The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-22
ITS CONNECTION WITH MEXICO,
OR NEW SPAIN, IN 1888.
The Heretofore Unpublished Ac-
counts Of the History Made
by the Fathers,
With the Founding of San Anto-
MO in the Year 1890, and
Subsequent Events.

Written Specially for the LrGnr, by Lorenzo
Castro, ESQ.
Sometime In the year lGSS, Father
Fray Damian Martinez, having charge
Of the mission Of san Carlos de la Can
della, In the State Of Coahuila, was In
formed by some wild Indians that Wis
tied his mission that some people that
looked like Spaniards (Frenchmef) were
settling on the gulf coast not very far
from the mouth of the Rio Bravo del
Norte. The reverend father commune
Gated this important notice TO the Gov
ernor of Cohuila, Don AlonZo de Leon,
and the latter reported the information
TO the Niceroy at the City of Mexico.
Count de la Monclova, who upon receipt
fthis interesting information issued or
ders to Governor de Leon to march
without delay with the troops he could
draw from Satillo and other points, ac-
companied by Father Damian Martinez
to the Gulf coast and dislodge whatever
people had settled there If they were
not Spaniards.
Acting according to his peremptory
orders, the Governor proceeded to
gather the troops necessary for the eN-
petition from the most available points,
and in company with Father Damian,
the first Catholic Missionary that trod
Texas soil, precipitated his march to-
wards the coast, leaving Monclova on
March %, 1859, and not enOountering
any obstacles on his way he reached the
point colonized by the French under
Lasalle, that was near the so-called bay
of Espirito Santo or st. Bernard, on the
22d day of April, 1859; and although he
found the story that the gentle Indians
had told the Missionary was true, he
found no Frenchmen, but saw their forts
and buildings, and over the door
OF one of them found the date
of 1854 inscribed. The friendly In
dams assured him that the new set
tiers had all been -massacred by the
Carancahue Indians. After having de-
stroyed what was left on the French set
Element he proceeded to return TO Co.
hula by another route, taking n north
west course for more than 40 miles
along the San Antonio river.
There he encountered party OF In
dians that appeared to come from the
far interior of the country, ms none of
the Indians that accompanied Governor
de Icons expedition knew what tribe
they belonged to. Being surprised at
their first sight OF the Spaniards, they
would eXclaim in loud voices, "Tejia"
"Tejia!n that in their language meant
friend! friend! The Spaniards cor
rupted 1t into TEXAS, and that name was
given to the new province. This is the
first mention of the word TEXAS in Span
ish reports, that name which has since
been so glorously illustrated by the sons
OF Mexico and the Americans.
The Missionary, Fray Damian, seeing
the good disposition of these Indians
toward his party, proposed to them to
join the Catholic faith. They were
well pleased with the proposition, and
answered they would do as he bid them
do, but that 1t should be in their country
which was far distant. Where the above
took place is the site Of the Preside of
San Antonio de Bejar, capital of all the
province, at present the county seat of
Bexar county. Don AlonZo de Leon
left detachment Of troops there and
returned to Monclova, where he made
his report to the Nlceroy.
The following year, 1890, he returned,
and leaving his small post of Bexar pur-
suant to the orders of the new Viceroy
at Mexico, established fort on the bay
of Esplritu Santo or st. Bernard, exact
ly at the same place where the French
had under Lasale established their fort,
which they had named St. Louis.
A large expedition was sent under the
command of Don Domingo de Teran,
newly appointed Governor of the
Coaguila Provinces and of the
Techas, who left the town, mission
and fort of Monclova on the 10th
day of May, 1901, with nine priests, mis-
sionaries, all distinguished preachers
whose names should be consigned to
history. We give them here. They
were the Reverend Fathers Fray Fran
cisco Hidalgo, Fray Nicolas Recio, Fray
Miguel Estelles, Fray Pedro Fortuny,
Fray Pedro Garcia, Fray Idelfonso
Monge, Fray Joseph Saldana. Fray An
tonic Miranda, and Fray Juan de
Garayusobea, three lay brothers and
boy, all sent from Queretaro TO convert
the numerous wild tribes of Indians that
Inhabited this vast country to christian
ism by the Commissioner General of
Missions, Rev. Fray Juan Capristran.
These good missionaries founded mis-
sions as far as Red river and baptized
thousand of Indians, but the limit of the
sketch does not permit as to speak of
them any further.
Another expedition was sent to Texas
on the I'd Of May, 1888, under the COM
mand Of Don Gregorio Salinas. Owing
10 the drouth which caused the death OF
all the stock and failure of crops, and
the Indians on account of Ill treatment,
having rebelled against Spanish rule,
Texas was entirely abandoned in 1854