Our Catl1olic Heritage in Texas
Jauregui seems to have been acquainted with the history of the young commander. He explained how he had made considerable money in the mines of Zacatecas before coming to Texas. He said that the young man was of a domineering and overbearing nature, vain, jealous of command, and passionate. After the scandalous affair in Texas with the wife of Ceballos, that resulted in the awful murders at San Xavier, he had been again involved in a similar affair in Santa Rosa del Sacramento in Coahuila. The object of his affections had been a vulgar woman, the wife of an ignorant and unscrupulous soldier, Manuel Valdez, who had been consistently promoted and was now second in command as his lieutenant at San Saba, the largest and most important post in Texas. Valdez could neither read nor write. Rabago had frequently set the woman at his table to the amazement and scandal of every one. 4 The personal agent of Rabago in Mexico, Joseph Antonio de Santander, strenuously denied the charges and presented testimonials that appear to have convinced or temporarily appeased the viceroy, who took no action against the restored commander of San Saba. But even granting there may have been personal vindictiveness in some of the accusations, and making due allowances for exaggeration, the specific nature of the charges and the personal references to the parties involved are significant. 5 Tl1e Indian Andres is left in Coalzuila. The apprehension against the return of Rabago was not confined to those who had been unfriendly. Fray Diego Jimenez, president of the missions, on the Rio Grande at San Juan Bautista, a close friend, who was to aid Rabago to found new missions for the Apaches on the upper Nueces, was visiting in Mission Espada in August, 1760. While at Espada, he wrote the former commander of San Xavier to advise him to use discretion and comport himself with circumspection when he returned to Texas. It was rumored, he said, that the Indian Andres, a former neophyte of Espada Mission, was returning in his company. The news had stirred the mission Indians considerably. He suggested that Andres should not be brought back either to Mission Espada or any other part of Texas. It would be better to send him anywhere else. His wife, now in the mission, would be sent to join him. Not until October 2, after he had taken possession of the Presidio of San Luis de las Amarillas on the San Saba, did Rabago write Fray 4 Jactnto de Barrios y Jauregui to the Viceroy, December 20, 1760. A. G. M., Historia, Vol. 84, pt. 1, pp. 93-99. 5 Joseph Antonio de Santander to the Viceroy, March 31, 1761. A.G. M., Historia, Vol. 84, pt. 1, pp. 127-131.
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