The Prefecture, 1840-1841
43
Here he met Father Chandy, who had just been to Nacogdoches, and learned from him how anxiously the people there awaited his visit. He also met a distinguished Frenchman, Alphonse Dubois de Saligny, Charge d' Affaires of the Court of Louis Philippe to the Republic of Texas, destined to render valuable service to both Timon and Odin in the reestablishment of the Church and to merit their undying gratitude for his warm and generous cooperation. 17 The Henry, a two-masted ship which was to sail for Texas on June 27, did not get under way until July 1, 1840. Odin and his three com- panions secured passage on this vessel to the recently founded village of Lynnville, near Victoria, where they landed on July 12 after an uneventful but slow voyage. 18 Of the ninety-three passengers aboard · the Henry, two-thirds were Catholics-German, Irish, Dutch, American and French immigrants. En route Odin had made the acquaintance of Messrs. O'Reilly and Cohen, young merchants of Victoria, and Messrs. Twohig and Calahan of San Antonio, who had gone to New Orleans to bring merchandise. On landing, the enthusiastic missionary was pleasantly surprised to find among the greeters a Mr. Fulkerson and a Mr. Renfroe from Cape Girardeau, now in business in the bustling little port. He also made the acquaintance of Judge Hays, whom Timon had met in Houston the year before. An epidemic was raging in Victoria and Odin decided to leave Father Estany there to look after the sick and a few Mexican families, who were living some eighteen miles from the place. Since the Indians were reportedly on the warpath, Odin, Calvo and Brother Sala made arrangements to continue to San Antonio in company with the mer- chants who had come from New Orleans, thirty Mexicans who were hauling their goods, and some thirty German immigrants. While in Victoria, Odin learned that Fathers. Haydon and Clarke were doing excellent work and that the people seemed to be well satisfied with their labors. 19 Tlie work of Haydon and Clarke. The two pioneer priests from Ken- tucky had proved their worth. They arrived in Texas at the close of 1839, and met about one hundred Catholics from Kentucky, who had 1 C. A. T. 18 Lynnville was founded on the site of present Port Lavaca. It was completely destroyed by a Comanche raid on August 8, 1840, in retaliation for the San Antonio Council Massacre of March 1 9, 1 840. 19 Odin to Timon, Lynnville, July 14, I 840, C. A. T. 17 Odin to Timon, May 14, May 28, June 1, and June 26, 1840
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