Our Catholi& Heritags in Texas
Success, be it ever so humble, arouses envy of and often breeds hatred for the successful. Thus it was that the kindly Franciscan had his enemies. On various occasions he had been advised to leave, and even publicly threatened. But he had worked too long as an officer in Christ's army to be deterred from what he saw as his duty. He continued to go about his business, frequently traveling unattended far into the country. In January, 1834, he was away for almost two weeks visiting his scat- tered flock. A Solemn High Mass, ordered by the Governor, had on that account to be postponed until February 17. On his return, the Mass was celebrated with much pomp, with all the officials in attendance and twenty-five militiamen firing a salute at the Elevation. It was destined to be the last public function in which Father Diaz de Leon officiated. 65 Death of Fatlier Diaz de Leon. Early in October of 1834 Captain Samuel C. Hirams, a settler from the Trinity, came to Nacogdoches to engage the services of the old missionary for the celebration of hi!- marriage at the home of G. L. Thomas. Captain Hirams was a neighbor of Peter J. Menard and H. B. Prentiss. The Padre was reluctant to undertake the long journey, so reluctant that a second visit by Hirams was required, and even then hardly wrung from him his consent, for the threats against his life had become more serious and persistent. Towards the end of the month he set out on his last journey. Having arrived at the Thomas home, he immediately set about in- structing the bride and groom in the duties of their state and married them a day or two later. He then accompanied his good friend Peter J. Menard to spend a few days with him in his home, some three miles distant. As the time for his return trip to Nacogdoches drew near, he became increasingly apprehensive. He confessed to Menard that he knew that one or more persons had been hired to kill him on the road and besought protection on the return trip. In spite of Menard's as- surance th.at no harm would come to him, the Padre had a presentiment that his end was near. The next day he asked for paper and ink, retired to his room, and wrote his last will and testament. This he gave to his host with a request that it be delivered to his nephew Santos Antonio Aviles in the event that anything happened to him. His days were numbered, he said, "God knows why." In his will he remembered his friends: Colonel Ellis P. Bean, Adolphus Sterne, Roberts, Allen, Jones, Rackey [Rickey?], Alcalde Juan Mora and 6SBlake, o;. cit., 16-20.
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