337
Tlee Agony of the Cliurch in Texas, I821-1836
Doctor Manuel Santos. To all he left his blessing. Diaz thought of his enemies, too, and with genuine humility declared: "I beg ... pardon of each . . . person whom I have offended, and . . . I pardon with all my heart all ... who have offended me." He addressed his "languishing words" to his beloved parishioners of Nacogdoches and closed with an affectionate yet anguished "Adios ! Adios I" In giving his last message to Menard, he told him that the saddlebags belonged to Mr. Allen, and the contents, to the church of Nacogdoches." He then regained his composure and appeared resigned to his fate. Father Diaz sent word to Captain Hirams, at whose request he had made the trip, that he wished an escort to return to Nacogdoches. Cap- tain Hirams, upon learning of the Padre's anxiety, hired Philip M~; a thirty-four-year-old Kentuckian who had been in East Texas for only four years, to go with Father Diaz. For some reason it was de- cided at the last moment that it was not necessary to send along, as had been planned, Manrico Garcia, a servant of Menard's and a native of Zacatecas, as a personal attendant for Diaz. His first reaction on meeting Miller was one of distrust; but feeling that this judgment was unChristianlike, he overcame his personal sentiments and assured Menard that he thought his guide was a good man. 61 As preparations for their departure were made, Menard offered Father Diaz the choice of a gun or pistol for his protection. Hirams later testi- fied that the aged missionary replied he would have no use for either. Menard then asked Miller to take his choice of several guns, but Miller said a gun was too heavy to carry. Setting out from Menard's about noon on November 2, they went by way of G. L. Thomas. After eating dinner, they continued to the home of H. B. Prentiss, where they stopped to wait for some letters Prentiss wanted to send to Nacogdoches. It was decided to spend the night there. Miller, after telling Father Diaz that he was going to feed the horses, returned to Menard that night and asked for a pistol- "Deposition of Peter J. Menard before Judge William Hardin of Liberty, Texas, November 14, 1834, NacogdocAes .A,-cl,ives, Vol. 79, pp. 151-153. Tbe text of his last will and testament has been published in a very poor English translation in P. F. Parisot and C. J. Smith, Hi.sto,-y of tlu Catllolit: CltweA ;,, t!,e Diocese of Sa,s Antonio, 56-57; Kirwin, o-j. cil., 14-15, and Oberste, 01. &ii., 329-330. Mr. Blake, in the Docu,runts he kindly copied for the author, gives a version with slight variations. The location of the original Spanish text is no longer known. 67 Depositions of Miller and Hirams, Nacogdoclles •.frcllives, Vol. 79, pp. 140• 141; 149. It is not clear why Garcia did not go as originally planned. This left Miller without witnesses to verify his statements.
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