Our Catholic Heritage, Volume V

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Our Catholic Heritage in Texas

44

altar bells, one censer, six candlesticks, and a silver cross. The weight of all the silver artefacts found in use was estimated at one hundred twenty-two pounds. In addition to the silver listed, there were numerous brass and copper objects such as candlesticks, processional crosses, censers, bells, and water fonts. The furniture was likewise carefully listed, but space does not permit its inclusion. The following day Governor Munoz appointed Antonio Salazar, master mason, and Pedro Huizar, carpenter, to make a report on the buildings of the mission. Vicente Amador and Joaquin Flores, residents and officers of the Cabildo of the Villa de San Fernando, assisted them. The home of the missionary was found to be a solidly built stone house, measuring twenty-two and three-quarters by twenty-two and one-half varas. The north and the south wings were both two stories high, and divided by a hall. Each wing had five rooms which served as cells, each cell being five varas by four. These two tiers of cells were in need of repair, because the flat roof was full of holes. The west wing also had a second story and a corridor. On the first floor there were an office, and four rooms, longer than those described, and a small room at the base of the stairway. On the second story were three cells. The roofs were partly rotted and needed repairs. Condition of tl1e clmrcli and buildings of the mission. In the middle of the patio there was a well with its stone super- structure, arch, and bucket. On the east side of the irregular rectangle of the mission ran a wall from north to south one hundred and seventy- five varas long. The south wall ran east and west for fifty-eight varas. Both walls were three varas high and three-quarters of a vara thick, made of stone, adobe, and mud. Half the north wall was in ruins. The main gate that led to the plaza through the south wall measured five varas in width and four in height. Within the enclosure completed by the church and mission buildings were the houses of the neophytes. Adjoining the Padres' quarters was a building thirty varas long, five wide, and seven high, with adobe floor. This was used as the barn. The roof of this storehouse was in very poor condition, for only the beams were sound. A small rampart with a one-pound cannon stood near the entrance of the Padres' house. There was also a large jacal built of mud and willow wands with a straw roof, which was likewise being used as a store- house at this time. Most of the Indian quarters faced the archway along the western wing. Of these, only twelve were habitable, for the others were in ruins.

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