01,r Catliolic Heritage in Texas
instructed to win the friendship of the Apaches and to try to induce them to settle in missions. When he reached Los Adaes, he had to admit, however, that in spite of his efforts he had been unable to con- tact them. He promised the viceroy that in the return march he would redouble his efforts in regard to this matter. One of the dreads of the viceregal authorities had been the possibility of an alliance between this fierce nation and the French. On this point, Aguayo assured His Excel- lency, that this danger had been permanently removed by the establish- ment of the new presidio at Los Adaes, as the only avenue of communi- cation between the French and the Apaches had been through the coun- try of the Cadadachos. He made the significant observation that the haunts of these Apaches were about one hundred and fifty leagues to the northwest of the French frontier. 34 From the time Aguayo entered Texas, the Apaches taunted him con- tinuously. Before he arrived in San Antonio, they raided the presidio and stole some horses. While in East Texas, they surprised Brother Jose Pita, a Franciscan friar from the College of Queretaro, who was out hunting buffalo with a companion, and both of them were killed by these savages. Two years later, Captain Flores piously gathered the bones of the friar and brought them back to San Antonio for burial. No sooner had t~e expedition returned to San Antonio, than five Apaches attempted to steal some horses, but four of the culprits paid with their lives for the affront, as already related. After Flores became captain of the Presidio of San Antonio it seems the depredations moderated. In a letter to the viceroy he claims that due to his vigilance no horses were stolen by these raiders for more than a year. But on August 17, 1723, a band of the Indians, availing them- selves of the darkness and inclement weather of a stormy night, suc- ceeded in breaking one of the gates of the corral where the horses of the presidio were kept and drove off eighty of them, in spite of the ten soldiers stationed there to guard them. As soon as Captain Flores was notified of the occurrence, he set out in pursuit accompanied by a few of his men. He followed the trail until noon of the following day, when he decided it would be better to return to the presidio and organize a regular expedition to recover the stolen animals. Thirty soldiers and as many Indians from the Mission of San Antonio de Valero were made ready, including among the former, eight men from La Bahia. Taking HAguayo to the Viceroy, Los Adaes, November 7, 1721. A. G. N., A11die1,cia de Mezico, 61-2-2 (Dunn Transcripts, 1713-1722).
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