Local newspaper brings the news...
   Death of the last survivor of San Jacinto
   By Murray Montgomery
   
  It has always been my opinion that the best history books in the world cannot compare to old newspapers. When you think about it, no other source contains such factual information as the aged papers.

The stories that appear in the newspapers are usually written by people who were eyewitnesses to the event – it doesn’t get any better than that. Recently, I came across one of these articles that provide the reader with an exact account of the death of the last survivor of the Battle of San Jacinto.

Although the story is brief, it lets us know the time and place of San Jacinto veteran W.P. Zuber’s death, while giving a few details about the man and his life. Chances are that the people of Lavaca County and, indeed, all Texans were saddened by the news of his passing.

This piece is presented below just as it appeared in the Sept. 26, 1913, edition of the Hallettsville Herald.

Hallettsville Herald – "Sole Survivor of Texas Army at San Jacinto Dies at Austin."

Austin, Tex., Sept. 22 – W.P. Zuber, known as the last survivor of the Texas Army at San Jacinto, is dead.

He died late this afternoon at the home of a daughter in this city (Austin). He was 93 years old and had lived all but ten in Texas.

He, with Alonzo Steele, who died a few months ago, in Limestone County, were known as the last survivors of San Jacinto.

For two years Mr. Zuber has been in poor health, he having suffered a stroke of paralysis fourteen months ago.

Up to two years ago the frail old man was a familiar figure about the state capitol, where he was employed by the state as a guard in the senate chamber. He pointed out various objects of interest to visitors, particularly the large McArdle canvas of the Battle of San Jacinto, every figure in which he was able to designate by name.

His own portrait, done in oil, hangs in the chamber. Mr. Zuber was not an actual combatant in the battle, owing to his tender age, but was detailed by his commander to guard the baggage and the sick and wounded.

In this connection the story is still told of him that he wept because he was denied the privilege of fighting in the battle.