USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume I > Part 2
USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume I > Part 2
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CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE INDIAN QUESTION .
PAGE
. ... . 223
Treatment of the Indians by Spain and Mexico-A Conquista-Unsanitary Condition of the Mission Villages-The Mission Neophyte and What Became of Him-Wanton Out- rages on the Savages-Some So-Called Indian Wars-Extermination of the Aborigines -Indian Island Massacre-The Mountaineer Battalion-The Two Years' War-The- Modoc War.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
SOME POLITICAL HISTORY
. . 229;
Advent of the Chinese-Kindly Received at First-Given a Public Reception-The "China Boys" Become Too Many-Agitation and Legislation Against Them-Dennis Kearney and the Sand Lot Agitation-Kearney's Slogan, "The Chinese Must Go"- How Kearney Went-The New Constitution-A Mixed Convention-Opposition to the Constitution-The Constitution Adopted-Defeat of the Workingmen's Party-A New Treaty With China-Governors of California, Spanish. Mexican and American.
CHAPTER XXXV.
EDUCATION AND EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
.. . 235
Public Schools in the Spanish Era-Schools of the Mexican Period-No Schools for the Neophytes-Early American Schools-First School House in San Francisco-The First American Teacher-The First School Law-A Grand School System-University of the Pacific-College of California-University of California-Stanford University-Normal Schools.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CITIES OF CALIFORNIA-THEIR ORIGIN AND GROWTH . . . . 242:
The Spaniards and Mexicans Not Town Builders-Francisca, on the Straits of Car- quinez, the First American City-Its Brilliant Prospects and Dismal Failure-San Francisco-Its Population and Expansion-The Earthquake of April 18, 1906-The Great Fire that Followed the Earthquake-The Effects of the Earthquake at Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, San Jose, Santa Rosa and Other Points Around the Bay of San Francisco-Los Angeles, The Only City in California Before the Conquest-Popula- tion and Development-Oakland, Its Growth and Progress-Berkeley-Alameda- Sacramento, the Metropolis of the Mines-San Jose, the Garden City-Stockton-San Diego, the Oldest City-Fresno-Vallejo-Nevada City-Grass Valley-Eureka-Marysville -- Red- ding-Pasadena-Pomona-San Bernardino-Riverside.
CONTENTS.
(MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES)
CHAPTER I.
THE INDIANS OF MONTEREY . . . . . 261
From Whence They Came-Opinions of Scholars-Tribe Locations-Belief in God- Punished for Disobedience-Government-The Office of Chief-Frequently at War-No Quarter Given-Women Prepare Food -- The Red Cross Movement-A Repulsive Race- Their Dress and Tepees-Indian Population-Abundance of Food-The Harvest Dance- Marriage-The Death Rate-Medicine Men-Cure for Disease-Disposal of Dead.
CHAPTER II.
MEXICAN LIFE AND GOVERNMENT . . . . 264 Origin of Name Monterey-The Valley and Mountain-Mission Bells-The Franciscan Friars-Mission Wealth-Colonization of California-"Lords of the Ranchos"-Seculari- zation of the Missions-The Deepening Shadows-Population of Monterey-Weddings- Plenty of Children-Homes of Monterey-Hospitality of People-Inveterate Gamblers- Happy and Free Dances-Picnics-Celebrations and Festivals-The Cascarone Ball-Holy Night-Quarreling Politicians-Traitor to Spain-The Waltz-Three Governors-Banish- ment of Governor Victoria-Funeral of José Figueroa-Governor Chico Driven From Town-A Single Cannon Ball-Alvarado as Governor -- Micheltorena Compelled to Depart- California's Last Mexican Governor.
CHAPTER III.
WAR IN MONTEREY. . ... 270 The Coveted Land -- An Unjust War-Commodore Jones' Blunder-First Fourth of July Celebration-Commodore Sloat Captures the Town-The Flag at San Juan-Fremont Creates a Sensation-Juan Flaco's Ride-Citizens Alarmed-Lieutenant Talbot's Escape- War Horses-Battle of Salinas Plains-The Charger Sacramento-Hiding the Enemy-The Arrival of Lexington-Peace.
CHAPTER IV.
MONTEREY THE CAPITAL.
. 274
The Gold Discovery -- First Known in Monterey-Carson Catches the Gold Fever-Plenty of "Nuggets"-The Town Depopulated-Soldiers Desert the Army-Gold Sent to Wash- ingion-First Expedition to the South-Alcaldes of Monterey-The First Election-Trial by Jury -- Building of Colton Hall-The Old Jail-The Custom House-First Theatre- Incorporation of Monterey-Gift to General Riley-The Flourishing City-First Brick House -- Business Men of Monterey-Arrival of New Governor-Delegates to Constitu- tional Convention-Assembling of the Delegates-Closing Hours of the Convention-First State Election-Fight for the Capitol Seat-First County Officers-Progressive Monterey.
29
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V.
CRIMINAL EVENTS
.. 280
California's Criminal Immigration-Importation of Mexican Convicts-Compelled to Steal or Starve-Indian Raids-The Joaquin Murietta Band-Killing of Horse Thieves- Work of the Vigilance Committee-Hanging of Hall-The Desperado Garcia-Illegal Execution of an Indian-A Pitiful Scene-Murder of Mrs. Nicholson-Matt Tarpey Hung by "Vigilantes"-Death of Wilson-The April Fool Tragedy-Murder of Two Land Squatters-Trial of E. T. M. Simmons for Arson-The First Legal Execution-Tiburcio Vasquez -- A Monterey Reminiscence.
CHAPTER VI.
TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION
. . 292
Transportation Limited -- Large Land Grants-Land Grabbers-Agricultural Products- First Salinas Farmers, Land $1 an Acre-Origin of Name, "Salinas"-Mission Wealth-Cattle Killing-First Mercantile Business-First Trading Vessels-Imports and Exports-Begin- ning of Commercialism-Largest Stock County-Dry Year of 1863-Whaling Industry- Salmon Catching-The Chinese Fishermen-Spreckels Beet Sugar Factory-First Beet Sugar Factory-Vessels on the Bay-Mexican Carretas-Rapid Horse-Back Riding-The Stage Coach-Santa Rita Fails to Get Railroad-Salinas Welcomes the Southern Pacific- Farmers' Disappointment-Building of the Salinas and Monterey Narrow Gauge.
CHAPTER VII.
ALONG EDUCATIONAL LINES.
.. . . 298
An Ignorant People-The Government Establishes Schools-W. E. P. Hartnell as a Teacher-The Studies Taught-Description of a Mexican School-Severe Punishments- State Law Regarding Schools-Children in the County-First Public Schools-Colton Hall a School House-Public Schools Versus Railroad-The County Superintendents-Number of Children in County-The Teachers-Buildings and Furniture-School Studies-County Schools Up to Date-The Salinas Schools-County High Schools -- Libraries-Newspapers of Monterey-Churches of the County.
CHAPTER VIII.
SALINAS, THE QUEEN CITY.
... . 305
Salinas Halfway House-First Business Places-A Well Planned Scheme-County Seat Contest-Court House Destroyed by Fire-Fine County Building-The Old Jail-The City Hail-First City Election-A City "Wet or Dry"-The No-License Agitation-The First July 4th Celebration-Celebration of 1876-The Salinas Fire Department-Burning of the Capitol Hotel-Firemen's Tournaments-Gas, Water, Electricity-Salinas Cavalry Com- pany -. Jim Bardin Hospital-Secret Organizations-First Masonic Lodge-Independent Order of Odd Fellows-The Native Sons Banner-State Grove Druids at Salinas-First Decoration Day Celebration-Labor Day Parade-The Earthquake of 1906.
30
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IX.
MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS.
.... . . 3II
Father Junipero Serra One Hundred Years Dead-Burning of the Del Monte-Visit of President Harrison -- Monterey Light-Houses-Sloat Monument Corner Stone-Arrival of Battle Ships-Pacific Grove-Castroville-Moss Landing-Santa Rita-Gonzales-Soledad- Fort Romie-Hot Springs.
CHAPTER X.
MONTEREY COUNTY LAND TITLES.
.... .314
Land Owners in Monterey County Have Clear Title-Spanish Grants and Government Lands-Public Domain of Century and a Quarter Ago as Compared With Today-Cali- fornia Formerly a Part of Mexico-Book of Solares of Monterey-Extracts Therefrom- Translation of Complete Record Pertaining to Buena Esperanza Rancho-Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo-Tabulated List of Land Grants in Montercy County.
CHAPTER XI.
THE STORY OF SAN BENITO COUNTY. . . .... 323
The San Juan Bells-San Juan Bautista-Mission Products-Historic Headquarters- Patrick Breen-Prosperity and Residents of the Town-The Railroad Injures San Juan- Celebration of Fremont's Day-High Breed of Sheep-The Mexican Grant-Flint Swaps Land-San Justo Association-The Town of Hollister-First Merchants-The Southern Pacific-The Great Fire-Hollister Fire Department-The Centennial Celebration-San Benito County-Division or No Division-First County Election-Building a New Court House -- Two Honest Judges-The Prewett Murder Trial-The Stone-Waters Quarrel- Products of San Benito County-New Idria Quicksilver Mine-Murder of Ruiz-The Agricultural Fairs-The Hollister Banks -- The Montgomery House-Public Schools-Hol- lister Public Library-The Churches of Hollister-Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital- Odd Fellows Purchase a Hall-Masons Lay Corner Stone-The Hollister Newspapers- The Terrible Earthquake- Civic Pride and Progress of Hollister-The Banquet of the Merchants Association.
J. m. Guin
CALIFORNIA
CHAPTER I.
SPANISH EXPLORATIONS AND DISCOVERIES.
F OR centuries there had been a vague tra- dition of a land lying somewhere in the seemingly limitless expanse of ocean stretching westward from the shores of Europe. The poetical fancy of the Greeks had located in it the Garden of Hesperides, where grew the Golden Apples. The myths and superstitions of the middle ages had peopled it with gorgons and demons and made it the abode of lost souls.
When Columbus proved the existence of a new world beyond the Atlantic, his discovery did not altogether dispel the mysteries and su- perstitions that for ages had enshrouded the fabled Atlantis, the lost continent of the Hesperi- des. Romance and credulity had much to do with hastening the exploration of the newly dis- covered western world. Its interior might hold wonderful possibilities for wealth, fame and con- quest to the adventurers who should penetrate its dark unknown. The dimly told traditions of the natives were translated to fit the cupidity or the credulity of adventurers, and sometimes served to promote enterprises that produced re- sults far different from those originally intended.
The fabled fountain of youth lured Ponce de Leon over many a league in the wilds of Florida; and although he found no spring spout- ing forth the elixir of life, he explored a rich and fertile country, in which the Spaniards planted the first settlement ever made within the territory now held by the United States. The legend of El Dorado, the gilded man of the golden lake, stimulated adventurers to brave the horrors of the miasmatic forests of the Amazon and the Orinoco; and the search for that gold-
covered hombre hastened, perhaps, by a hun- dred years, the exploration of the tropical re- gions of South America. Although the myth of Quivira that sent Coronado wandering over des- ert, mountain and plain, far into the interior of North America, and his quest for the seven cities of Cibola, that a romancing monk, Marcos de Niza, "led by the Holy Ghost," imagined he saw in the wilds of Pimeria, brought neither wealth nor pride of conquest to that adventur- ous explorer, yet these myths were the indirect cause of giving to the world an early knowledge of the vast regions to the north of Mexico.
When Cortés' lieutenant, Gonzalo de Sando- val, gave his superior officer an account of a wonderful island ten days westward from the Pacific coast of Mexico, inhabited by women only, and exceedingly rich in pearls and gold, although he no doubt derived his story from Montalvo's romance, "The Sergas of Esplan- dian," a popular novel of that day, yet Cortés seems to have given credence to his subordi- nate's tale, and kept in view the conquest of the island.
To the energy, the enterprise and the genius of Hernan Cortés is due the early exploration of the northwest coast of North America. In 1522, eighty-five years before the English planted their first colony in America, and nearly a century before the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth rock, Cortés had established a ship- yard at Zacatula, the most northern port on the Pacific coast of the country that he had just conquered. Here he intended to build ships to explore the upper coast of the South Sea (as
3
34
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the Pacific Ocean was then called), but his good fortune, that had hitherto given success to his undertakings, seemed to have deserted him, and disaster followed disaster. His warehouse, filled with material for shipbuilding, that with great labor and expense had been packed on muleback from Vera Cruz, took fire and all was destroyed. It required years to accumulate an- cther supply. He finally, in 1527, succeeded in launching four ships. Three of these were taken possession of by the king's orders for service in the East Indies. The fourth and the smallest made a short voyage up the coast. The com- mander, Maldonado, returned with glowing re- ports of a rich country he had discovered. He imagined he had seen evidence of the existence of gold and silver, but he brought none with him.
In 1528 Cortés was unjustly deprived of the government of the country he had conquered. His successor, Nuno de Guzman, president of the royal audiencia, as the new form of gov- ernment for New Spain (Mexico) was called, had pursued him for years with the malignity of a demon. Cortés returned to Spain to defend himself against the rancorous and malignant charges of his enemies. He was received at court with a show of high honors, but which in reality were hollow professions of friendship and insincere expressions of esteem .. He was rewarded by the bestowal of an empty title. He was empowered to conquer and colonize coun- tries at his own expense, for which he was to receive the twelfth part of the revenue. Cortés returned to Mexico and in 1532 he had two ships fitted out, which sailed from Acapulco, in June of that year, up the coast of Jalisco. Portions of the crews of each vessel mutinied. The mu- tineers were put aboard of the vessel com- manded by Mazuela and the other vessels, com- manded by Hurtardo, continued the voyage as far as the Yaqui country. Here, having landed in search of provisions, the natives massacred the commander and all the crew. The crew of the other vessel shared the same fate lower down the coast. The stranded vessel was after- wards plundered and dismantled by Nuno de Guzman, who was about as much of a savage as the predatory and murderous natives.
In 1533 Cortés, undismayed by his disasters, fitted out two more ships for the exploration of the northern coast of Mexico. On board one of these ships, commanded by Bercerra de Men- doza, the crew, headed by the chief pilot, Jim- inez, mutinied. Mendoza was killed and ali who would not join the mutineers were forced to go ashore on the coast of Jalisco. The muti- neers, to escape punishment by the authorities, under the command of the pilot, Fortuno Jim- inez, sailed westerly away from the coast of the main land. After several days' sailing out of sight of land, they discovered what they sup- posed to be an island. They landed at a place now known as La Paz, Lower California. Here Jiminez and twenty of his confederates were killed by the Indians, or their fellow mutineers, it is uncertain which. The survivors of the ill- fated expedition managed to navigate the vessel back to Jalisco, where they reported the dis- covery of an island rich in gold and pearls. This fabrication doubtlessly saved their necks. There is no record of their punishment for mutiny. Cortés' other ship accomplished even less than the one captured by the mutineers. Grixalvo, the commander of this vessel, discovered a des- olate island, forty leagues south of Cape San Lucas, which he named Santo Tomas. But the discovery that should immortalize Grixalvo, and place him in the category with the romancing- Monk, de Niza and Sandoval of the Amazonian isle, was the seeing of a merman. It swam about about the ship for a long time, playing antics like a monkey for the amusement of the sailors, washing its face with its hands, combing its hair with its fingers; at last, frightened by a sea bird, it disappeared.
Cortés, having heard of Jiminez's discovery, and possibly believing it to be Sandoval's isle of the Amazons, rich with gold and pearls, set about building more ships for exploration and for the colonization of the island. He ordered the building of three ships at Tehauntepec. The royal audencia having failed to give him any redress or protection against his enemy, Nuno de Guzman, he determined to punish him him- self. Collecting a considerable force of cava- liers and soldiers, he marched to Chiametla. There he found his vessel, La Concepcion, lying
35
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
on her beam ends, a wreck, and plundered of everything of value. He failed to find Guzman, that worthy having taken a hasty departure be- fore his arrival. His ships having come up from Tehauntepec, he embarked as many sol- diers and settlers as his vessels would carry, and sailed away for Jiminez's island. May 3, 1535, he landed at the port where Jiminez and his fel- low mutineers were killed, which he named Santa Cruz. The colonists were landed on the supposed island and the ships were sent back to Chiametla for the remainder of the settlers. His usual ill luck followed him. The vessels became separated on the gulf in a storm and the smaller of the three returned to Santa Cruz. Embarking in it, Cortés set sail to find his miss- ing ships. He found them at the port of Guaya- bal, one loaded with provisions, the other dis- mantled and run ashore. Its sailors had de- serted and those of the other ship were about to follow. Cortés stopped this, took command of the vessels and had them repaired. When the repairs were completed he set sail for his colony. But misfortune followed him. His chief pilot was killed by the falling of a spar when scarce out of sight of land. Cortés took command of the vessels himself. Then the ships encountered a terrific storm that threatened their destruc- tion. Finally they reached their destination, Santa Cruz. There again misfortune awaited him. The colonists could obtain no sustenance from the barren soil of the desolate island. Their provisions exhausted, some of them died of starvation and the others killed themselves by over-eating when relief came.
Cortés, finding the interior of the supposed island as desolate and forbidding as the coast, and the native inhabitants degraded and brutal savages, without houses or clothing, living on vermin, insects and the scant products of the sterile land, determined to abandon his coloniza- tion scheme. Gathering together the wretched survivors of his colony, he embarked them on his ships and in the early part of 1537 landed them in the port of Acapulco.
At some time between 1535 and 1537 the name California was applied to the supposed island, but whether applied by Cortés to en- courage his disappointed colonists, or whether
given by them in derision, is an unsettled ques- tion. The name itself is derived from a Spanish romance, the "Sergas de Esplandian," written by Ordonez de Montalvo and published in Se- ville, Spain, about the year 1510. The passage in which the name California occurs is as fol- lows: "Know that on the right hand of the In- dies there is an island called California, very near the terrestrial paradise, which was peopled with black women, without any men among them, because they were accustomed to live after the fashion of Amazons. They were of strong and hardened bodies, of ardent courage and great force. The island was the strongest in the world from its steep rocks and great cliffs. Their arms were all of gold and so were the caparison of the wild beasts which they rode, after having trained them, for in all the island there is no other metal." The "steep rocks and great cliffs" of Jiminez's island may have sug- gested to Cortés or to his colonists some fan- cied resemblance to the California of Montalvo's romance, but there was no other similarity.
For years Cortés had been fitting out ex- peditions by land and sea to explore the un- known regions northward of that portion of Mexico which he had conquered, but disaster after disaster had wrecked his hopes and im- poverished his purse. The last expedition sent out by him was one commanded by Francisco Ulloa, who, in1 1539, with two ships, sailed up the Gulf of California, or Sea of Cortés, on the Sonora side, to its head. Thence he proceeded down the inner coast of Lower California to the cape at its southern extremity, which he doubled, and then sailed up the outer coast to Cabo del Engano, the "Cape of Deceit." Fail- ing to make any progress against the head winds, April 5, 1540, the two ships parted com- pany in a storm. The smaller one, the Santa Agueda, returned safely to Santiago. The larger, La Trinidad, after vainly endeavoring to continue the voyage, turned back. The fate of Ulloa and of the vessel too, is uncertain. One authority says he was assassinated after reach- ing the coast of Jalisco by one of his soldiers, 'who, for some trivial cause, stabbed him to death; another account says that nothing is known of his fate, nor is it certainly known
36
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
whether his vessel ever returned. The only thing accomplished by this voyage was to dem- onstrate that Lower California was a peninsula. Even this fact, although proved by Ulloa's voy- age, was not fully admitted by geographers until two centuries later.
In 1540 Cortes returned to Spain to obtain, if possible, some recognition and recompense from the king for his valuable services. His declin- ing years had been filled with bitter disappoint- ments. Shipwreck and mutiny at sea; disaster and defeat to his forces on land; the treachery of his subordinates and the jealousy of royal of- ficials continually thwarted his plans and wasted his substance. After expending nearly a million dollars in explorations, conquests and attempts at colonization, fretted and worried by the in- difference and the ingratitude of a monarch for whom he had sacrified so much, disappointed, disheartened, impoverished, he died at an ob- scure hamlet near Seville, Spain, in December, I547.
The next exploration that had something to do with the discovery of California was that of Hernando de Alarcon. With two ships he sailed from Acapulco, May 9, 1540, up the Gulf of Cal- ifornia. His object was to co-operate with the expedition of Coronado. Coronado, with an army of four hundred men, had marched from Culiacan, April 22, 1540, to conquer the seven cities of Cibola. In the early part of 1537 Al- varo Nuñez Cabeza de Vaca and three compan- ions (the only survivors of six hundred men that Panfilo de Narvaes, ten years before, had landed in Florida for the conquest of that province) after almost incredible sufferings and hardships arrived in Culiacan on the Pacific coast. On their long journey passing from one Indian tribe to another they had seen many wondrous things and had heard of many more. Among others they had been told of seven great cities in a country called Cibola that were rich in gold and silver and precious stones.
A Franciscan friar, Marcos de Niza, having heard their wonderful stories determined to find the seven cities. Securing the service of Estevanico, a negro slave, who was one of Ca- beza de Vaca's party, he set out in quest of the cities. . With a number of Indian porters and
Estevanico as a guide, he traveled northward a hundred leagues when he came to a desert that took four days to cross. Beyond this he found natives who told him of people four days further away who had gold in abundance. He sent the negro to investigate and that individual sent back word that Cibola was yet thirty days' journey to the northward. Following the trail of his guide, Niza travelled for two weeks cross- ing several deserts. The stories of the magnifi- cence of the seven cities increased with every tribe of Indians through whose country he passed. At length, when almost to the prom- ised land, a messenger brought the sad tidings that Estevanico had been put to death with all of his companions but two by the inhabitants of Cibola. To go forward meant death to the monk and all his party, but before turning back he climbed a high mountain and looked down upon the seven cities with their high houses and teeming populations thronging their streets. Then he returned to Culiacan to tell his wonder- ful stories. His tales fired the ambition and stimulated the avarice of a horde of adventurers. At the head of four hundred of these Coronado penetrated the wilds of Pimeria (now Arizona). He found seven Indian towns but no lofty houses, no great cities, no gold or silver. Cibola was a myth. Hearing of a country called Quivira far to the north, richer than Cibola, with part of his force he set out to find it. In his search he penetrated inland as far as the plains of Kansas, but Quivira proved to be as poor as Cibola, and Coronado returned disgusted. The Friar de Niza had evidently drawn on his imagination which seemed to be quite rich in cities.
Alarcon reached the head of the Gulf of Cai- ifornia. Seeing what he supposed to be an in- let, but the water proving too shallow for his ships to enter it, he manned two boats and found his supposed inlet to be the mouth of a great river. He named it Buena Guia (Good Guide) now the Colorado. He sailed up it some distance and was probably the first white man to set foot upon the soil of Upper California. He heard of Coronado in the interior but was unable to establish communication with him. He de- scended the river in his boats, embarked on his vessels and returned to Mexico. The Viceroy
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