From the Annals of Bloodsport – In 1878, Jack Johnson nicknamed the “Galveston Giant” was born in Galveston. Johnson won the world heavyweight title on December 26, 1908 when he beat Canadian Tommy Burns, in Sydney, Australia. Johnson had stalked Burns around the world for almost two years and frequently taunted him in the press for refusing to fight. After Johnson won the title, white racism against him intensified. There was a call for a “Great White Hope” to take the title away from Johnson. In covering one of his fights, the New York Times wrote, “If the black man wins, thousands and thousands of his ignorant brothers will misinterpret his victory as justifying claims to much more than mere physical equality with their white neighbors.” Johnson faced a series of fighters each billed by boxing promoters as a “Great White Hope” and in 1909 alone, he beat Frank Moran, Tony Ross, Al Kaufman, and the middleweight champion Stanley Ketchel. The inability of any white fighters to take down Johnson and a huge payday prompted retired champion James J. Jeffries to reluctantly come out of retirement. Jeffries had not fought for 6 years and reportedly lost over 100 pounds in training. The fight took place on July 4, 1910 in Reno, Nevada in front of 20,000 spectators. Jeffries was ineffective and Johnson dominated the fight knocking down Jeffries for the first time in his career. Before the 15th round, Jeffries´ corner threw in the towel to end the fight and prevent Jeffries from having a knock out on his record. Afterwards, Jeffries was humbled by the loss and what he’d seen of Johnson in their match. “I could never have whipped Johnson at my best,” Jeffries said. “I couldn’t have hit him. No, I couldn’t have reached him in 1,000 years.”

From the Annals of Democracy –  In 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was formally adopted after its ratification by 3/4ths of the States.  The Amendment reads “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.”

With the adoption of the 15th Amendment in 1870, African-American voters joined by white allies brought the Republican Party to power in Texas.  The promise of a new day in American politics, however, was cut short by the GOP’s refusal to consolidate the gains for which so many had died in the Civil War.  The Texas Republican Party vanished with the end of Reconstruction.  Afterwards, Texas acted in clear contravention of the 15th Amendment in refusing to recognize the right of African Americans to vote. It would be nearly a century before a President from Texas would secure the rights of all Texas citizens to vote.

From the Annals of Infamy –  In 1836, at least 400 Texian soldiers and volunteers were executed at LaBahia near Goliad after surrendering to Mexican troops.  After an initial victory over Mexican troops under Gen. Cox at the Battle of Bexar, Texas rebel forces were divided on strategy.  Mexican Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna reacted decisively leading a large Mexican army across the Rio Grande. While Santa Anna was leading the siege against the Alamo in San Antonio, Gen. Jose de Urrea, moved to destroy forces let by James W. Fannin.

Fannin was left with only slightly more than 300 Texans to protect Goliad, a position the rebels needed in order to maintain their supply routes to the Gulf Coast. As Urrea’s much larger 1400-man army approached, Fannin dallied while considering if he should go to the aid of the besieged men at the Alamo. Belatedly, Fannin attempted to fall back from the approaching Mexican army, but his retreat order came too late. On March 19, Urrea surrounded the small column of rebel soldiers on an open prairie, where they were trapped without food, water, or cover. After repulsing one Mexican assault, Fannin realized there was no chance of escape. Rather than see his force annihilated, Fannin surrendered.

The Texans believed they would be treated as prisoners of war. Santa Anna, however, had clearly stated several months before that he considered the rebels to be traitors who would be given no quarter. Urrea wrote to Santa Anna asking for clemency for the prisoners. Santa Anna refused and while Urrea was away from Goliad, Col. Jose Nicolas de Portilla ordered the executions. Urrea was outraged. Fannin who was the last to be executed, was killed as were his troops and about 100 other captured Texans. Twenty-eight men escaped by feigning death and a handful of others were spared thanks to the courageous efforts of Col. Francisco Garay.

From the Annals of Spinach –  In 1937, Spinach growers in Crystal City erected a statue of cartoon character Popeye.  Zavala County was known for its impressive production of spinach – a staple of the combative sailor’s diet and the key to his incredible prowess in besting his nemesis Bluto.  The fiberglass effigy in front of Crystal City Hall shares a secret with museum statuary in Rome, Paris and London – it is a reproduction. To protect Popeye from vandals, the “real” statue stands safely within the walls of the Crystal City Hall. This duplicate is placed as an offering to whatever rival high school might want to defame or insult the Crystal City faithful by defacing the landmark.

The Popeye statue resulted from a contest  to award the contract. Architect Max Sandfield, a native of Lithuania, who had been raised in San Antonio entered and won  the competition.  Sandfield’s entry shows a statue far different from the current one. In his sketch, Mr. Sanfield has Popeye sitting on a can of spinach about the size of a 55-gallon drum with a more-to-scale second can held against his chest, ready to be opened in case of an emergency – or upon the arrival of Bluto.

From the Annals of the Black Bean –  In 1843, seventeen Texans were executed at Salado, Tamaulipas.  They were members of the ill-fated Mier expedition who were being marched to Mexico City as prisoners.  After being defeated and captured, the expedition members attempted a mass escape.  Some 176 were recaptured, and Mexican Pres.  Santa Anna ordered that one in ten of the prisoners be shot. The unlucky victims were chosen by a lottery in which each man drew a bean from an earthen jar containing 176 beans, seventeen of which were black. The bodies of the unfortunate victims were returned to Texas and are buried on Monument Hill near La Grange.