History of California, Volume II, Part 28

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826

USA > California > History of California, Volume II > Part 28

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The affair of the Pedler occurred in August and September. Earlier two English vessels had visited the coast. The armed merchantman Isaac Todd, Cap- tain Frazer Smith, ostensibly bound to Manila for tea,

gents been found in possession of any part of the coast. 'Ha Señor! Los Anglo-Americanos con los Hispano-Americanos ! Bella union !' The friar laments the rapid destruction of sea-otter, by foreigners. Formerly San Buenaventura employed six canoes and got from 100 to 160 skins each year, but all that was past. There is no foundation for the remark in Cronise's Nat. Wealth, 36, that in or before 1812 a number of stragglers from the fur companies found their way to California and caused much trouble to the padres by taking the best looking squaws for housekeepers.

16 See Hist. Northwest Coast, i. 332-3; ii. 235, this series. There is no authority for the report that she was sent to San Blas as a prize.

17 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 383; Id., Ben. Mil., xlv. 3-6. Besides the Tagle the Santa Eulalia or Resolucion was on the coast in 1814, and sold the presidios $16,000 of supplies. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 110-12. The Intrépido from Panamá for California touched at Acapulco in May. Gaceta de Mex., xxx. 796.

272

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

but really to the Columbia River with supplies for the Northwest Company, with a view to the seiz- ure of Fort Astoria,18 anchored at Monterey in January and remained a month there and at San Francisco, thence proceeding up the coast. Eight men deserted, and three others were left at Monterey to recover from the scurvy. One of the three was John Gilroy, the first foreigner to take up his perma- nent residence in the province, of whom I have some- thing to say elsewhere. 19 The other vessel was the man-of-war Raccoon, Captain William Black, cruising against the United States, which had left the Todd at Rio Janeiro, and rejoined her at San Francisco in February. Black had visited the Columbia River where he had captured an American fort as he said- that is Astoria; but his vessel had been damaged, per- haps in crossing the Columbia bar, and he had been forced by this accident and the need of supplies to San Francisco. He was kindly treated by Argüello, and beached and repaired his vessel with the aid of the Todd's crew. 20 He obtained a thousand pounds of gunpowder with other needed supplies, recovering, perhaps, the deserters lost by the Todd, and at last sailed for the Islands.21

Early in this year came orders from the king that

18 See Hist. Northwest Coast, i. 333; ii., chap. ix-xi., this series. The Todd arrived at the Columbia in April.

19 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 368-70; Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 226-7. Julian Malcolm, baptized as Francisco Miguel, with Gilroy on Sept. 21st, and James M. Baldwin, baptized as Diego Mariano on Nov. 12th, were very likely Gil- roy's companions. Taylor's Discov. and Founders, ii. no. 28. These two may have died, or more likely recovered and been given up with the deserters. John Mulligan, or Milligan, the Irish weaver, may also have been one of these men. Spence, Hist. Notes, MS., 25, says Mulligan came about the same time as Gilroy; and in 1819 he was included with Gilroy and Doak in a per- mit to marry and settle. Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix. 1.

20 Cox, Adventures, i. 285-6, says that Black had determined to abandon the Raccoon and proceed overland, and would have done so but for the Todd's assistance. He is the only authority for the visit of the Todd to San Francisco. All these voyages connected with the annals of Astoria are fully recorded in Hist. Northwest Coast; this series.

21 Jan. 15, 1814, Arguello to Arrillaga. Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 226-8; ix. 132-3; Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 368-70. The visit is mentioned in Soulé's Annals of S. F., 163. Zavalishin, Delo o Koloniy Ross, 6, says that Black was an unwelcome guest at San Francisco, and treated the Spaniards as sub- ordinates. The Raccoon had 28 guns and 130 men.

273

TRADE WITH THE NORTHWEST.

strict neutrality must be observed by the Californian authorities in the war between England and the United States, the war of 1812. No aid was to be given to American privateers, nor were prizes taken by either nation to be admitted into the ports except in cases of the most urgent necessity.22 This order was followed a little later by other royal instructions. The king's attention had been called to the excesses committed by foreign vessels which, under the pre- text of whale-fishing, did a large contraband trade. Foreigners must by every possible means be kept away from the coast, and the oft-repeated orders in such cases must be strictly enforced. Vessels seized must be confiscated according to the regulations, and the Spanish minister at Washington was said to have been notified that stringent measures would be adopted to remedy the evil.23

In July and August, 1815, the North-west Com- pany's schooner Columbia, Captain Jennings, visited Monterey and obtained without difficulty such sup- plies as were needed for the voyage. Jennings' chief object was to establish a trade between California and the Columbia establishment lately purchased from the Americans, but Sola refused to allow the landing of goods or the purchase of supplies on credit, though in his letters to the viceroy he favored the proffered traffic. He also refused to allow one Duncan to remain at Monterey under pretence of awaiting letters from England. Ten deserters were left behind at first, but the Columbia after a trip to Bodega returned and recovered them from the Spanish authorities who had placed them under arrest.2 The decision in

22 July 9th, June 28th, Aug. 28th, 1813, viceroy to governor. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 335-9.

23 Dated April 15, 1814, in Mexico, with a note to the effect that there was nothing in the treaty with England to prevent proceeding by Spanish laws against Englishmen who engage in illicit trade. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 98-100.

24 One man, however, remained from the Columbia and became a perma- nent resident. This was Antonio Rocha, a Portuguese. Dep. St. Pap., MS., iv. 156-8.

HIST. CAL., VOL. II. 18

274

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

Mexico, which arrived a year later, was unfavorable to Jennings' proposition and the governor's recom- mendation. It was apparent to the viceroy's advisers that the true aim of the Englishmen was to obtain otter-skins and to reconnoitre the country with a view to its seizure. Therefore they were to be watched and furnished with such aid only as was re- quired by the laws of hospitality.25

The affair of the Ilmen in which Eliot de Castro visited the coast this year with a bidarka fleet, bent on contraband trade and otter-hunting, is recorded in a chapter devoted to Russian annals.26 By the or- ders of Sola, the Russian Boris Tarakánof with some twenty Aleuts was captured at San Pedro and put in jail at Los Angeles. This was on September 19th, and on the 25th Eliot with an American and four Russians was taken at El Cojo, the Ilmen escaping.27 Sergeant José Ortega of Refugio was suspected of complicity with Eliot, and still worse, with other American contrabandistas; and Sola caused a strict watch to be kept on his movements. 28 A little earlier in the year, in August, the Suvárof, Captain Makárof, had traded at San Francisco.29 On one of these ves- sels, I suppose, came José Bolcof, a permanent Russian settler in California.30

25 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 387-9, 398-9; Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 135, 137-9; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., vii. 11. Brooks, Origin of Japanese, i., preserves a statement of Captain Adams to the effect that on March 24, 1815, while sail- ing-master on the Forrester, Capt. Pickett, he saw off Santa Bárbara a Japanese junk drifting, from which three men were rescued. From the fact that, in an- other item cited by this writer, Capt. John Jennings is represented as captain of the F'orrester in 1813, the suggestion presents itself that this may possibly have been the true name of the vessel, called by the Spaniards Columbia.

26 Chap. xiv. of this volume.

27 Sept. 21, 1815, Sola has heard of the arrival of the Germania (Ilmen), and orders the arrest of all who land. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 22. Sept. 24, Guerra sends the governor two Englishinen, Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MIS., xliv. 16. It is said that a soldier was offered $2,000 to release Eliot. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 390-1.

28 Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 24-6.

29 See chap. xiv. of this volume. The Paz y Religion seems to have been on the coast in the autumn. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 136. I have a fragment of an original log-book, Libro de Bitácora, MS., of a vessel not named sailing on the coast in June and July, 1815.

30 Arrived in 1815; baptized June 13, 1817, at Soledad. Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix. (258-71). He was a native of Kamchatka.

275

ARREST OF GYZELAAR AND SMITH.

About the middle of January 1816 two American craft appeared at Refugio just above Santa Bárbara, coming from Sitka. One was the schooner Lydia, Captain Henry Gyzelaar, and the other the ship Al- batross, Captain William Smith, the latter commander and probably his vessel being known of old to the reader.31 Comandante Guerra immediately proceeded to Refugio, and with the aid of Carlos Carrillo and Santiago Argüello arrested the two captains with a few men who had landed in boats. Possession was at once taken by Sergeant Carrillo of the Lydia, since she had no means of defence; and to prevent her breaking-up in case of a wind she was taken to Santa Bárbara. The Albatross was too well armed to be taken so easily. Smith absolutely refused to order her surrender, and she sailed away under a promise to return in eight days to learn what had been decided respecting her captain. Guerra hoped that the lack of provisions and loss of commander, passport, and part of the crew would bring her back and perhaps within his power, but she never came. The prisoners were taken to the presidio before the 20th of Jan- uary.32

31 For former visits of the Albatross, Capt. Winship, Mate Smith, in 1810-12, see chap. v. of this volume. The author of Boston in the Northwest, MS., 73, well acquainted with the subject, says the Albatross never came back to the Pacific after Winship left her at Boston in 1816. She may therefore have taken Winship home after this visit, or Smith may have named a new vessel for the old one.

32 The Lydia's crew were Captain Henry Gyzelaar, pilots Jacob Smith and Wm Owen Jones, sailmaker Archi. Bean, sailors Geo. Heft, Jas. Rowe, Johan Dunderfeldt, Nathaniel Dennison, and Thos. Bennett; carpenters, Wm. Moore, Amos, and Doliver; servant, Check, 13 in all. Those of the Alba- tross arrested were Capt. Smith, white sailors Wmn Stagg and Henry Septem, Kanakas Ropiam and Atnay, and the negro Bob, besides two deserters, Thomas Doak and Nathaniel Sawis, who were arrested just before or just after the rest-8 in all. Jan. 18, 1816, Sola writes to reprove Guerra whom he erroneously supposed to have allowed Smith to sail on the Albatross on his promise to return in 8 days. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 29. The governor under- stands that the Lydia first arrived on Jan. 7th. In Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlvii. 4-5, is given a brief diary of events from Jan. 14th to 20th. It was reported to the viceroy that the Lydia arrived at Refugio in distress, and was furnished with supplies gratis, because the captain gave for the bat- tery 1 small cannon and 50 axes. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 125. This is the only trace I find of the whole affair in Mexico, being in the V. R.'s letter of July 28, 1816. Jan. 14th, Avila claims to have aided Carrillo in the capture. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., ii. 11.

276

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

In the partial investigation which now took place Gyzelaar and all his men affirmed in writing that on account of damages to the Lydia, and the want of food and water, it would have been impossible to continue. the voyage without touching on the coast, and he had anchored at the first place seen where there were houses. The vessel was bound from Sitka to the China seas, belonging to the American consul at Can- ton. In a letter to Sola Gyzelaar states that he is an utter stranger on the coast; came here only from necessity ; has $90,000 at stake on the voyage, and begs to be released. The schooner was ordered to Mon- terey, and by the advice of Padre Martinez was rein- trusted to her own captain, who agreed to take her safely to the northern port. Sola disapproved this act, facetiously likening it to a delivery of the church for protection to Luther;33 but the honest Dutchman, aided by four of his own men, with two from the Al- batross, and guarded by Carrillo with six soldiers, kept his promise. At Monterey a new investigation was conducted by Estudillo,34 and as there was no evidence of any intention to engage in smuggling, Sola decided to release the Lydia, following the action of Argüello in the case of the Pedler as a precedent approved by the viceroy. Gyzelaar accordingly sailed on March 11th for the south, leaving at least one of Smith's men, Thomas Doak, behind as the first American settler in California. 35

33 Jan. 25th, Sola to Martinez. Prov. Rec., MS., xii. 115. The schooner sailed on Feb. 2d. See correspondence on support of the prisoners by contri- butions from the missions, in Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. i. 20-24; Proc. St. Pap., MS., xx. 115.

31 It took place on Feb. 19th, and the records are given in St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 51-63. It appeared from the testimony that the Lydia had carried a cargo of liquors, ammunition, etc., from Canton to Sitka, and that she was now bound for the Marquesas with a few articles for trade, and comparatively heavy armament for defence.

85 Pror. Rec., MS., xi. 31-2; Guerra, Doc. Ilist. Cal., MS., iii. 224. Thos. Doak, of Boston, according to the mission books of San Carlos as examined by Taylor, Discov. and Found., ii., no. 28, was baptized on Dec. 22d of this year. Three other men baptized at San Carlos this year, according to the same authority, were Marcus Messon of Boston, Geo. Mayo of Plymouth, and Sam. Grover of Malden. Juan Maria Romero, an Irish resident, is said to have served as interpreter in the Lydia case. St. Pap., Ben., MS., i. 51-2.

277

RELEASE OF THE CAPTIVES.

Meanwhile Smith was under arrest at Santa Bar- bara, but striving earnestly for release. He, too, bound from New Archangel to the Sandwich Islands, had been driven by lack of food and water to seek an anchorage, without the faintest idea of contraband trade. He feared that his boatswain would disobey his orders to return in eight days with the Albatross, or perchance she had been lost, being so short-handed. He pleaded old age, and begged humbly and hard to be set free. 36 His petition was granted, and on March 15th, when the Lydia touched at Santa Barbara, Smith and two of his men took their departure. The negro and two Kanakas remained to be instructed in the true faith, as Doak had done at Monterey.37 That the two captains came to Refugio for nothing but contraband trade there is but little room for doubt; but having the full sympathy of the padres and the people, with only a pretence of opposition from any

In Santa Barbara, Lib. Mision, MS., 19, is recorded the baptism on October 7th, of Jose Manuel, aged 22, of Boston, who also had a brother Daniel Eleazer in the country baptized as Daniel Martyr José de Santa Rosa. This José Manuel (Lisa) is referred to by Sola in a letter of Dec. 26th, as one of the Lydia's crew whom Guerra ought not to have allowed to remain. Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 43. The Marcus Messon was doubtless the Anthony A. Mason baptized at San Carlos May 23, 1816, to whom the president gave a letter of recom- mendation on Feb. 16th, when he proposed to go to Manila, according to S. Antonio, Muerto de P. Sarria, MS .; Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. i. 18-19. Who all these men were, except Doak, and what became of them it is not easy to ascertain. Taylor, List of Pioneers, MS., tells us that Thos. Duke died before 1846, near Santa Clara; John Mulligan, a sailor from Ireland who came in 1815, died before 1846, near Monterey; Marcos Mason, Geo. Mayo, Sam. Grover, and Julian Malcolin died before 1840; and James Baldwin died be- fore 1830. Most of these statements doubtless are founded only in the imagina- tion of the writer. Doak at any rate painted the S. Juan Church in 1818, Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 45; was permitted by the viceroy to marry and settle on Oct. 20, 1819, Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix. 1; was married on Nov. 8, 1820, under the name of Felipe Santiago Doc, to a daughter of Mariano Castro, S. Juan Bautista, Lib. Mision, MS., 27; and, as we shall see, lived long in the country. We must not forget the negro Bob and the two Kanakas who re- mained from the Albatross. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 117. On August 16, 1819, Bob was baptized as Juan Cristóbal by Ripoll. Sta B., Lib. Mision, MS., 20.

36 Prov. St. Pap., Ben., MS., ii. 11-14.

37 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 117. On foreigners remaining in the country see preceding note. In addition to the numerous sources of information about the Albatross and Lydia already referred to, see, as most important of all, Albatross and Lydia, Comunicaciones relativas á la captura de la goleta Ame- ricana Lydia y arrestacion del capitan de la fragata Albatross, 1816, MS., and also some additional papers in Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 96-116, 120-1.

278

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

but the highest officials, it is not strange that no evidence could be found against them.38

The viceroy's orders in the case of the Columbia had been very strict against the proposed trade with the northern English post; yet when at the end of August 1816 the Northwest Company's brig Colonel, Captain Daniels, came into Monterey with a tempt- ing array of goods in charge of Donald McTavish, Sola was unable to withstand the pressure brought to bear on him through the importunities of the super- cargo McDougal, the mute petitions of the needy soldiers and families, and the advice of friars and offi-

cers. He yielded to the temptation, sent out circulars to the missions calling for flour and other produce, and bartered the result to the extent of $6,796 for needed articles in deliberate defiance of the viceroy's orders. In his letters to the friars and his report to Mexico he frankly avowed the illegality of his action, but pleaded urgent necessity; and it does not appear that he was ever blamed.39

On the 2d of October the Rurik under Otto von Kotzebue, of the Russian navy, anchored in San Francisco Bay.40 Fitted out at the expense of Count Rumiantzof for an exploring voyage to the north Pacific, she had left Russia in 1815, rounded Cape Horn, touched on the coast of Chile, explored Kam- chatka and Alaska, and sailed from Unalaska Sep-

38 Orders to prevent all communication with foreigners came from Mexico this year as usual. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 5, 93.

39 It would appear that even before the Colonel's arrival, Sola had resolved to trade; for on Feb. 16, 1815 (must be 1816), President Sarria called on the padres by the governor's request to contribute flour, etc., for the Columbia on her return. In response San Juan Bautista, Soledad, and San Antonio offered 600 of the 1,000 arrobas of flour desired; San Miguel could give only wine and wool; San Luis, only blankets; and San Carlos some serapes. Arch. Sta B., MS., ix. 197-203. Arrival of the vessel, and Sola's correspondence with the friars, including the approval of Payeras and Duran. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. i. 62-5, 71, 87-97, 120-1. Oct. 10th, Sola to viceroy, acknowledging his dis- obedience of the order of July Sth, and justifying his conduct. He assures the viceroy that all possible care is taken to prevent intercourse of foreigners with any but the chief officials. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 144-50. The Colonel sailed Oct. 12th. The Colonel Allan seems to have been the full name.

40 Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 30-4; Id., Ben. Mil., xlvi. 37. Two deserters from the Rurik captured. Proc. Rec., ix. 150.

270

KOTZEBUE'S VISIT.

tember 14th for California in quest of fresh supplies with which to continue her explorations. Argüello received the officers and scientific corps with every possible attention and furnished all that was needed, as indeed he was required to do by previous instruc- tions from Spain and Mexico.41 The friars were equally attentive, and entertained the strangers at the mission on the 9th, with festivities in honor of the patron saint. A bull and bear fight took place at the presidio. Sola came up from the capital on the 16th to greet the foreign guests, and the Spanish officers were often entertained at Kotzebue's tent on shore; communications were established with Ross; fresh provisions were furnished in abundance for the ship, and after a pleasant month's stay the Rurik sailed on November 1st for the Islands, thence to re- sume her northern explorations. 42

The Spanish officers at the presidio could not re- frain from acquainting the visitors with their pet grievance, and spoke bitterly of the friars, who in these times of scarcity and suffering would furnish the men only with the barest necessities on the formal requisition of the governor, although they had plenty

41 June 27, 1815, royal order; Dec. 21, 1815, viceroy to Sola; Apr. 30, 1816, Sola to commandants. St. Pap., Sac., MS., xviii. 49-50; Prov. St. Pup., MS., xix. 384; xx. 133-4. Argüello's letter announcing arrival, with copies of various passports and other official papers furnished by Kotzebue, sent by Sola to viceroy. Id., xx. 137-40. Oct. 5, 1816, Kotzebue to Sola, written in French, presenting his respects and thanks for kind attentions; explaining that his only object is to get fresh stores, and he does not intend to remain. over 15 days; has papers which he desires to forward to Kuskof at Ross; and is glad to hear of the governor's intended visit. Id., xx. 29-9.

42 Chamisso notes a few incidents not recorded by Kotzebue. There was a little misunderstanding about a salute, the Russians having fired 7 guns and the Spaniards returning only 5. When Sola came, both he and Kotzebue seem to have expected the first call. Both were somewhat obstinate in their ideas of etiquette, and Sola, declaring he could not endure the salt water, was on the point of returning to Monterey, when Kotzebue came on shore to make his noon observations, and thus Spain and Russia were enabled to embrace. Finally at the parting dinner in Kotzebue's tent, a good missionary allowed himself to drink too much wine. Kotzebue took with him Eliot de Castro and three Russian prisoners, having no room for the rest, whom Sola seems to have been willing to give up. One of these Russians went out to hunt near the presidio before embarking, and, dropping a spark into his powder-horn, was so seriously injured that he died soon after sailing. At his first approach to San Francisco, Kotzebue tells us there was great activity and preparation for defence at the fortress of 'St Toaquin.'

280

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

of everything. Sola presented his complaint against the intruders at Ross; in fact it was for this purpose chiefly that he came up from Monterey. Kuskof came down to San Francisco and a somewhat impor- tant conference was held, but this subject is treated elsewhere.43

Kotzebue's voyage derives its chief importance, so far as California is concerned, from the fact that it gave rise to at least three books, each containing in- formation about the country, though in many respects the visitors took little advantage of their opportunities. The commander's narrative is a brief statement of events connected with the visit, without any mention of the negotiations respecting Ross, and without any very valuable observations on the country or its insti- tutions. Kotzebue's general impressions were unfavor- able. Beyond the country itself in its natural state, and Spanish hospitality, he found nothing to praise. The natives were ugly and stupid and not at all im- proved by mission life, and the padres cared little or nothing for their subjects. " The rage for converting savage nations is now spreading over the whole South Sea, and causes much mischief, because the mission- aries do not take pains to make men of them before they make them Christians." The soldiers were in a destitute and miserable condition, as disgusted with the government as with the missions. California was a source of great expense and no profit to Spain; in fact a fine and fruitful country was lying entirely useless. 44

Adelbert von Chamisso, a Frenchman of noble

43 See chap. xiv. of this volume.

#4 Kotzebue's Voyage of Discovery into the South Sea and Beerings Straits, etc., London, 1821, 8vo, 3 vols. There were several editions in different lan- guages. See, also, Sabin's Dictionary, under 'Kotzebue.' The visit to Cali- fornia is described in vol. i. p. 276-89. A paper by Dr Eschscholtz in vol. ii. p. 327-30 describes the accident to the Russian prisoner. Engelhardt, in vol. iii. p. 337-9, has a paper ' on the nature of the rocks of the coast of California.' Chamisso's Remarks and Opinions, in vol. ii. 355, contains a brief mention of a volcano on the coast; and, in vol. iii. 38-51, a somewhat extended account of California, its natural history and institutions. The maps and plates contain .nothing on California.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of California, Volume II, Part 28

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 826

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 826