French Settlement and Spain's Renewed Interest
9
declared Morfi, "whom we shall shortly see playing an important role in the history of Texas." 19 Perhaps, because Spain and France were nominally at peace, it is curious to note how the French in Louisiana resorted to a clever ruse to deceive the Spaniards during the first year of their establishment. After Arriola left for Veracruz, Martinez sent a scouting party to Mobile Bay to ascertain if the French were still there. The men reported that signs of their short stay were visible, but that no ships had been seen. The fears entertained as to the designs of the French now rapidly subsided, but persistent rumors of the presence of Englishmen in the vicinity of Pen- sacola greatly alarmed the half-starved and sick-ridden Spanish garrison. Fear of the Englisli. Early in February, 1699, a dispatch from Gov- ernor Laureano de Torres y Ayala reached the distressed troops at Pen- sacola, warning them of the designs of the English. The letter went on to state that Francisco Romo de Uriza had been sent to the colony of St. George (Carolina) in the summer of 1698. While there he learned that the English were contemplating the occupation of the Gulf coast in the neigh- borhood of the Mississippi River and the Bay of Espiritu Santo. 20 The news greatly alarmed Martinez, and the garrison was almost thrown into a panic by further details of the English designs sent by Governor Torres soon after. The governor declared that in January an English vessel was wrecked near St. Augustine and some of the survivors were given shelter at the presidio there. Later, Torres had sent back the Englishmen escorted by a group of Spanish soldiers to the colony of St. George for the purpose of finding out more about the intended occupation of the Gulf coast. The report was brought back that five vessels ready for sail had been observed in the English fort and that a settlement at Apalache was being planned.n The suspicions of Martinez and the famished soldiers left at Pensacola seemed at last confirmed when on May 2 two English sailors arrived at the presidio in a small boat and claimed they had been shipwrecked while on their way from Jamaica to New England. Cross-examination of the men revealed that they knew of no English colony to the west. Nevertheless, Martinez decided to send them to Mexico for further questioning. On May 4, a small vessel which had brought some needed supplies from 19 Castaiieda, Aforfi's History of Texas. 20 Martinez to the Governor of Havana, February :? 1, I 699, in A. G. I., Audi- encia de 111exico, 61-6-22 (Dunn Transcripts). 21 Torres to the King, September 16, 1699, A. G. I., A uctie11ci,1 d,: ,1/h·ico, 61-6-22 (Dunn Transcripts).
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