History of California, Volume II, Part 30

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

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Black foot R.

Clarke'

R. Columbia

Wayton L.

Maria R.

R. Missouri

Willamette

C.Blanco

Fork

Eustis L.

Salt R.

Big Horn

C.Mendocino

Russian Fort

Pueblo St. Francisco

St.Bernardo

Spanish Fort

Colorado

L.Trinite

Rio del on Norte

Sta Fe

Gulf of California

120

110

THE PACIFIC COAST IN 1818.

Foreign affairs and maritime annals for the last three years of the decade, exclusive of Bouchard's in- vasion, the all-absorbing topic of the period, take the form of a series of comparatively unimportant items, which may be grouped as follows: In 1818 the Amer-

72 Drawn by Roberdeau under inspection of Wm Rector, U. S. Surveyor of Mo. and Ill. Published in Warren's Memoir, pl. ii.

Lewis

P.Trinidad

201

RUMORS OF PLOTS.

ican brig Clarion, Captain Gyzelaar, formerly of the Lydia, touched at Santa Barbara for a week from October 6th, obtaining beef and beans, and leaving a warning against the Buenos Aires insurgents.73 Ru- mors of war between Spain and the United States, and of a projected plan of American invasion from New Mexico, are also said to have found their way to California in the friars' correspondence;74 and indeed Captain Wilcox had been accused the year before at Loreto and Guaymas of revolutionary schemes of similar purport. At the beginning of November an English sloop-of-war, the Blossom, Hickey commander, from the Columbia, and having on board the commis- sioner charged with transferring the northern post of Astoria to the United States, touched at Monterey for supplies. 75 At about the same time the Russian vessels of Hagemeister and Golovnin were at the same port, while Roquefeuil visited San Francisco as already recorded.

It need hardly be added that Sola issued this year, as usual, his orders to commandants that foreign ves- sels must be treated exactly according to the laws.76 The Lima vessel Cazadora either came back to Cali- fornia this spring or possibly had wintered on the coast;77 and on January 24th the San Ruperto, Cap-

73 Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 110, 134-5. In July an American ship was anchored off San Pedro, name not given. Id., iii. 89-90. And on Sept. 2d the governor reported to the viceroy the arrival of the American man-of-war Ontario. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 197. Jan. 7th, Governor Cordero of Sonora to Sola. The Cossack, for outrages at Guaymas, to be confiscated if she appears in California. Prov. St. Pap., MS. xx. 218.

14 Taylor, in Cal. Farmer, Mar. 21, 1862; Id., in Browne's L. Cal., 74.

75 Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlix. 28; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 20-1. See Hist. Northwest Coast., i. 333. Commissioner Prevost wrote a report to the U. S. Government from Monterey, dated Nov. 12th.

76 April 8, 1818. St. Pap. Sac., MS., ii. 89. A vessel may be given water and one bullock per day until a reply from the governor is received. April 6th, Muñoz notifies Sola that he and other padres will take care to arrest any agents of 'Pepe Botellas ' (Joseph Bonaparte) that may appear. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 44.

77 March 5, 1818, Sola says she has taken 2,500 butts of tallow besides hides, soap, etc. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 11. Sept. 6th, the arrival of the Hermosa Americana (Mexicana?) is noted. Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 197. In Solano Co. Hist., 452, it is stated that the Hongua touched on the coast from China in 1818. According to the West Shore Gazette, 6, 7, a Scotch

292

MARITIME AFFAIRS AND CONTRABAND TRADE.

tain Varela, from Manila, was driven into Monterey to escape the gales and scurvy. A very large amount of goods was purchased from her for the presidios78- - a god-send for the soldiers, since "please pay the amount due" was Sola's message to the viceroy. The Bouchard affair increased the foreign population of the province by the addition of at least Joseph Chapman, John Rose, and two negroes.79

During the whole year of 1819 the only definitely recorded arrival of vessels were those of the San Car- los and Nuera Reina de Los Angeles, from San Blas with reinforcements and war-stores, respecting which cargo I have much to say elsewhere. There are, how- ever, one or two vague references to the presence of an American schooner on the coast.80 And there ap- pear in the archives a few items, not without a certain interest, concerning the foreign residents of California at this early date. 81

sailor, deserting about this time, settled among the natives of Grand Island, where his half-breed children were found in 1841. A stone is said to have been found on Feather River in 1851 inscribed: '1818-gold cave, in this M. Ship-Lodes, L. M.,' the inscription being possibly, as the author thinks, the sailor's work.

18 Prov. Rec., MS., ix. 175; xii. 147; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 9. The goods bought in addition to the value of supplies furnished was $13,822. 79 See chap. xi. on the Bouchard affair. Stephen C. Foster has an interest- ing but unreliable account of Chapman and one of the negroes. Foster's First American in Los Angeles. He erroneously calls Chapman the first American settler in California, Doak being entitled to that honor. He calls the negro Fisher and says he disappeared in the mining excitement of 1848-9. Some Californians call the negro Norris. In June 1820 Chapman came to Santa Inés, where he was employed as a carpenter and blacksmith, also building a grist-mill. Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix. (84-5). We shall hear more of him in later years. On the arrival of Rose see chap. xi. of this vol. During this decade we only know of him that in 1820 he was removed from the mission of San Diego on account of his religious heresies. But as he was willing to become a Christian, and was also a good mender of drums, his salvation was undertaken with good prospects of success. Arch. Arzob., MS., iv. pt. i. 24, 30-1; Taylor, in Cal. Farmer, March 21, 1862. James Pease, still living in 1878, is said to have come in 1818, North S. Juan Times, April 3, 1875; Browne's Statement, 18-19.

80 Jan. 31, 1819, Padre Rodriguez writes of a two-masted vessel off Pt San Simeon, which after taking many lobos marinos sailed toward Monterey. Arch. Arzob., MS., iii. pt. ii. 55-6. June 12th, Guerra reports the illegal sale of grain and cattle to an American schooner at San Pedro by Manuel Gutierrez, the guard being bribed. Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 141-2.

81 Oct. 20th, Viceroy Venadito sends permission to marry and settle in California, according to the Ley de Indias, to Juan Maria (Mulligan?), an Irish weaver, and others. Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix. 1. Jan. 6th, Sola ap- -

293

END OF THE DECADE.

For 1820 the maritime annals are slightly more ex- tensive, since there were no less than five Spanish craft on the coast. In May there came the San Fran- cisco de Paula, or Dos Hermanos, Captain Blas Cosio, from Mazatlan, and the Cleopatra, well manned, and armed probably as an escort. They brought an as- sorted cargo and some money, but failed to get as much tallow as was expected even from debtors. 82

From September to November there were three vessels in the ports, the Europa from Callao; the Seño- riano, Captain Juan Malarin; and the San Francisco Javier, or Alcion, the two latter apparently from San Blas, all with goods and coin to exchange for tallow and soap.83 Four Russian vessels visited Californian ports, the Buldukof and Ilmen touching at Monterey in August, and the Otkruitie and Blagonamerinie at San Francisco in November. The only other foreign craft was the British whaler Discovery at San Diego, in quest of fresh provisions in August.84

proves the carrying of the American prisoner, who was at San Miguel, to Santa Barbara. Prov. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., xlix. 28. Sept. 16th, bishop of Sonora replies to Payeras about the baptism of an English protestant named Thomas Cucar. Vallejo, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., xxviii. 26.

82 Guerra, Doc. Ilist. Cal., MS., v. 207-9; Prov. Rec., MS., xi. 54. Ignacio Mancisidor seems to have been connected with this venture. He sold $2,254 worth of goods. Prov. St. Pap,, MS., xx. 273.

83 St. Pap. Sac., MS., v. 21-2, 57; vi. 19; xviii. 33; Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust. H., MS., i. 17, 39; Guerra, Doc. Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 44; iv. 58; vi. 139. Guerra got an invoice of $10,441 on the Señoriano, and sent by her $9,802 in tallow. The Europa had $4,000 in goods. The governor speaks of the three vessels as English. Feb. 22d, viceroy advises Sola that José García Berdugo of Cádiz has license to send a commercial expedition to Pacific ports. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xx. 283. The Reina on the coast (?). Dept. Rec., i. 273.

8+ Prov. St. Pap., MS., xlvi. 18. The captain's name is given as Vig. Torres, Peripecias, MS., 132, speaks of a negro slave woman brought from Peru in 1828, but who went back later. There is no foundation for the state- ment in Cronise's Nat. Wealth, 40-1; Yuba Co. Hist., 27, and other works, that in 1820 hunters and trappers found their way from the east into Califor- nia. According to Sacramento Record-Union, Aug. 4, 1877, Major Stirling, living at Sta Rosa in 1877, came to the California coast for the first time in 1820.

CHAPTER XIV.

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA-FOUNDATION AND PROGRESS OF FORT ROSS.

1811-1820.

PROCLAMATION OF THE COMPANY-KUSKOF'S FIRST VISIT TO BODEGA-SECOND VISIT-FOUNDING OF ROSS-MORAGA'S THREE VISITS TO ROSS -- SLOBOD- CHIKOF'S TRAFFIC-VICEROY'S ORDERS-EXCUSES-MORAGA'S REPORT- CAPTURE OF THE 'PEDLER'-ARGUELLO'S POLICY-THE 'SUWAROF' AT SAN FRANCISCO-VISIT OF KUSKOF IN THE 'CHIRIKOF'-SOLA'S POLICY- THE 'ILMEN'-CAPTURE OF ELIOT DE CASTRO, TARAKANOF, AND ALEUTS -KOTZEBUE'S VISIT-GERVASIO ARGUELLO AT ROSS-CONFERENCE AT THE PRESIDIO-PADUSHKIN AT MONTEREY-THE RUSSIANS MUST GO- A TERRITORIAL CLAIM-HAGEMEISTER'S VISIT-VISITS OF GOLOVNIN AND KHLÉBNIKOF-RUMORS OF CESSION-PROPOSITION TO ABANDON ROSS.

KUSKOF in behalf of the Russian fur company had spent the spring and summer of 1809 at Bodega. The company had determined with imperial encour- agement not only to secure the Californian trade, but to found an agricultural and commercial supply station on the New Albion coast, with a hope, rather than a definite purpose, to acquire eventually territory south of San Francisco, the northern limit of Spanish pos- sessions as it pleased the Russians to regard the matter. A proclamation to the Californian people had been forwarded from St Petersburg to Sitka; and Kuskof had attempted unsuccessfully to make a new expedition to California in 1810. Such was the situation when in a former chapter I dropped the thread of Russian annals.1

The proclamation was couched in the most concili- atory terms and was intended to put the advantages

1 Sec chap. iv. this volume.

( 294 )

295

ADDRESS OF THE COMPANY.

of mutual trade in the most tempting light. Some- time before March 1812, exactly when and how does not appear, the document was received in Lower California and perhaps in the north.2 A reply was

2 According to the Russian authorities it was sent down by Captain Ayres. or by a confidential agent who sailed in his vessel, in 1812, and was forwarded to the commandant at San Vicente, Manuel Luis (Ruiz), whose answer is quoted without a date. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 205; Potechin, Selenie Ross, 8. Capt. Ayres in the Mercury was at Drake Bay in November 1810, and was captured at Santa Barbara early in June 1813. Of his whereabouts in the mean time nothing is definitely known, but he may have come down from the north at the end of 1811. March 26, 1812, Ruiz at San Vicente, writing to a person not named, probably the confidential agent alluded to, acknowledges the receipt of the proclamation in three different languages. He says he has forwarded the documents to Gov. Goycoechea, but feels sure that no trade will be permitted by the ruler of either California with any foreign power however friendly, or whatever may be the advantages of such trade, except with the permission of Fernando VII., or the junta de la regen- cia. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 332-3. The text of the proclamation, given in Spanish and Latin in Id., xix. 271-3, and in Russian in Potechin, Selenie Ross, 4-5, is as follows: 'Health, Happiness, and the Blessing of the All- Powerful to our friends and neighbors the noble and brave Spaniards, inhab- itants of the Californias, to whom is addressed this official communication. From the General Directory of the Russian American Company under the immediate protection of his Majesty the emperor, autocrat of all the Russias, Alexander I.'

' You know the good understanding and friendship that have always ex- isted between the two grand powers of Russia and Spain. Now when all Europe is involved in wars, these two nations still continue to esteein each other and to preserve their ancient friendship. In the year 1806 there arrived at the port of San Francisco Don Nicolas de Rezanof, Chamberlain of His Imperial Majesty, share-holder and Agent of the Russian American Company of which the undersigned are Directors, charged with establishing some communications between the Californias and the colonies of the R. A. . Co. on the Pacific Ocean. On his return he told us of the kind reception which he had merited on those shores. Gov. Jose de Arrillaga, although he did not refuse the propositions, did not dare to make an agreement, since the Court of Madrid had not permitted it and did not wish foreigners to come to those coasts; still he promised Rezanof to lay the matter before the Viceroy of Mexico. Our Court, desirous of establishing these mercantile relations, ordered overtures made to that of Madrid which arrived at that unlucky time when the king, Carlos IV., renounced his crown and Spain's great mis- fortunes began; so that down to the present time it has not been possible to secure the results of this negotiation which could not have failed to give mutual satisfaction. The actual condition of Europe in general and of Spain in particular gives rise to the presumption that there is to-day no impedi- ment to the admission of the Russians to the coast, especially since their object serves the interests of both parties. With this view we have ordered the Governor of the colonies, the Counsellor and Chevalier D. Alexander Baránof, resident in the island of Kadiak, lately Sitka, to send a ship with some merchandise under the command of a subordinate of his, for the pur- pose of establishing commercial relations with our noble and esteemed neigh- bors, and of supplying them with various lines of goods which they need and we can procure for them, taking in exchange grain, tallow, cattle, and other productions which there abound. We contemplate sending another ship to California from this city around the world as soon as circumstances may per-

296

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

elicited from Comandante Ruiz of La Frontera, and perhaps from the governor, refusing to permit trade contrary to the laws without the consent of the au- thorities at Madrid.

Meanwhile the energetic chief director had not neglected his plans for the New Albion settlement. On February 2, 1811, perhaps before the receipt of any definite instructions from St Petersburg, Baránof despatched Kuskof on the Chirikof for Bodega, where he arrived the 4th of March. Few details have been preserved respecting this visit. Otter were not plen- tiful at Bodega at that time, and therefore twenty- two bidarkas were sent into San Francisco Bay, where hunting was carried on for some months in company with two other parties of Aleuts from the Isabella and Albatross,3 with a result of 1,200 otter-skins for Kuskof's party. The Russians say that though the Spaniards could do nothing at first to interrupt this wholesale poaching, they at last hit upon the expedi- ent of guarding the springs of fresh water and thus forced the Aleuts to withdraw. The Spanish records rather strangely contain nothing on this topic. Dur- ing the absence of his hunters the commander seems to have devoted his attention to the conciliation of the natives and to the exploration of the region round Bodega Bay, or Rumiantzof Bay as the Russians called it in honor of the imperial chancellor. The site for a settlement selected by means of this and previ- ous explorers, or possibly not finally determined on until the next year, was about eighteen miles above the bay, where, though there was no good anchorage, all other advantages of soil, timber, water, and pas- turage were much better than at Bodega. It is said

mit and there be no danger from foes, since all Europe is now belligerent. Yours, etc., etc. (Signed) Michael Buldákof, Benedict Kremer.

'St Petersburg, March 15, 1810.'

3 See chap. v. of this volume for brief notice from the Spanish records of the presence of this bidarka fleet in the bay. Kuskof's visit is not other- wise mentioned by the Spaniards. The log-book of the Albatross does not mention any visit of Winship's men to San Francisco Bay, but it is not un- likely that they were there.

207

KUSKOF AT BODEGA.

that the valley of the Slavianka, or Russian River, called by the natives Shabaikai, was examined for fifty miles, but no better location could be found.

The native chiefs were made friends by the distri- bution of petty gifts, and there is not much doubt that they made, either now or the next year, some kind of a formal cession of territory to the new-comers. The price paid, according to the statement of the natives in later years, as Payeras tells us, was three blankets, three pairs of breeches, two axes, three hoes, and some beads. Always more or less hostile to the Spaniards and to their brethren under Spanish rule, the natives were indeed glad to have the strangers come as allies and protectors. In later disputes the Russians dwelt upon this cession as one of the strong- est elements in their title-so expedient has it always been found in the New World to affirm the natives' right of ownership where the soil could be bought for a song, and to deny it when forcible possession must be taken. Having obtained a supply of sea-lion meat from the Farallones, Kuskof sailed for the north the first of July, reaching Sitka the 8th of August.4

Meanwhile Baranof probably received from St Petersburg expected instructions to found the settle- ment without further delay. At all events, late in 1811, or possibly early in 1812,5 he once more de- spatched Kuskof in the Chirikof with all that was deemed necessary for the foundation of the new establishment. There were in the company ninety- five men of Russian blood, including twenty-five mechanics, and probably eighty Aleuts in a hunting- fleet of forty bidarkas.6 The arrival seems to have

4 Khlébnikof, Zapiski, 11, 138; Tikhménef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 208; Potechin, Selenie Ross, 5-6; Payeras, Noticias sobre Ross, MS., 429-30.

5 Khlébnikof says it was in November 1811; Tikhmenef and Potechin, March 1812, alluding perhaps, however, to the arrival at Bodega.

" All authorities agree on the 40 bidarkas, and there were doubtless as usual two hunters to each boat. Khlebnikof, Zapiski, 137-8, gives the number of Russians as 95. The Spaniards reported the number as about 100. Mofras, Exploration, ii. 3, states that there were 100 Russians and 100 Kadiak Ind- ians, and this statement, not very inaccurate, has been generally followed by

208

RUSSIANS IN CALIFORNIA.

been in March or April of 1812, though of this and immediately succeeding events there is no detailed record. The Aleuts were sent out to hunt otter along the coast, apparently with instructions not to enter San Francisco Bay, for it was best not to offend the Spaniards just at this time.7

The Russians prepared timber for several months. When all was ready the Aleuts were recalled to aid the mechanics, and everybody went to work with a will on a fort and other necessary buildings, and in the course of a few months a fortified village had arisen on the shores of New Albion. The site, selected probably during the previous visit, was some eighteen miles above Bodega Bay, called by the natives Mad-shui-nui, in latitude 38° 33', longitude 123° 15', according to Russian observa- tions, and the fort with its ten cannons was erected on a bluff some hundred feet or more above the sea. Of the buildings and surroundings I shall have more to say later. All was completed and ready for occu- pation early in September.8 On September 10th, or

- American writers. A large part of the Russians seem to have been sent back to the north after a little.

7 Yet several bidarkas were seen by the Spaniards in the bay during the month of July, and were supposed to belong to the vessel reported at Bodega. So says the commandant of San Francisco to the governor in his letter of July 31st. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 322-3.

6 According to Baránof, Shizneopissanie, 127-9, the Chirikof, Beuseman master, sailed from Sitka in November 1811. Tikhmenef, Istor. Obosranie, i. 208, says Knskof returned to New Albion in March 1812. He gives lat. 38°, long. 123°. Khlebnikof, Zapiski, 11, 137-8, says Kuskof sailed in Nov. 1811, and began the settlement in June. He gives the latitude and longitude as in my text. On p. 167 he seems to say either that the fort was established on March 26th, in lat. 38° 40', at Mad-shui-nni, or that the vessel left Sitka on that date; but I think that this was probably the date of arrival. Pote- chin, Selenie Ross, 5-6, says that the fur company sent out the expedition in February 1812, and that Kuskof founded the settlement on May 26th. Mo- raga late in August reported that the Russians had arrived five months before, or in March. Prov. St. Pap., MS., xix. 324-6.

The works named are my authorities on the foundation of the Russian set- tlement. American and other writers mention the foundation briefly and often incorrectly in connection with subsequent history down to 1841. Cro- nise, Natural Wealth of Cal., 37, tells us that in 1820 the Russians formed a settlement on the river Sebastian 40 miles north of Bodega, called by them Slawianska, by the settlers Fort Ross, and now known as Mount Ross ! Greenhow, Hist. Or., 18, says the Russians formed an establishment on the shore of the northern branch of Bodega Bay in 1812, and some years later another called Ross 30 miles north of Bodega. Manuel Castro, Relacion de Alta Cal., MS., 83, informs us that Ross was established under a special

299

FOUNDING OF ROSS.

August 30th of the Russian calendar,? the 'name-day' of Emperor Alexander, the establishment was for- mally dedicated with great festivities and named Ross, from the root of the name Russia, a word extending far back into antiquity.10

Thus the company's cherished plan for gaining a footing on the California coast was brought to a suc- cessful issue, and as yet without opposition either from the natives, whom the new-comers chose to regard as the owners of the country,11 or from the Spaniards, whom they affected to look upon as neigh-

treaty between Spain and Russia in 1815, and was occupied by 500 men until the term of the treaty had expired ! Chamisso, Reise, i. 131-2, says Kuskof settled with 20 Russians and 50 Kadiaks in a fine fort with 12 cannon. Such was probably about the force at the time of his visit. Fedix, L'Oregon, 109-10, has it that the Russians obtained permission to build houses from the governor of California, who afterwards repented but was not strong enough to expel the unwelcome guest. Scala, L'Ancien Comptoir Russe, 381-2, states that the Russians in 1814 fortified the entrance of Bodega Bay, and built a village to which they gave the mystic name of Ross; while hundreds of Cibo- leros roamed through the interior hunting buffaloes to supply meat for the far north ! Kotzebue, New Voyage, ii. 120-3, erroneously represents that the Spaniards for a small compensation acquiesced in the Russian plans and only made trouble when they were alarmed at the prosperity of Ross, becoming again friendly when the Russians firmly refused to yield to their pretensions. For other mentions containing no errors requiring notice, see Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., i. 105-7; Fernandez, Cosas de Cal., MS., 24-5; Randolph's Oration, 311; Tuthill's Hist. Cal., 119-20; Thompson's Hist. Sonoma, 8-10; Estab. Rusos., MS., 1-4; Sonoma Co. Hist., 363-74; Marin Co. Hist., 36, 45; Lan- cey's Cruise of the Dale, 31.

9 Twelve days must be added to a Russian date to make it conform to the Roman calendar; but in Alaska 11 days suffice, for the loss of a day in com- ing eastward from St Petersburg was never taken into account until Alaska was tranferred to the U. S.

10 It is thought that Ross may be identical with the Hebrew rosh of Eze- kiel, xxxviii. 2; xxxix. 1, translated ' chief' in the English version, with the ' Ros' of the Byzantine writers, and with the 'Rus' people on the Volga. According to the Arabian tradition, Ros was a son of Japhet. However this may be, it is certain that the Russians were formerly known as the 'people of Ross,' and their country is still Rossiia, or Russia in English. Galitzin, Notice Biog. sur Baranoff, in Nouv. An. des Voy., cxxv. 245, says: 'The name of Ross is derived from the word Russiia, Russia.' Belcher, Voyage, i. 313, says it means 'Little Russia.' Khlebnikof tells us the place was called Slavensk, or Ross. Some very absurd derivations have been given by late writers, as for instance that from the Spanish 'Fuerte de los Rusos,' as corrupted by Americans ! Sonoma Co. Hist., 374; and Harper's Mag., Ixvi. 192.

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History of California, Volume II, Part 30

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