II5
Co,·onado and La Gran Quivira, 1537-1544
his body with innumerable stones." 81 Thus did this ardent and zealous missionary earn the crown of martyrdom in Quivira, whose pueblos were on the Canadian River and its tributaries, on the edge of the great plains of Texas. It is said that his companions witnessed his death from a distance and that the loyal Indians from Mexico, who had accompanied him and loved him as a father, were allowed to give him a Christian burial. He had labored for two years before he was killed, probably on November 30, 1544. 82 Return of F atleer Padilla's companions. The Portuguese soldier, Andres de Campo, escaped with Lucas and Sebastian. Across the plains they made their way by a shorter route and finally reached Panuco. The two Indian lads made a cross, it is said, which they carried on their backs in turn, all the way until they ultimately reached Culiacan. Soon after his return, Sebastian fell seriously ill and died. Lucas became a missionary among the Indians of Mexico on the west coast from which place he went to Zacatecas, where he died during the conquest of the Chichimecas. 83 "Thus perished the first unarmed mission of the Roman Catholic Church to the country now occupied by the United States," exclaims Lowery, "an heroic band of martyrs, who with the courage of brave and determined men must have united a grace which won the simple natures of those they were seeking to save."" Texas may well claim the rare distinction of having been the place chosen by Divine Providence for the achievement of the heroic sacrifices of the pious and fearless Fray Juan de Padilla. BlMota Padilla, Historia, 168. 82Castafieda, op. cit., 457; Davis, Conquest of New Mezico, 231, note; Ayer, Benavides Memorial, 288, note. 83Herrera, op. cit., III, 207; Torquemada, Monarqu,a Indiana, Ill, 611; Vetan- court, Meno/ogio, November ~o. 84 Lowery, Spanislz Settlements; 410.
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