Our Catholic Heritage, Volume III

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Our Cat/10lic Heritage in Texas

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Bejar was to detail in a similar manner and without delay twelve men for the same purpose, exercising the same prudence in their selection and giving them the same instructions. The viceroy declared that the assignment of these soldiers at this time was a temporary measure. The erection of the proposed presidio for the protection of the new missions would have to be postponed until the · outcome of the vast exploration undertaken by Escandon was known and the plans for the occupation of that territory were completed. Acceding to the just request of Fray Ortiz, he ordered the treasury to pay the College of Queretaro two thousand two hundred and sixty-two pesos and four tomines for the expenses incurred in supplying the Indians at San Xavier while waiting for the formal authorization of the project. 20 Before the viceregal instructions concern- ing the appointment of guards for the now approved missions arrived in San Antonio, Fray Mariano received discouraging news of conditions at San Xavier. On May 4, 1747, Eusebio Pruneda and an Indian named Geronimo, who had gone to San Xavier at the end of March, returned. They declared before Captain Urrutia and the Cabildo, who testified to their declarations, that they had gone to San Xavier towards the end of March with other mission Indians to help those congregated there to plant corn and others things. They had found the Deadoses, Yojuanes, and Cocos living at the site chosen, who gladly began to plant the new crop with the seed brought to them. Being short of rations, the Chief of the Cocos had sent out twenty-two warriors to hunt buffalo and to bring meat. This party had not gone far before they met a group of Apaches, attacked them and killed one. They hurriedly returned to San Xavier and reported the incident. Preparations were immediately made to repel the expected attack, but three days passed and the enemy did not appear. Fearful that the Apaches were gathering a large force to sweep down upon them, the Indians at San Xavier decided to abandon the site and take refuge in their native haunts. They all went back then down the Trinity to the coast, saying the Spaniards and the Padres had failed to keep their promises and that they would not return until the Spaniards and mis- Orders are not carried out. :oviceregal decree, February 14, 1747. In Ibid._ (Dunn Transcripts, 1716-1749). This viceregal order was in fact ta_ntamount to offi~1.al approval of _the mission project. It was provisional in nature, but 1t was a recognition of the ments of the plan. Cf. Dolton, Texas in the Middle Eighteenth Century, I 7 3-178.

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