Ottr Catholic Heritage in T ezas
22
their honor to follow him wherever he might direct. Since there is no doubt that Garay made his way to the Rio de las Palmas and actually attempted to establish the projected town of Garay there, this city council may be said to be the first one of any city within the present limits of the United States. Their names deserve, therefore, to be preserved for posterity. They were: Alonso de Mendoza, Alcalde; Hernando de Figueroa, A lea/de; Gonzalo de Ovalle, Diego de Cifuentes, and Villagran, Councilmen. 54 Having completed all preliminary arrangements, when everything was in readiness, the fleet of sixteen vessels weighed anchor and set sail from Jamaica on June 26, 1523. Garay directed his course to Cuba first , where he landed at Xagua. It was here that he learned for the first time that the Panuco River had been actually occupied by Cortes. He still firmly believed, it seems, that the men he had sent during I 520 had succeeded in establishing a settlement in the vicinity of this river. The news of the founding of Santiestevan by Cortes depressed his rival considerably. He was in a quandary to determine what he should do in these perplexing circumstances. He consulted Velazquez by letter, and at his advice, decided to send a special envoy to Mexico to try to reach some agreement with Cortes in order to avoid an open breach that might result in his capture, as in the case of Narvaez. He availed himself of Licentiate Alonso Zuazo, a former friend of Cortes, who agreed to proceed directly to Mexico to treat with him, while Garay went on to the Rio de las Palmas and estab- lished his settlement. Zuazo set out immediately in a special ship which was to conduct him to Veracruz. But he had hardly left the Cape of San Antonio, Cuba, before he was overtaken by such severe storms that the pilot lost his way and the vessel was shipwrecked on Isla de las Viboras. For several months Zuazo and his companions stayed in this and the neighboring islands, subsisting on turtles, sea fowls, and such food as they could find. After many hardships, the survivors at last reached Veracruz. As soon as Cortes was informed of the mission of Zuazo, he issued orders that he be treated with all kindness and given means to proceed to Mexico City. He sent a special messenger to wait upon him, and it is said he gave the envoy of Garay a personal present of ten thousand pesos, besides many fine clothes and a few good horses. Zuazo was royally entertained by Cortes upon his arrival in Mexico City, where he informed the con- queror of the Aztecs of the force Garay had assembled and of his plans
I
I I i
·• ..
\ •
'I I '.
,, I I
54Herrcra, n;storia, Dtc, iii, Lib, v, Cap. V ; Gomara, Cro11ica, in Barcia, I, I 58.
Powered by FlippingBook