Disasters and ill omens commenced early on the voyage; and Beaujeu, the naval commander, who appears to have been a man of dogged obstinacy, continually thwarted and annoyed La Salle. On the 10th of January, 1685, they were near the mouth of the Mississippi, where Tonti, already aware of the enterprise, having descended the river from fort St. Louis with twenty Canadians and thirty Indians, was awaiting his old commander. La Salle however, unfortunately not recognising the land marks, or losing his reckoning, sailed past it, and perceiving his error, would have returned; but again he was opposed by Beaujeu, who persisted on still sailing westward, and by this means they reached the Bay of Matagorda. Hoping that all might yet be well, La Salle yielded to the self-will of Beaujeu, and entered the bay, trusting that the streams which emptied themselves into it were branches of the Mississippi. Here, on the shore of Texas, the ill-fated company disembarked, the store-ship being unfortunately wrecked in entering the harbour. The people at once lost hope; La Salle alone was calm and energetic; but Providence did not bless his efforts; endeavouring to save by boats some of the stores of the wrecked vessel; a storm arose and the wreck went to pieces; nearly everything was lost, and the same night the Indians came down and murdered two of the volunteers. Terror and despair prevailed; La Salle alone was calm and resolute, and by the force of his character, and the inspiration of his example, sufficient energy remained to construct a fort on the shore of the remains of the wreck, where about 230 persons remained, while La Salle, with sixteen companions, ascended a stream on the west of the bay, in the hope of reaching the Mississippi. But no Mississippi was to be found. An elevated situation above the Bay of Matagorda was selected by La Salle for the erection of a fortified post, which was called St. Louis. This settlement it was which gave to France a claim upon Texas, of which possession was taken, as a portion of Louisiana, in the name of the French.