business. Thence they betook themselves to the coast, and in conjunction with one Mayo, who was serving under Ávila at the Veladero, fomented an insurrection, the aim of which was the killing of the landed proprietors and all persons belonging to the white race. The populace of the coast towns eagerly joined in the project. Ignacio Ayala, who had been appointed intendente by Morelos, was seized and confined at Tecpan, but succeeded in effecting his escape. While Ávila was absent from Veladero for the purpose of disarming David and Tabares, Mayo surprised the officer left in charge, made him and others captive, and attached the troops to the iniquitous undertaking.
The news of these proceedings soon reached Morelos, who hastened with an escort of 100 men to the scene of danger. His presence sufficed to overawe the mutineers. The troops returned to their allegiance, Ávila was reinstated in his command, and David and Tabares were disarmed. With the promise of placing them in charge of an expedition into Oajaca, he brought them back to Chilapa, where by his orders they were secretly beheaded.[1] He also instructed Ávila to execute Mayo, who was accordingly shot.
When news of the capture of the revolutionary leaders at las Norias de Bajan reached Rayon,[2] aware that Ochoa was marching against him, and that Elizondo was making a similar hostile movement from Monclova, he determined to abandon Saltillo and di-
- ↑ Ib. Morelos feared a public execution might cause disturbance, as the conspirators had many adherents in the army. Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., ii. 20-2. This author omits to make mention of the deception practised on them by Morelos, who himself makes the admission in his declaration: 'Resulto la muerte de aquellos dos que se les mando dar en Chilapa hasta donde los condujo con el pretesto de darles una expedicion para Oaxaca.' p. 23. He moreover seems to have been unaware that David and Tabares had been despatched as commissioners to the U. S., asserting that they had been sent to Rayon to inform him of the situation in the south.
- ↑ Bustamante states that at this time Rayon received an order, bearing the signature of Allende, to place at the disposal of Elizondo the troops under his command. Cuad. Hist., i. 199. Rayon could only conclude that such a command was a fabrication of the royalists, and paid no heed to it.
