Our C at/10/ic H eritngc in Texas
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He consequently ordered Lieutenant Marcos Ruiz to proceed with all dispatch, compatible with caution, to the Trinity River, taking with him twenty-five soldiers. On the way, he was to visit and invite the Bidai Chief Tomas and his people to join him. To propitiate his good will he was to give him presents and offer him all the booty taken from the French intruders. He was to do the same thing with the Orcoquisac. Indians. The French were to be captured and sent to Governor Pedro de Rabago y Teran in Coahuila with instructions to be forwarded to Mexico for examination. Whatever property was found should be con- fiscated and distributed to the Indian allies to encourage them in their friendship for the Spaniards and their hatred for the intruders. Ruiz was furthermore to explore the country carefully, to destroy the houses and boats of the French, and to take soundings in the river and bay. The party set out on its mission with the greatest secrecy to prevent any warning from reaching the intruders. Not until the little band reached the ra11c/1erfo of Chief Tomas did the men themselves know the purpose of the expedition. The Bidais gladly joined the Spaniards, who then went to the Orcoquisacs. These Indians naturally joined them also. Together they quietly surrounded the house where the Frenchmen lived, which was about two leagues above the mouth of the Trinity River, on its east bank, and on October IO, 1754, captured Joseph Blancpain (often called in the documents Lampen), Elias George, his brother-in- law, and Antonio Dessars, together with two negro slaves. A large supply of merchandise was found and taken from the cabin, which, according to the report made by Ruiz, was all distributed among the Indians. Many boxes and barrels filled with various things were wantonly destroyed and their contents scattered, for which reason only a partial list of the goods taken could be made. Such was the story of Ruiz and his com- panions, who after distributing the booty and exploring the surrounding country started back on October 14. When the soldiers were about to set fire to the log cabin, just before leaving, the Indian Chief Mateo, of the Orcoquisacs, resolutely opposed the measure and said he wanted to use the timber. The Spaniards started to destroy several canoes found in the river, but they had barely sunk the first, when their Indian allies begged that the others be given to them. The request was naturally granted. On the second day of the return march, the party was unexpectedly Provincia de tejas en que da quenta haver aprehendido vnos franzeses qe. se hallaban establecidos en el Rio de la Trinidad. A.G. I., Audimcia de Guadalajara, 103-6-23 (Dunn Transcripts, 1756), pp. 1-7.
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