After the quick high-level policy-making, we saw the people who were to be affected. They were the settlers and the natives. They were shown for the most part to be good people but the bad was epitomized by Lew Wetzel who did everything possible to make a bad situation worse. The Indians called him Death Wind.
Whenever I was in a scene the audience would cheer. On an impulse when Death Wind appeared the first time I booed. That was picked up on. When Mary would be in a scene it was, “Ah.”
When it came time for me to play the fiddle and sing my song the audience was clapping along with the sprightly tune.
Most of the time, the audience was engrossed in the movie. Simon Girty was not a crowd favorite. They loved George Washington even though it was a small part. When it was time for Simon Kenton to run the gauntlet there were groans and cheers. At one point he fell but managed to get back up, you could feel the audience straining to get him to stand and continue.
Then came the big ending where it was revealed the cheerful beloved fiddle player, me, was Lew Wetzel, Death Wind. You could have heard a pin drop in the theater.
When it ended and the audience filed out it was a very quiet group of people. Their world view had been shaken. I followed them out and tried to hear what was being said. The main comment was, “I don’t believe all that I saw and heard. I have to see it again.”
We had a hit.
The local reporter that had been with us most of the day asked me for a comment about my change, no longer the pure hero as typecast.
“We all have to grow up sometime.”
That simple quote became part and parcel of the movie.
Marshal Elliot took me back to the hotel. I thought he would drop me off and leave. Instead, he came in with me.
“There is someone I would like you to meet.”
He took me to the seating area in the lobby. A woman and a young lady in a wheelchair were waiting there. He introduced me to his wife, Sara, and ten-year-old daughter Georgia.
Georgia was a fan but couldn’t take the commotion of crowds. She had polio, and while she could walk a little, in public she used her chair. We sat and talked for almost an hour. I thought I was exhausted, but when I saw how this young lady had to struggle I had the time for her.
We talked for an hour and I invited them to have dinner with me. There we spent another pleasant two hours. There were the obligatory pictures taken. This was the best part of my day for me. The crowds and applause were fun, but this was real human interaction. I didn’t have it on this level very often.
Sara was a Mary fan. I told about some of Mary’s antics and they thought it was a hoot. The story about me and the sunbathing five-year-olds had them laughing till tears came.
Both Sara and Georgia thought it must be a wonderful life we lived in Hollywood. Marshal looked at me with an obvious question.
“Why don’t you share that tomorrow? Tonight is too much fun.”
They didn’t need to know the grim side of things. I hope he shared an edited version.
Georgia let me know she was a Mary fan, too. She loved her line of clothes and feeding puppies and her acting. She even watched out for the Public Service Announcements that Mary made.
Our hotel had a feature that I had never seen before. They could bring a telephone to your table and plug it in for you to use. I asked for a telephone. I then dialed our home number. With the time difference, Mary would still be up. Mum answered the phone.
I told her all was okay and that one of Mary’s most ardent fans would like to talk to her. Mary was brought to the phone and I told her that one of her fans by the name of Georgia would like to talk to her. I then handed the phone to an open-mouthed girl.
At least she didn’t squeal.
The girls talked for a good half hour. In the meantime, the Elliot’s and I casually talked about the events of the day. I made notes as we talked. I would have to call Sharon Wallace in the morning and make arrangements like this for every stop.
There was a soft pop outside. Small roman candles had been lit off. We turned to the large picture window and saw that a wedding had just taken place on what I learned was Marriage Island. There were hundreds of weddings held there every year.
The evening came to an end and I realized it had been a long and tiring day. I profusely thanked Mr. Elliot for his assistance and retired for the night.
I slept like a log. I woke up in the same position as I fell asleep in. Normally I would roll around the bed all night long. I was as apt to wake up with my head at the foot of the bed as anything.
The next day after exercising, running, cleaning up, and breakfast I walked to the Alamo. It was like going into a church. It was definitely hallowed ground. I left a hefty donation in the box set out for that purpose. To think what those men did in the name of freedom.
I know they didn’t set out to die, but they did so in a manner that would continue to reverberate down the years. Their story would make a strong movie one of these days.
I then went to the La Villita part of old
