WHAT DO YOU KNOW about Angelina Eberly? Each year the Austin History Center honors her important participation in establishing Austin as the permanent capital of Texas.___________
After Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836, General Sam Houston was made leader of the Army at Gonzales. The Mexican Army had been victorious at the Battle of the Alamo in San Antonio and now was in hot pursuit of Houston and his rag-tag new volunteers. Houston was fleeing eastward while training the green soldiers to fight. San Felipe on the Brazos River was on the way to Houston’s choice for the final stand for against Mexico.___________
Angelina and a group of women had cheered and waved to the soldiers sent to delay Santa Anna’s men who were crossing down river from San Felipe. Realizing it was only a delay, they joined terrified citizens in the “Runaway Scrape.” The deserted town was set on fire to prevent the Mexicans from acquiring its store of goods._____________________________________________________
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In 1839, Angelina met Jacob Eberly. They married and settled in the Austin. She bought lots on W. Pecan (6th street) and built Eberly House one of the first hotels in the new city on the Colorado River. Jacob died in 1841 but Angelina and her hotel prevailed.__________
December 13, 1841, President Sam Houston entertained the senate and house members in the hotel after his second inauguration, but he had nothing good to say about Eberly House or Austin. He wrote to his wife Margaret, “I can get nothing fit to eat here. I would pity a dog that was situated as I am…destitute and miserable.”__________
The government was moved to Washington on the Brazos but defiant Austin citizens refused to part with the archives. Houston’s men stole into Austin one dark night to sneak the archives out of town. They were noticed and a cannon was rolled onto Congress Avenue. Angelia fired the warning shot to alert the townspeople who chased Houston’s men 20 miles north to Brushy Creek. The sealed tin boxes of archives were retrieved, taken to Eberly House and buried for safe keeping. Later a bronze sculpture of Angelina firing the cannon was installed in Austin on Congress Avenue.
Ref. Several Texas history books were referenced for this colorful tale. Carole Sikes 1/21
Carole's FEBRUARY BLOG
GULF COAST SPLASH 30" x 30" Oil on Canvas This painting is the result of my sitting on a sea wall at a friend's house located on the intercoastal canal in Port Aransas, Texas. Staring at the splashes against the rocks is hypnotizing. Like snow flakes, no two splashes are alike. As a result of a trip to the west coast many years ago and watching the waves break on the beach, I painted a wave. This painting reminded me of that similar experience. Toni, do you remember buying that wave for your son's wedding gift? The colors on our Texas Gulf Coast can't compare with the incredible blue of the Pacific Ocean, but I borrowed a little of that color for my Texas splash. Artist'd Privilege! MUSEUM SHOW: At the GETTY CENTER in Los Angeles until February 28 is "Rembrandt and His Pupils: Telling the Difference". If you can't make the trip, do as I did. The interactive on the Getty's web site allows zooming in on the images. You can test yourself b...
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