Ot" Catl10lic Heritage in Tezas
Teran for the construction of a presidio had not been spent for that purpose, only five hundred having been used to purchase four swivel guns, the former commander of San Xavier should be requested to return the balance, which could be applied to the new presidio on the San Saba.S3 He dispatched a special courier with the documents to Mexico, who delivered them on February 18, 1755. To the certifications sent by Don Pedro, was added a long testimonial given by the Discretorio of the College of Queretaro, on February 20, 1755, confirming the statements made in San Antonio. It declared that the murders imputed by Governor Barrios to the Apaches were com- mitted in fact by the Natages and the Julimes. Although caution was commendable in so serious an undertaking, the indications were that the time for the reduction of the Apaches to Christianity had come. Fathers Fray Tomas de Uribe Larrea, Fray Pedro del Barco, Fray Francisco Xavier Castellanos, Fray Hermenegildo Vilaplana, Fray Esteban de Salazar, Fray Jose Bernal, and Fray Joaquin Banos signed the testimonial.s.. Removal of tlze San Xavier -missions and presidio to tlte San 111 arcos River, 1755. But months passed and the afflicted soldiers of the unfor- tunate Presidio of San Xavier and the zealous and faithful Franciscans were left to labor unrelieved under the most trying circumstances. The rain that delayed Don Pedro in December, 1754, like many others before, helped little. The San Xavier River continued to be a series of pools of stagnant and repellent water. On July 16, 1755, all the officers and soldiers of the presidio presented a formal petition to Don Pedro, which reveals vividly the unbearable sufferings endured by this frontier outpost. Since 1752, they declared, they had suffered untold misery. The epidemic, far from subsiding, had become more violent. Many had died and many were still ill. The rain in the vicinity had not affected the river. The stench of dead fish was worse than ever, and the water was not fit even for washing. There were no medicines, the shelter was poor, and the food scarce. The families implored relief. They asked, therefore, for permission to move to any place where running water was available. There was ~Consulta de Don Pedro de Rabago y Teran to the Viceroy, January 31, 17 5 5 . In Ibid., 69-90. MDiscretorio del Coltgo de Queretaro to the Viceroy, February 20, 1 7 5 5 . In Ibid., 92-96.
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