USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 55
USA > California > History of California, Volume I > Part 55
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St. Pap., MS., viii. 71. Mesa, Tapia, Higuera, and Lugo were soldiers in 1784 and the question came up whether they ought like the original settlers to be exempt from tithes since they cultivated lands like the rest. Prov. Rec., MS., i. 163-4. July 30, 17SS, Argüello reports having gone to San José to put Ignacio Castro and Seferino Lugo in possession of lands, but did not do so because they claimed pay and rations, only allowed to the original settlers. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 50-1. In the list of 1790 the name of Tapia disappears and there appear those of Joaquin Castro, Antonio Alegre, Antonio Accves, Ignacio Higuera, and Pedro Cayuelas, agregados; Gabriel Peralta, Ramon Bojorges, and Juan Antonio Amezquita, inválidos; and Macario Castro, corporal of the guard. Argüello's report in St. Pap., Miss., MS., i. 18, 60-3.
66 Fages to general Feb. 1, 1785, in Prov. Rec., MS., i. 187-8. He announces the changes mentioned in my text, and asks if he cannot reappoint Gonzalez the next year. The records do not show if this was permitted, the next alcalde mentioned being Antonio Romero in 1790. Dominguez died on Jan. 31st, the day before the date of Fages' letter. Sta. Clara, Lib. de Mision, MS., 35.
479
OFFICIALS AND EVENTS AT SAN JOSÉ.
like those of Vicente Félix at Angeles.67 Vallejo had some special fitness for directing agricultural opera- tions, was allowed to cultivate vacant lands on his own account, and held his position for seven years though not without opposition. To him, or rather to the wise instructions given him, Fages attributed the pueblo's later prosperity.69
The pueblo did not make much advance in the matter of buildings, since nothing but palisade struct- ures with roofs of earth were erected; but there was good reason for this. The site at first selected for the house-lots proved to be too low, and exposed to inundatiou in wet seasons. There was a proposition in 1785 to move the town a short distance to a higher spot. In 1787 General Ugarte authorized the trans- fer, and it was made soon after, certainly before 1791, the slight nature of the buildings making the opera- tion an easy one.63
One of Fages' first acts on taking command was to march in January 1783 against the gentiles of the San José region who had stolen some horses from
67 Vallejo's appointment dated July 18, 1785. Instructions in Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 121-5. Jau. 24th, Vallejo named to make explorations for the reser- voir. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 2.
68 Fages to Romeu, Feb. 26, 1791, in Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 153. In October 1787 Capt. Soler went to San José to investigate certain charges of the people against the comisionado. All that the fault-finding inspecter could find against Vallejo, in his official capacity at least, was a mando insípido, whatever that may be. He recommended that he be put to personal labor in the fields; but nothing was dene in the matter. Id., vii. 132.
69 Hall, Hist. San José, 46-50, erroneously states that there was a long cer- respondence on the subject in 1797, and that the removal was effected in that year; but the quarrel ef that year was about boundaries between mission and pueblo, and in the correspondence the site of the 'old town' is mentioned; moreover Fages in his instructions of 1791 to Romeu speaks of the change as already effected. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 152. Vallejo first urged the removal on Feb. 20, 1785, in a communication to Moraga. The latter found it difficult to decide because the land en the proposed site had already been distributed to settlers. He accordingly addressed Fages on April 1st. Prov. St. Pap., MS., v. 26. On March 9th Fages writes to Vallejo approving the scheme. Dept. St. Pap., S. José, MS., i. 25; and on July 7th he assures the people of San José that they shall be at no expense in the removal, and that the pueblo shall lose no land-for it seems there was a fear that to move the pueble would also move the boundary between the pueblo and mission lands. Prov. Rec., MS., iii. 30-1. Fages refers the matter to Ugarte on Aug. 5th, Id., ii. 126; and that efficial on June 21, 1787, grants the petition of the settlers, and orders that there be no change in the boundary lines. St. Pap., Miss. and Colon., MS., i. 274.
480
LOCAL EVENTS AND STATISTICS.
the settlers. The warlike governor killed two of the enemy, frightened the rest into complete submission, and for years after attributed to this campaign the prevailing quiet among gentiles. But again in 1788 it was necessary to place fifteen natives, including three chiefs, at work in the presidio, for horse- stealing.70 There is little more to be said of local happenings at San José for this period. Some of the settlers were imprisoned and put in irons for refusing to work on a house for the town council, Ignacio Archuleta, ex-alcalde, being ringleader. The river broke through the old dam and the governor resolved to build a new one of masonry. Two boys drowned an Indian to amuse themselves, but in con- sideration of their tender years were dismissed with twenty-five lashes administered in presence of the natives. All this in 1784; the tithes for which year amounted to $428.71
70 Palou, Not., ii. 392; Prov. Rec., MS., ii. 98; Id., iii. 98, 170. Thirty- five lbs. powder, 800 bullets, and 100 flints sent to San José as reserve ammu- nition in August 1785. Id., iii. 31.
71 Prov. Rec., MS., i. 168, 172; iii. 22-3. A wooden granary had been completed in December 1782. Prov. St. Pap., MS., iii. 166-7. A settler put in the stocks in 1788 for assaulting his corporal, and corporal reprimanded for his violence. Id., vii. 134.
CHAPTER XXIII.
RULE OF ROMEU.
1791-1792.
RESIGNATION OF PEDRO FAGES-TRANSFER OF THE OFFICE AT LORETO -- INSTRUCTIONS TO THE NEW GOVERNOR-LAST ACTS OF FAGES-LIFE AND CHARACTER-ARRIVAL OF ROMEU-FAILING HEALTH-JOURNEY TO MON- TEREY-POLICY WITH THE FRIARS-ROMEU'S DEATH-VISIT OF MALAS- PINA IN THE 'DESCUBIERTA' AND 'ATREVIDA'-THE FIRST AMERICAN IN CALIFORNIA-PREPARATIONS FOR NEW MISSIONS-LASUEN'S EFFORTS -- ESTABLISHING OF SANTA CRUZ-ANNALS OF FIRST DECADE-INDIAN TROUBLES-STATISTICS-CHURCHI DEDICATED-FLOURING MILL-MES- FORTUNE-QUARRELSOME PADRES-ALONSO ISIDRO SALAZAR-BALDO- MERO LOPEZ-MANUEL FERNANDEZ-FOUNDING AND EARLY ANNALS OF SOLEDAD MISSION-IMMORAL FRIARS-MARIANO RUBÍ-STATISTICS.
PEDRO FAGES, worn down by work, and more by the anxieties imposed on a nervous temperament growing out of the responsibilities of his position as governor, asked to be relieved of the office and to be granted leave of absence that he might revisit Spain. In May 1790 his resignation was accepted by Viceroy Revilla Gigedo, and he was ordered to Mexico to receive twelve months' advance pay as colonel with which to defray his expenses in Spain; José Antonio Romeu was named as his successor. This informa- tion reached Fages at Monterey in September, and was all the more agreeable from the fact that Romeu was his personal friend. In February 1791 Fages, who had awaited letters announcing his successor's coming to Monterey, received orders from the viceroy by which, after setting the commandants and habili- tados at work upon their respective presidio accounts, he was to proceed to Loreto and there make formal HIST. CAL., VOL. I. 31 ( 481 )
482
RULE OF ROMEU.
delivery of his office to Romeu; or, if not able to do this, he was to send orders to Arrillaga, the command- ant at Loreto, to surrender the office in the governor's name. As the state of Fages' health would not per- mit a journey overland to the peninsula, he forwarded the necessary orders to Arrillaga, lieutenant governor of the Californias, who accordingly transferred the command to Romeu at Loreto on April 16, 1791, which is therefore the date when Fages ceased to rule.1
With his orders to Arrillaga under date of Febru- ary 26th, Fages transmitted the instructions which it was customary for a retiring governor to prepare for the use of his successor, outlining the country's past history and present condition, and embodying the results of his own experience in recommendations re- specting future policy. The historical portions of this important document have already been utilized largely in the preceding chapters; but a brief consideration of the paper as a whole, will throw light on the con- dition of affairs at the time of Romeu's accession. The development of the two pueblos, says the retir- ing governor, and the settlement in them of retired soldiers, has received and still merits the deepest attention. Their products are purchased by the pre- sidios and paid for in goods and drafts. The distribu-
1 The viceroy's order granting Fages' request and appointing Romeu, dated May 16, 1790. Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 8-10. May 27th seems to have been the date of the viceroy's communication to king; but of the king's approval and confirmation of Romeu we only know that it reached Mexico before May 18, 1791. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 139. September 1, 10, 13, 1790, the viceroy instructs Fages about the transfer. Id., ix. 308, 346-7. September 14, 1790, Fages to Romeu, expressing his pleasure at the latter's appointment, describing the presidio, saying something of the condition of the country, and saying: 'You will find in this casa real, which is sufficiently capacious, the necessary furniture; a sufficient stock of goats and sheep which I have raised; and near by a garden which I have made at my own expense, from which you will have fine vegetables all the year, and will enjoy the fruits of the trees which I have planted.' He asks for information as to when and by what route Romeu will come. Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 8-10. Romeu takes possession April 16, 1791. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 124; St. Pap., Sac., MS., v. 86-7; Arch. Sta. Bárbara, MS., xi. 414-15. February 26, 1791, Fages notifies Romeu that he has ordered Arrillaga to make the transfer, and has directed presidial accounts, etc., to be made ready. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 144-5.
483
FAGES' FINAL INSTRUCTIONS.
tion of lands has been made in due form, and-together with certain changes at San José rendered necessary by the moving of the houses-approved by the superior authorities. It was intended at first to remove the pueblo guards after two years, but they are to be maintained as long as necessary. In the first years, on account of bad management, San José made little progress; but the appointment of a comisionado as at Angeles and the subjection of the alcalde to him, have restored prosperity ; and these measures were approved in 1785-6.
In the missions great care must be taken to guard against the increase of veneral diseases which are causing such ravages in the peninsula. The sending of soldiers for escaped neophytes is extremely dan- gerous, and should be avoided, being resorted to only after other means-the best being for the friars to send other natives with flattery and trifling gifts to enlist the services of chiefs-have failed, and then with every possible precaution. The granting of escorts whenever asked for has also proved dangerous and inconvenient, since only two men could be spared, leaving the mission exposed and the friar only slightly protected. It has therefore been restricted, and the soldiers are not allowed to pass the night away from the mission. This policy, notwithstanding protests, and in consequence of Neve's confidential reports, has been approved by superiors and by the king.
In the case of mail-carriers and escorts passing from one presidio to another, careful orders have been given to prevent disaster and at the same time to insure humane treatment of the gentiles. Each presidio has in its archives properly indexed the orders that have been issued for its government and the prevention of all disorder. The abundance of products in proportion to consumers has led to a reduction of some of the prices affixed by Neve to grain and meat. Cattle belonging to the crown are kept from excessive in- crease and consequent running wild by annual slaugh-
484
RULE OF ROMEU.
ters for the supply of presidios and vessels with beef. The breeding of horses and mules, just beginning to prosper, should be encouraged. The friars often wish to buy these animals, but have been uniformly refused. All trade with the Manila ship is strictly prohibited; but trade with San Blas is free for five years from October 1786, and subject to only half duties for five years more-a trade which is bad in its effects, lead- ing to 'immoderate luxury,' for the inhabitants can buy all they really need at cost prices from the memo- rias. To provide the wasting of clothing and other useful articles in barter with the sailors, Fages has forbidden the opening of the bales until the vessel leaves the port.
In articles 21-3 of his papel, Fages tells the tale of three or four incorrigible rogues, Alvitre and Na- varro of Angeles, Ávila of San Jose, and Pedraza, a deserter from the galleon, whose scandalous conduct no executive measure has been able to reform. Arti- cles 24-7 are devoted to past troubles between Cap- tain Soler and the habilitados, with which the reader is already familiar; and finally, after devoting some attention to the condition of the different presidios, the author closes by alluding to the charges of cruelty pending against Father Peña of Santa Clara, and to the orchard of six hundred fruit-trees, besides shrubs and grape-vines, to which since 1783 he has given much of his attention.2
2 Fages, Papel de varios puntos concernientes al Gobierno de la Península de California é Inspeccion de Tropas, que recopila el Coronel D. Pedro Fages al Teniente Coronel D. José Antonio Romeu, 26 de Febrero 1791, MS. On May 28th Fages wrote again to Romeu a most interesting letter in which he gives bis opinion of various persons with whoin his successor will come in contact. He speaks very highly of Arrillaga, Zúñiga, and Argüello, deems Goycoechea somewhat prone to carelessness, says nothing of Ortega, and pronounces Gonzalez fit only for his present position on the frontier. None of the ser- gcants are suitable for habilitados, though Vargas is faithful and can write. With the Dominicans there has been no serious trouble, and President Gomez is disposed to sustain harmonious relations; but with the Fernandinos quar- rels have been frequent, since they are 'opuestísimos á las máximas del regla- mento y gobierno' and insist on being independent and absolute each in his own mission. Fages doubts that Romeu will be able to endure their inde- pendent way of proceeding. The priests at San Francisco and Santa Clara are forming separate establishments at some distance from the mission, which
485
LIFE AND CHARACTER OF FAGES.
Don Pedro sent his wife and children southward in advance of his own departure, probably on board the San Carlos, or Princesa, which left Monterey for San Blas in the autumn of 1790.3 He remained at Mon- terey, though he made a visit to San Francisco in May,4 and still exercised by common consent a kind of superintendence over the actions of his former sub- ordinates, though now addressed as colonel instead of governor. There are letters of his in the archives dated at Monterey July 13th.5 His intention was to remain until October or November, and I suppose he embarked on the San Carlos for San Blas November 9, 1791, though possibly his departure was a month earlier.6 In 1793 he made a report on the California · presidios, and in October 1794 was still residing in Mexico. Of Pedro Fages before he came to Califor- nia in 1769 and after his departure in 1791 we know little; with his career in the province the reader is familiar,7 and will part with the honest Catalan, as I do, reluctantly.
matter necds looking after. Mission stock is increasing too much, and the ncophytes are becoming too skilful riders and acquiring 'Apache insolence.' Some advice is given about the journey north. A promise is made of more letters, and Fages closes by making a present of his famous orchard, well pleased that the fruits of his labors and expenditures are to be enjoyed by his friend. Fages, Informes Particulares al Gobr. Romeu 28 de Mayo 1791, MS. On May Ist he had written to Romeu that he was permitted to take away with him six mules and as many horses if the commander of the vessel had no objections. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 147. There are also communica- tions of Fages to Romeu on matters of trifling importance dated May 26th, 30th, June Ist, July 4th, 13th. Id., 141-70.
8 In his letter of May 28, 1791, Fages expresses his pleasure that Romeu on his journey-probably at San Blas or between there and Mexico-had met his family. He states his intention of staying at Monterey until October or November. Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 148, 150.
+ Id., x. 44.
6 Id., x. 142-3, 169. In one of the letters he says that, suffering in his foot, he is unable to review the troops at Santa Barbara.
6 Sailing of the San Carlos Nov. 19th. St. Pap., Sac., MS:, v. 91. Accord- ing to a letter in Prov. St. Pap., MS., x. 134, however, the schooner Saturnina from Nootka was at Monterey on Oct. 14th and ready to sail for San Blas, so that Fages may have sailed in her; yet if there is no error it is strange that while the arrival of the San Carlos was announced to Gen. Nava on Nov. 30th, that of the Saturnina was not announced until Dec. 22d. St. Pap., Sac., MS., iv. 3.
Pedro Fages, a native of Catalonia, and first lieutenant of a company of the 1st battalion, 2d regiment, of the Catalan Volunteer Light Iufantry, probably left Spain with his battalion in May 1767, and soon after his arrival in Mexico
486
RULE OF ROMEU.
He was a peculiar man; industrious, energetic, and brave, a skilful hunter and dashing horseman, fond of children, who were wont to crowd round him and rarely failed to find his pockets stored with dulces. Of fair education and executive abilities, hot-tempered
was sent with Col. Elizondo's expedition against the Sonora Indians. In the autumn of 1768 by order of the visitador general, Galvez, he was sent over from Guaymas to La Paz by Elizondo with 25 men of his compania franca for the California expedition. In January 1769 he embarked with his men on the San Carlos and arrived at San Diego May Ist. Fages was military chief of the sea branch of the expedition, and commandant on shore from May Ist to June 29th, thus beiug California's first ruler. After Portola's arrival on June 29th, he was second in command and Capt. Rivera's superior. With seven of his meu, all that the scurvy had not killed or disabled, he accompanied the first land expedition from San Diego to Monterey and San Francisco from July 14, 1769, to Jan. 24, 1770. He started north again April 17th with Portolá and reached Monterey May 24th. When Portolá left Monterey July 9th, Fages was left as commandant of the Californian establishments, a position which he held until May 25, 1774. His commission as captain was dated May 4, 1771, and in the same year he went down to San Diego by water, returning by land. In March and April 1772 he led an exploring expedition up to what are now Oakland, San Pablo Bay, Carquines Strait, and the mouth of the San Joaquin. In May 1772 he proceeded to the San Luis region and spent some three months hunting bears to supply the Monterey garrison with meat. Perhaps it was here that he gained the sobriquet of El Oso often applied to bim in later years, though there is a tradition that the name Old Bear was given him for other reasons. He went to San Diego in August, and there incurred Padre Serra's displeasure by refusing a guard for the founding of a new mission. The object of Serra's journey to Mexico was chiefly Fages' re- moval. The friar represented him as a man hated by all the soldiers, incom- petent to command, and a deadly foe to all mission progress. The charges were largely false, but they served Serra's purpose whether believed or not, for the government could not afford at the time a quarrel with the mission- aries; and Rivera was sent to supersede Fages, taking command on May 25, 1774. Subsequently Serra wrote a letter to the viceroy in which he expressed regret at Fages' removal, commendation of his services, and a desire that he be favored by the government. Arch. Sta. Bárbara, MS., xi. 379-80. The friars regarded this as a praiseworthy return of good for evil; others might apply a different name.
Fages sailed from San Diego Aug. 4, 1774, on the San Antonio with orders to join his regiment at Pachuca. On the way to Mexico at Irapuato, Guana- juato, he was robbed of a box containing his money, by his own servants as it seems. Prov. St. Pap., MS., i. 190. He reached Mexico before the end of 1774 in poor health. He dated in Mexico, Nov. 30, 1775, a report on Cali- fornia, addressed to the viceroy, and devoted chiefly to a description of the province, its natives, animals, and plants; but also giving a tolerably complete sketch of the first expeditions and the condition of the missions at the author's departure. This document, of great importance and interest, was translated from the original in the library of M. Ternaux-Compans and published as Fages, Voyage en Californie, in Nouv. Ann. des Voy., ci. 145-82, 311-47. At the beginning the author says: 'Ayant été chargé du commandement militaire du poste de Monterey, depuis le commencement de l'année 1769, et mon chef don Diego Portola qui s'embarqua le 9 de Juillet à bord du paquebot le San Antonio, m'ayant fortement recommandé de m'occuper des établissements situés dans la partie septentrionale de la Californie, je m'y suis livré pendant plus de quatre ans. J'ai rassemblé le plus de renseignements qu'il m'a été
487
THE OLD AND NEW GOVERNOR.
and inclined to storm over trifles, always ready to quarrel with anybody from his wife to the padre pres- idente, he was withal kind-hearted, never feeling and rarely exciting deep-seated animosities. He was thoroughly devoted to the royal service and attended with rare conscientiousness to every petty detail of his official duty; yet his house, his horse, and above all his garden were hardly second in importance to his office, his province, and his nation. He possessed less breadth of mind, less culture, and especially less dig- mity of manner and character than Felipe de Neve, but he was by no means less honest and patriotic. The early rulers of California were by no means the characterless figure-heads and pompous nonenti- ties that modern writers have painted them, and among them all there is no more original and attrac- tive character than the bluff Catalan soldier Pedro Fages.
José Antonio Romeu, a native of Valencia, Spain, had served in the Sonora Indian wars with Fages in and before 1782 as captain. As we have seen, he took part in the campaigns following the Colorado
possible sur ces provinces éloignées, sur les nations qui les habitent, la nature de leur territoire, ses productions, les moeurs et coutumes de la population, et beaucoup d'autres sujets dont je traiterai dans le cours de cette relation.'
Capt. Fages was in garrison with his company at Guadalajara, when he was ordered, perhaps in 1777, to the Sonora frontier; and there he served in the wars against Apaches and other savages for five years, receiving in the mean time a lieut. colonel's commission. In 1781-2 he made several expedi- tions from Sonora to the Colorado to avenge the death of his former rival, Rivera; and visited California twice in 1782 before he came as governor, mak- ing the first trip from the Colorado direct to San Diego. He was in the Colo- rado region when on Sept. 10th, by an appointment of July 12, 1782, he took possession of his office as governor, and reached Monterey in November. 1783 was spent chiefly in a journey to Loreto whence he brought his wife, Doña Eulalia de Callis, and son to the capital. He had at least two children born in California. In 1785 he had trouble with his wife, which does not seem however to have outlasted the year. From August 1786, by Gen. Ugarte's order of Feb. 12th, Fages became inspector of presidios. His com- mission as colonel was dated Feb. 7, 1789. His governorship ended April 16, 1791, and he sailed from Monterey in the autumn of the same year. Taylor, Discov. and Founders, ii. 179, says he died in Mexico before 1796, but it is by no means certain that he had any authority for the statement. Aug. 12, 1793, he makes a report on Monterey Presidio buildings at Mexico. Prou. St. Pap., MS., xiii. 191; and in Oct. 1794 he resided in the city of Mexico. Cos- tansó, Informe, MS.
4SS
RULE OF ROMEU.
disaster. In May 1790, when appointed governor he was major of the España dragoon regiment, also hold- ing the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was probably in Mexico at the time of his appointment and proceeded to his province by way of San Blas, since he met the family of his predecessor and friend on their way from California. Accompanied by his wife, Josefa de Sandoval, and daughters Romeu arrived March 17, 1791, at Loreto by the schooner Santa Gertrudis. On April 16, as already stated, he took formal possession of the governorship, Captain Arrillaga representing Fages in the transfer of the necessary papers.8 The reason why the new governor was ordered to assume his office at Loreto instead of proceeding directly to the capital was that he might attend to his duties as inspector of presidios in the south, thus avoiding a useless repetition of the journey, and that he might make certain investigations of presidial accounts. These Californian accounts had been in some confusion since 1769. Details it is undesirable as well as im- possible to explain; but many men had unsettled ac- counts running back to the earliest period of Spanish occupation. The treasury officials in Mexico, attrib- uting the prevalent confusion to the incompetence of habilitados, were themselves greatly puzzled,9 and Romeu seems to have been selected with a special view to his fitness for unravelling past financial com- plications and effecting a final adjustment.
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