USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California, including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description; together with a record of the Mexican grants also, incidents of pioneer life; and biographical sketches of early and prominent settlers and representative men > Part 18
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In " The California Silk Growers' Manual," by W. B. Ewer, A. M., we are told the mulberry will grow almost anywhere in California ; but to meet with the best success, a rich, light, loamy soil is required. The ground should be plowed deep and well pulverized, so as to allow the rootlets to
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Early History and Settlement of Contra Costa County. 157
freely permeate the soil. If on a side-hill, a southern exposure should be selected. Among the most important advantages met with in California is the freedom from thunder and lightning, and from rains during the feeding season, as feeding with wet leaves is almost sure death to the worms, and the jar from thunder, or some peculiar electric disturbance attending thun- der storms, is often attended with fatal consequences to them, especially if it occurs during the molting season.
Only four, out of the many varieties of the mulberry, are considered especially adapted to the culture of silk-viz., the Morus alba, the Morus rose, the Morus japonica, and the Morus multicaulis. The first of these is considered the best, although the last is the most productive in foliage ; but a more healthy maturity and better silk is obtained by feeding the Alba after the first age. It is unnecessary here for us to enter into the subject of the propagation and cultivation of the tree; to become familiar with this we refer the reader to the " Manual " mentioned above, and the not less valuable work of Mrs. T. H. Hittell, entitled " The California Silk Growers' Instructor," where the beginner will find all necessary aid in the matter.
The first to attempt the raising the silk-worm in California was the late Louis Prevost of San José, who, as early as 1861, produced cocoons, some of which he sent to Lyons and Paris, where they were pronounced to be of superior quality, both for reeling and in the character of the raw silk which they yielded. As early as 1865 or 1866 Mr. Prevost sent silk-worm eggs of his raising to France, where they were pronounced to be superior to those from any other country, while the truth of this indorsement has since been fully verified in all directions. In 1866, at Mr. Prevost's instigation, Neu- man & Myers established the first silk manufactory in California at San José.
Thus far we have spoken in merely a general way ; we now turn to the subject as regards Contra Costa county, want of space precluding the possi- bility of further generalization.
In the years 1867-68 Mrs. Jane C. Smith planted some mulberry trees and raised a number of silk works, near Somersville, but the enterprise was not continued.
The perpetuation of the industry is the work of Mrs. Sarah C. Sellars, whose name in connection with silk culture is a household word throughout the State. In 1867-68 she planted a grove of mulberry trees at her resi- dence in the "Iron House " District, which now numbers three thousand of remarkably healthy trees, loaded every season with leaves and berries. A cocoonery was built near to the grove, which was constructed and main- tained on the most scientific principles, while the utmost care was taken of the worms in the different stages between infancy and maturity. The result has been a well earned and undisputed prominence in the business, while the Committee Report of the California Silk Culture Association
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remarks : "In cocoons, the finest display is made by Mrs. S. A. Sellars of Antioch. *
* * In addition to the cocoons, Mrs. Sellars exhibits a lot, in different colors, of reeled, raw, and floss silk, together with a number of silk-worms' eggs and moths. The display is a very complete one, occu- pying one entire large case, and would do credit to any exhibition in the world." From the report of the Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Theodore H. Hittell, we glean : " As Mrs. Sellars, of Brentwood, Contra Costa county, has for several years past been successful in raising silk-worms, I thought it would be of interest to our society if I would in person visit her place, and make a report in reference to her work. I went last Thursday, by rail, to Brentwood, which is near Antioch. From Brentwood a wagon road leads to Mrs. Sellars' house, which is surrounded with a grove of about three thou- sand mulberry trees, covered with fine, healthy leaves, and loaded with white, pink and black mulberries. Mrs. Sellars had hatched, from an ounce of eggs, about thirty thousand silk-worms, which were feeding in a room adjoining her kitchen. When the temperature of the feeding-room falls below 70°, she avails herself of the heat of the kitchen stove to bring it up again. I examined the worms ; they were ferociously devouring the leaves of mulberry, and were all in a healthy condition. She feeds them four times a day, and does it with such ease that it seems but child's play. She informed me that, after the fourth molting, one of the feedings does very well at ten o'clock at night.
" The feeding-room is a room generally used as a store-room. On two of its sides are frames containing shelves, one above the other, made of rough wood, with laths across, and covered with cloth, on which the leaves are spread and the worms are distributed. Each shelf is three and a half feet wide. There is one window and one door in the room, which are oppo- site each other, so as to make ventilation easy. In the middle of the day the thermometer rose to 95º Fahrenheit, and then the worms were the live- liest ; but the healthiest temperature for them is about 75° to 80.º
" From what I saw I am entirely satisfied that millions upon millions of silk worms can be raised without any great trouble in California, and particularly, that they can be raised easily and conveniently, in remunera- tive quantities and at inconsiderable expense, by small farmers and com- paratively poor people."
Among others who have attempted the raising of silk-worms in Contra Costa county, we may mention the names of Mrs. Lafferty, Mr. Betteheim of Antioch, who raised a few pounds of cocoons in the season of 1881, and Mr. Mills of Martinez.
In our first chapter we have touched upon the other interests of the county. The manufacturing and other enterprises will be found in the his- tories of the Townships to which they appertain, therefore naught is left
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but to close this chapter, which cannot be more appropriately done than by quoting the following beautiful lines of Bayard Taylor :
O FAIR young land, the youngest, fairest far Of which our world can boast, -- Whose guardian planet, Evening's silver star, Illumes thy golden coast ;--
How art thou conquered, tamed in all the pride Of savage beauty still ! How brought, O panther of the splendid hide, To know thy master's will !
No more thou sittest on thy tawny hills In indolent repose ; Or pour'st the crystal of a thousand rills Down from thy house of snows.
But where the wild-oats wrapp'd thy knees in gold, The ploughinan drives his share, And where, through canyons deep, thy streams are rolled, The miner's arm is bare.
Yet in thy lap, thus rudely rent and torn, A nobler seed shall be : Mother of mighty men, thou shalt not mourn Thy lost virginity !
Thy human children shall restore the grace Gone with thy fallen pines : The wild, barbaric beauty of thy face Shall round to classic lines.
And Order, Justice, Social Law, shall curb Thy untamed energies ; And Art, and Science, with their dreams superb, Replace thine ancient ease.
The marble, sleeping in thy mountains now, Shall live in sculptures rare ; Thy native oak shall crown the sage's brow, -- Thy bay, the poet's hair.
Thy tawny hills shall bleed their purple wine, Thy valleys yield their oil ; And Music, with her eloquence divine, Persuade thy sons to toil.
Till Hesper, as he trims his silver beam, No happier land shall see, And Earth shall find her old Arcadian dream Restored again in thee !
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THE BEAR FLAG WAR.
Its Cause-Its Progress-Its Conclusion.
In the early part of this century California would appear to have found extreme favor in the jealous eyes of three great powers. We have elsewhere shown what the Russians did on the coast, and how they actually gained a foothold at Bodega and Fort Ross, Sonoma county. In the year 1818, Gov- ernor Sola received a communication from Friar Marquinez, of Guadalaxara, in Old Spain, wherein he informs His Excellency of the rumors of war between the United States and Spain, while, in February of the following year, Father José Sanchez writes to the same official that there is a report abroad of the fitting out of an American expedition in New Mexico. Both of these epistles remark that California is the coveted prize. Great Britain wanted it, it is said, for several reasons, the chief of which was, that in the possession of so extended a coast line she would have the finest harbors in the world for her fleets. This desire would appear to have been still mani- fested in 1840, for we find in February of that year, in the New York Ex- press, the following: "The Californias .- The rumor has reached New Orleans from Mexico of the cession to England of the Californias. The cession of the two provinces would give to Great Britain an extensive and valuable territory in a part of the world where she has long been anxious to gain a foothold, besides securing an object still more desirable-a spacious range of sea-coast on the Pacific, stretching more than a thousand miles from the forty-second degree of latitude south, sweeping the peninsula of California, and embracing the harbors of that gulf, the finest in North America."
These rumors, so rife between the years 1842 and 1846, necessitated the maintenance of a large and powerful fleet by both the Americans and British on the Pacific Ocean, each closely observing the other. The first move in the deep game was made by the United States in September, 1842, by Commodore Ap Catesby Jones. He became possessed of two newspapers which would appear to have caused him to take immediate action. One of these, published in New Orleans, stated that California had been ceded by Mexico to Great Britain in consideration of the sum of seven millions of
The Bear Flag War. 161
dollars ; the other, a Mexican publication, caused him to believe that war had been declared between the two countries. The sudden departure of two of the British vessels strengthened him in this belief, and that they were en route for Panama to embark soldiers from the West Indies for the occupation of California. To forestall this move of " perfidious Albion," Commodore Jones left Callao, Peru, on September 7, 1842, and crowded all- sail, ostensibly for the port of Monterey, but when two days out his squadron hove to, a council of the Captains of the Flag-ship "Cyane " and "Dale" was held, when the decision was come to that posses- sion should be taken of California at all hazards, and abide by the con- sequences, whatever they might be. The accompanying letter from an officer of the " Dale," dated Panama, September 23, 1842, tells its own story : " We sailed from Callao on the 7th of September in company with the ' United States' and ' Cyane' sloop, but on the tenth day out, the 17th, separated, and bore up for this port. Just previous to our departure, two British ships-of-war, the razee 'Dublin,' fifty guns, and the sloop-of-war 'Champion,' eighteen guns, sailed thence on secret service. This mysteri- ous movement of Admiral Thomas elicited a hundred comments and con- jectures as to his destination, the most probable of which seemed to be that he was bound for the northwest coast of Mexico, where it is surmised that a British settlement (station) is to be located in accordance with a secret convention between the Mexican and English Governments, and it is among the on dits in the squadron that the frigate 'United States,' 'Cyane' and ' Dale' are to rendezvous as soon as possible at Monterey, to keep an eye on John Bull's movements in that quarter." These rumors were all strengthened by the fact that eight hundred troops had been embarked at Mazatlan in February, 1842, by General Micheltorena, to assist the Eng- lish, it was apprehended, to carry out the secret treaty whereby California was to be handed over to Great Britain. Of these troops, who were mostly convicts, Micheltorena lost a great number by desertion, and after much delay and vexation, marched out of Mazatlan on July 25, 1842, with only four hundred and fifty men, arriving at San Diego on August 25th. Be- tween Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, with his army reduced to but three hundred from desertion, at 11 o'clock on the night of October 24th, he re- ceived the astounding intelligence that Commodore Jones had entered the port of Monterey, with the frigate " United States " and corvette "Cyane," landed an armed force, hauled down the Mexican flag, hoisted the Ameri- can in its place, and issued a proclamation declaring California to be hence- forth belonging to the United States. These startling occurrences took place on October 19, 1842. On the 28th the Commodore reflected on his latest achievement, and becoming convinced that an error had been com- mitted, he lowered the American ensign, replaced it with that of Mexico,
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and on the following day saluted it, sailed for Mazatlan, and reported his proceedings to Washington.
On hearing of the capture of Monterey the Mexican General withdrew to the Mission of San Fernando, and there remained for some time, when he finally, on the horizon being cleared, transferred his staff to Los Angeles, and there entertained Commodore Jones on January 19, 1843.
The recall of Jones was demanded by the Mexican Minister at Washing- ton, which was complied with, and Captain Alexander J. Dallas instructed to relieve him of the command of the Pacific squadron. Dallas at once pro- ceeded to Callao, via Panama, to assume his new functions, and on arrival took the " Erie," an old store-ship, and proceeded in search of the Comino- dore, who had in the meantime received intelligence of the turn affairs had taken, kept steering from port to port, and finally touching at Valpa- raiso, Chili, he sailed for home around Cape Horn. The reign of Captain Dallas was short; he died on board the frigate "Savannah," at Callao, June 3, 1844, and was succeeded by Commodore John Drake Sloat.
Between the years 1844 and 1846 the American and British fleets keenly watched each other, and anxiously awaited the declaration of war between Mexico and the United States. During this time the revolution which drove General Micheltorena and his army from California had broken out and been quelled, while the Oregon boundary and the annexation of Texas were questions which kept the naval authorities at fever heat.
Let us now leave these American and British sailors, with their mighty ships jealously watching the movements of each other, to consider the doings of one who before long was to take a prominent part in the affairs of Cali- fornia.
In the month of March, 1845, Brevet Captain John Charles Fremont departed from Washington for the purpose of organizing a third expedition for the topographical survey of Oregon and California, which having done, he left Bent's Fort, on or about the 16th of April, his command consisting of sixty-two men, six of whom were Delaware Indians. It is not our wish here, nor indeed have we the space, to tell of the hardships endured and the perilous journeys made by Fremont, Kit Carson, Theodore Talbot, and others of that band, whose wanderings have formed the theme of many a ravishing tale; our duty will only permit of defining the part taken by them in regard to our especial subject.
About June 1, 1846, General José Castro, with Lieutenant Francisco de Arci, his Secretary, left the Santa Clara Mission, where they had ensconced themselves after pursuing Fremont from that district, and passing through Yerba Buena (San Francisco) crosssed the bay to the Mission of San Rafael, and there collected a number of horses which he directed Arci to take to Sonoma, with as many more as he could capture on the way, and from there
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proceed with all haste to the Santa Clara Mission by way of Knight's Land- ing and Sutter's Fort. These horses were intended to be used against Fre- mont and Governor Pio Pico by Castro, both of whom had defied his authority. On June 5th, Castro moved from Santa Clara to Monterey, and on the 12th, while on his return, was met by a courier bearing the intelli- gence that Lieutenant Arci had been surprised and taken prisoner on the 10th by a band of adventurers, who had also seized a large number of the horses which he had in charge for the headquarters at Santa Clara. Here was a dilemma. Castro's education in writing had been sadly neglected -- it is said he could only paint his signature-and being without his amanu- ensis, he at once turned back to Monterey, and on June 12th dictated a letter, through ex-Governor Don Juan B. Alvarado, to the Prefect Manuel Castro, saying that the time had come when their differences should be laid aside, and conjoint action taken for the defence and protection of their com- mon country, at the same time asking that he should collect all the men and horses possible and send them to Santa Clara. He then returned to his headquarters, and on the 17th promulgated a soul-stirring proclamation to the settlers.
When Lieutenant Arci left Sonoma with the caballada of horses and mares, crossing the dividing ridge, he passed up the Sacramento Valley to Knight's Landing on the left bank of the Sacramento River, about fifteen miles north of the present city of Sacramento. [This ferry was kept by William Knight, who had left Missouri May 6, 1841, arrived in California November 10, 1841, received a grant of land and settled at Knight's Land- ing, Yolo county of to-day. He died at the mines on the Stanislaus River in November, 1849.] When Lieutenant Arci reached the ferry or crossing, he met Mrs. Knight, to whom, on account of her being a New Mexican by birth, and therefore thought to be trustworthy, he confided the secret of the expedi- tion. Such knowledge was too much for any ordinary feminine bosom to con- tain. She told her husband, who, in assisting the officer to cross his horses, gave him fair words, so that suspicion might be lulled, and then bestriding his fleetest horse, made direct for Captain Fremont's camp at the con- fluence of the Feather and Yuba rivers, where he arrived early in the morning of June 9th. Here Knight, who found some twenty settlers that had arrived earlier than he discussing matters, communicated to Captain Fremont and the settlers that Lieutenant Arci had, the evening before, the 8th, crossed at his landing, bound to Santa Clara via the Cosumne River ; that Arci had told Mrs. Knight, in confidence, that the animals were intended to be used by Castro in expelling the American settlers from the country, and that it was also the intention to fortify the Bear River Pass above the rancho of William Johnson, thereby putting a stop to all immigration, a move of Castro's which was strengthened by the return to Sutter's Fort, on June 7th, of a force that had gone out to chastise the Mokelumne Indians,
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who had threatened to burn the settlers' crops, incited thereto, presumably, by Castro.
Fremont, while encamped at the Buttes, was visited by nearly all the set- tlers, and from them gleaned vaststores of fresh information hitherto unknown to him. Among these were that the greater proportion of foreigners in the country had become Mexican citizens, and married ladies of the country, for the sake of procuring land, and through them had become possessed of deep secrets supposed to be known only to the prominent Californians. Another was that a convention had been held at the San Juan Mission to decide which one of the two nations, America or Great Britain, should guarantee protection to California against all others for certain privileges and consid- erations.
Lieutenant Revere says : "I have been favored by an intelligent member of the Junta with the following authentic report of the substance of Pico's speech to that illustrious body of statesmen :-
" Excellent Sirs : To what a deplorable condition is our country reduced ! Mexico, professing to be our mother and our protectress, has given us neither arms nor money, nor the material of war for our defense. She is not likely to do anything in our behalf, although she is quite willing to afflict us with her extortionate minions, who come hither in the guise of soldiers and civil officers, to harass and oppress our people. We possess a glorious country, capable of attaining a physical and moral greatness corresponding with the grandeur and beauty which an Almighty hand has stamped on the face of our beloved California. But although nature has been prodigal, it cannot be denied that we are not in a position to avail ourselves of her bounty. Our population is not large, and it is sparsely scattered over valley and mountain, covering an immense area of virgin soil, destitute of roads, and traversed with difficulty ; hence it is hardly possible to collect an army of any considerable force. Our people are poor, as well as few, and cannot well govern themselves and maintain a decent show of sovereign power. Although we live in the midst of plenty, we lay up nothing, but tilling the earth in an imperfect manner, all our time is required to provide sub- sistence for ourselves and our families. Thus circumstanced, we find our- selves suddenly threatened by hordes of Yankee emigrants, who have already begun to flock into our country, and whose progress we cannot arrest. Already have the wagons of that perfidious people scaled the almost inac- cessible summits of the Sierra Nevada, crossed the entire continent, and pene- trated the fruitful valley of the Sacramento. What that astonishing people will next undertake I cannot say, but in whatever enterprise they embark they will be sure to prove successful. Already are these adventurous land- voyagers spreading themselves far and wide over a country which seems suited to their tastes. They are cultivating farms, establishing vineyards, erecting mills, sawing up lumber, building workshops, and doing a thousand
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other things which seem natural to them, but which Californians neglect or despise. What then are we to do ? Shall we remain supine while these daring strangers are overrunning our fertile plains and gradually outnum- bering and displacing us ? Shall these incursions go on unchecked, until we shall become strangers in our own land ? We cannot successfully oppose them by our own unaided power, and the swelling tide of immigration renders the odds against us more formidable every day. We cannot stand alone against them, nor can we creditably maintain our independence even against Mexico; but there is something we can do which will elevate our country, strengthen her at all points, and yet enable us to preserve our identity and remain masters of our own soil. Perhaps what I am about to suggest may seem to some faint-hearted and dishonorable. But to me it does not seem so. It is the last hope of a feeble people, struggling against a tyrannical government which claims their submission at home, and threat- ened by bands of avaricious strangers from without, voluntarily to connect themselves with a power able and willing to defend and preserve them. It is the right and the duty of the weak to demand support from the strong, provided the demand be made upon terms just to both parties. I see no dishonor in this last refuge of the oppressed and powerless, and I boldly avow that such is the step that I would have California take. There are two great powers in Europe which seem destined to divide between them the unappropriated countries of the world. They have large fleets and armies not unpracticed in the art of war. Is it not better to connect our- selves with one of those powerful nations than to struggle on without hope, as we are doing now ? Is it not better that one of them should be invited to send a fleet and an army, to defend and protect California, rather than we should fall an easy prey to the lawless adventurers who are overrunning our beautiful country ? I pronounce for annexation to France or England, and the people of California will never regret having taken my advice. They will no longer be subjected to the trouble and grievous expense of gov- erning themselves ; and their beef and their grain, which they produce in such abundance, would find a ready market among the new-comers. But I hear some one say : 'No monarchy !' But is not monarchy better than anarchy ? Is not existence in some shape better than annihilation. No monarch ! and what is there so terrible in a monarchy ? Have we not all lived under a monarchy far more despotic than that of France or England, and were not our people happy under it ? Have not the leading men among our agriculturists been bred beneath the royal rule of Spain, and have they been happier since the mock republic of Mexico has supplied its place ? Nay, does not every man abhor the miserable abortion christened the republic of Mexico, and look back with regret to the golden days of the Spanish monarchy ? Let us restore that glorious era. Then may our people go quietly to their ranchos, and live there as of yore, leading a thoughtless
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