Our Catholic Heritage, Volume III

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Ot" C atliolic Heritage in Texas

days a goodly number of natives gathered here to whom the good friar distributed tobacco and other presents and explained the purpose of his visit. The natives were overjoyed with the news. It was at this time that the San Xavier was definitely chosen as the location for the proposed missions. The Indians begged Fray Mariano to wait for them at thi,; site while they returned to their ra11-c/1erias to bring their families assembled there. "I dissuaded them from their purpose," says the mis- sionary, "both because of the manifest danger to which those living at this place are exposed, and because of the lack of provisions with which to feed them." 6 The chief and the warriors departed shortly after this and went to the nearest ranclierias, where four nations (Deadose, Yojuanes, Mayeyes, and Yerbipiame) had gathered to wait for the Padre as promised, to inform their people of what Fray Mariano had told them. Here, while holding a council at midnight, they detected an Apache spy and shot him, but wounded, he made his escape. Next morning when the bloody tracks were examined, it was found there had been four other Apaches. Fearful that those who escaped would attack them now that they had discovered their meeting place, the four nations disbanded and took refuge in Monte Grande (the Cross Timbers). When this story was told to Fray Mariano a few days later, he wisely observes that such a coinci- dence might be taken as an excuse of the four nations to return to their native haunts. But this possibility was precluded by the fact that the trustworthy Geronimo, an Indian chief who accompanied the Padre from San Antonio, had witnessed the incident and swore to its truth. Temporary establishment of tlze first mission at San X aJtier. In the meantime, notwithstanding the danger of the exposed site, Fray Mariano, the five soldiers, and the San Antonio Indians remained at San Xavier. The chief and warriors of the four nations returned after they had placed their families in safety in the woods and renewed their solemn promise of coming to live in the mission when this was formally established. All the chiefs of the various tribes, they said, were in full accord. Only one called Tuerto Onc6n was opposed to the proposal, but the Indians had unanimously banished him from their ra11clzer1as. 'Fray Mariano to Fray Benito Fernandez de Santa Anna, San Xavier'. January 19, 6 S F · co el Grande Arcllives, vol. I 9, pp. 62-65. The conJectures as to I 7 4 . an ranc,s · d b B It · h' T · h d h h ·te was chosen so ably d1scusse Y oonm 1s exas ,n tire w en an ow t e s1 ' . • · 1 . L C I are dispelled by this very mterestmg etter. See o-,. cu. Middle Eighteen/,. en ury, , I 54-56.

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