La Salle's Colony in Texas, 1684-1689
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brought into the courtyard and loaded with the meager supplies for the long expedition to Canada. Twelve men assembled with La Salle. These were Father Jean de Cavelier, La Salle's brother; Moranget, his hot- headed nephew; Father Anastasi us Douay, the Franciscan; Henry J outel, the trusted lieutenant; Duhaut, the elder; Marle; Xetot; L'Archeveque; James Hiens, the German; Liotot, the surgeon; Teissicr, a pilot; Talon, the younger; Saget, a servant of La Salle; and Nika the ever-faithful hunter. Barbier was left in command. With him remained the Marquis de Sablonniere; the friars Membre and Le Clercq, and the priest Chefdeville, besides a surgeon, some soldiers, seven women and girls and several children "doomed, in this deadly exile, to wait the issues of the journey, and the possible arrival of a tardy succor." 30 As if aware of his impending fate, La Salle made a touching farewell address to the gathering. Amidst sighs, tears, and fond embraces, the two groups bid each other farewell. La Salle and his men crossed the Garcitas and started to the northeast in search of the elusive river. Although the country was relatively level, they experienced great difficulty in crossing the numerous streams, all of which were swollen with winter rains. La Salle, who seems to have had an inventive mind, built a portable canoe which was carried on poles, and proved very useful. As they progressed they found more and more Indians. They crossed the Colorado near present day Columbus and made their way to the Brazos which was crossed just above the mouth of the Navasota. 31 While out on a hunting expedition on March 17, 1687, Moranget treated Duhaut, Hiens and Liotot with some harshness. The three men decided to do away with him, as well as with the servant and hunter of his uncle. L'Archeveque and Teissier who were also members of the party were informed of the plan and agreed to it. The plotters did not communicate their plan to Marie because they wished to kill him also. That night when the three unsuspecting victims were asleep, Liotot began the bloody work by striking each of the sleeping men on the head with a hatchet. The servant and the hunter died instantly but Moranget staggered to his feet too weak to utter a word. Marie was now forced by the others to finish the murder or suffer a similar end. 32 The murderers 38 Thc list of those who accompanied La Salle is taken from Castaneda, Jllorfi's History, 130-131 ; that of those who remained, from Parkman, op. cit., 418. 31 Bolton, "Location of La Salle's Colony," Tl,e Q11arterly, XXVII, 173. 32 J outel, Jo11rnal, in op. cit., 142-1 43; and Castaneda, op. cit., 131.
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