La Salle's Colony in Texas, 1684-1689
the wreck." But the loss was not discovered until after the Indians had retired with their loot, leaving a number of canoes behind. The French- men, who took the canoes, paid clearly for their reprisal. That night, the treacherous natives returned, and while attempting to rescue their canoes, killed two of the guards, Orray and Desloges, wounded others, and made good their escape. 11 Undismayed by the misfortunes that began to crowd upon him, La Salle ordered a temporary fort to be built on Matagorda Bay. This stronghold. which he called St. Louis, was situated close to the shore, slightly south of the mouth of the river they had discovered and which they called La Vaca, but which in reality has been identified as present Garcitas Creek. 19 To this place all the provisions and supplies were carried and in spite of the grumblings of the discontented members, a temporary shelter was soon established for the colonists. Beaujeu, who was anxious to return to France, made preparations to leave as soon as possible after the landing was effected. In vain did La Salle try to get him to unload the cannons on board his ship which were intended for the new fort. Beaujeu excused himself by saying these were in the hold of the ship and that it would take too long to unload them. He declared that the dangers of the approaching stormy season made it imperative that he leave without delay. Taking on board his ship M. Aigron, the pilot who had wrecked the Amiable, in open disregard of the request of La Salle, Beaujeu sailed for France on March 12, leaving the unfortunate little settlement to its fate on a desolate and uninviting region on the Texas coast. 20 Life in Fort St. Louis. The number of Frenchmen who remained has been variously estimated from one hundred and eighty to two hundred and twenty. Some of the men had become so discouraged by the time Beaujeu sailed that they returned to France with him. "Even his brother, the priest, Jean Cavelier," says Parkman, "had a mind to abandon the enterprise, but was persuaded at last . to remain, along with his nephew, the hot-headed Moranget, and the younger Cavelier, a mere schoolboy. The two Recollet friars, Zenobe Membre and Anatase Douay, the trusty 18 Castaiieda, o-{J. cit., 123; Margry, Deco11vertes, II, 604. 19For a long time it was thought the river was La Vaca, but it has been definitely established by Bolton that it was Garcitas Creek. Dolton, "Location of La Salle's Colony," originally published in the Mississi-{J'/Ji Valley Hist"rical Her,ie-:v, II, pp. 165-182. 2 0Margry, "1>· rit., II, 604; Parkman, I.a Salle. 360.
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