History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 13

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206

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The mill in which their grain was ground was made of two stones as nearly round as possible, of about thirty inches in diameter, and each being dressed on one side to a smooth surface. One was set upon a frame some two feet high, with the smooth face upwards; the other was placed on this with the even face down- wards, while, through an inch-hole in the center, was the grain fed by hand. Two holes drilled partly through each admitted an iron bolt, by means of which a long pole was attached, to its end was harnessed a horse, mule, or donkey, and the animal, being driven round in a circle, caused the stone to revolve. We are informed that these mills were capable of grinding a bushel of wheat in about twelve hours! Their vehicles and agricultural implements were quite as primitive, the cart in common use being framed in the following manner: The two wheels were sections of a log with a hole drilled or bored through the center, the axle being a pole sharpened at each extremity for spindles, with a hole and pin at either end to prevent the

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

wheels from slipping off. Another pole fastened to the middle of the axle served the purpose of a tongue. Upon this frame-work was set, or fastened, a species of wicker-work, framed of sticks, bound together with strips of hide. The beasts of burden were oxen, which were yoked with a stick across the forehead, notched and crooked so as to fit the head closely, and the whole tied with rawhide. The plow was a still more quaint affair. It consisted of a long piece of timber which served the purpose of a beam, to the end of which a handle was fastened; a mortise was next chiseled in order to admit the plow, which was a short stick with a natural crook, having a small piece of iron fastened on one end of it. With this crude imple- ment was the ground upturned, while the branch of a convenient tree served the purposes of a harrow. Fences there were none so that crops might be protected; ditches were therefore dug, and the crests of the sod covered with the branches of trees, to warn away the numerous bands of cattle and horses, and prevent their intru- sion upon the newly sown grain. When the crops were ripe they were cut with a sickle, or any other convenient weapon, and then it became necessary to thresh it. Now for the modus operandi. The floor of the corral into which it was customary to drive the horses and cattle to lasso them, from constant use, had become hardened. Into this inclosure the grain would be piled, and upon it the manatha, or band of mares, would be turned loose to tramp out the seed. The wildest horses, or mayhap the colts that had only been driven once, and then to be branded, would sometimes be turned adrift upon the straw, when would ensue a scene of the wildest confusion, the excited animals being urged, amidst the yelling of vaqueros and the cracking of whips, here, there, and everywhere, around, across, and lengthwise, until the whole was trampled, and naught left but the grain and chaff. The most difficult part, how- ever, was the separating these two articles. Owing to the length of the dry season there was no urgent haste to effect this; therefore, when the wind was high enough, the trampled mass would be tossed into the air with large wooden forks cut from the adjacent oaks and the wind carry away the lighter chaff, leaving the heavier grain. With a favorable breeze several bushels of wheat could thus be winnowed in the course of a day; while, strange as it may appear, it is declared that grain so sifted was much cleaner than it is now, although manipulated by modern science.

The government of the native Californian was as primitive as himself. There were neither law-books nor lawyers, while laws were mostly to be found in the tradi- tions of the people. The head officer in each village was the Alcalde, in whom was vested the judicial function, who received on the enactment of a new law a manuscript copy, called a bando, upon the obtaining of which a person was sent round beating a snare drum, which was a signal for the assemblage of the people at the Alcalde's office, where the Act was read, thus promulgated, and forthwith had the force of law. When a citizen had cause of action against another requiring the aid of court, he went to the Alcalde and verbally stated his complaint in his own way, and asked that the defendant be sent for, who was at once summoned by an officer, simply saying that he was wanted by the Alcalde. The defendant made his appearance without loss of time, where, if in the same village, the plaintiff was generally in waiting. The Alcalde commenced by stating the complaint against him, and asked what he had to say about it. This brought about an altercation between the parties, and nine times

Robert Blacours

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

out of ten the Justice could get at the facts in this wise, and announce judgment immediately, the whole suit not occupying two hours from its beginning. In more important cases three "good men " would be called in to act as co-justices, while the testimony of witnesses had seldom to be resorted to. A learned American Judge has said that "the native Californians were, in the presence of their Cour ts, generally truthful. What they know of false swearing or perjury they have learned from their association with Americans. It was truthfully said by the late Edmund Randolph that the United States Board of Commissioners to settle private land claims in Cali- fornia had been the graves of their reputations."

They were all Roman Catholics, and their priests of the Franciscan Order. They were great church-goers, yet Sunday was not the only day set apart for their devotions. Nearly every day in the calendar was devoted to the memory of some Saint, while those dedicated to the principal ones were observed as holidays; so that Sunday did not constitute more than half the time which they consecrated to religious exercises, many of which were so much in contrast to those of the present day that they deserve a short description.

The front door of their churches was always open, and every person passing, whether on foot or on horseback, did so hat in hand; any forgetfulness on this head caused the unceremonious removal of the sombrero. During the holding of services within, it was customary to station a number of men without, who at appointed intervals interrupted the proceedings with the ringing of bells, the firing of pistols, and the shooting of muskets, sustaining a noise resembling the irregular fire of a company of infantry.

In every church was kept a number of pictures of their saints, and a triumphal arch profusely decorated with artificial flowers; while, on a holiday devoted to any particular saint, after the performance of mass, a picture of the saint, deposited in the arch, would be carried out of the church on the shoulders of four men, followed by the whole congregation in double file, with the priest at the head, book in hand. The procession would march all round the town (if in one), and at every few rods would kneel on the ground while the priest read a prayer or performed some religious ceremony. After the circuit of the town had been made, the train returned to the church, entering it in the same order as that in which they had departed. With the termination of these exercises, horse-racing, cock-fighting, gambling, dancing, and a general merry-making completed the work of the day. A favorite amusement of these festivals was for thirty or forty men on horseback, generally two, but sometimes three on one horse, with their guitars, to parade the towns, their horses capering and keeping time to the music, accompanied with songs by the whole com- pany, in this manner visiting, playing, and singing at all the places of business and principal residences; and it was considered no breach of decorum for men on horses to enter stores and dwellings.

Some of their religious ceremonies were very grotesque and amusing, the per- sonification of "The Wise Men of the East" being of this character. At the sup- posed anniversary of the visit of the wise men to Bethlehem, seven or eight men would be found dressed in the most fantastic styles, going in company from house to house, looking for the infant Saviour. They were invariably accompanied by one

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

representing the devil, in the garb of a Franciscan friar, with his rosary of beads and the cross, carrying a long rawhide whip, and woe to the man who came within reach of that whip-it was far from fun to him, though extremely amusing to the rest of the party. The chief of these ceremonies, however, was the punishment of Judas Iscariot for the betrayal of his master. On the supposed periodicity of this event, after nightfall, and the people had retired to rest, a company would go out and pre- pare the forthcoming ceremonies. A cart was procured and placed in the public square in front of the church, against which was set up an effigy made to represent Judas, by stuffing an old suit of clothes with straw. The houses were then visited and a collection of pots, kettles, dishes, agricultural implements-in fact, every con- ceivable article of personal property was scraped together and piled up around Judas, to represent his effects, until in appearance he was the wealthiest man in the whole country. Then the last will and testament of Judas had to be prepared, a work which was accorded to the best scribe and the greatest wit of the community. Every article of property had to be disposed of, and something like an equal distribution among all the people made, each bequest being accompanied by some very pointed and witty reason for its donation. Among a more sensitive people, some of these reasons would be regarded as libelous. The will, when completed and properly attested, was posted on a bulletin board near the effigy, and the night's work was performed. As soon as sufficiently light the entire population, men, women, and children congregated to see Judas and his wealth, and to hear read, and discuss the merits of his will and appropriateness of its provisions. Nothing else was talked of; nothing else was thought of, until the church bell summoned them to mass; after which a wild, unbroken mare was procured, on the back of which Judas was firmly strapped; a string of fire-crackers was then tied to her tail, they were lighted, she was turned loose, and the ultimate fate of the figurative Judas was not unlike that which we are told occurred to his perfidious prototype.

The native Californians were a temperate people, intoxication being almost unknown. Wines and liquors existed in the country, but were sparingly used. In a saloon, where a " bit's worth " was called for, the decanter was not handed to the customer, as we believe is now the case, but was invariably measured out, and if the liquor was a potent spirit, in a very small dose; while a "bit's " worth was a treat for a considerable company, the glass being passed around from one to the other, each tak- ing a sip. The following amusing episode in this regard, which occurred in the Pueblo de San José, in 1847, may find a place here. Juan Soto, an old gray-headed man and a great friend to Americans-for every one who spoke English was an American to him-had come into possession of a "bit," and being a generous, whole- souled man, he desired to treat five or six of his friends and neighbors. To this end he got them together, marched them to Weber's store, and there meeting -, who, tho' hailing from the Emerald Isle, passed for an American, invited him to join in the symposium. The old Spaniard placed his "bit " upon the counter with considerable èclat, and called for its value in wine, which was duly measured out. As a mark of superior respect he first handed it to - , who, wag that he was, swallowed the entire contents, and awaited the denoucment with keen relish. Soto and his friends looked at each other in blank amazement, when there burst out a tirade in their native tongue, the choice expressions in which may be more readily imagined than described.

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

There was one vice that was common to nearly all of these people, and which eventually caused their ruin, namely, a love of gambling. Their favorite game was montè, probably the first of all banking games. So passionately were they addicted to this, that on Sunday, around the church, while the women were inside and the priest at the altar, crowds of men would have their blankets spread upon the ground with their cards and money, playing their favorite game of monte. They entertained no idea that it was a sin, nor that there was anything derogatory to their character as good Christians. This predilection was early discovered and turned to account by the Americans, who soon established banks, and carried on games for their amusement especially. The passion soon became so developed that they would bet and lose their horses and cattle, while to procure money to gratify this disposition, they would borrow from Americans at the rate of twelve and a half per cent per day; mortgaging and selling their lands and stock, yea, even their wives' clothing, so that their purpose should be gratified, and many unprincipled Westerns of those days enriched themselves in this manner at the expense of these poor creatures.

Before leaving this people, mention should be made of their bull and bear fights. Sunday, or some prominent holiday, was invariably the day chosen for holding these, to prepare for which a large corral was erected (in San José) in the plaza, in front of the church, for they were witnessed by priest and layman alike. In the afternoon, after divine service, two or three good bulls (if a bull-fight only) would be caught and put in the inclosure, when the combat commenced. If there is anything that will make a wild bull furious it is the sight of a red blanket. Surrounded by the entire" population, the fighters entered the arena, each with one of these in one hand and a knife in the other, the first of which they would flaunt before the furious beast, but guardedly keeping it between the animal and himself. Infuriated beyond degree, with flashing eye and head held down, the bull would dash at his enemy, who, with a dexterous side spring would evade the onslaught, leaving the animal to strike the blanket, and as he passed would inflict a slash with his knife. Whenever by his quick- ness he could stick his knife into the bull's neck just behind the horns, thereby wound- ing the spinal cord, the bull fell a corpse and the victor received the plaudits of the admiring throng. The interest taken in these exhibitions was intense; and, what though a man was killed, had his ribs broken, was thrown over the fence, or tossed on to the roof of a house ; it only added zest to the sport, it was of no moment, the play went on. It was a national amusement. When a grizzly bear could be procured, then the fight, instead of being between man and bull, was between bull and bear. Both were taken into the corral, each being made fast to either end of a rope of suffi- cient length to permit of free action, and left alone until they chose to open the ball. The first motion was usually made by the bull endeavoring to part company with the bear, who thus received the first "knock-down." On finding that he could not get clear of Bruin, he then charged him, but was met half-way. If the bear could catch the bull by the nose, he held him at a disadvantage, but he more frequently found that he had literally taken the bull by the horns, when the fight became intensely interest- ing, and was kept up until one or the other was killed, or both refused to renew the combat. The bull, unless his horns were clipped, was generally victorious.

The custom of bull and bear fighting was kept up by the native Californians, as

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

a money-making institution from the Americans, until the year 1854, when the Legis- lature interposed by " An Act to prevent Noisy and Barbarous Amusements on the Sabbath."

The following anecdote in regard to it has been related to us, and may serve to vary the tedium of the reader. Shortly after the foregoing enactment became a law, great preparations were made for having a bull-fight, on the Sabbath as usual, at the old Mission of San Juan Bautista. They were notified by the officers of the existence of the new law, and that they must desist from the undertaking. Doctor Wiggins, a mission pioneer in California since 1842, was then residing at San Juan ; he spoke Spanish fluently, and was looked upon as a great friend by the native Californians. He never smiled, nor appeared to jest-yet, he was the greatest tale-teller, jester, and punster on the Pacific Coast. In sallies of genuine wit he stood unequaled. In their perplexity about the new law, the Californians took counsel with the doctor ; he examined the title of the Act with much seriousness and an air of great wisdom: "Go on with your bull-fights," was the doctor's advice; " they can do nothing with you. This is an Act to prevent noisy and barbarous amusements on the Sabbath. If they arrest you, you will be entitled to trial by jury; the jury will be Americans; they will, before they can convict you, have to find three things; first, that a bull-fight is noisy; this they will find against you; second, that it is barbarous; this they will find against you; but an American jury will never find that it is an amusement in Christ's time. Go on with your bull-fights." They did go on and were arrested, to find that the doctor had been practicing a cruel joke on this long-cherished institution. They were sentenced to pay a fine, and it was the last of the bull-fights. Thus passed away the only surviving custom of a former civilization.

In the year 1728 a Dane named Vitus Bering, was employed by Catherine of Russia to proceed on an exploring expedition to the northwest coast of America and Asia, to find, if possible, an undiscovered connection between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. On this voyage he solved the riddle and gave to the world the straits which now bear his name. On his return he tendered to the Empress the handsome skins which he had procured on his cruise, and so delighted was she, and so excited was the cupidity of capitalists from other countries, that soon settlements were established on the coast, and the collection of furs commenced. In 1799 the Russian American Fur Company was organized and located in what is now known as Alaska; Sitka was founded in 1805; and for many years the neighbors of the Russ were the Austrians and Danes. Now came the British. An association known as the King George's Sound Company was organized in London in 1784, for the purpose of making a settlement on the Pacific Coast, whither many of their vessels found their way up till 1790. Between the years 1784 and 1790, the coast was visited by ships of the East India Company, and about the last-named year craft of the United States were first seen in these waters.

The ship Columbia, Robert Gray, Captain, arrived at the Straits of Fuca, June 5, 1791, and traded along the coast, discovering the Columbia River, which he named after his vessel, May 7, 1792. In 1810, a number of hunters and trappers arrived in the ship Albatross, Captain Smith, and established the first American settlement on the Pacific Coast. In the same year, under the leadership of John Jacob Astor, the

EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT.

Pacific Fur 'Company was organized in New York, and in 1811, they founded the present town of Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River. The British, however, soon after wrested it from their hands and drove all the Americans out of the country, many of whom found their way into California. Between the years 1813 and 1822, save deserters from vessels, and those connected with trading-posts, there were no Americans on the coast.

In his "Natural Wealth of California," Titus Fay Cronise informs us that from 1825 until 1834 the whole of the California trade was in the hands of a few Boston merchants. A voyage to this coast and back, during that time, was an enterprise of very uncertain duration, generally occupying two or three years. The outward cargo, which usually consisted of groceries and coarse cotton goods, had to be retailed to the missionaries and settlers, as there were no "jobbers" in those times, and neither news- papers, telegraphs, nor stages through which to inform customers of the ship's arrival. The crew had to travel all over the country to convey the news, which occupied con- siderable time. It was this portion of their duties that caused so many of them to desert their ships. They saw so much of the country, became so charmed with the freedom, ease, and plenty that prevailed everywhere, that they preferred to remain on shore. Each of these vessels generally brought several young men as adventurers, who worked their passage out for the privilege of remaining. Many of the early settlers, whose children are now among the wealthiest citizens of the State, came to California in this manner.

The outward cargo being disposed of, the homeward one had to be procured. Sometimes, when the season had been too dry, or too wet for the lazy vaqueros to drive the cattle into the missions to kill, there were no hides nor tallow to be had. On such occasions the vessel was obliged to remain till the next season, when a sufficient number of cattle would be slaughtered to pay for the goods purchased, as there was no "currency." used in the country, except hides and tallow.

First in California of an alien race to settle was John Cameron, but who had assumed his mother's maiden name of Gilroy, and was thus afterwards known. He was born in the county of Inverness, Scotland, in the district of Lochaber, in the year 1794, and in the year 1813 arrived in Monterey, in one of her Britannic Majesty's ships, on board of which he was rated as coxswain of the captain's gig. From here he deserted, with a comrade known as "Deaf Jimmy," and waiting, carefully hidden, until the vessel had departed, the two friends, in their search of employment, found their way into the Santa Clara Valley. Gilroy established himself at the little town of San Ysidro, now generally called Old Gilroy, in contradistinction to the new town of Gilroy, where he married and remained till his death, which occurred in July, 1869. His confrère came to the north of the bay, and died in Sonoma County. At this time there were not half-a-dozen foreign settlers in the whole country, save the Russians, who, it will be remembered, then occupied Bodega and Fort Ross, on the coast, while from San Francisco to Los Angeles there were only eight ranchos, the property of Mexican Colonists.

Prior to the year 1820 the manner of living was most primitive, and had it not been that horses were plentiful the mode of locomotion would have, of a necessity, been confined to pedestrianism, for, as there were no roads, there were no vehicles,

HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

while the wheels of those which existed were innocent of fellah, spoke, hub, and tire- Not a hotel nor house of public entertainment was to be found throughout the length and breadth of the land, while there was no sawed timber, that used for building being hewn with axes by Indians. A fire-place or stove was unknown in a dwelling, nor did these come into use until 1846, after the American occupation.

The settlement of Alameda County may be said to have commenced some three- score years ago. In consideration of the distinguished and meritorious services of Don Luis Maria Peralta, a native of Tubec, Sonora, who had arrived with some com- patriots at the presidio of San Francisco in the year 1776, and had subsequently com- manded the garrison at the Pueblo de San José, was granted by Governor Don Pablo Vicente de Sola a tract of land five leagues in extent, and which has since proved to be the most magnificent grant ever made in California, and one of the most valuable estates ever granted to an individual as a reward for praiseworthy deeds. Topo- graphically, it extended from the San Leandro Creek to the northwestern line of the county, and included the territory on which the town of Alameda and the city of Oakland with its suburbs have since risen. He married Maria Lolereto Alviso, a union that brought him five sons and five daughters, namely: Ygnacio, Domingo, Antonio Maria, Vicente; Teodora, who married Mariano Duarte; Trinidad, who married Mariano Castro; Josefa, Guadalupe, and Maria Luisa, who espoused Guillermo Castro.

Don Luis, however, never made his home in the family mansion built near the foot-hills of the Contra Costa Range, on the San Leandro Creek, but maintained his residence in Santa Clara County, where he owned another rancho, leaving the property in what is now Alameda County in possession of his sons who enjoyed it in common until August, 1842, when the father divided the estate into four equal parts, running imaginary lines ficm the bay to the hills, and allotted to José Domingo the northerly portion, being that on which Berkeley is now situated; the contiguous portion on the south, including the grove of oaks, then called the Encinal de Temescal (now the City of Oakland) he awarded to Vicente; to Antonio Maria, he gave that division immediately to the south, on which now stands East Oakland and Alameda; while Ygnacio took the southeasterly portion, on which stood the old homestead where he continued to reside.

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History of Alameda County, California : including its geology, topography, soil, and productions, Part 13

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood Number of Pages: 1206

Author: Munro-Fraser, J. P
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : M.W. Wood
Number of Pages: 1206