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GENERAL LIBRARY -OF THE-
PARK CHURCH -ix- ELMIRA, N. Y. 1
No.1707
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02303 5139
Gc 979.4 B22H v. 6 BANCROFT, HUBERT HOWE. HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA
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M, L.
REFERENCE AMERICANA COLLECTION
THE WORKS
OF
HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT.
THE WORKS
OF
HUBERT HOWE BANCROFT.
VOLUME XXIII.
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA.
VOL. VI. 1848-1859.
SAN FRANCISCO: THE HISTORY COMPANY, PUBLISHERS. 1888.
Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270
Entered according to Act of Congress in the Year 1888, by HUBERT H. BANCROFT, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
All Rights Reserved.
CONTENTS OF THIS VOLUME. 1216696
CHAPTER I.
CALIFORNIA JUST PRIOR TO THE GOLD DISCOVERY. January, 1848. PAGE
The Valley of California-Quality of Population-The Later Incomers- Hispano American, Anglo-American, and Others-Settlers around San Francisco Bay-San Jose-The Peninsula-San Francisco- Across the Bay-Alameda and Contra Costa Valleys -- Valleys of the San Joaquin and Sacramento-Sutter's Fort-Grants and Ranchos -- About Carquines Strait-Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Rosa Valleys --- San Rafael, Bodega, and the Northern Coast-Natural Wealth and Environment. 1
CHAPTER II.
THE DISCOVERY OF GOLD. January, 1848.
Situation of Sutter-His Need of Lumber -- Search for a Mill Site in the Mountains-C'uluma-James W. Marshall -- The Building of a Saw- mill Determined upon-A Party Sets Forth-Its Personnel-Char- acter of Marshall-The Finding of Gold-What Marshall and his Men Thought of It-Marshall Rides to New Helvetia and Informs Sutter-The Interview-Sutter Visits the Mill-Attempt to Secure the Indian Title to the Land.
26
CHAPTER III. THE SECRET ESCAPES.
February, 1848.
Bennett Goes to Monterey-Sees Pfister at Benicia-'There is What will Beat Coal!' - Bennett Meets Isaac Humphrey at San Francisco-Un- successful at Monterey-Sutter's Swiss Teamster-The Boy Wimmer Tells Him of the Gold-The Mother Wimmer, to Prove her Boy not a Liar, Shows It-And the Teamster, Who is Thirsty, Shows It at the Fort-Affairs at the Mill Proceed as Usual-Bigler's Sunday Medi- tations-Gold Found at Live Oak Bar-Bigler Writes his Three
vi
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Friends the Secret-Who Unite with Them Other Three to Help Them Keep It-Three Come to Coloma-Discovery at Mormon Island -The Mormon Exit. 42
CHAPTER IV.
PROXIMATE EFFECT OF THE GOLD DISCOVERY. March-August, 1848.
The People Sceptical at First-Attitude of the Press-The Country Converted by a Sight of the Metal-The Epidemic at San Francisco -At San José, Monterey, and down the Coast-The Exodus-De- sertion of Soldiers and Sailors-Abandonment of Business, of Farms, and of All Kinds of Positions and Property . 52
CHAPTER V.
FURTHER DISCOVERIES. March-December, 184S.
Isaac Humphrey again-Bidwell and his Bar-Reading and his Indians on Clear Creek-Population in the Mines-On Feather River and the Yuba-John Sinclair on the American River-The Irishman Yankee Jim-Dr Todd in Todd Valley- Kelsey- Weber on Weber Creek-The Stockton Mining Company-Murphy-Hangtown-On the Stanislaus-Knight, Wood, Savage, and Heffernan-Party from Oregon-On the Mokelumne and Cosumnes-The Sonorans on the Tuolumne-Coronel and Party 67
CHAPTER VI.
AT THE MINES. 1848.
Variety of Social Phases-Individuality of the Year 1848-Noticeable Absence of Bad Characters during this Year-Mining Operations -- Ignorance of the Miners of Mining-Implements and Processes -- Yield in the Different Districts-Price of Gold-dust-Prices of Mer- chandise-A New Order of Things-Extension of Development- Affairs at Sutter's Fort-Bibliography-Effect on Sutter and Marshall
--- Character and Career of These Two Men.
82
CHAPTER VII.
BROADER EFFECTS OF THE GOLD DISCOVERY. 1848-1849.
The Real Effects Eternal-How the Intelligence was Carried over the Sierra-To the Hawaiian Islands-British Columbia-Oregon and Washington-The Tidings in Mexico-Mason's Messenger in Wash-
vii
CONTENTS.
PAGE
ington-California Gold at the War Office-At the Philadelphia Mint-The Newspaper Press upon the Subject-Bibliography- Greeley's Prophecies-Industrial Stimulation-Overland and Oceanic Routes-General Effect in the Eastern States and Europe-Interest in Asia, South America, and Australia. 110
CHAPTER VIII. THE VOYAGE BY OCEAN. 1848-1849
Modern Argonauts-Pacific Mail Steamship Company-Establishment of the Mail Line from New York via Panama to Oregon-Sailing of the First Steamers-San Francisco Made the Terminus-The Panamá Transit-The First Rush of Gold-seekers-Disappointments at Pan- amá-Sufferings on the Voyage-Arrivals of Notable Men by the First Steamship 126
CHAPTER IX.
THE JOURNEY OVERLAND. 1849.
Organization of Parties -- Brittle Contracts of These Associations-Missis- sippi River Rendezvous-On the Trail-Overland Routine-Along the Platte-Through the South Pass-Cholera-The Different Routes -Across the Desert-Trials of the Pilgrims-Starvation, Disease, and Death-Passage of the Sierra Nevada-Relief Parties from California-Route through Mexico-Estimates of the Numbers of Arrivals-Bewilderment of the Incomers-Regeneration and a New Life.
143
CHAPTER X.
SAN FRANCISCO.
1848-1850.
Site and Surroundings-Rivals-Effect of the Mines-Shipping-Influx of Population-Physical and Commercial Aspects-Business Firms- Public and Private Buildings-National Localities-Hotels and Res- taurants - Prices Current - Property Values - Auction Sales- Wharves and Streets-Early Errors-Historic Fires-Engines and Companies-Immigration and Speculation-Politics-The Hounds- City Government . 164
CHAPTER XI.
SOCIETY. 1849-1850.
Ingathering of Nationalities-Peculiarities of Dress and Manners-Phys- ical and Moral Features-Levelling of Rank and Position-In the
viii
CONTENTS.
PAGE
Mines-Cholera-Hardships and Self-denials-A Community of Men -Adulation of Woman-Arrival and Departure of Steamers-Sani- tary Condition of San Francisco-Rats and Other Vermin-The Drinking Habit-Amusements-Gambling-Lotteries and Raffles- Bull and Bear Fighting-The Drama-Sunday in the Mines-Sum-
mary
221
CHAPTER XII. POLITICAL HISTORY.
1846-1849.
The Slavery Question before Congress-Inaction and Delay-Military Rule in California-Mexican Forms of Civil and Judicial Govern- ment Maintained-Federal Officials in California-Governor Mason -- Pranks of T. Butler King-Governor Riley-Legislative Assembly -Constitutional Convention at Monterey-Some Biographies-Per- sonnel of the Convention-Money Matters-Adoption of the Consti- tution-Election 251
CHAPTER XIII. POLITICAL HISTORY.
1849-1850.
The First Legislature-Question of State Capital-Meeting of the Legis- lature at San José-Organization and Acts-Personnel of the Body -State Officers-Further State Capital Schemes-California in Con- gress-Impending Issues-Slavery or No Slavery-Admission into the Union-California Rejoices. 308
CHAPTER XIV.
UNFOLDING OF MINERAL WEALTH. 1848-1856.
Extent of Gold Region in 1848-9 --- American River the Centre-El Do- rado County-South Fork and Southward-Middle Branch-Placer, Nevada, Yuba, Sierra, Plumas, Butte, and Shasta Counties-Trinity and Klamath-Gold Bluff Excitement, 1850-1-Del Norte, Hum- boldt, and Siskiyou-In the South-Amador, Calaveras, and Tuol- umne-Table Mountain - Mariposa, Kern, San Bernardino - Los Angeles and San Diego-Along the Ocean . . 351
CHAPTER XV.
GEOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL ANATOMY OF THE MINES.
1848-1856.
Physical Formation of the California Valley -The Three Geologic Belts -Physical Aspect of the Gold Regions-Geologie Formations-In-
ix
CONTENTS.
PAGE
dications that Influence the Prospector-Origin of Rushes and Camps -Society along the Foothills-Hut and Camp Life-Sunday in the Mines-Catalogue of California Mining Rushes-Mariposa, Kern, Ocean Beach, Nevada, Gold Lake, Lost Cabin, Gold Bluff, Siskiyou, Sonora, Australia, Fraser River, Nevada, Colorado, and the Rest- Mining Laws and Regulations-Mining Tax-Discrimination against Foreigners. 381
CHAPTER XVI. MINING METHODS. 1848-1856.
Primitive Mining Machinery-Improved Means for Poor Diggings- California Inventions-Tom, Sluice, Fluming-Hydraulic Mining- Ditches, Shafts, and Tunnels-Quartz Mining-The First Mills-Ex- citement, Failure, and Revival -Improved Machinery -Coopera- tion-Yield-Average Gains-Cost of Gold-Evil and Beneficial Effects of Mining .. 409
CHAPTER XVII. BIRTH OF TOWNS. 1769-1869.
Mexican Town-making-Mission, Presidio, and Pueblo-The Anglo- American Method-Clearing away the Wilderness-The American Municipal Idea-Necessities Attending Self-government- Home- made Laws and Justice-Arbitration and Litigation-Camp and Town Sites-Creation of Counties-Nomenclature-Rivers and Har- bors-Industries and Progress. 429
CHAPTER XVIII.
CITY BUILDING. 1848-1888.
The Great Interior-River and Plain-Sutterville and Sacramento-Plan of Survey-The Thrice Simple Swiss-Better for the Country than a Better Man-Healthy and Hearty Competition-Development of Sacramento City-Marysville-Stockton-Placerville-Sonora -- Ne- vada-Grass Valley-Benicia-Vallejo-Martinez-Oakland and Vi- cinity-Northern and Southern Cities. .... 446
CHAPTER XIX. CALIFORNIA IN COUNTIES. 1848-1SSS.
Affairs under the Hispano-Californians-Coming of the Anglo-Americans -- El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yuba, and Other Counties North and South-Their Origin, Industries, Wealth, and Progress. ...... 481
X
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XX. MEXICAN LAND TITLES. 1851-1887. PAGE
The Colonization System-Land Grants by Spain and Mexico-Informal- ities of Title-Treaty Obligations of the United States-Effect of the Gold Discovery-The Squatters-Reports of Jones and Halleck- Discussions in Congress-Frémont, Benton, and Gwin-The Act of 1831 -- The Land Commission-Progress and Statistics of Litigation- Principles-Floating Grants-Surveys-Fraudulent Claims-Speci- men Cases -Castillero-Frémont-Gomez -- Limantour - Peralta- -- Santillan-Sutter-Vallejo-Mission Lands-Friars, Neophytes, and Church-Pico's Sales-Archbishop's Claim-Pueblo Lands-The Case of San Francisco-Statistics of 1880-More of Squatterism -- Black and Jones-Attempts to Reopen Litigation-General Conclu- sions-The Act of 1851 Oppressive and Ruinous-What should have been Done.
..... 529
CHAPTER XXI.
FILIBUSTERING.
1850-1860.
Attractions of Spanish America to Unprincipled Men of the United States-Filibustering in Texas-The Morehead Expedition from California to Mexico-Failure-Charles de Pindray's Efforts and Death-Raoulx de Raousset-Boulbon's Attempts at Destruction- Capture of Hermosillo and Return to San Francisco-Trial of Del Valle-Raousset's Death at Guaymas-Walker's Operations-Re- public of Lower California-Walker in Sonora-Walker in Nicara- gua-His Execution in Honduras-Crabb, the Stockton Lawyer .... 582
CHAPTER XXII.
FINANCES. 1849-1869.
An Empty Treasury-Temporary State Loan Act-State Debt-Licenses and Taxation-Extravagance and Peculation-Alarming Increase of Debt-Bonds-State Indebtedness Illegal-Repudiation Rejected- Thieving Officials-Enormous Payments to Steamship Companies- Federal Appropriations-Indian Agents-Mint-Navy-yard-Fortifi- cations-Coast Survey-Land Commission-Public Lands -- Home-
604 stead Act-Educational Interests-The People above All
CHAPTER XXIII.
POLITICAL HISTORY. 1850-1854.
Quality of our Early Rulers-Governor Burnett-Governor McDougal- Senatorial Election-Sowing Dragon's Teeth-Democratic Conven-
xi
CONTENTS.
PAGE
tion-Senator Gwin, the Almighty Providence of California-Party Issues-Governor Bigler-Broderick-White vs Black-Slavery or Death !- Legislative Proceedings-Talk of a New Constitution- Whigs, Democrats, and Independents-Another Legislature . . .. €43
CHAPTER XXIV. POLITICAL HISTORY.
1854-1859.
Warm and Wicked Election-One Party the Same as Another, only Worse-Senatorial Contest-Broderick's Election Bill-Bitter Feuds -A Two-edged Convention-Bigler's Administration-Rise and Fall of the Knownothing Party-Gwin's Sale of Patronage-Broderick in Congress-He is Misrepresented and Maligned-Another Election- Chivalry and Slavery-Broderick's Death Determined on-The Duel -Character of Broderick
678
CHAPTER XXV.
POPULAR TRIBUNALS.
1849-1856.
State of Society-Miners' Courts-Crimes and Punishments-Criminal Class-The Hounds-Berdue and Wildred-Organizedl Ruffianism -- Committees of Vigilance-The Jenkins Affair-Villanous Law Courts -James Stuart-Political and Judicial Corruption-James King of William-His Assassination-Seizure, Trial, and Execution of Crim- inals-A Vacillating Governor-A Bloody-minded Judge-Attitude of United States Officials-Success of the San Francisco Vigilance Committee under Trying Circumstances-Disbandment.
740
CHAPTER XXVI. ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO. 1851-1856.
A Period of Trials-Land Titles-City Limits-Mexican Grants-Spu- rious Claims-Water Lots-Fluctuations of Values-The Van Ness Ordinance-Villanous Administration-A New Charter-Municipal Maleadministration-Popular Protests-Honest and Genial Villains - Increased Taxation- Vigilance Movements- Reforms -Another Charter-Real Estate Sales-The Baptism by Fire and Blood-Ma- terial and Social Progress-Schools, Churches, and Benevolent Socie- ties-The Transformed City
755
HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA.
CHAPTER I.
CALIFORNIA JUST PRIOR TO THE GOLD DISCOVERY.
JANUARY, 1848.
THE VALLEY OF CALIFORNIA-QUALITY OF POPULATION-THE LATER INCOM- ERS-HISPANO-AMERICAN, ANGLO-AMERICAN, AND OTHERS-SETTLERS AROUND SAN FRANCISCO BAY-SAN JOSE-THE PENINSULA-SAN FRAN- CISCO-ACROSS THE BAY-ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA VALLEYS-VAL- LEYS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN AND SACRAMENTO-SUTTER'S FORT-GRANTS AND RANCHOS-ABOUT CARQUINES STRAIT-NAPA, SONOMA, AND SANTA ROSA VALLEYS-SAN RAFAEL, BODEGA, AND THE NORTHERN COAST- NATURAL WEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT.
ALTHOUGH the California seaboard, from San Diego to San Francisco bays, had been explored by Euro- peans for three hundred years, and had been occu- pied by missionary and military bands, with a sprinkling of settlers, for three quarters of a century, the great valley of the interior, at the opening of the year 1848, remained practically undisturbed by civili- zation.
The whole of Alta California comprises a seaboard strip eight hundred miles in length by one or two hundred in width, marked off from the western earth's end of the temperate zone; it was the last to be occu- pied by civilized man, and, to say the least, as full of fair conditions as any along the belt. The whole area is rimmed on either side, the Coast Range roll- ing up in stony waves along the outer edge, and for VOL. VI. 1
2
CALIFORNIA JUST PRIOR TO THE GOLD DISCOVERY
background the lofty Sierra, upheaved in crumpled folds from primeval ocean. The intervening space is somewhere overspread with hills and vales, but for the most part comprises an oblong plain, the Valley of California, the northern portion being called the Sacramento Valley, and the southern the San Joa- quin Valley, from the names of the streams that water the respective parts. The prospect thus pre- sented opens toward the setting sun.
Humanity here is varied. There is already round San Francisco Bay raw material enough of divers types to develop a new race, howsoever inferior the quality might be. It is a kind of refuse lot, blown in partly from the ocean, and in part having perco- lated through the mountains; yet there is amidst the chaff good seed that time and events might winnow. But time and events are destined here to be employed for higher purpose, in the fashioning of nobler metal.
Of the condition of the aborigines I have spoken elsewhere, and shall presently speak again. So far the withering influence of a strange civilization upon the true proprietors of the soil had emanated from Mexican incomers. Now a stronger phase of it is appearing in another influx, which is to overwhelm both of the existing races, and which, like the original invasion of Mexico, of America, is to consist of a fair- hued people from toward the rising sun. They come not as their predecessors came, slowly, in the shadow of the cross, or aggressively, with sword and firelock. Quietly, with deferential air, they drop in asking hospitality; first as way-worn stragglers from trap- ping expeditions, or as deserting sailors from vessels prowling along the coast in quest of trade and secrets. Then compact bands of restless frontier settlers slip over the border, followed by the firmer tread of determined pioneers, who wait for strength and opportunity. Not being as yet formally ceded, the land remains under a mingled military-civil govern- ment, wherein Hispano-Californians still control local
3
MATERIALS FOR SOCIETY.
management in the south, while in the north men. from the United States predominate.
These later arrivals are already nearly equal numeri- cally to the former, numbering somewhat over 6,000, while the Hispano-Californians may be placed at 1,000 more. The ex-neophyte natives in and about the ranchos and towns are estimated at from 3,000 to 4,000, with twice as many among the gentile tribes. The new element, classed as foreign before the con- quest of 1846, had from 150 in 1830 grown slowly till 1845, after which it took a bound, assisted by over 2,000 who came as soldiers in the regular and volunteer corps, not including the naval muster-rolls. These troops served to check another sudden influx conten- plated by the migrating Mormons, whose economic value as colonists cannot be questioned, in view of their honesty and thrift. An advance column of about 200 had come in 1846, followed by the Mormon battal- ion in the United States service, 350 strong, of which a portion remained. The first steady stream of immi- grants is composed of stalwart, restless backwoods- men from the western frontier of the United States; self-reliant, and of ready resource in building homes, even if less enterprising and broadly utilitarian than those who followed them from the eastern states; the latter full of latent vivacity; of strong intellect, here quickening under electric air and new environ- ment; high-strung, attenuated, grave, shrewd, and practical, and with impressive positiveness.
By the side of the Americanized Anglo-Saxon, elevated by vitalizing freedom of thought and inter- course with nature, we find the English representa- tive, burly of mind and body, full of animal energy, marked by aggressive stubbornness, tinctured with brusqueness and conceit. More sympathetic and self- adaptive than the arrogant and prejudiced English- man, or the coldly calculating Scot, is the omnipresent, quick-witted Celt, and the easy-going, plodding Ger- man, with his love of knowledge and deep solidity of
4
CALIFORNIA JUST PRIOR TO THE GOLD DISCOVERY,
mind. Intermediate between these races and the. native Californian stands the pure-blooded Spaniard, wrapped in the reflection of ancestral preëminence, and using his superior excellence as a means to affirm his foothold among humbler race connections. An approximate affinity of blood and language here paves the way for the imaginative though superficial French- man and Italian, no less polite than insincere, yet cheerful and æsthetic. A few Hawaiian Islanders have been brought over, and are tolerated until prouder people press them back and under.
Even now events are giving a decisive predomi- nance to the lately inflowing migration, by reason of the energy displayed in the rapid extension of indus- trial arts, notably agriculture, with improved methods and machinery, and growing traffic with such standard- bearers of civilization as the public press and a steam- boat. So far this influx has confined itself to the central part of the state, round San Francisco Bay and northward, because the gateway for the immigration across the plains opens into this section, which more- over presents equal if not superior agricultural features, and greater commercial prospects. The occupation of the south by a different race serves naturally to point out and affirm the limits.
San José, founded as a pueblo within the first dec- ade of Spanish occupation, and now grown into a respectable town of about 700 inhabitants, is the most prominent of the northern settlements wherein the Hispano-Californian element still predominates. Notwithstanding the incipient greatness of the city at the Gate, San José holds high pretensions as a central inland town, on the border line between the settled south and the growing north, with aspirations to sup- plant Monterey as the capital. This accounts in a measure for the large inflowing of foreigners, who have lately acquired sufficient influence to elect the alcalde from among themselves, the present incumbent being James W. Weeks. The fertile valley around counts
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6
CALIFORNIA JUST PRIOR TO THE GOLD DISCOVERY.
among its numerous farmers several of them, notably the Scotch sailor, John Gilroy,1 who in 1814 became the first foreigner permanently to settle in California, and Thomas W. Doak, who arrived two years later, the first American settler. North of San José and the adjoining Santa Clara mission,2 where Padre Real holds out manfully against claimants, are several set- tlers clustering round the present Alviso.3 Westward Rafael Soto has established a landing at San Fran- cisquito Creek, and Whisman has located himself a dozen miles below.4
Along the eastern slope of the peninsula leads a well-worn road past scattered ranchos, among which are those of John Cooper on San Mateo Creek, and John Coppinger on Cañada de Raimundo; and near by are Dennis Martin and Charles Brown, the latter having just erected a saw-mill.5
San Francisco, at the end of the peninsula, however ill-favored the site in some respects, seems topographi- cally marked for greatness, rising on a series of hills, with a great harbor on one side, a great ocean on the other, and mighty waters ever passing by to the outlet of the wide-spread river system of the country. It is already in many respects the most thriving town in California, the prospective metropolis of the coast, with 200 buildings and 800 inhabitants, governed by Alcalde
I The town bearing his name, in the southern part of the valley, is situated on his former rancho. Other early settlers were Mat. Fellom, Harry Bee, John Burton, J. A. Forbes, J. W. Weeks, and Wm Gulnac, who in 1842 joined Weber in erecting a flour-mill.
Z Brannan & Co. had a tannery at this place.
3 Including the families of Alviso, Berreyesa, Valencia, John Martin, and Leo Norris, the latter an American, on Cherro rancho.
"Near the present Mountain View. J. W. Whisman was in 1848 joined by I. Whisman. J. Coppinger lived for a time on Soto's rancho, married to his daughter. S. Robles had bought Santa Rita rancho from J. Peña.
5 Called Mountain Home. The last two had settled near the present Woodside. G. F. Wyman and James Peace were also in the same vicinity, the latter as lumberer. The leading grants were Las Pulgas of Luis Argüello, 35,000 acres; San Gregorio of A. Buelna, 18,000 acres; Buri Buri of I. Sanchez, 14,600 acres; Cañada de Raimundo of J. Coppinger, 12,500 acres; Cañada del Corte de Madera of M. Martinez, 13,000 acres. Other grants, ranging from 9,000 to 4,000 acres, were San Pedro, Corral de Tierra, Félix, Miramontes, Cañada Verde, San Antonio, Butano, and Punta del Año Nuevo, following southward.
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