Our Catliolit Heritage in Texas
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and the Brazos. Paquin was left in charge of the flock in Galveston and Houston, whom the new vicar-general estimated to be "between four and five hundred," predominantly German, French, and Irish. He was to visit the Houston church once a month. Neither Paquin nor his companion Brands was impressed favorably by the climate. "I have been sick. I have had the chills and fevers for wme days," wrote Paquin in July, commenting that "there is something peculiar to this climate which is very weakening." Brands' asthma had returned since his arrival and prevented him from saying Mass except now and then. He heartily agreed with Odin that a Gennan- speaking priest was greatly needed. 58 Brands frankly admitted shortly after his arrival that he wished he had never come. He felt disappointed at his uselessness. "I am here as a drone, a complete drone. I, therefore, regret having accepted the mission." Bemoaning his inability to be more active, he added, "I am sorry that I cannot be more useful to this interesting Mission." His physical condition improved slowly, but not his state of mind. "I am left alone in the heat of the battle," he complained after he saw Paquin -so active among the hungry flock-"exposed to die without the hap- piness of receiving the last Sacraments." Yellow fever broke out towards the middle of July, 1844, and Brands, sick and weak as he was, suddenly found strength to tend to the sick and the dying night and day in the absence of Paquin. By the end of the month almost two hundred had died, including the Charge d'Affaires of the United States and the Consul. "The Catholics are the severest sufferers, so that I am about day and night, and see not yet any prospect of a change for the better," declared Brands on July 31, 1844. "It is more alanning than the Cholera was in 1833. I am exhausted. . . All my clothes are torn . . . and I could hardly get thread and needle to sew [on] some buttons." 59 Paquin had left early in the month to visit the scattered families in the vicinity of Houston. When the epidemic broke out, Brands sent word to him through Mr. Dechene. Paquin immediately returned to Galveston to aid his overworked confrere. By August 1, he was back giving relief to the afflicted. The epidemic had subsided somewhat, but the week before as many as twenty-four died in a day. Proud of the success of his work in Harris and Liberty counties, Paquin told Timon how the people had 51 Paquln to Timon, July 9, 1 844 , c. A. T. 59 Brands to Timon, June 9 and July 31, 1844, C. A. T.
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