Mission San Juan Capistrano was founded twice; the first attempt was In October of 1775, when Father Lasuen left San Diego with eleven soldiers to establish a mission roughly halfway between Mission San Diego and Mission San Gabriel. On October 30, 1775, a large cross was set up and Fr. Lasuen took formal possession of the land in the name of the crown and dedicated the ground. A number of Indians watched and helped to haul timber for the building of a temporary chapel and dwellings. The work went on for eight days, but came to a halt when word reached the Spaniards that Mission San Diego had suffered an Indian attack. The bells were hastily buried and the small party hurried south to take shelter in the Mission at San Diego.