonging taken from the dead Alamo defenders following the battle. "To the victors go the spoils", and as soon as the battle was over, Mexican soldiers pillaged the Alamo. Nothing was sacred. Every defenders body was stripped bare and any documents and personal baubles of value were recovered as spoils of war. Once the bodies of the dead had yielded their booty, they were burned unceremoniously on several huge funeral pyres.
Any paperwork, which hinted that it might contain information of intelligence value, was most assuredly seized for Santa Anna's personal perusal. Historians continue to debate what documents, if any, were actually collected by Mexican Officials and if the information exists today. Unfortunately, if the disputed documents do survive, they are secluded somewhere within the bowls of the Mexican National Archives where they will most likely never be made available for public examination.
This one unanswered enigma has fueled the imagination of many would-be treasure hunters. It is rumored that the Alamo defenders placed their valuable and personal effects inside a large bell. Prior to last days of the battle, the bell filled to overflowing with mementos, was buried at a secret location somewhere within the confines of the mission and has never been located.
In February 1894, The San Antonio Express News featured an article of particular interest because it perpetuated the rumor that there was a hidden treasure buried somewhere within the walls of the Alamo. The article went on to tell how Leon Mareschal and his fourteen-year-old daughter visited the Alamo. The pair met with Captain Jacob Coy, the night watch commander. The Mareschal's amused Captain Coy by telling him of how young Mary could communicate with the dead occupants of the Alamo. Having nothing to loose, Captain Coy allowed Leon Mareschal to hypnotize his daughter. While in this altered state of consciousness, Mary confirmed the presence of "spirits in the chapel" and that many of the paranormal activity experienced there was due in part to the fact that the ghosts were attempting to locate their buried treasure. If Mary had not captured Captain Coy's full attention already, she surely had him hooked when she told him that the treasure was 540,000 dollars in gold coins! Without mincing words, the good captain asked Mary where the treasure was hidden. She responded by pointing vaguely toward the dilapidated southwest corner of the crumbling old mission. Only after relinquishing all that the spirits knew about the gold, did the Mareschal's take their leave, vanishing into the night. Unfortunately, the article does not say if Captain Coy ever found the ghosts missing treasure. Officially, none of the sanctioned private or public archeological excavations at the site over the years has been able to put this one nagging question to rest.
The last mystery surrounding the Alamo that we will explore, is what happened to all of the bodies? Historians continuously question the final resting places of the dead from both sides. On orders from Santa Anna, the Texan dead were "stacked like cordwood" on two or three funeral pyres and burned without a Christian burial. It is said that the fires smoldered for days and that the charred remains were disposed of at various undocumented locations on the battlefield.
Apparently the bodies of the Mexican soldiers killed at the Alamo fared no better. It is said that when the local cemetery was filled to capacity with Mexican dead, Santa Anna ordered that the remaining corpses be thrown into the nearby San Antonio River. These remains could have theoretically ended up in the Gulf of Mexico but mostly likely they were swallowed whole by the muddy river and secreted away in dark places waiting still to be discovered.
Over the years, the skeletal remains of the Alamo defenders have been unearthed on an unnervingly regular basis both on and off the grounds of the mission. In 1937 alone, four different burial sites were located in the middle of busy San Antonio, not far from the Alamo.
To date, the exact burial location of almost 1000 persons related to the Alamo throughout its history, remains a mystery. This fact alone could be the single most important reason why strange noises, ghostly apparitions and cold spots seem to be an everyday occurrence within the limestone walls of the Alamo.
Enjoy
PLL
Myth and Mystery
Countless hours have been spent proving or disproving the legends, lies and half-truths that have in them selves been woven into the Alamo's historical record. The only problem with trying to debunk the Alamo myths is the fact that theoretically, all of the American witnesses were killed, one way or the other, at the conclusion of the battle.
The first and probably most important question is how did Davy Crocket really die and is the fictionalized account of his death really accurate? Some historians believe that Crocket did not die in the heat of battle as immortalized by the Duke. Instead, it is surmised that Davy and several other survivors located in the ruins of the Alamo were given no quarter and executed on the spot.
In an attempt to answer this question, investigators have turned to the available Mexican records that chronicled the "victors" version of what happened after the battle. Translated documents written by José Enrique de la Pena, an aide to Santa Anna, indicate that Crocket, always the politician, attempted to talk his way out of his dire predicament. Claiming that he was a citizen of the United States, Crocket spun a yarn saying that he had sought refuge in the Alamo rather than have his "Foreigner" status called into question by any Mexican forces that he may have encountered while coincidently exploring the countryside in and around the old mission. Apparently the triumphant Santa Anna was unimpressed with Davy's silver tongue and he ordered Crocket and 6 other survivors be put death. The horrified De la Pena writes that upon Santa Anna's command, several Mexican officers, "fell upon these unfortunate, defenseless men just as a tiger leaps upon his prey."
Even thought this version of Crockets death raises the hackles of Alamo revisionist's everywhere, the fact remains that the surrender of Crocket and his subsequent execution was reported by several highly respected newspapers of the time. It proves just how barbaric and untrustworthy Santa Anna really was.
Either way, Davy Crocket died a heroic death as evidenced by De la Pena's final words about the execution, "though tortured before they were killed, these unfortunates died without complaining and without humiliating themselves before their torturers."
Another reoccurring conundrum is the location of certain documents and personal belonging taken from the dead Alamo defenders following the battle. "To the victors go the spoils", and as soon as the battle was over, Mexican soldiers pillaged the Alamo. Nothing was sacred. Every defenders body was stripped bare and any documents and personal baubles of value were recovered as spoils of war. Once the bodies of the dead had yielded their booty, they were burned unceremoniously on several huge funeral pyres.
Any paperwork, which hinted that it might contain information of intelligence value, was most assuredly seized for Santa Anna's personal perusal. Historians continue to debate what documents, if any, were actually collected by Mexican Officials and if the information exists today. Unfortunately, if the disputed documents do survive, they are secluded somewhere within the bowls of the Mexican National Archives where they will most likely never be made available for public examination.
This one unanswered enigma has fueled the imagination of many would-be treasure hunters. It is rumored that the Alamo defenders placed their valuable and personal effects inside a large bell. Prior to last days of the battle, the bell filled to overflowing with mementos, was buried at a secret location somewhere within the confines of the mission and has never been located.
In February 1894, The San Antonio Express News featured an article of particular interest because it perpetuated the rumor that there was a hidden treasure buried somewhere within the walls of the Alamo. The article went on to tell how Leon Mareschal and his fourteen-year-old daughter visited the Alamo. The pair met with Captain Jacob Coy, the night watch commander. The Mareschal's amused Captain Coy by telling him of how young Mary could communicate with the dead occupants of the Alamo. Having nothing to loose, Captain Coy allowed Leon Mareschal to hypnotize his daughter. While in this altered state of consciousness, Mary confirmed the presence of "spirits in the chapel" and that many of the paranormal activity experienced there was due in part to the fact that the ghosts were attempting to locate their buried treasure. If Mary had not captured Captain Coy's full attention already, she surely had him hooked when she told him that the treasure was 540,000 dollars in gold coins! Without mincing words, the good captain asked Mary where the treasure was hidden. She responded by pointing vaguely toward the dilapidated southwest corner of the crumbling old mission. Only after relinquishing all that the spirits knew about the gold, did the Mareschal's take their leave, vanishing into the night. Unfortunately, the article does not say if Captain Coy ever found the ghosts missing treasure. Officially, none of the sanctioned private or public archeological excavations at the site over the years has been able to put this one nagging question to rest.
The last mystery surrounding the Alamo that we will explore, is what happened to all of the bodies? Historians continuously question the final resting places of the dead from both sides. On orders from Santa Anna, the Texan dead were "stacked like cordwood" on two or three funeral pyres and burned without a Christian burial. It is said that the fires smoldered for days and that the charred remains were disposed of at various undocumented locations on the battlefield.
Apparently the bodies of the Mexican soldiers killed at the Alamo fared no better. It is said that when the local cemetery was filled to capacity with Mexican dead, Santa Anna ordered that the remaining corpses be thrown into the nearby San Antonio River. These remains could have theoretically ended up in the Gulf of Mexico but mostly likely they were swallowed whole by the muddy river and secreted away in dark places waiting still to be discovered.
Over the years, the skeletal remains of the Alamo defenders have been unearthed on an unnervingly regular basis both on and off the grounds of the mission. In 1937 alone, four different burial sites were located in the middle of busy San Antonio, not far from the Alamo.
To date, the exact burial location of almost 1000 persons related to the Alamo throughout its history, remains a mystery. This fact alone could be the single most important reason why strange noises, ghostly apparitions and cold spots seem to be an everyday occurrence within the limestone walls of the Alamo.
