Issue date: 3/27/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

On March 27, 1836, 342 Texas rebels were executed by the Mexican army in a field near Goliad, but 28 men managed to escape and 20 were spared, one of whom was a man named Andrew Jackson Hitchcock.

Little is known of Hitchcock in history books, but he resided in Denton many years after the war. Hitchcock lived in the James Hotel, once on Oak Street one block west of the Courthouse-on-the-Square, local historian Nita Thurman said.

In 1887, the hotel caught fire and Hitchcock burned to death inside it. According to Thurman, he was the only person who died in the fire, and there was a huge upset in the town.

Thurman writes weekly historical articles for the Denton Record-Chronicle and became interested in Hitchcock after seeing his name in local history references. Her curiosity about the circumstances surrounding his life ultimately led her to write a story about him.

"Many thought the hotel fire was arson or a distraction for theft or murder," Thurman said. "Hitchcock was not a wealthy man, but it is believed he may have had several hundred dollars' worth of gold pieces with him in the hotel."

She said authorities later sifted through the ashes of the hotel and found no gold, which helped lead to the suspicion of arson and theft.

Two suspects were arrested for the crime and suspicion against them was strong, but there was not enough evidence to hold up in court, Thurman said, and they were finally acquitted.

Hitchcock was buried in the Denton I.O.O.F. cemetery, and Thurman said he may or may not have been part of that organization. She said from what she knows about him, there are no survivors of Hitchcock's family.

His death was reported in The New York Times and is the only known source with a detailed description of the James Hotel tragedy. Thurman said his death was national news because of the importance of his survival from the Goliad massacre.

Randolph Campbell of the history faculty specializes in Texas History said the massacre was important to Texas in many ways.

"One important thing was when the Texas armies heard of what happened in Goliad, it was a good lesson to learn of what might happen to them if they were captured or surrendered," Campbell said.

He said the Mexican army had to shoot many men at once during the massacre, so few of the men were lucky enough to dodge a bullet or escape with only minor injuries.

"Another reason the massacre was important was because the Texas armies used the remembrance of it and of the Alamo in their battle cry at the Battle of San Jacinto," he said. "The Battle of San Jacinto was the final battle in the Texas Revolution and where Texas armies won independence."

Thurman said Hitchcock may have been just a regular private soldier in the war but acquired an honorary title later in life.

"I didn't find much information about Hitchcock, but that isn't to say that there isn't much out there," Thurman said. "He seemed to live an interesting life."

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