The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-22
An Account of His Expedition in
tie Year t7t4--Love and
Romance.
Tho Part Played by the Beautiful
Donna MARKHAM Intensely
Interesting Sketch.
rEN ronrnAIr OF 81. pENNls.

traordinary strength, gifted with an iron
will, n fine personal appearance, good
education. and the courage Of lion.
lie was % years Of age when he con-
ceived the idea Of establishing COM
mercial relations with Mexico, In the
year liza. Having received permission
from the Governor Of Louisiana, Cadillac.
who considered the expedition piece
Of insanity, st. Dennis proceeded to OIL
gnnize his party, taking with him rs
guides several Indians and thirty nd
vcnturers or trappers from Canada, all
tirst-class woodsmen. used to all the
dangers and suilerings of prairie HE, he
started on his journey from Mobile to
the Preside de Rio Grande. \
r,cnch chronioler says that st. Dennis
WIS n true knight Errant IN sentiment
well as In action; the beauty Of his
person. his refined manners. made hima
natural novel hero. and by the energy of
his character and his daring bravery he
seemed reserved for extraordinary all
ventures. Another says: "his double
destiny was impressed upon his feat
ures, so much SO that wherever he
showed himself he commanded SYM
paihy, respect and admiration; the civil
lied man us well MS the most ignorant
savage could not come in contact with
him without feeling those sentiments
The expedition that ST. Dennis was
undertaking was well suited to give full
play to his bold and adventurous dis
position.
M fOrNDS NAClII1OCIlfS.
Having left Mobile with his small es
cort. he came up the Mississippi and Red
rivers to the Nachitoches. where he
founded the present city of that name,
and by doing so frustrated the intentions
of the Spaniards. lie left in Nachitoches
some of his Canadians, and only taking
with him dozen of them, he crossed
the Sabine. For 30 days st. Dennis trav-
eed through the then rolling prairies of
Texas. filled with herds of buffalo The
appearance of the country would have
been monotonous to him had II not been
for the many fights he had with the CO.
manches while crossing their hunting
grounds. lie travelled due west course
through an unknown and wild country,
and reached village of Indians who
called themselves Nouadiohes probably
Neechez), not far from the place where,
20 years before, Cavalier de La Sale had
been murdered by his companions.
Those Indians, who kept good remem-
brance of the French on account of the
Kindness that La Sale and his men had
shown them, were glad TO meet st. Den
mis-, and furnished him guides to reach
the Spanish settlements.
he REACHES 1IIE RIO GiANDE.
st. Dennis, with his few Trustworthy
Canadians. entirely at the mercy of his
Indian guides, following unknown and
mysterious trails, known only to tn,
deer and buffalo, who filled the few for
ests and the plains without end, OF thii
country. crossing the Rio Brazos. III
reached the town and fort of San JuaI
Bauptista mo date given. st. Dennis
exposed his peaceable mission to Don
Pedro de NillesGas, the commanding oil
Ger of that extreme frontier post. hop
ing that the establishment or opening o
trade between Mexico and Louisiana
would be beneficial to both nations.
MS RECEPTION BY THE SPANISH COMMANDED
-HE FALLS IN LOVE WITH TliE BEAuTl
FUL DONNA MARIA.
The Spanish commander, suspicion
of the French, answered to the younl
adventurer thar lie did not have tn
necessary power or authority to max
such negotiations, and would COnse
quently have to refer to his superior. tn
Governor of COahuila (sometimes calle
Caouis or Coaguila), who resided i
Monclova. situated 30 miles from tn
Preside. The Spanish Commander, DO
Pedro Villescas, to better hide his In
tentions. or yielding to the influenc
that st. Dennis exercised oyerevery ma
and over everybody, extended to him
true Castillian hospitality, and Shove
him apparently all his good grace, Will
waiting for orders from the Governor
the Province, Don Gaspardo de Anayi
The delay of the proceedings of ii
Spanish officials at first considerably al
noyed st. Dennis. but the kindne
shown him by Villescas. who possesse
btuulllul uutlRnttl VI Ia hulnlutIs, eOt
made our hero forget the time. Dom
Maria was the name OF that lady. who
beauty was unsurpassed. II Is well
say here that the grand air of
Dennis, his chiyalrous hehaviC
captivated the young lady, VIII
says some of the chroniclei
was much "marred at her life in the de
ert.' Our hero soon became enamour,
with Donna Maria. so much so tn
VIII en- the messenger left for Moncov
taking with him the instructions fro
Villescas and the news of the love of d
young couple, he regretted his depG
ture. To the pressing demand that
Dennis made to Villesoas for the hand
his daughter he opposed q resistant
the cause of which remained u secret
all those who wondered at the meeti
in the desert with such an accomplish
cavalier as st. Dennis. The reason W
That Don Gaspardo de Anaya had al
asked for the hand of Donna Maria, a
although she had positively refused