011r Cat/10/ic Heritage in Texas
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four thousand pesos for the purpose. In their opinion, a thorough inves- tigation of the circumstance attendant upon the loss of the first cargo should be instituted at once by the governor of Coahuila, and a full report of the findings made to His Excellency. Agreeable to the recom- mendations of the Junta, the viceroy immediately issued the necessary orders to put into execution the measure suggested. 45 Two months later, on August 27, Alarcon learned of the success of the President of the Mission on the Rio Grande in finding the lost cargo. Father Espinosa, Captain Ramon, and the President, accompanied by nine soldiers, arrived in San Antonio that day and told how the party that set out on June 27, had traveled as far as Lake Santa Anna, where it arrived on July 21. Looking around for the supplies left there since March 30, they found the cargo intact and in perfect condition, notwithstanding the heavy rains and the fact that the Indians were on the warpath. Filled with joy, the soldiers fired a salute and were very happy at what appeared to them a miracle. Four days later, while waiting to reload the goods found, Father Espinosa arrived in company with Captain Ramon. The letters left with the Tejas Indian had been faithfully delivered to the proper persons after overcoming many difficulties, and a group had lost no time in going after the sorely needed supplies. Having sent the?e on to the missions, the captain and Father Espinosa decided to proceed to San Antonio, in company with nine soldiers, to welcome the new governor and accompany him to the country of the Tejas. 44 With the party now came the chiefs of twenty-three nations who had been in revolt. They came to offer their allegiance, having been won over peacefully by the bountiful gifts given to them by Captain Ramon in the name of the governor. They gladly pledged loyalty and obedience to the king of Spain and were warmly welcomed by Governor Alarcon. This filled the missionaries with joy since "shortly before the natives were so rebellious to our Holy Mother the Church and the royal crown because the devil had led them astray." 47 Alarcon's exploration of Espzritu Santo. With the m1ss10n and set- tlement on the San Antonio River well established and supplied, Alarcon continued his journey to East Texas, where the relief supplies had at last arrived as reported by Father Espinosa and Captain Ramon. There being 45Acuerdo de la Junta de Hacienda, June 27, 1718. San Fra11cisco el Gra11de .Archive, VIII, 203-205. 46Diary of Martfn de Alarcon, 5, 13, 14. 41/bid., 14.
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