363
Missionary Activity Among the Apaclzes, 1743-1758
Saba presidio and its large garrison of one hundred men evolved at the expense of the doomed Presidio of San Xavier and the garrison of San Antonio. 37 It was received in Mexico on October 20, and referred to the Fiscal. Conditions at San Xavier, 1752-1753. Before following the proposal of Galvan, which is intimately associated with the fate of San Xavier, it will be well to summarize conditions in this unfortunate and seemingly accursed spot. Whatever the explanations alleged by skeptics, the facts remain that strange and practically inscrutable things happened at San Xavier after the tragic death of Fray Ganzabal. As early as June 30, 1752, Captain Felipe Rabago y Teran officially declared that unprec- edented drought had dried up the river, that the water had ceased to run; that an examination by qualified witnesses-Fray Mariano among them-had revealed that the stream did not run but formed shallow pools, full of weeds and slime; and that there was grave danger of pollution. Existence at this spot was even then unbearable. 38 No relief came throughout the winter and the spring of the following year. Rain fell abundantly in the vicinity and the neighboring creeks ran full, as testified by numerous witnesses - Lieutenant Eca y Musquiz among them. The San Andres (Little River) had running water but the San Xavier (San Gabriel) remained in broken pools. The dead fish in the stagnant pools and the decaying vegetable matter made the water un- drinkable even to the animals. Little wonder that an epidemic broke out and malignant fevers almost annihilated the entire garrison. These evils were plainly "visited by God in his anger upon the people in this presidio, without distinction of persons, be they great or small," declared Eca y Musquiz to the viceroy in August, 1753, when he reported the death of Captain Miguel de la Garza Falcon, the Jue& Comisionado appointed to investigate the rnurders. 39 Thus a Coahuila pioneer, the founder of 37 Fray Mariano wrote to the Viceroy on September 26, 1753, explaining why he did not accompany Galvan. He frankly admits that Fray Aranda wrote the report of Galvan, and it seems he did it under the supervision of Fray Mariano himself, who argues in his letter for the plan as his own. Ibid., 26-32. 38 Felipe Rabago to the Viceroy, June 30, 1752, in Testimonio de las diligencias, A.G. I. Audiencia de Mexico, 91-3-2 (Dunn Tr., 1752), 264-270. 39 For details of his appointment see pages 336-337. All previous accounts ignore the fact that he was the first one commissioned to reopen the investigation of the San Xavier murders and that he died a victim to the pestilence described. His death occurred on August 26, 1753.
Powered by FlippingBook