History of California, Volume IV, Part 41

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820

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Walker had been confident of his ability to conduct the rest of the company with the wagons and families by a long détour southward into the route by which he had left California in 1834; that is, round the 'point of the mountain,' since known as Owens Peak and Walker Pass, and thence through the San Joa- quin Valley to the Sacramento. He proceeded from Fort Hall29 to the Mary River, and down that stream as he and others had done before to its sink. Here, as some writers say, they waited a week, expecting relief from Chiles; but this seems unlikely. From the sink our adventurers crossed to Walker Lake, and thence with infinite hardships over the mountains to what are now known as Owens river and lake. They had been the first to enter California with wagons; but in the vicinity of Owens Lake the wagons were abandoned, and the machinery buried in the sand.30 With the rest of their effects on pack-animals, the

28 Frémont's Rep., 165-6, 247; Juanita (J. C. McPherson), in Oakland Tran- script, Jan. 26, 1873; and in S. José Mercury, April 21, 1864; Bidwell, in resolutions on death of Hensley, in S. F. Alta, June 1868, and other papers of the time. Sutter, Personal Remin., MS., 72-4, says they had several figlits with Indians, and that McGee fell into a bear-trap. The inen who composed this party seem to have been Chiles, Reading, Hensley, Gantt, Williams (4 brothers), Winter, Wooden, McGee, and perhaps Bradley. Sutter, in his Diary, 4, implies there were 11 men.

29 Frémont was on his wagon trail on the Snake River below Ft Hall cn Sept. 26th. Rept Explor. Ex., 165.

30 In Dec. 1845, Lieut Kern with Walker passed what he calls 'Chiles' cache' of mill-irons, etc., less than a day's march south of Owens Lake. Kern's Jour., 482-3. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 383-90, relates that Chiles appeared at Sonoma with a black mule and a negro to ask permission to build a saw-mill in that region. The permission was granted, and C. said good-hy and started for Kentucky for his mill. A year later when V. had forgotten the circumstance, C. reappeared with the same outfit as before to claim his land, saying that his mill had been buried in the Tulare region. Baldridge, Days of '46, MS., says the mill was found by miners in 1863. Some say the wagons were not only left, but burned. The only trouble with Indians on the whole trip was the wounding of Milton Little by an arrow while standing on guard in the night.

395

THE WALKER-CHILES PARTY.

weary company plodded on to the 'point of the moun- tain' and through Walker Pass. It was here, accord- ing to Frémont, that Chiles was to meet them, but he did not appear, though, according to Baldridge, he did come with three men, but could not find the party. Their hardships from this point are described as more severe than those they had suffered in the mountains. Their route, not known exactly, lay up the great val- ley, past the region of the modern Visalia, and thence across the Tulares westward to the coast range. At Christmas-time they were encamped, with abundance of game, grass, and water, which put an end to all their troubles, in a delightful vale, still known by Walker's name on the maps, on the head waters of a tributary to the Salinas River. In January they descended into the Salinas Valley, thenee proceeding to Gilroy's rancho, and scattered to different points in northern and central California. 31

In connection with immigration, it is proper to mention here the arrival of Stephen Smith with the first steam-engine ever seen in California. Smith, a native of Baltimore, over fifty years of age, and mar- ried in South America, had visited the coast in 1841, and had obtained from Alvarado a promise of lands on which to erect mills. He brought his machinery from Baltimore, by way of Paita, on the George Hen- ry, which arrived at Monterey in May. He brought with him from Baltimore Henry Hagler, and from

31 References to authorities have already been given in speaking of the party under Chiles. I find in the archives not a single reference to the arrival of Walker's party, except his demand for passports in February. A writer in the Sta Cruz Times, July 25, 1870, speaks of a Major Mckinstry who in 1843 had a plan of crossing the mountains with a band of frontiersmen to conquer California and establish an independent republic. Letters were published and speeches made; but Mckinstry was warned by the govt at Washington that he would not be allowed to depart on such a mission. C. E. Pickett, Paris Exposition, 10-11, claims to have agitated the scheme of a Pacific rail- road in 1843. Tullidge, Life of Brigham Young, 214-15, speaks of ' that bold offer made to the govt by Joseph Smith in 1843, to enter into the service of the nation with several thousand well armed volunteers, to be followed by the entire Mormon community, to conquer the Pacific dominion for the U. S., and checkmate the anns of Great Britain to establish herself on this coast by the connivance of Mexico.'

396

FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION-1843.

South America William A. Streeter, David Dutton, and Philip Crawley, besides his brother-in-law, Man- uel Torres. The new enterprise was favored by the authorities, and some special concessions were made by Micheltorena in the matter of duties. Before the end of 1843 Captain Smith had chosen Bodega as the site of his operations, though Sutter and his agents are said to have interposed some obstacles. He had applied for naturalization, purchased lumber at Santa Cruz, had hired several members of Hastings' com- pany, Hudspeth, Coombs, Daubenbiss, Bridges, and Copeland, and had begun operations at Bodega, where his machinery had been landed from the brig. In 1844 he obtained his grant of land, and perhaps by the end of that year both saw-nill and grist-mill were in running order. Their completion was celebrated with festivities, which included speech-making by Va- llejo and Prudon, and the engine did good service until 1849-50. Not only did Smith introduce the first steam-engine, but he is also accredited with hav- ing brought three pianos, the first ever heard in Cal- ifornia. 32

Lansford W. Hastings left California early in 1844 to publish a book, and to return with another party later. It is said by Bidwell, who was well acquainted with him, that Hastings had come at first with a half- formed purpose of exciting a revolution, of wresting California from Mexico, and of establishing an inde- pendent republic with himself as president, or at least of annexing the country to Texas. Finding, however, that the foreign population was yet too small for the successful carrying-out of his plan, he determined to return to the States with a view of promoting an in- creased immigration through the agency of a glowing description of the country's advantages, supplemented

$2 Streeter's Recoll., MS., 15-25; Torres, Peripecias, MS., 120-30; Sonoma Co. Hist., 53-5; Hastings' Emig. Guide, 111, etc.

307

HASTINGS' BOOK.

by lectures and other personal efforts.33 While there may be a degree of exaggeration in this version, it is evident that Hastings was not only an enthusiastic advocate of California's separation from her national allegiance, but one of the large class who could not or would not understand that either the Mexican gov- ernment or the Californian people had any claim to be consulted in the matter.

Hastings' book, which appeared in 1845, contained a description of his journey to Oregon, a brief narra- tive of his trip to California, a sketch of the two coun- tries, with something of history, and finally advice to immigrants respecting routes and outfits. The book, so far as California is concerned, covered the same ground as Bidwell's pamphlet, the subject being treated of course more elaborately, though not with greater accuracy. The author was an intelligent man, with some ability as a writer; but his book was a piece of special pleading intended to attract immigrants, and accordingly all was painted in couleur de rose. Though visited in a year of extreme drought, not a single defect was pointed out in the country's natural condition. "In my opinion, there is no country in the known world possessing a soil so fertile and productive, with such varied and inexhaustible resources, and a climate of such mildness, uniformity, and salubrity; nor is there a country now known which is so eminently calculated by nature herself in all respects to promote the un- bounded happiness and prosperity of civilized and en- lightened man." His description of natural features is, however, though tinged with exaggeration, by far the best part of his book. What he says of the dif- ferent settlements is superficial and marked by absurd errors; an amusing instance being his statement that each of the two largest towns was named Poabalo, one being called 'Poabalo above' and the other 'Poabalo below.'

33 Bidwell's Cal. in 1841-8, MS., 110-12. It is said that Hastings returned by way of Texas, for a conference with leading men of that country.

$98

FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION -- 18-13.

In all that Hastings wrote of the native Californian people, and of recent historical events, he displayed nothing but inexcusable ignorance and bitter prejudice. The people were "scarcely a visible grade in the scale of intelligence above the barbarous tribes by whom they are surrounded," though "the higher order of Mexicans are perhaps about equal to the lower order of our citizens in the western states." "The priests, the most dissolute and abandoned characters of the whole community, are not only the sole proprietors of the learning and intelligence, but also of the liberty and happiness of the people, all of which they parcel out to their blind votaries with a very sparing hand." In describing the Graham affair of 1840, he is more absurdly bitter against Alvarado, so far as the possi- bilities of his vocabulary go, than even Farnham. A Mexican in man's clothing, as italicized by this writer, is a phrase that fully shows his spirit toward the peo- ple. "Yet it is with these wild, shirtless, earless, and heartless creatures," alluding more particularly to Micheltorena's cholos, "headed by a few timid, soulless, brainless officers, that these semi-barbarians intend to hold this delightful region as against the civilized world." Lest the "terrible oppression" of foreigners by the government should frighten some of his ex- pected immigrants, Hastings admits that all is changed now; that the Californians, from motives of cowardice, now treat foreigners "with all the deceptive kindness imaginable," that passports were rarely demanded, and that lands were freely granted, notwithstanding the statement of "a certain high functionary at Washing- ton." Hastings and his companions had settled on lands without even making the formal applications required by law, hoping to avoid the disagreeable ne- cessity of becoming Mexican citizens.

To immigrants Hastings' information respecting routes can hardly be said to have been of any value. He says: "Those who go to California travel from Fort Hall w. s. w. about fifteen days to the northern

399

LIST OF PIONEERS.

pass in the Californian mountains; thence three days to the Sacramento; and thence seven days to the bay of St Francisco. The California route from Fort Hall to the Sacramento lies through alternate plains, prai- ries, and valleys, and over hills amid lofty mountains. The Indians are entirely inoffensive. Wagons can be as readily taken from Fort Hall to the bay of St Fran- cisco as they can from the States to Fort Hall; and in fact, the latter part of the route is found much more eligible for a wagon-way than the former"-rather a rash assertion to be made before any party had suc- ceeded in crossing with wagons. "The most direct route would be to leave the Oregon route about two hundred miles east from Fort Hall; thence bearing w. s. w. to the Salt Lake; and thence continuing down to the bay of St Francisco by the route just described."

In conclusion, the author draws a glowing and ex- travagantly colored picture of California's prospective grandeur in the time, not far off, when "genuine republicanism and unsophisticated democracy shall be reared up and tower aloft, even upon the now wild shores of the great Pacific; where they shall ever stand forth as enduring monuments to the increasing wisdom of man and the infinite kindness and protec- tion of an all-wise and overruling providence."34

I append the usual list of pioneers for the year, sixty-six in number.35 As many more new-comers

34 The Emigrants' Guide to Oregon and California, containing scenes and incidents of a party of Oregon emigrants; a description of Oregon; scenes and incidents of a party of California emigrants; and a description of California; with a description of the different routes to those countries; and all necessary in- formation relative to the equipment, supplies, and the method of travelling. By Lansford W. Hastings, leader of the Ogn and Cal. emigration of 1842. Cin- cinnati, 1845. 8vo, 152 p. The part devoted exclusively to Cal. is found on p. 64-133. One of my copies of this work is one that made the trip overland in 1846 with the famons Donner party. The work was reprinted from the same type, with a new title, and the addition of 8 pages containing a sketch of Cal. by Robert Semple, and a copy of the Oregon Treaty, as Hastings, A New History of Oregon and California, etc. Cincinnati, 1847. Svo, 160 p .; and again with Col. Mason's report on the gold region, as Id. Cin- cinnati, 1849. 8vo, 168 p.

33 Pioneers of 1843: Alfred Ancelin, James Atkinson, Wm Baldridge, Wm Bartram (?), Geo. W. Bellomy, Vardamon Bennett, Dennis Bennett (?),

400

FOREIGN RELATIONS AND IMMIGRATION-1843.

are named in the records -- and in my Pioneer Regis- ter at the end of these volumes-who did not remain in California, or at least about whom nothing more is known than their presence during 1842-3. The list . includes many men locally well known, eight or ten of whom still lived in 1884; but the names historically most prominent are those of Gantt, Hastings, Hens- ley, O'Farrell, Reading, and Swan-the latter because of his fame as a writer of pioneer reminiscences.

Jackson Bennett (?), Winston Bennett, John Bichol, Johu Boardman, Thos WV. Bradley, J. C. Bridges, Henry P. Chace, Wm S. Church, John C. Clark, Nathan Coombs, Henry J. Dally, Henry Dalton, John Daubenbiss, Geo. Da- vis, Pedro Davis, Rich. S. Den, Ludovico Gabel, John Gantt, Ira van Gor- don (?), John van Gordon (?), Henry Hagler, Thos M. Hardy, L. W. Hastings, Charles Heath, Sam. J. Hensley, Win Hicks, James Hudspeth, John Keyes, Wm Laroche, Charles Levelain (?), Milton Little, Harry Love, Charles Mc- Intosh, Julius Martin, Wm J. Martin, Arno Maube, Wm Money, Anderson Norris, Jasper O'Farrell, Harrison Pierce, Pierson B. Reading, John Rohl- man, John F. Romie, Charles Roussillon (?), Truett St Clair (?), Henry St John, Thos J. Shadden, Bezer Simmons, Wm A. Streeter, Owen Sumner, Jr., Johu A. Swan, John Thompson, Bartlett Vines, Isaac Williams, James Wil- liams, John S. Williams, Squire Williams, and Wm H. Winter (?).

CHAPTER XVII.

MICHELTORENA'S RULE-POLITICAL AFFAIRS. 1844.

ECONOMY-ABREGO AND PICO SENT TO MAZATLAN-AID FROM VALLEJO, LAR- KIN, AND LIMANTOUR-RUMORS OF REVOLT-ARREST OF ALVARADO-A NEW GENERAL EXPECTED-RISING OF THE CHOLOS-ARREST OF CASTA- ÑARES-WAR WITH THE UNITED STATES-PREPARATIONS FOR DEFENCE- MILITIA ORGANIZED-LARKIN'S LETTERS-INDIAN AFFAIRS-PRESIDIO ON THE SAN JOAQUIN-JUNTA DEPARTAMENTAL-CANDIDATES FOR GOV- ERNOR-THE CAPITAL-MONTEREY AND ANGELES-SANTA INÉS AS A COM- PROMISE-CASTAÑARES IN MEXICO-HIS BOOK-WARNING AGAINST FOR- EIGNERS-NO RESULTS-GENERAL VIEW OF MICHELTORENA'S CHARACTER AND ADMINISTRATION.

AT the beginning of the new year Micheltorena issued a decree carrying into effect the economical measures decided upon by the junta of October 1843.1 By this reform a saving of about $40,000 was effected in the estimated expenses of the year, chiefly in the civil budget; while by a system of half-pay reductions in the military branch, a further saving of about $12,- 000 was promised; and the total sum to be required of the treasury for 1844 was reduced approximately to $120,000, or $10,000 per month. The remaining problem was where to obtain the $120,000. By the California, the government schooner leaving Monte- rey in December, Ábrego, Andrés Pico, and Larkin had sailed for Mazatlan, the business of the former. two, and probably of the last as well, being to obtain funds on Micheltorena's orders drawn for the amount of $8,000 per month that had been assigned him on

I Jan. 1, 1844, Micheltorena, Bando Económico, MS. HIST. CAL., VOL. IV. 26

(401 )

402

MICHELTORENA'S RULE-POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

his departure from Mexico. There is no record of their negotiations or of definite results. The commis- sioners returned in the California in March, but it does not appear that they brought any money on government account; certainly they brought but lit- tle.2 The schooner made a second and third trip to the Mexican ports before the end of the year, carry- ing on the second Captain J. M. Flores as a commis- sioner to obtain succor, but with results that are alto- gether unknown, so far as the obtaining of material aid is concerned. Yet two Boston ships early in the year paid $58,000 in duties, more than two thirds of the total revenues of the year; $2,000 in money was obtained from Vallejo in payment, together with pro- visions supplied the year before, for the Soscol rancho; additional aid was obtained from the trader Liman- tour; and probably also from Thomas O. Larkin. So that the financial troubles of 1844, excepting perhaps those at the end of the year, resulting from extraor- dinary events to be noticed later, were not altogether insuperable after all.3

Micheltorena deserves credit for having given con- siderable attention to the subject of education, taking

2 Larkin says that Micheltorena in 1842-4 drew on the Mazatlan customs for about $150,000, only a small part of which was paid, contrary orders having been issued in Mexico. Larkin's Off. Corresp., MS., ii. 37. Jan. 26th, John Parrott to Larkin. There is no hope of getting M.'s drafts cashed at Mazatlan; so he has sent them to Mexico. Larkin's Papers, MS. Vallejo, llist. Cal., MS., iv. 382-3, says that Pico and Abrego succeeded in selling at a heavy discount enough of the drafts to produce $10,000, a part of which was invested in powder. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 47-8, explains how men having small claims of undoubted justice against the govt, despite Mex- ico's notoriety for not paying debts, almost always could sell their claims for 20 to 40 per cent of their face to the agiotistas, who, after collecting large amounts in all parts of the republic, got an order for payment by giving the minister and his secretary a share of the profits.

3 Vallejo, Ilist. Cal., MS., iv. 385, tells us that Micheltorena applied to him for a loan and received $2,000, for which the grant was issued in June. Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., v. 203, says Larkin on one occasion lent the gov. $2,000, and took a sight draft for $3,000 on the Mazatlan customs, which he could not collect. The same writer says, Id., v. 389, that M. invested some $30,000 in goods which were put into Larkin's hands for sale, but proved unsalable. Aug. 26th, an invoice of goods furnished by Limantour to M., to the amount of $32,868. Savage, Doc., MS., ii. 173-6. The gov. probably took some goods not needed by the soldiers, hoping to sell them through Larkin, It was not, as Alvarado implies, an investment of public funds for his own benefit.

403

EDUCATION AND REVOLT.

a deeper interest in the public schools than any of his predecessors except Sola and Figueroa. Not only did he aid the bishop in the establishment of his ecclesiastical seminary at Santa Inés, but the archives of 1844 contain many communications from his pen showing a lively interest in the primary schools, which he is also said to have visited often in person. In May he issued a reglamento for the primary schools under female teachers, amigas, ordered to be estab- lished at each of the seven chief towns under the pat- ronage of our lady of Guadalupe. There is little in- formation respecting the progress made with these schools, though there was a beginning at several places. At Los Angeles Lieutenant Medina met with flattering success as teacher in a school containing at one time a hundred pupils. A scheme was also de- vised to obtain from the United States a teacher to open a school of higher grade at Monterey; for which purpose a subscription was raised in September to the amount of $900 per year for three years.4

In January there were rumors of revolt in the Monterey district, the only tangible fact in connection with which trouble was the arrest of Juan B. Alva- rado. In a private letter to Vallejo, Micheltorena said that, on account of certain vociferaciones alar- mantes, he had resolved to send Alvarado as a prisoner to Sonoma, he having listened to evil counsellors who induced him to engage in plots. He confessed to having torn the passport of an officer travelling on duty. On the supplication of several persons, however, and on Alvarado's promise to abstain in future from

4 More of this topic in local annals and elsewhere. May 1, 1844. Michel- torennt, Reglamento de Escuelas Amigas, MS., and in the archives. May 8th, proclamation on tho subject of education accompanying the reglamento. S. Diego, Arch., MS., 305. Many items of this year on the Angeles school, in Angeles, Arch., MS., iii. 1-5; v. 107-225, passim; Dept. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 27-8, 31-9; Id., Ang., xii. 10, 25-7, 74-88; Dept. Rec., MS., xiii. 61-9, 76, 90. Sept. 8th, subscription by Hartnell, Larkin, Abrego, Pio Pico, Jimeno, Watson, Guerra, and Wolters for $100 each, and some conditions respecting the proposed school. Larkin's Doc., MS., ii. 192. Sept. 16th, Larkin to Al- fred Robinson, asking him to select a teacher. Id., ii. 196.

404

MICHELTORENA'S RULE-POLITICAL AFFAIRS.

such practices, the governor concluded to spare him this time, and allowed him to return home.5 Florencio Serrano is the only Californian who has thought to mention this affair in his narrative. He tells us that Micheltorena, being informed that Alvarado was planning a revolution, sent Captain Mejía to arrest him at Alisal. But Alvarado refused to be arrested by an officer of lower rank than himself, donned his colonel's uniform, bade Mejía be off, and came volun- tarily to Monterey.6 Rumors of an impending revolt at Monterey reached Los Angeles, where they were considered in a special meeting of the ayuntamiento, which body agreed upon repressive measures-that is, to keep a strict watch, and to have all arms car- ried to the comandante's house; for some of the sol- diers in their cups had been heard to give vent to "suspicious utterances, indicative of speedy disorders." In case the northern rumors should prove true, it was thought practicable to station a force of fifteen or twenty men on the Santa Bárbara frontier!7

The next disturbance to be recorded, not much more serious in its results than that of January, was a rising, not against, but in favor of Micheltorena, the revolu- tionists being the cholos of the batallon. It occurred early in August in consequence of news from Mexico through private letters that Micheltorena was to be su- perseded by a new general.8 Early one morning a dem- onstration was made by the soldiers, who declared they would serve under no other general, and that Micheltorena should not leave California unless they

5 Jan. 15, 1844, M. to V. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xii. 5. The gov. protests his strong desire to preserve peace aud insure the prosperity and harmony of the Californians.

6 Serrano, Apuntes, MS., 90-1; Id., in Pioneer Sketches, MS., p. 33-4.

7 Feb. 19, 1844, ayunt., secret and special session. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., v. 117-23. Little credit was given to the rumors by speakers at this meeting; but it was thought best to be on the safe side. Feb. 24th, alealde to Micheltorena, announcing precautions. Dept. St. Pap., MS., xviii. 32.

8 According to Pio Pico's proclamation of Feb. 15, 1845, this officer was Teófilo Romero. Dept. St. Pap., Ang., MS., x. 59; also Micheltorena, Expe- cliente. Gomez, Lo Que Sabe, MS., 352, says that the report causing the trouble was that of Gen. Iniestra's proposed expedition to California.

405

TUMULT AT MONTEREY.

could accompany him. It does not appear which they feared most, the vengeance of Californians, whose chick- ens they had stolen, or the possibly stricter discipline to which a new chief might subject them. The leader among the officers of the batallon was apparently Cap- tain Mejía, with the cooperation of José María Casta- ñares. The tumult, perhaps intended to intimidate certain Californians who had been somewhat free in their expression of hostility to the cholos, lasted but a few hours, Micheltorena having rebuked the officers, who were put under arrest, and explained to the men that these were not proper methods of expressing their devotion to a leader. Castañares was sent to Sonoma on parole; but falling sick at Yerba Buena, was al- lowed to return to Monterey in September, perhaps without having gone further than San Francisco.9 The people of the capital were considerably alarmed by this demonstration, fearing that it might lead to a sacking of the town, the cholos from petty thieves be- coming an organized band of robbers.10 The alarm was increased by the arrival at this time of a reënforce- ment to the batallon, a detachment of forty or fifty men who had deserted at Mazatlan, and had been re- captured and sent to California on the Bolivar, land- ing at San Pedro and remaining for a time at Ange- les.11 Still another cause of popular aların arose from

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History of California, Volume IV, Part 41

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe Publication date: 1885 Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers Number of Pages: 820

Author: Bancroft, Hubert Howe
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: San Francisco, Calif. : The History Company, publishers
Number of Pages: 820