Th.e Beginnings of Present Nacogdoches
area in the vicinity of the mouth of the Trinity to determine the presence of the English. His enemies maintained, and circumstances seemed to lend support to the accusations, that the real motives for the selection of the site were interests in the forbidden Indian trade and in contraband. Paso Tomas was in the middle of a group of northeastern tribes, too distant from the coast to afford any effective protection against English activity among coastal Indians. Jbarbo was equally { nterested in the illicit trade and had been accused of complicity in smuggling. When Oconor learned, too late to prevent it, that the settlement had been estab- lished, he knowingly observed that the exiles had been located by Ripperda in "the place, which better than any other, enables them to engage in illicit trade and to encourage the northern Indians in stealing droves of horses from the Presidios of San Antonio de Bejar, La Bahia del Espiritu Santo, and even as far as Laredo, as lately has been done. Moreover, the Trinity River facilitates navigation to the Opelousas and the neighborhood of New Orleans itself. Hence it is concluded that the citizens established on the Trinity have better facilities than formerly for their contraband trade." 17 But in spite of evidence to the contrary, Ripperda maintained his innocence to the end and Ibarbo actually attempted to put a stop to French trade during the short stay on the Trinity. 21 Early progress of B11careli. The energy displayed by the tireless Ibarbo is remarkable. As soon as the families arrived at Paso Tomas, he immediately went to Los Adaes, from where he brought three cart-loads of gun-carriage, iron and nails, using for the purpose his own mules. It is significant that on the way back he stopped at Lobanillo, his ranch, where he left eight cart-loads of iron and a considerable supply of cannon balls, which he buried there for later transportation. He also transported four brass and two iron cannon, besides powder and lead, for the defense of the new settlement. It was not long before the temporary huts began to be replaced by substantial houses built• of timber. This material was the only kind available and it seems that no adobe was used. By January, 1776, there were twenty wooden structures, which by the summer of the following year had been increased to fifty. While the settlers were busily engaged in the construction of their homes and the cultivation of the fields, the indefatigable Ibarbo lost no time in erecting a guardhouse, a stockade, a chapel, and stocks for delinquent culprits. With amazing 27 Oconor to the Viceroy, December 31, 1775, A. G. M. Historia, Vol. 51, pp. 323-332. 21 Bolton, T~zas, 408-412.
Powered by FlippingBook