WHERE IS RAFAEL MORALES? SLEEPING AT OLD CEMETERY

Special to El Rrun-Rrun

Did a bullet save him?

Many notables are buried at the Old Brownsville Cemetery and one of those isRafael Morales, who lived a fast-paced and colorful life even by the standards of the time of revolution and nation-building. 

Morales was born in 1811, in San Fernando de Bejar, and what is known today as San Antonio.

His father came to San Antonio as a Spanish soldier and later went into the wholesale business when the Mexicans took over. Rafael was born in “La Villita,” a well-known area of San Antonio. Back then, it belonged to his father.

Rafael's existence was something out of the ordinary. In his life span he was:

* A captive of the Comanche Indians; a soldier in the battle of the Alamo

* A rancher here and a friend of Juan N. Cortina.

* He was a veteran of the National Mexican Army who fought against Sam Houston's Texans and was considered and a hero to Mexico after the battle of San Jacinto in 1836.

His Comanche experience…

It is not known what indecent behavior he committed, but one day in 1826 his father gave him a whipping at age of 10. He decided that it was not his cup of tea and decided it was time to run away
from home, and he did.

But he did not get far, as the Comanches captured him outside of San Antonio, and in a way, it turned out to be a good thing.

He presence had a positive drumbeat among the tribe and he was considered a rarity because of his blond hair and blue eyes. He became the poster boy for the Comanche chief and christened him “Caballo Blanco.”

Soon he was well attuned to Indian life —learning the Comanche language along with becoming a good saddle maker. When he turned 18, love was not the only thing that interrupted his normal way of life, but the culprit for him to run away again. The chief’s daughter fell in love with the blonde boy and as ceremonial plans were in order, Rafael got cold feet and ran and ran.

His next stop was at a Mexican army outpost and surrendered there. By 1835, he was back in San Antonio wearing the colors of the Mexican army. In 1836, Morales found himself in the middle of the Battle of the Alamo taking commands from General Antonio Lopez de San Anna. He became the general’sforemost spy and scout.

Then, after the massacre at the Alamo, he fought at the battle of San Jacinto with the Mexicans, and if they were awarding purple hearts—he would have earned seven of them. Gravely wounded, he survived after a Texan, Edward Curiel rescued him, only after he agrees to say, “Viva Texas.”

It is believed that this Curiel was the same Frenchman, Louis Moses Rose, who escaped from the Alamo before the battle ended. After all the fighting at San Jacinto expired, Rafael returned to San Antonio only to face a personal battle. There he came across Curiel (Rose) who — drunk as he was, said to Rafael, “All of the Santa Anna’s soldiers were cowards.”

This led to a duel on the Isla de la Lomita. Their guns were loaded with one bullet and it favored Rafael and he killed Curiel. But revenge was lurking around the corner as Curiel’s brother vows revenge. Rafael ‘s mother convinces him not to push his luck on a second duel and he left the area.

As per findagrave.com, Rafael was buried at the Old Brownsville Cemetery in 1887. None other than Old City Cemetery historian par excellence Eugene “Gene” Fernandez confirmed that date. His gravesite in on block 12 lot 13.

Oh, and by the way, Rafael was the grandfather of Miguel, “Mike” Morales, a well-known Brownsville photographer. Miguel died in 1969 at the age of 89.

NOTE: According to the Handbook of Texas Online, Mr. Rose did not die of a bullet wound. His death came as a result of massive amount of thorns embedded in his body.

All information for this story was taken directly from the Brownsville Herald’s original story published in 1969. The Herald’s account of the death of Mr. Rose made for a captivating story.