Our Catholic Heritage in Texas
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Father Ramirez went on to explain that the same was true in San Antonio, where the Apaches had become an abominable pest to the Mission of San Jose, whose prosperous herds had been reduced from about four thousand head to about fifteen hundred. He pointed out that the wanton destruction of the herds and the perpetration of misdeeds with impunity would not only destroy the means of livelihood of the missions and the civil settlers, but would cause the neophytes to abandon the missions and ruin the work of conversion. Captain Ramirez de la Piscina testified to the truth of the statements of the good friar and ordered that the petition be sent on to the viceroy.= In spite of Apache hostilities and the many handicaps suffered by the missionaries at La Bahia, the two missions continued to prosper. By 1768, when they were visited by Father Fray Jose de Solis, Mission Rosario had made considerable progress in the fourteen years since its establishment. The mission buildings and the living quarters of the missionaries, as well as those of the Indians and the soldiers, were all good and solid structures, made of timber and well plastered with clay. The church was finished by now. It consisted of a very good frame building, white-washed and beautifully decorated. The inside had been plastered with clay and the roof had strong beams which were covered with shingles. It was well provided with the necessary sacred vessels and other ornaments used in the celebration of the various festivals. It had its pulpit, confessional, and three altars tastily decorated with pictures and carved images. In the sacristy there was a good supply of vestments, a baptismal font with silver shell, a number of candlesticks and a censer. Everything was kept nicely in order. The entire mission was surrounded by a very good stockade which afforded ample protection against attack. Temporarily the mission had made much progress. The fields were well cuitivated, but they were not irrigated, because it had been impossible to secure water from the river. The mission possessed about five thousand head of cattle, two hundred milk cows, seven hundred sheep, thirty mules, forty tame horses, and two droves of asses. It had twelve sets of harness, the necessary saddles, and all the tools and implements needed for the cultivation of the fields and the work in the shops. Father Fray Jose Escobar was in charge of the work. Fray Soli& describes him as being affectionate, charitable, gentle, tractable, and generous. The Indians appeared to be fond of him. With kindness and firmness he made the neophytes learn their prayers, attend the doctrfoa, 11 Declaratlon of Fray Pedro Ramirez, June 5, 1762 , , , Testimonio de los autos de la vlslta. A. G, /,, Audimc/a d, Mh:lco, 92-6-22. 1763. Pp. 50-55,
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