The Dmun of a New Era
Christmas midnight High Mass in the Cathedral before sailing that morning, and had secured Faculties for himself and his companion. After an uneventful trip, the ship cast anchor the next day off Galveston Island, too late, however, to land. During the two days at sea Timon used his spare time to read Edward's Guide, recommended by Bishop Brute. He discussed the contents of the book with his fellow traveler, who, unable to read English, had to have Timon summarize the contents in French. As enticingly as the author painted the picture of the land and the great rewards it offered to the industrious settler, the descrip- tion of Indian attacks on settlements and wayfarers probably made a deeper impression on the two bold pioneers. They certainly derived no consolation from the Gttide' s account of savages who roamed over the vast expanse of Texas murdering defenseless settlers not for the sake of murder but to rob them, and killing travelers merely to acquire their guns and ammunition. Nor was it of much relief to learn that depreda- tions were generally confined at that time to the vicinity of San Antonio de Bejar. When Timon and Llebaria landed on December 27, they found Gal- veston crowded with immigrants. The two missionaries had to be satis- fied with such space as they could get in an ill-kept boardinghouse. That noon, however, as Timon walked through the main street, he fortunately recognized two of his old friends from Illinois, Michael B. and Peter J. Menard, now distinguished and respected patriots of the new Republic, the former a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the latter a member of the Permanent Council. They were two of the most prominent residents of Galveston, for its establishment and development was largely due to their initiative and foresight. They were happy to take Timon to their recently finished home. There on Friday, December 28, the feast of the Holy Innocents, Mass was said for the first time in Galveston. 31 Among the small circle of friends attending Mass was Dr. Nicholas D. Labadie, who had been in the Barrens Seminary with Timon. Having served with distinction as an army surgeon during the Revolution, Labadie, like the Menards, was a Texan patriot. He was to be the main support of the Church in Galveston during the next twenty years. 33 31 Timon to Blanc, December 28, 1838, C. A. T.,· Deuther, o,p. cit., 66. For de- tailed biographies of Michael and Peter Menard, see A Texas Sera; Book Made lip of tlte History, Biograplty and Miscellany of Texas and Its People; Sam Houston Dixon, Men Who Made Texas Free. 33 For a brief biography, see S. C. Griffin, History of Galvesto11, Texas: Na,rative and Biograplt;cal,· Sam Houston Dixon, Tiu Heroes of Sa11 Jacinto, 69.
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