Excerpts of Elizabeth McAnulty Owens Story, Daughter of Margaret Quinn, while living in Victoria in 1836 as Told to her Daughters in 1900
Young Elizabeth and her mother were there as the invading Mexican Army reached Victoria in great glory, blowing their bugles, sounding their drums and parading the streets. One of the Mexican officers came to Mrs. Quinn’s door, walked in and took possession of one of her front rooms. The house consisting of three rooms, was adobe with dirt floor and very comfortable for those days. The presence of the officer furnished the Quinn family with great protection. The wife of the officer was a niece of the padre at Goliad who had baptized little John, son of the Quinn’s born at the Mission Refugio in 1831. The officer’s wife, and Mrs. Quinn became great friends.
During this interval a squad of Mexican soldiers came to the door of the Quinn’s home, banging it hard with their muskets. When the Mexican officer’s wife appeared, they immediately scattered. The Colonel of the Mexican Army and his wife were instrumental in saving many lives. The day after Ward’s men were brought in as prisoners they were taken out on Market Square to be executed, but the officer’s wife Señora Alvarez rushed out and threw herself before the captives spreading wide her voluminous skirts to protect them from the guard and announced that she too would be shot if they were. The firing squad promptly lowered their weapons and walked away.