Our C,ztholic fl eritage in T i:x11s
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on his hands and provisions for only a week, since the entire herd of cattle had been driven away by the Indians, he was almost desperate. On April 5, 1758, just three weeks after the massacre, Father Fray Francisco Aparicio formally requested the abandonment of the site and the withdrawal to either the San Marcos or the Guadalupe. In his statement he declared that he had been sent to the missions established on the San Xavier in 1752, where he had stayed until 1755, when the unbearable conditions of the locality forced him to retire to the San Marcos. Speaking from experience, he expressed serious doubts that the Apaches would c:,·er congregate at San Saba after the recent occurrence. He recounted that while at San Xavier he had made frequent trips to the country of the i\fayeyes. Hierbipiames, Yojuanes, Tonkawas, Bidais. Orcoquisacs, and Cocos. During his visits to these tribes he had also met some Tawakonis, Quitseys. and Comanches. Some of these had even visited him in the missions. They had always declared, howe,·er, that they hated the Apaches and would kill them all some day. While on the San Marcos, when the establishment of missions for the Apaches was being discussed, he was told by the Indians that the Yojuanes, Tonkawas, Bidais. Orcoquisacs. Tawakonis, Quitseys, and Tejas had said they were no longer the friends of the Spaniards because they had befriended their enemies. the Apaches. He learned at that time that all these nations were planning a combined attack on the Apaches and that they had declared that they would destroy the Spaniards also. if they helped their enemies. As he looked back now. the good friar reflected that the fate of the San Saba mission had been foretold by him. At the time of the attack he was at the Guadalupe River. taking care of the remnants of the San Xavier missions established there. Upon receipt of news of the massacre. Fray Mariano in San Antonio had immediately ordered him to retire to that place for safety. He had obeyed the order. Shortly after his return to San Antonio, however, he had been sent to San Saba to look after the Apaches that might come. Knowing these Indians well. he did not expect a single one would agree to stay at San Sabi. Since the massacre they had taken a deep distrust to the site. feeling that their mortal enemies had found the road to it and would ,·cry likely return. They had, therefore, retired southward to the Medina, the San Antonio, the San Marcos and the Guadalupe. To remain at San Saba was useless. He suggested that the presidio be moved to either of the two last named streams to encourage the fleeing Apaches to congregate there. There was another particular advantage in moving to the locality proposed. It would gh·c the four hundred or more apostate Indians from
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