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Our Catliolic Heritage in Texas
insure the ra1smg of crops. It is interesting to note that among the neophytes were three r;hiefs: El Gordo (Fatty), El de Godo (The Goth), and Bigotes (Mustaches) and that the official interpreter was a Lipan called Francisco del Norte, an incontestable proof of his Texas origin and his connection with the Indians who had solicited missions in San Antonio. Fray Alonso had to leave the mission shortly after this. He appears to have gone to Queretaro either because he was called to report, or to secure aid for the development of his mission. His enthusiasm for the Apaches won him the appointment as leader of the San Saba project and was responsible, no doubt, for interesting in this project the philan- thropic Don Pedro de Terreros. Father Fray Martin Garcia, formerly of San Antonio, and later sent to the distant missions of Sonora, succeeded him at San Lorenzo. His report on the character of the Indians he found congregated, further confirms the fact that they were the same who had previously come to San Antonio. Shortly after his arrival, he questioned them why they had come to San Lorenzo, and they answered it was because Fray Mariano had not founded missions for them in Texas. Fray Martin appears to have stayed in San Lorenzo only a few months, for on June 18, 1755, he was replaced by Father Fray Felix Gutierrez Varaona, originally sent to San Xavier, but now assigned to the new mission in Coahuila. In spite of his fervent zeal and great faith, he could not hold his fickle charges to their tasks. As fall approached, they grew insolent and irritable. On October 4, 1755, they revolted, burned all the buildings, and deserted in a body, carrying away everything they could find. Fray Gutierrez Varaona tenaciously held the hope that they would return. As best he could, he attempted to repair the damage done, but his strenuous efforts were futile. Days passed and not one Indian returned. The charred remains of the mission were never again to shelter the faithless Apaches. Sad and disillusioned, Fray Felix finally abandoned the site and wended his way to Queretaro. In August, 1756, when the Fiscal asked the College what had happened to Mission San Lorenzo, the Discretorio sadly admitted its failure. But as Dunn says: "This failure of a mission for the Apaches in the Rio Grande country constituted an argument for planting one in their own country, and led logically to the establishment on the San Saba River." 30 Let us return, however, to San Antonio and San Xavier. It is evident 30I)unn, op. cit., Tiu Quarterly, XV, :zoo.
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