The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 5, July 1901 - April, 1902 Page: 164

164 Texas historicall Association (Quarterly.
NOTES AND FRAGMENTS.
CAPT. JESSE BURNAM'S NAME.-As intimated in the editorial
note on page 12 of the July QUARTERLY, historians have spelled his
name "Burnham"; but he evidently spelled it Burnamn; for I have
had extensive correspondence with some of his intimate acquaint-
ances, all of whom so spelled it. One of these correspondents was
his youngest son, who wrote to me a short time before his own
death.
W. P. ZUBER.
"THE ESCAPE OF ROSE FROM THE ALAxIo."-The editorial foot-
note (on page 5, Vol. V, No. 1, of the QUARTERLY) to the article
bearing this title is correct, towit: "In the letter carried by Smith
[dated March 3d, 1836], Travis says, "Col. J. B. Bonham * * *
got in this morning at eleven o'clock." I remember to have read
the letter, as it was printed in hand bill form, not many days after
it was written. I should have noted this myself, but happened not
to think of it. Yet, considering the circumstances under which
Travis wrote, it does not disprove my position that he wrote it after
midnight, on the morning of March 3d.
It is very probable that Travis had not slept since Bonham's
arrival. Under such circumstances it is not uncommon for persons,
conversing or writing, to make such blunders as to say this morn-
ing or this evening for yesterday morning, or for last evening or
tonight. It is not unreasonable to infer that Travis, being weary,
made such a blunder; and, as he was unquestionably pressed for
time, failed to discover the blunder, or had not leisure to correct it.
The distance which Smith rode after the writing proves this
hypothesis to be correct. A ride of one hundred and eighty miles
in three days is more than man or horse could perform.
My inference is that Bonham arrived at eleven o'clock on March
2nd;-more probably p. m. than a. m., as he could escape the vigi-
lance of the Mexican guards and scouts more easily in the night
than in daylight.
W. P. ZUBER.