Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present, Part 8

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996

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Los Angeles was subjugated, peace reigned and El Estado Libre de Alta California took her place among the nations of the earth. But peace's reign was brief. At the meeting of the ayun- tamiento May 27, 1838, Juan Bandini and San- tiago E. Argüello of San Diego, appeared with a pronunciamiento and a plan-San Diego's plan of government. Monterey, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles had each formulated a plan of govern- ment for the territory and now it was San Diego's turn. Augustin V. Zamorano, who had been exiled with Gov. Gutierrez, had crossed the fron- tier and was made Comandante-General and Territorial Political Chief ad interim by the San Diego revolutionists. The plan restored Califor- nia to obedience to the supreme Government; all acts of the diputacion and the Monterey plan were annulled and the northern rebels were to be arraigned and tried for their part in the revolu- tion; and so on through twenty articles.

On the plea of an Indian outbreak near San Diego, in which the red men, it was said, "were to make an end of the white race," the big can- non and a number of men were secured at Los Angeles to assist in suppressing the Indians, but in reality to reinforce the army of the San Diego revolutionists. With a force of 125 men under Zamorano and Portilla, "the army of the Supreme Government" moved against Castro at Los Angeles. Castro retreated to Santa Barbara and Portilla's army took position at San Fernando.

The civil and military officials of Los Angeles took the oath to support the Mexican constitution of 1836 and, in their opinion, this absolved them from all allegiance to Juan Bautista and his Mon- terey plan. Alvarado hurried reinforcements to Castro at Santa Barbara, and Portilla called loudly for "men, arms and horses," to march against the northern rebels. But neither military chieftain advanced, and the summer wore away without a battle. There were rumors that Mexico was preparing to send an army of 1,000 men to subjugate the rebellious Californians. In October came the news that José Antonio Carrillo, the Machiavelli of California politics, had persuaded President Bustamente to appoint Carlos Carrillo, José's brother, governor of Alta California.

Then consternation seized the arribañas (up- pers) of the north and the abajaños (lowers) of Los Angeles went wild with joy. It was not that they loved Carlos Carrillo, for he was a Santa Barbara man and had opposed them in the late unpleasantness, but they saw in his appointment an opportunity to get revenge on Juan Bautista for the way he had humiliated them. They sent congratulatory messages to Carrillo and invited him to make Los Angeles the seat of his govern- ment. Carrillo was flattered by their attentions

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and consented. The 6th of December, 1837, was set for his inauguration, and great preparations were made for the event. The big cannon was brought over from San Gabriel to fire salutes and the city was ordered illuminated on the nights of the 6th, 7th and 8th of December. Cards of in- vitation were issued and the people from the city and country were invited to attend the inaugura- tion ceremonies, "dressed as decent as possible," so read the invitations.

The widow Josefa Alvarado's house, the finest in the city, was secured for the Governor's palacio (palace). The largest hall in the city was se- cured for the services and decorated as well as it was possible. The city treasury, being in its usual state of collapse, a subscription for defray- ing the expenses was opened and horses, hides and tallow, the current coin of the pueblo, were liberally contributed.

On the appointed day, "The Most Illustrious Ayuntamiento and the citizens of the neighbor- hood (so the old archives read) met his Excel- lency, the Governor, Don Carlos Carrillo, who made his appearance with a magnificent accom- paniment." The secretary, Narciso Botello, "read in a loud, clear and intelligible voice, the oath and the Governor repeated it after him." At the moment the oath was completed, the artillery thundered forth a salute and the bells rang out a merry peal. The Governor made a speech, when all adjourned to the church, where a mass was said and a solemn Te Deum sung; after which all repaired to the house of His Ex- cellency, where the southern patriots drank his health in bumpers of wine and shouted them- selves hoarse in vivas to the new government. An inauguration ball was held-the "beauty and the chivalry of the south were gathered there." The lamps shown o'er fair women and brave men. And it was:

"On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined;

No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet To chase the glowing hours with flying feet."

Outside the tallow dips flared and flickered from the porticos of the houses, bonfires blazed in the streets and cannon boomed salvos from the old plaza. Los Angeles was the capital at last and had a governor all to herself, for Santa Barbara refused to recognize Carrillo, although he be- longed within its jurisdiction.

The Angeleños determined to subjugate the Barbareños. An army of 200 men, under Cas- teñada, was sent to capture the city. After a few futile demonstrations, Casteñada's forces fell back to San Buenaventura.

Then Alvarado determined to subjugate the Angeleños. He and Castro, gathering togetlier

an army of 200 men, by forced marches they reached San Buenaventura, and by a strategic movement captured all of Casteñada's horses and drove his army into the Mission Church. For two days the battle raged and, "cannon to the right of them," and "cannon in front of them volleyed and thundered." One man was killed on the northern side and the blood of several mustangs watered the soil of their native land- died for their country. The southerners slipped out of the church at night and fled up the valley on foot. Next day Castro's caballeros captured about 70 prisoners. Pio Pico, with reinforce- ments from San Diego, met the demoralized rem- nants of Casteñada's army at the Santa Clara River, and together all fell back to Los Angeles. Then there was wailing in the old pueblo, where so lately there had been rejoicing. Gov. Carlos Carrillo gathered together what men he could get to go with him and retreated to San Diego. Alva- rado's army took possession of the southern cap- ital and some of the leading conspirators were sent as prisoners to Vallejo's bastile at Sonoma.

Carrillo, at San Diego, received a small rein- forcement from Mexico, under a Captain Tobar. Tobar was made general and given command of the southern army. Carrillo, having recovered from his fright, sent an order to the northern rebels to surrender within fifteen days under pen- alty of being shot as traitors if they refused. In the meantime Los Angeles was held by the enemy. The second alcalde (the first, Louis Aranas, was a prisoner) called a meeting to de- vise some means "to have his excellency, Don Carlos Carrillo, return to this capital, as his pres- ence is very much desired by the citizens to pro- tect their lives and property." A committee was appointed to find Don Carlos.

Instead of surrendering, Castro and Alvarado, with a force of 200 men, advanced against Carrillo. Thetwo armies met at Campo de Las Flores. General Tobar had fortified a cattle corral with raw hides, carretas and cottonwood poles. A few shots from Alvarado's artillery scattered Tobar's rawhide fortifications. Carrillo surrendered. Tobar and a few of the leaders es- caped to Mexico. Alvarado ordered the mis- guided Angeleñian soldiers to go home and behave themselves. He brought the captive gov- ernor back with him and left him with his (Car- rillo's) wife at Ventura, who became surety for the deposed ruler. Not content with his unfor- tunate attempts to rule, he again claimed the governorship on the plea that he had been ap- pointed by the supreme government. But the Angeleños had had enough of him. Disgusted with his incompetency, Juan Gallardo, at tlie session of May 14, 1838, presented a petition

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

praying that this ayuntamiento do not recognize Carlos Carrillo as governor, and setting forth the reasons why we, the petitioners, "should declare ourselves subject to the northern governor" and why they opposed Carrillo.

"First. In having compromised the people from San Buenaventura south into a declaration of war, the incalculable calamities of which will never be forgotten, not even by the most ignor- ant."

"Second. Not satisfied with the unfortunate event of San Buenaventura, he repeated the same at Campo de Las Flores, which, only through a divine dispensation, California is not to-day in mourning." Seventy citizens signed the peti- tion, but the city attorney, who had done time in Vallejo's bastile, decided the petition illegal be- cause it was written on common paper when paper with the proper seal could be obtained.

Next day Gallardo returned with his petition on legal paper. The ayuntamiento decided to sound the "public alarm" and call the people to- gether to give them "public speech." The public alarm was sounded. The people assembled at the city hall; speeches were made on both sides; and when the vote was taken 22 were in favor of the northern governor, 5 in favor of whatever tlie ayuntamiento decides, and Serbulo Vareles alone voted for Don Carlos Carrillo. So the council decided to recognize Don Juan Bautista Alvarado as governor and leave the supreme government to settle the contest between him and Carrillo.

Notwithstanding this apparent burying of the hatchet, there were rumors of plots and intrigues in Los Angeles and San Diego against Alvarado. At length, aggravated beyond endurance, the governor sent word to the sureños that if they did not behave themselves he would shoot ten of the leading men of the south. As he had about that number locked up in the Castillo at Sonoma, his was no idle threat.

One by one Alvarado's prisoners of state were released from Vallejo's bastile at Sonoma and re- turned to Los Angeles, sadder if not wiser men. At the session of the ayuntamiento October 20, 1838, the president announced that Senior Regi- dor José Palomares had returned from Sonoma, where he had been compelled to go by reason of "political differences," and that he should be' al- lowed his seat in the council. The request was granted unanimously.

At the next meeting Narciso Botello, its former secretary, after five and a half months' imprison- ment at Sonoma, put in an appearance and claimed his office and his pay. Although others had filled the office in the interim the illustrious ayuntamiento, "ignoring for what offense he was incarcerated, could not suspend his salary." But his salary was suspended. The treasury was empty. The last horse and the last hide had been paid out to defray the expenses of the inaugura- tion festivities of Carlos, the Pretender, and the civil war that followed. Indeed, there was a treasury deficit of whole caballadas and bales of hides. Narciso's back pay was a preferred claim that outlasted El Estado Libre.

The sureños of Los Angeles and San Diego, finding that in Alvarado they had a man of cour- age and determination to deal with, ceased from troubling him and submitted to the inevitable.

At the meeting of the ayuntamiento October 5, 1839, a notification was received stating that the supreme government of Mexico had appointed Juan Bautista Alvarado "Governner of the De- partment." There was no grumbling or dissent. On the contrary the records say, "This Illustri- ous Body acknowledges receipt of the communi- cation and congratulates His Excellency. It will announce the same to the citizens to-morrow (Sunday), will raise the national colors, salute the same with the required number of volleys, and will invite the people to illuminate their houses for a better display in rejoicing at such a happy appointment." With his appointment by the supreme government the "Free and sovereign state of Alta California" became a dream of the past-a dead nation. Indeed, months before Alvarado liad abandoned his idea of founding an independent state and had taken the oath of alle- giance to the constitution of 1836. The loyal sureños received 110 thanks from the supreme government for all their professions of loyalty, whilst the rebellious arribaños of the north ob- tained all the rewards- the governor, the capital and the offices. The supreme government gave the deposed governor, Carlos Carrillo, a grant of the island of Santa Rosa, in the Santa Barbara Channel, but whether it was given him as a salve to his wounded dignity or as an Elba or St. Helena, where, in the event of his stirring up an- other revolution, he might be banished a la Napoleon, the records do not inform us.

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

CHAPTER XI.

THE CLOSING YEARS OF MEXICAN RULE.

HE decade of revolutions closed with Alvarado firmly established as Governor of the Department of the Californias. (By the constitution of 1836 Upper and Lower Cali- fornia had been united into a department.) The hijos del pais had triumphed. A native son was governor of the department; another native son was comandante of its military forces. The membership of the departmental junta, which had taken the place of the diputacion, was largely made up of sons of the soil, and natives filled the minor offices. In their zeal to rid themselves of Mexican office-holders they had invoked tlie assistance of another element that was ultimately to be their undoing.

During the revolutionary era just passed the foreign population had largely increased. Not only had the foreigners come by sea, but they had come by land. Captain Jedediah S. Smith, a New England-born trapper and hunter, was the first man to enter California by the overland route. He came in 1826 by the way of Great Salt Lake and the Rio Virgin, then across the desert through the Cajon Pass to San Gabriel and Los Angeles. On his return lie crossed the Sierra Nevadas, and, following up the Humboldt River, returned to Great Salt Lake. He was the first white man to cross the Sierra Nevadas. A number of trappers and hunters came in the early '3os from New Mexico by way of the old Mexican trail. This immigration was largely American, and was made up of a bold, adventurous class of men, some of theni not the most desirable immigrants. Of this latter class were most of Graham's followers.

By invoking Graham's aid to put him in power, Alvarado had fastened upon his shoulders an old man of the sea. It was easy enough to enlist the services of Graham's riflemen, but altogether an- other matter to get rid of them. Now that he was firmly established in power, Alvarado would, no doubt, have been glad to be rid entirely of his recent allies, but Graham and his adherents were not backward in giving him to understand that he owed his position to them, and they were inclined to put themselves on an equality with him. This

did not comport with his ideas of the dignity of his office. To be liailed by some rougli buckskin- clad trapper with " Ho! Bautista; come here, I want to speak with you," was an affront to his pride that the governor of the two Californias could not quietly pass over, and, besides, like all of his countrymen, he disliked foreigners.

There were rumors of another revolution, and it was not difficult to persuade Alvarado that the foreigners were plotting to revolutionize Califor- nia. Mexico had recently lost Texas, and the same class of "malditos extranjeros" (wicked strangers) were invading California, and would ultimately possess themselves of the country. Accordingly, secret orders were sent throughout the department to arrest and imprison all foreign- ers. Over one hundred men of different nation- alities were arrested, principally American and English. Of these forty-seven were shipped to San Blas, and from there marched overland to Tepic, where they were imprisoned for several monthis. Through the efforts of the British con- sul, Barron, they were released. Castro, whc had accompanied the prisoners to Mexico to pre- fer charges against them, was placed under arrest and afterwards tried by court-martial, but was acquitted. He had been acting under orders from his superiors. After an absence of over a year twenty of the exiles landed at Monterey on their re- turn from Mexico. Robinson, who saw them land, says: "They returned neatly dressed, armed with rifles and swords, and looking in much better condition than when they were sent away, or probably than they had ever looked in their lives before." The Mexican government had been compelled to pay them damages for their arrest and imprisonment aud to return them to Califor- nia. Graham, the reputed leader of the foreign- ers, was the owner of a distillery near Santa Cruz, and had gathered a number of hard char- acters around him. It would have been no loss had he never returned.

The only other event of importance during Alvarado's terin as governor was the capture of Monterey by Commodore Ap Catesby Jones, of the United States navy. This event happened

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

after Alvarado's successor, Micheltorena, had landed in California, but before the government had been formally turned over to him.

The following extract from the diary of a pioneer and former resident of Los Angeles who was an eye-witness of the affair, gives a good description of the capture:

"MONTEREY, Oct. 19, 1842 .- At 2 p. m. the United States man-of-war 'United States,' Com- modore Ap Catesby Jones, came to anchor close alongside and inshore of all the ships in port. About 3 p. m. Captain Armstrong came ashore, accompanied by an interpreter, and went direct to the governor's house, where he had a private conversation with him, which proved to be a de- mand for the surrender of the entire coast of California, Upper and Lower, to the United States government. When he was about to go on board he gave three or four copies of a proc- lamation to the inhabitants of the two Califor- nias, assuring them of the protection of their lives, persons and property. In his notice to the governor (Alvarado) he gave him only until the following morning at 9 a. m. to decide. If he received no answer, then he would fire upon the town."

"I remained on shore that night and went down to the governor's, with Mr. Larkin and Mr. Eagle. The governor had had some idea of running away and leaving Monterey to its fate, but was told by Mr. Spence that he should not go, and finally he resolved to await the result. At 12 at night some persons were sent on board the United States who had been appointed by the governor to meet the commodore and ar- range the terms of the surrender. Next morning at half-past ten o'clock about 100 sailors and 50 marines disembarked: The sailors marched up from the shore and took possession of the fort. The American colors were hoisted. The United States fired a salute of thirteen guns; it was returned by the fort, which fired twenty-six guns. The marines in the meantime had marched np to the government house. The offi- cers and soldiers of the California government were discharged and their guns and other arms taken possession of and carried to the fort. The stars and stripes now wave over ns. Long may they wave here in California!"

"October 21st, 4 p. m .- Flags were again changed, the vessels were released, and all was quiet again. The commodore had received later news by some Mexican newspapers."

Commodore Jones had been stationed at Callao with a squadron of four vessels. An English fleet was also there, and a French fleet was cruis- ing in the Pacific. Both these were supposed to have designs on California. Jones learned that

the English admiral had received orders to sail next day. Surmising that his destination might be California, lie slipped out of the harbor the night before and crowded all sail to reach Cali- fornia before the English admiral.

The loss of Texas, and the constant influx of immigrants and adventurers from the United States into California, had embittered the Mexi- can goverment more and more against foreign- ers. Manuel Micheltorena, who had served un- der Santa Anna in the Texan war, was appointed January 19, 1842, comandante-general inspector and gobernador propietario of the Californias.

Santa Anna was president of the Mexican Republic. His experience with Americans in Texas during the Texan war of independence, in 1836-37, had determined him to use every ef- fort to prevent California from sharing the fate of Texas.

Micheltorena, the newly-appointed governor, was instructed to take with him sufficient force to check the ingress of Americans. He recruited a force of 350 men, principally convicts enlisted from the prisons of Mexico. His army of thieves and ragamuffins landed at San Diego in August, 1842.

Robinson, who was at San Diego when one of the vessels conveying Micheltorena's cholos land- ed, thus describes them: "Five days afterward the brig Chato arrived with ninety soldiers and their families. I saw them land, and to me they presented a state of wretchedness and misery unequaled. Not one individual among them possessed a jacket or pantaloons, but, naked, and like the savage Indians, they concealed their nudity with dirty, miserable blankets. The fe- males were not much better off, for the scantiness of their mean apparel was too apparent for mod- est observers. They appeared like convicts, and, indeed, the greater portion of them had been charged with crime, either of murder or theft."

Micheltorena drilled his Falstaffian army at San Diego for several weeks and then began his march northward. Los Angeles made great prep- arations to receive the new governor. Seven years had passed since she had been decreed the capital of the territory, and in all these years she had been denied her rights by Monterey. A favorable impression on the new governor might induce him to make the cuidad his capital. The national fiesta of September 16 was postponed until the arrival of the governor. The best house in the town was secured for him and his staff. A grand ball was projected and the city illuminated the night of his arrival. A camp was established down by the river and the cliolos, who in the meantime had been given white linen uniforms, were put through the drill and the

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

manual of arms. They were incorrigible thieves, and stole for the very pleasure of stealing. They robbed the hen roosts, the orchards, the vine- yards and the vegetable gardens of the citizens. To the Angeleños the glory of their city as the capital of the territory faded in the presence of their empty chicken coops and plundered orchards. They longed to speed the departure of their now unwelcome guests. After a stay of a mouth in the city Micheltorena and his army took up their line of march northwardly. He had reached a point about twenty miles north of San Fernando, when, on the night of the 24th of October, a messenger aroused him from his slumbers with the news that the capital had been captured by the Americans. Micheltorena seized the occasion to make political capital for himself with the home government. He spent the re- mainder of the night in fulminating proclama- tions against the invaders fiercer than the thunderbolts of Jove, copies of which were dis- patched post haste to Mexico. He even wished himself a thunderbolt "that he might fly over intervening space and annihilate the invaders." Then, with his own courage and doubtless that of his brave cholos aroused to the highest pitch, in- stead of rushing on the invaders he and his army fled back to San Fernando, where, afraid to ad- vance or retreat, he halted until news reached him that Commodore Jones had restored Monterey to the Californians. Then his valor reached the boiling point. He boldly marched to Los Angeles, established his headquarters in the city and awaited the coming of Commodore Jones and his officers from Monterey.

On the 19th of January, 1843, Commodore Jones and his staff came to Los Angeles to meet the governor. At the famous conference in the Palacio de Don Abel, Micheltorena presented his Articles of Convention. Among other ridiculous demands were the following: "Article VI. Mr. Thomas Ap C. Jones will deliver 1500 complete infantry uniforms to replace those of nearly one- half of the Mexican force, which have been ruined in the violent march and the continued rains while they were on their way to recover the port thus invaded." "Article VII. Jones to pay $15,000 into the national treasury for expenses incurred from the general alarm; also a complete set of musical instruments in place of those ruined on this occasion." * Judging from Robinson's description of the dress of Micheltorena's cholos it is doubtful whether there was an entire uni- form among them.

"The commodore's first impulse," writes a member of his staff, "was to return the papers without comment and to refuse further communi-

cation with a man who could have the effrontery to trump up such charges as those for which indemnification was claimed." The commodore on reflection put aside his personal feelings, and met the governor at the grand ball in Sanchez Hall held in honor of the occasion. The ball was a brilliant affair, "the dancing ceased only with the rising of the sun next morning." The commo- dore returned the articles without his signature. The governor did not again refer to his de- mands. Next morning, January 21, 1843, Jones and liis officers took their departure from the city "amidst the beating of drums, the firing of cannon and the ringing of bells, saluted by the general and his wife from the door of their quarters." On the 31st of December Michel- torena had taken the oath of office in Sanchez' Hall, which stood on the east side of the plaza. Salutes were fired, the bells were rung and the city was illuminated for three evenings. For the second time a governor had been inaugurated in Los Angeles.

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Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present, Part 8

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 996

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 996