Destruction of tlee San Xavier Missions 335 tion, the character of Rabago, and the murder of Fray Ganzabal. On June 14, he informed the viceroy that although he knew that all the excommunicated men except Guevara and Carbajal had long since been absolved at the time he received the letter of April 12, he went on to San Xavier as instructed. Guevara and Carbajal had been asked to appear before him for absolution on February 22, when they arrived in San Antonio on their way to Mexico, but they had refused the offer. He declared that while in San Xavier he had confirmed the fact that all men had been absolved except Guevara and Carbajal, who had gone to Los Adaes immediately upon their return from Mexico. It was true that no Mass had been said during three or four days while the excommunica- tion was in effect, but this had deprived the garrison of holy service only on two days of special observance, one Sunday and the feast of Corpus Christi. He had refused the request of the captain to certify things he had neither seen nor heard. His visit and inspection had convinced him, declared Polanco, that Captain Rabago had originated all the trouble, when he forcefully seized Ceballos in the chapel of Mission Candelaria. All the subsequent developments had been the result of the efforts of the missionaries to defend the rights of the Church. The charge that the padres had attempted to arm the Indians against the Spaniards and had incited them to revolt was entirely false. He had not heard anyone say so during his visit. To all these facts he swore in verbo sacerdotis.6S The value of the report of Bachiller Polanco, Curate of San Antonio, is of inestimable worth because he was a secular, which made him an impartial judge of the acts of both parties involved. Viceregal officials order a tleorougli investigation. There are many strange or unexplainable coincidences in the history of the tragic drama that put an end to the San Xavier missions. For example, it was not until August 14, 1752, that Fray Benito Fernandez de Santa Anna finally submitted to the viceroy a documented report of the entire series of inci- dents that led to the deliberate murders of May 11. 66 When these reports were referred to the Fiscal, this conscientious official avers that for the first time he has learned of the adultery of Captain Rabago, the details of the murders of Fray Ganzabal and the wretched Ceballos, and the circumstances of the flight of the Cocos. Such foul deeds should be thor- ,sBachiller Francisco Manuel Polanco to the Viceroy, June 14, 1752. In Testimonlo de los Autos fhos. pp. 196-197, 231-233. 66 Fray Benito to the Viceroy, August 14, 1752. In Testimonio de las Dlligencias, pp. 245·25 I,
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