The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911 Page: 237
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Apache Relations in Texas, 1718-1750.
stated, were now heard of at Bexar for the first time.1 Governor
Bustillo corroborated Almazin's statement, and showed that the
exposed condition of San Antonio was the explanation for the
attacks made upon it.2
V. PANIC AT SAN ANTONIO AND CONTINUED RAIDS, 1733-1738
1. Apache Treachery and Panic at San Antonio.-Under the
guise of peace the Apaches now entered San Antonio with great
freedom, and for a time a spirit of seeming amity prevailed be-
tween them and the Spaniards. The latter assumed that the peace
was on a firm basis and to some extent relaxed their vigilance.
The evil consequences of this bad policy were soon apparent. On
March 27, three warriors and a squaw, who had come in ostensibly
to trade, left the presidio for their country, being accompanied,
as usual, by a few soldiers to see them safely out of the settlement.
On this occasion they were escorted by Alferez Xavier Maldonado,
Joseph Caravajal, and another soldier, the last of whom turned
back to secure aid in killing some buffaloes that were seen near by.
The first two continued with the Indians as far as the hill called
"El Devisadero," about one and one-half leagues away. Trusting
in the treaty which had been made, they were somewhat careless,
and when a band of about twenty-four Indians was seen approach-
ing they awaited their coming without misgivings. As the savages
came nearer, however, advancing in two wings, the soldiers recog-
nized their hostile intentions. The scene was observed by the lieu-
tenant of the presidio. He saw the two soldiers fall from their
horses and their bodies surrounded by the Indians. When they
were afterwards found, they presented a horrible sight. The bodies
had been terribly mutilated and the bones stripped of their flesh,
which had been carried away by the Apaches, says Father Vergara,
to "satisfy their vengeful appetite.""
This flagrant rupture of the peace caused a genuine panic among
the inhabitants at San Antonio. They now realized that the
Apaches could not be trusted. After this outbreak the raids on
2Ibid., 39-40.
2Bustillo to the viceroy, January 31, 1733, Ibid., 42-43.
"Statement of company of Bfxar, April 11, 1733, Ibid., 44-46; statement
of Fray Vergara, April 15, Ibid., 47-48; statement of the cabildo of San
Fernando, April 10, Ibid., 49-50; Bustillo to the viceroy, April 20, Ibid.,
51-56.237
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Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 14, July 1910 - April, 1911, periodical, 1911; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101054/m1/261/: accessed May 8, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.