Why did the first spanish mission in east texas fail?

Spanish colonialism was defined by the intermingling of Church and state, a situation that was present in the government of Spain as well. This meant that civil servants and Catholic priests would often initiate new ventures and explore new territory together.

This was the case of Texas as well. The first mission to East Texas started in 1690. The missionaries traveled along "El Camino Real" toward Louisiana. They founded San Francisco de los Tejas west of the Neches River. A few months after San Francisco de los Tejas was started, Santísima Nombre de María was established closer to the river. However, in 1692, a flood destroyed Santísima Nombre de María and the friars returned to San Francisco de los Tejas, which in turn was abandoned in 1693 due to the hostility of the Native Americans and rampant disease.