Our Catholic Heritage in Te:>:as
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That same clay the viceroy sent Oconor the decision of the Junta of May 5, which placed in his hands the final disposition of the question raised by the former citizens of Los Aclaes. This strange contradiction fate was to decide in favor of the unfortunate settlers. For six weeks Oconor was too busy to reply. When he, at last, found time he asked to be relieved of the responsibility of acting because of the other numerous duties to which he had to attend elsewhere and because he felt the problem and its solution were affairs that concerned Governor Rippercla. The viceroy merely insisted with greater firmness that Oconor should execute the orders sent to him. But it was now too late. \Vhen the Co111111a11da11te Inspector finally decided to act as urged by the viceroy, Ripperda blandly replied that the exiles had already established a new settlement in accord with the instructions communicated to him by the viceroy. Oconor was furious and reprimanded the governor with severity for exceeding his authority, ignorant of the fact that on May 17, Ripperda had received instructions from the viceroy contradictory to those sent to the C 0111- 111anda11te lnspector. 21 But let us take up the steps that led to the founding of the short-lived settlement of Nuestra Senora del Pilar de Bucareli. The selection of a site. \Vhen Gil Ibarbo and Gil Flores returned to San Antonio they made known to the governor the verbal instructions that they claimed to have received from the viceroy. Ripperda aided, no doubt, by Ibarbo, who was well acquainted with the country, fixed upon a site for the new settlement on the right or west bank of the Trinity, at the crossing known as Paso Tomas. This seems to have been at the point where the two roads leading to Los Adaes and La Bahia from San Antonio joined to form a passage over this stream. "It is on this side of the Trinity River on the road that leads to the said Los Adaes and Orcoquisac," declared Ripperda. 22 Shortly afterwards he added that it was about half way between San Antonio and Los Adaes, three days' journey up the river from the coast, and that although there were no facilities for irrigation from the river, it was the intention of the settlers to open farms on the opposite bank near some permanent lakes. 23 The site of the new settlement has been identified with the crossing on the 21 Oconor to the Viceroy, July 5 and December 31, 177 s; the Viceroy to Oconor, August 30, 177 s; Oconor to Ripperda, November 20, I 77 5; Ripperdii to Oconor, February 5, 1775. A. G. Al. Historia, Vol. 51, 323-334.
2 !Ripperda to the Viceroy, September 10, 1774, in Ibid., 312-314. 23 Ripperda to the Viceroy, November 1 5, 177 4 . Ibid., 3t5-316.
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