From the Dec. 24, 2008, San Antonio News.
A softball-sized cannonball originally owned by the Mexican Army was stolen from a plastic case in the lobby of the Fairmount Hotel in San Antonio over the weekend. Police believe it was stolen sometime between 9 pm Sunday and 3 am Monday. They have no clues or suspects, but it appears to have been done skillfully. A reward is offered.
It was found in the spring of 1985 when the hotel moved from Bowie and East Commerce to its present location. This still holds the record for largest-ever structure moved on wheels.
Before the move to the new site at South Alamo and Nueva, an archaeological study had to be done of the former parking lot as per city ordinance. Archaeologist Joe Labadie did not expect to find much there, but did.
What they found was "the largest single discovery of artifacts associated with the Alamo. It was especially significant because it told the story of the Mexican side of the war."
Also found at the site was a longer, hollow cannonball along with dozens of musket balls and pieces of China dishes and a cup in am L-shaped trench beneath the parking lot.
During the battle, this is where Santa Ana's cannons were located that fired hundreds of "wall banger" cannonballs at the Alamo's south wall.
Archaeologists suspect that this particular cannonball was not fired.
Always Hate to Lose History Like This. --Cooter
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