Our Catltolic Heritage in Texas
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Ugalde. On August 25, a Lipan chief and a group of warriors had taken friendly leave of Martinez Pacheco. That night they stopped at the ranch of Curbelo, eight leagues west of San Antonio. The old settler, a member of one of the oldest families of the Villa de San Fernando, received them as friends. Early the next morning he was informed that his guests had departed during the night and taken with them a herd of horses. Curbelo, still unaware of their treacherous intent, mounted his best horse and set out, unarmed and unescorted, to overtake them to ask them to return the horses. When he came up to the ungrateful visitors and remonstrated with the chief, he was attacked from the rear, killed, and scalped. This was not the only act of barbarous treachery committed by the Apaches on their way to join the Mescaleros in the vicinity of San Saba. A day or two later they arrived at Los Almagres where a group of civilians from San Antonio had gone to try to work the mines in that area. Unaware of the hostile character of their visitors, who they thought were still at peace, they welcomed them into their camp. That night the miners, five in number, were killed in their sleep and their stock was stolen. 23 Indian com,plications in San Aiitonio. The policy of keeping peace with all Indians tried the skill of Spanish officials. Martinez Pacheco had a difficult situation on his hands when on December 5, 1789, a group of three Lipans arrived, supposedly on a friendly mission. The next day Chief Juan of the Bidais, accompanied by eighteen warriors, twenty-seven squaws, and nine boys were welcomed. That same day an Orcoquisac chief, seven warriors, five women, and three boys also came on a peace mission. These last two groups were enemies of the Lipans. On December 9, a party of eleven Tawakonis arrived with their chief to inquire when the war against the Apaches was going to begin. They expressed their readiness to join the Spaniards. Martinez Pacheco enter- tained them with similar graciousness and distributed presents to all of them, but his actions were unconvincing. It is to be kept in mind that at this very time Colonel Ugalde was on his way to San Saba in pursuit of the Mescaleros. 2SRafael Martinez Pacheco to Viceroy Revillagigedo,.March 1, 1790. Nacogdockes Archives, VI, pp. 123-131. A group of Lipans who visited San Antonio on December S, when asked about the incident, said it was the Mescaleros who committed the outrage. They declared that the Lipans had gone to the Pedernales to hunt, but were on the way back to the Medina River. Diary of Rafael Martinez Pacheco, December 3-31, 1789. Nacogdocltes Arcliives, VI, pp. II3·II9,
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