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Our C atliolic Heritage in Texas
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leagues away, and five at San Saba Mission. The women and children in the presidio complicated the problems of Parrilla. After the arrival of the wounded refugees from the Pedernales, he took every precaution against surprise assaults, keeping a sharp lookout and waiting to be attacked at almost any moment. 97 The massacre. The tension continued for a few days. Unshaken in their faith and trust in the Lord, the missionaries continued their daily routine. Early on March 16, just after Fray Alonso had finished saying Mass and as Father Santiesteban was beginning the second service, the alarm came from the direction of the river. Shouts of "Indians, Indians!" rent the air, and the small mission guard hurriedly closed the gate and took their positions in anticipation of the attack. At the river the vanguard of the warriors had surprised two Spaniards, stripped them of their clothes and administered a severe beating to them. The main body rushed to the mission, firing in the air as they approached the stockade. Andres Villareal, who was just outside the mission, was wounded by the advancing enemy, but he managed to reach the mission before them. Everything was confusion now. Father Molina hurried to the chapel to warn Fray San- tiesteban of the danger. He then hurried on to Fray Alonso's room, while Fray Santiesteban calmly removed his vestments and knelt in fervent prayer before the altar. The Indians, finding the mission ready to repel the attack and not desiring to lose any men, checked their onrush and assumed a friendly attitude. With many signs and broken Spanish they tried to tell the soldiers at the gate that they were friends. As the crowd gathered, Ascensio Cadena, Corporal of the Guard, came forward and peering through the cracks in the stockade, recognized among the gathering multitude a number of Tejas, Bidais, Tonkawas, and other northern Indians with whom he previously had relations as a soldier. Misled by the presence of these former friends of the Spaniards, he explained to Fray Alonso that the Indians were peaceful. As the shooting had ceased, as well as the shouting, Fray Alonso and his companions were temporarily reassured that the savages were harmless, and they mustered sufficient courage to venture out into the ,patio. Great was th~ir surpris~. The open space beyond the/ mission inclosure was crowded with a teeming pack of fierce barbarians in the most striking war costumes. Through the gate as
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375 •376· Auto of Parrilla, March 22, 1758, A. G 1 t ) . • 92_6-:22 (Cunningham Tr., 17 3, P. 2 , pp. 1-5. ' 6
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