Destruction of tlie San Xavier Missions
3o3
dents and missionaries to lend each other such mutual aid as they could, "remembering that we all should keep in mind one purpose, namely, the glory of God and the conversion of the heathen." 14 Epidemic of smallpox, illay, 1750. To the constant uncertainty as to the future of the San Xavier missions and the stinging pinch of actual want was now added the ravages of·a furious epidemic of smallpox. This ailment, the curse of the natives, appears to have suddenly broken out in a camp of Indians from Mission San Ildefonso, who had been forced to forage for food and had established themselves some two leagues from the mission (about five miles). Father Ganzabal, an eye witness, says that the disease developed with such fury that when the corpses were removed from the tents, they literally fell in pieces. Undaunted by_the horrors of the dreaded disease, the Padres worked unceasingly comforting the sick and baptizing the dying. Forty died in a few days. Finally the epidemic abated towards the close of May and not one died without baptism. The missionaries' proudest achievement in this hour of woe was the baptism of an "Indian doctor" versed in the superstitious practices of the Tejas Indians. As soon as they were able, the survivors returned to San Ilde- fonso, still suffering from sores, and they were among those who were listed by Musquiz. 15 Trouble witli the soldiers. More difficult to contend with than the want of supplies or the ravages of disease were the evil effects of the reproachful conduct of the soldiers. Time and again, the missionaries complained bitterly of the lack of cooperation on the part of the military and they deplored the fact that those who should guard and protect them were the very ones that defeated their zealous efforts. Until the arrival of Eca y Musquiz in June, 1750, the guards stationed at San Xavier had no ranking officer. First under the command of a mere corporal, Felipe de la Sierra, it was next placed in the fall of 1749 under Lieutenant Galvan, known to be antagonistic to the missionaries, who remained as commander until the arrival of Musquiz. During this time, they not only maltreated the neophytes but encouraged them to run away. In April, 1750, Fray Mariano wrote that the mis- sionaries, without the aid of the soldiers were helpless; that the Indians were living in open insubordination; and that the bad example of the 14 Carta del R. P. Guardn Castellanos suplicando se favorescan las miss. de Sn. Xavr., 1750. Arcliivo del Cougio, 1750-1767 (Dunn Tr.) pp. 9-10. ISArricivita, Cliro11ica, 328-329. Bolton, op. cit., 223-:124.
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