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Ou.r Catlwlic Heritage in Texas
be requested to remove Fray Miguel Pinilla from San Xavier, naming someone else in his place. Since Fray Benito Fernandez de Santa Anna was in Mexico at this time, it would be well to ask him to give his opinion. Fray Mariano de los Dolores, President of the missions of San Antonio and the San Xavier, should also be asked to make a statement in behalf of the missionaries. 54 Agreeable to the recommendations of the Fiscal, the corresponding letters were sent on April 12 to the individuals and officials stipulated. The first person to reply was Fray Juan Hernandez, Guardian of the College of Queretaro, who, on April 25, informed the viceroy that he had no details concerning the incidents at San Xavier but that he had written Fray Mariano, asking him to make the changes suggested and to observe all the recommendations made by His Excellency. 55 But before the others ..:ould answer and before the recommendations of the Fiscal concerning the investigation of the circumstances that provoked the excommunication could be put into effect, the inevitable tragedy, long feared by the mis- sionaries, had occurred. Flight of tl1e Cocos from Mission Candelaria, 111/ay I, r752. A deceptive peace had temporarily been established after absolution was granted to the garrison, but there was little or no cooperation between the mis- sionaries and the military men. The Indians must have been aware of the strained relations between the padres and the soldiers and consequently became more impudent. Towards the end of April a typical misunder- standing developed among the Indians and padres in Mission Candelaria. This was not a serious matter and it was settled peacefully by the mis- sionaries. But Captain Rabago, who had grown distrustful of everybody, strictly prohibited the Cocos from entering the presidio armed. It seems that on May 1, two Cocos went to the presidio with their bows and arrows. Rabago ordered them to be apprehended, had their arms taken from them and administered a severe beating to them. When the Indians were released, they hurried back to Mission Candelaria, where they told the story of their rigorous and unjust punishment. That night, fearing reprisals, the entire group of Indians gathered in the mission and stole away, taking their families and all their belongings. When the flight was discovered next day, Fray Pinilla promptly informed Captain Rabago 5'Dictamenes de! Fiscal y Auditor, March 24 and 28, 1752. In Testimonio sobre los Autos. A.G. I. Audimciade Afhico, 91-3-2, pp. 154-165. SSFray Juan Hernandez to the Viceroy, April 26, 1752. In / bid., pp. I 66-x 67.
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