USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles County, California, with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, residences, fine blocks and manufactories > Part 6
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The missions of Upper California were nearly all erected on one general plan; and most of them yet stand in a more or less ruinous condition; mute witnesses against a time when man oppressed his fellow, and enslaved his body, under specious pretense of caring for his soul. The plan followed in their erection is described as follows, by Hon. J. J. Warner, in his Historical Sketch of Los Angeles County" :-
As soon after the founding of a mission as its circumstances would permit, a large pile of buildings in the form of a quadrangle, composed in part of burnt brick, but chiefly of suu-dried oncs, was crected around a spacious court. A large and capacions church, which usually occu- pied one of the outer corners of the quadrangle, was a necessary and conspicuous part of the pile. In this massive building, covered with red tile, was the habitation of the Friar, rooms for guests, and for the major-domos and their families, hospital wards, store-houses and gran- aries, rooms for the carding, spinning, and weaving of woolen fabrics, shops for blacksmiths, joiners and carpeuters, saddlers, shoemakers, and soap-boilers, and cellars for storing the product (wine and brandy) of the vineyards. Near the habitaticu of the Friar, aud in front of the large building. another building, of similar materials was placed and used as quarters for a small number-about a corporal's guard-of soldiers, under command of a non-commissioned officer, to hold the Indian neophytes in check, as well as to protect the mission from the attacks of hostile Indians. The soldiers at each mission also acted as couriers, carrying from mission to missiou the correspondence of the
Government officers and the Friars. These sinall detachments of sol- diers, which were stationed at each mission, were furnished by one or the other of the military posts at San Diego or Santa Barbara, both of which were military garrisons.
The first padre in charge of the mission San Juan del Cap- istrano, was named Gorgonio. To him is accredited the plan of the original church building, conecived as it was on a scale much more pretentious than any that had preceded it. The inain buikdling was of masonry, one hundred, by one hundred and fifty feet; with an interior height from floor to belfry of nearly eighty feet; and the walls were five feet in thickness. The roof was covered with earthenware tiles, and was sur- mounted by four domes, surrounding an immense tower of masonry, erected upon six columns, which served for a bell. tower. The granaries, workshops, and residences (with inside corridors), extended from the main building, completely enclos- ing a great square, which was used for games and recreations, bull-fights, and exhibitions of horsemanship. Nearly thirty years were spent in the erection, and not until Sept. 8, 1806, was the vast structure pronounced complete.
This mission conducted manufactories of soap, cloth, and shoes; also extensive carpenter and blacksmith shops. The gardens and grounds covered some eighty acres. Here were grown a variety of semi-tropical, and northern fruits. Among these were some four hundred olive trees, most of which still stand, strong and vigorous, though gnarled and knotted by the burden of a century, and bear fruit to-day, as fresh and rich as was their primal yield.
Six years had elapsed since the mission church was com- pleted. It was the feast of "Lu Purissima"-"The Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God !" which set the bells to chim- ing in the great church tower, early in the morning of Deeem- ber 8, 1812. Soon that "Sleepy Hollow" of the western coast was all astir, and in the gray "dawning of the morning," priests in sacerdotal robes; soldiers in uniform; Indian women in many beads, and scant attire; Indian men in less of both; and Indian youth in none of either ;- all thronged within the open door-way, and packed the mighty edifice to its utmost capacity. Now the bells have ceased their clangor; the censer swings; and, even as one man, the vast audience falls prostrate at the raising of " The Host !" Anon the chant arises. Led by the priests and choristers, the refrain is caught up by the congrega- tion, and waves of weird melody surge, and swell, and break, and rise again, as do the waves of ocean on the sandy beach below.
It may be, that some dusky native on that morning, traced a faint resemblance in this " Chorus of the Christians," to the " war-song" of his tribe. Half-dozing, he dreamed himself once more-a mun! Toil was not now, nor Spanish whips, the past had come again, Armed as of old, he faced the foe, and battled hand to hand. Ha! now the pæan swells, and victory is ours !
Mark now, the captive bound, the fagots laid, the fire lit. Peal forth the death-song o'er his agony, leap madly in the dance : But hark! What sound is that-loud as the crack of doom, now blending with his dream ? What mean those bnr- rying feet, those cries of pain ? Stricken by hands unseen-he starts and wakes; he shrieks and dies !
The dreaded "Temblor" had come; and beneath the ruins of that costly pile, thirty-six victims lay writhing in their death agony ; priest and neophyte, old and young,-all in a common tomb !
CHAPTER VI.
LOS ANGELES -SAN FERNANDO.
(1781-1797.)
Original Intention of the Government-Thwarted by the Missionaries-Dey- radation of the Natives-Los Angeles Founded-Origin of Name -Original River-bed-Name of the River Changed-The First Settlers .- Nature of the Dwellings-Visits to San Gabriel-Dominance of the Priests-Treat- ment of Settlers-Table of the Upper California Missions.
THE establishment of missions in Alta California seems to have been regarded by the Spanish Government- not as an end, but only as a preliminary step toward the subjugation, civil- ization, and ultimate colonization of the country. Thus in the regulations under which these missions were primarily estab- lished, it was provided that, at the expiration of ten years from the founding of each mission, such establishment should merge and be converted into a municipal organization known as a pueblo or town; and that all property hitherto created or acquired by the mission, should vest in the Indian neo- phytes thereof, as free citizens of such municipal organization.
But as it happened, the good missionaries having once obtained a foothold under these liberal regulations, thencefor- ward saw fit wholly to disregard and ignore them. The souls of their converts were too dear to them; the bodies of their converts were too useful to them ; the property already acquired and to be acquired, by the labor of these converts, was far too valuable to be thus lightly trusted from under the sheltering wings of Mother Church. True, they committed no act in derogation of law ; they did not even refuse to obey the letter of the statute, should the civil authorities see fit ty undertake its enforcement, they simply refrained from instruct- ing their people in any of those matters which would tend to make them self-supporting, and capable of self-government. when set free; and thus by a system of masterly inactivity, they rendered the humane intent of the government wholly nugatory. They styled the people beasts, and as beasts were they compelled to labor; without hope, without reason, accom- plishing each his alloted task without interest therein. other
1478
CENTRAL BLOCK
LANZAINCO ZITAT
00000000001
.... . ........
LOS ANGELES CANDY WIR'S
800TS
_ SHOES
IEN JTHOMPSON GROCERIES
COUNCIL ROON
216
8
Gommanon Hardon
FIRE INS AGENCY OP Holde & Hooks.
CHIEF
OFF
ICE
EL DORADO STORE
1
LANFRANCO BLOCK.
-
CARELANGO BLOCK_
WORKMAN BROS
(chillinerzy!
HEINZEMAN ELLIS
76
72
AGRICULTURAL PARK
MAIN ST, & S.P. R.R DEPO
WEST LOS ANGELES
PROPERTY OF THE LANFRANCO ESTATE,
CENTRAL BLOCK COR SPRING & COURT STS
LANFRANCO BLOCK MAIN ST,
LOS ANGELES, CAL.
CIGARS
A.C.CHAUVIN
AUSSIST
RC.CHAUVIN GROCER 70
AC
POLISHED BY THUMNSON & WEST
233
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
than to avoid the ever really lash. Naturally enough, at the expiration of the prescribed time, the "Converts " were found to be physically much more helpless; and mentally quite as incapable as they were before the advent of Spanish Friars, Latin prayers, aml rawhide whips. Under these circum- stances, the original intention was abandoned, aml the prints retained control of both property mol people.
But though it had been found impracticalde to convert the missions into towns, aml their neophytes inty citizens, as hal originally been intended, yet it lul become mrerssary to pro- ville some place where mission soldiers who had served their time, and who still desired to remain in the country, might retire with their families. With this view, an order. dated at. San Gabriel Mission Angust, 26, 1781, was issued by the then Governor of California- Felipe de Neve, directing the estab- lishment of a pueblo (town) upon the site lately beenpied by the Indian Village lang-m. This new town was to lie maler the especial patronage, aml fostering protection of " Nuestra Senora la Regue de los Angeles" (On Lady the Queen of the Angels) and was to be known by her name.
The site selected lay about eight miles, westerly, from San Gabriel Mission, near the north-west boundary of an ahnost. level plain of great extent, having a slight decline toward the sonth ; sail plain being bounded upon the one bail by high mountain ranges, aml on the other by the Pacific ocean. The " Porciuneula ricer" (henceforth to be known as " Los Angeles river ") at this time ran easterly of its present course skirting the table-land whereon is now situated East Los Angeles. Here then under Governor Neve's order, between the river-bed and the low rolling hills west thereof, the town of Los Angeles was formally founded September 4, 1781; just ten years (Incking four days) after the establishment of San Gabriel Mission, We now quote from J. J. Warner's " Ilistorieal Sketch of Los Angeles County," before referred to ;-
The founders of the town numbered twelve adult males, all heads of families, The surnames of the twelve settlers were Lara, Navarro, Rosas, Mesa, Moreno, Rosas, Villavierucia. Banegas, Rodriguez, Camero, Quintero, and Rodriguez, These men had been soldiers at the Mission al' San Gabriel, and, although relieved or discharged from service, con- Jinned to receive pay and rations from the Spanish Government. The total number of souls comprising the settlement was fortywix. Twenty of these were children under ten years of age. Of the twelve adult men, two were natives of Spain, om a natire of China and the other nine at some one of the following places : Sinaloa, Sonora, and Lower California.
For the center of the town a parallelogrant, one hundred varas long and seventy five wide, was laid out as a public square. Twelve house- lots, fronting on the square, occupied three sides of it, and one-half of the remaining side of seventy five varas was destined for public build- ings, and the other half an open space. At a short distance from the public square, and upon the allivial bottom land of the river. upon which the water of the river for irrigation conld be easily conducted. there were laid out thirty fiells for cultivation. The fields contained forty thousand square varas each, and were mostly laid ont in the form of a square, and separated from each other by narrow lanes. In accoril with the paternal iden of the Spanish Government, the head of each family was furnished from the royal treasury with twooxeu, two mules,
two niare-, two sheep, Two guats, two cow, with one calf. one ass, and one hoe, and to the settlers in common, the louls for a cart-maker. These articles, as well as the live stock, were all charged to the indi. vidual rr-pectively, or to the community at a price fixed by the Gov. ernment, and the amount was to be deducted, in small installments, from their pay.
As the government of California was a rumbination of military and ecclesiastical powers, so the municipal government devised for the set- tlere of Los Angeles was a compound of political and military govern- ment, in which the latter largely predominated. All the municipal power was vested in one officer, called Alcalde, who was appointed by the Governor-who was himself the military commander of the coun- try-or by n military ollicer who commanded the military district in which the town was situated.
The homes composing the new pueblo were last mere hovels. They were built of adobes, were about eight feet high, and had flat roofs covered with bren fasphaltum brought from the springs west of the town. In their tiny fiells, imperfectly cultivatel, the settlers raised a few roots and vegetables for the support of their families. At this Time, and for many years afterward Los Angeles was but a country outpost of San Gabriel Mission: and its few people were always glad enough to visit the latter, there to purchase their weekly supplies, aml witness the Sunday festivities-as now the settlers of San Gabriel in turn visit Los Angeles.
Sixteen years after the " Pueblo de los Angeles" was fomled, aml twenty-six years to a day, after the establishment of San Gabriel, upon the eighth day of September, 1797, in the great valley lying north-west of the town, and separated therefrom by the " Unhuenga Range;" the third and last, Los Angeles County Mission was established. It was named " San Fermatilo Rey" in memory of Ferdinand V, King of Spain (born 1452, died 1516); consort of Isabella ; conqueror of the Moors; patron of Columbus; aml founder of the Inquisition.
llenee the whole valley is still known as " the valley of San Fernando."
Over the adjoining country, the padres of each mission hehl regal sway. Presumably they were answerable to the military commandant of the presidio within whose territory their mission was located. But in reality this officer was ever their most humble and obedient servant, cager to do their billing whenever called upon, and thus ingratiate himself with a power which he well knew could, and would at any moment, through its far reaching ramifications, cause his ruin and dis- grace, or might on the other hand, if so disposed, advance mat- erially his worldly prospects. What was true of the petty commandant of a presidio was equally true of the Governor and the whole territorial government; ergo, the missions ruled California.
llaving then absolute power over both life and property, it is not to be wondered at, that the Spanish fathers were both fearel and toadlied to by all other inhabitants of the country, white as well as colored. If any wished to till the soil, or pasture stock, leave must be first obtained from them; and
should he subsequently in any manner offend, he was unerre- monionsly ousted, having good reason to be thankful if the total loss of his property was all the punishment he incurred.
TABLE OF THE UPPER CALIFORNIAN MISSIONS,
NINE
1 Sau Dieza de Mrala
Bay ut Kat Hingu,
Subsequently removed from Manter
3
San Antonia de Paliza
July 14, 1521
Thirteen leak tex from San Miguel.
Rauchu lat Merced, riesen mills cant
to prosent location, ne milos cent of
5
Siger 1, 19
San Juan Capistrano
Sont mblany lwlween Los Angeles
Santa Clara
Nu Beunventura.
Matelı 31, 1.42
Nath vant of moul mustr antet Parluim. tin the Santa Harloire elmin 1. On the Nımla Inez chevr.
11
La l'urssin Cana plan
Ang't Vy, Till
13 . La Sidilud
On the Srlinny river.
14 Xan được
Where vity od Sau Jou nun Is.
1.
Sau Mlxdel
July 25. 150%
Up the Nulluts rlter.
San Fernamlu Rey
Septer &, 1:07
18
San Lils Rey dle Frauvl
,10mw 15. 1:04
11 Sihtır Iluz . ..
10 NUT Rafnel
ller'r 11. (1)
Twelve lengues from Nontn Herrhara. North af San Frauchen bay.
21
Aug'1 25, 1924
the nyer country ns bubora; Comerird hudinis, Cons; whitrs nol multtura, I,ROK; Tutal, 11,544; or lant little more than the present joquintin of los Angeles city will Indiana, or besfins (lengte), as they were called, were probably quite numerous, Just being naledized were couldered tomada the idiot would look. He gives the Julian population of los Angeles county Missions at that time, as follows
Mulen.
Fruutles.
Komu Juan Capistrano
San Gabriel
San Formumlu 317
1
CHAPTER VIL.
THE "GRINGOS."
Exclusive Policy of Spanish Government-Arrest and Detention of Foreigners - Missourians Trapped-Gringos aml Svayritas First English speaking SettIrr-Whittle's Petition -Joseph Chapman -Graphic Account by S. C. Foster-Lugo and the Gringos.
IT was ever the policy of Spain to exchile foreigners from her colonial possessions. Thus for the first half century succeed- ing the establishment of missions in Alta California, the conn- try remained ahnost wholly unknown to the outer worbl. At irregular, and rare intervals, a trading slap from San Blas or Acapulco, would bring dispatches from the seat of government, and carry hack such reports only, as the missionaries saw fit to make. Aside from this, California, though in the worbl, was not of it.
To such an extent was this exclusiveness carried, that if, by shipwreck or other casualty, foreigners were obliged to land, they were at once seized, and carried prisoners into the interior, and there compelled to stay for the remainder of their lives. Thus tradition tells of two small parties of Americans from
2 Min l'arle ile V .vieres ..... June 3, 1:71
bt The Cartel river.
è nud Nur Diegu.
Nanta Darlara
santa Cruz
Onup *4. GHi
Un the San Juno river.
Twenty milo's N W frum Ion Angeles, Thirteen wul a half leugnen frimm Sin
1013
1
Sin Gabriel de ha Teaddores,
24
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Missouri, who, entering New Mexico about the beginning of the present century, were immediately arrested by the author- ities and scattered over the country, singly or in pairs; nor did they find opportunity to escape therefrom until the declar- ation of Mexican Independence in 1822. Yet such persons appear to have been always kindly treated in every other particular, and usually, accepting the situation forced upon him, the "gringo" (greenhorn) married a "senorita," and quietly settled down, making the best of what could not be helped.
As to who was the first English-speaking settlor in Los Angeles county, there has been considerable controversy among the "old heads." The honor would seem to rest bowever without doubt between two men-W. Whittle and Joseph Chapman ; the first a native of England, and the second of Pennsylvania.
The claims of the first rest upon an old Spanish document, now in the city archives. This purports to be the petition of one W. Whittle to the Ayuntamiento of Los Angeles, praying for a grant of land. The petition is dated 1835, and recites that the petitioner has been a resident for twenty years, and was the first English-speaking settler in California. Against the authenticity of this claim exists the fact that Col. J. J. Warner-who first reached Los Angeles in 1831-does not remember ever hearing of this man, and was ignorant of the existence of any such document, until informed thercof by the writer.
On the other hand, Col. Warner believes Joseph Chapman to have been the first settler who spoke English in Los Angeles county, and probably in the State. Mr. Stephen C. Foster also contributes the following to the Los Angeles Evening Ex- press, 1876; and claims to have received the story he relates direct from the lips of Don Antonio Maria Lugo, one of the chief actors of the scene portrayed ; and again, twenty-nine years later, from a son of Lugo, who recollected the circum- stances as having occurred " El ano de los Insurgentes"-the year of the Insurgents :-
One day in the year 1818, a vessel was seen approaching the town of Monterey. As she come nearer she was seen to be armed, her decks swarming with men, and she flew some unknown llag. Arriving within gunshot she opened fire on the town, and her fire was answered from the battery. while the lancers stood ready to repel a Inuding, if it should be attempted, or cover the retreat of the families in case their «ffort at repulse should be nusuccessful, for Spain was at peace with every maritime nation, aud the traditions of the atrocities committed by the Buccaneers at the end of the 17th century on the Spanish main. were familiar to the people. After some firing the strange vessel appeared to be injured by the fire from the hattery, and bore away aud disappeared. The alarm spread along the coast as fast as swift riders could carry it, and all the troops at every point were ordered to be ou the alert. The strange craft next appeared off the Ortega ranch, situ- ated on the sea shore ahove Santa Barbara, and landed some men who, while plundering the rauch, were surprised by some soldiers from Santa Barbara, and hefore they could regain their boats some four or five were captured. She next appeared off San Juan Capistrano, landed and plundered the mission, and sailed away aud never was heard of
more. All that is known of her is that she was a Buenos Ayrean priva- teer, and that her captain was a Frenchman, named Bouchard.
As to those of her crew she left behind, the circumstances under which they were captured, might have justified severe measures, hut the commandante was a kind-hearted man, and he ordered. that if any one would be responsible for their presentation wheu called for. they should be set at liberty until orders should be received from Mexico, as to what disposition should he made of them.
When the alarm was given, Corporal Antonio Maria Lugo (who, after seventeen years of service in the Company of Santa Barbara, had received his discharge and settled with his family in Los Angeles, in 1810), received orders to proceed to Santa Barbara with all the force the little town could spare. (He was the youngest son of Private Francisco Lugo, who came to California 105 years ago, and who, hesides those of his own surname, as appears from his will dated at Santa Barbara in the year 1801, and still in the possession of some of his grandsons in this country, was the anecstor, through his four daughters, of the numerous families of the Vallejos. Carrillos, de la Guerras, Cotas, Ruizes, besides numerons others of Spanish and English surnames. He was the venerable old man whose striking form was so familiar to our older residents, and who, seventeen years ago. at the ripe age of 85 years, died in this place, honored and respected by all.)
Some two weeks afterwards. Dona Dolores Lugo, who with other wives was anxiously waiting, as she stood after nightfall in the door of her house, which still stands on the street now known as Negro Alley, heard the welcome sound of cavalry and the jingle of their spurs as they defiled along the path north of Fort Hill. They pro- ceeded to the guard-house, which then stood on the north side of the plaza, across Upper Main street. The old church was not yet bnilt. She heard the orders given, for the citizens still kept watel and ward, and presently she saw two horsemen mounted on one horse advancing across the plaza towards the house, and heard the stern but welcome greeting, "Ave Maria Purissima," upon which the children hurried to the door, and, kneeling with clasped hands, uttered their childish welcome and received their father's benediction. The two meu dis- mounted. The one who rode the saddle was a man full six feet high. of a spare but sinewy form, which indicated great strength and activity. Ile was then 43 years of age. His black hair, sprinkled with gray and bound with a black handkerchief, reached to his shoulders. The square cut features of his elosely shaven face indicated character and decision, and their uaturally stern expression was relieved by an appearance of grim humor-a purely Spanish facc. He was in the uniform of a cavalry soldier of that time, the cuera blanca, a loosely- fitting surtout reaching to below the knees, made of buekskin. doubled and quilted, so as to he arrow-proof; on his left arm he carried an udarga, an oval shield of bull's hide, and his right hand held a lance, while a high-crowned heavy vicuna hat surmounted his head. Sus- peuded from his saddle was a carbine and a loug straight sword. The other was a man about twenty-five years of age, perhaps a trifle taller than the first. His light hair and blue eyes indicated a different race, and he wore the garb of a sailor.
The expression of his countenance seemed to say, "I am in a darned bad scrape, but I guess I'll work ont somehow."
The senora politely addressed the stranger, who replied in an unknown tongue. Her curiosity made her forget her feelings of hospi- tality, and she turned to her husband for au explanation.
" Wham have you here, old man ? "
" He is a prisoner we took from that buccaneer-may the devil sink her-scaring the whole coast and taking honest men away from their homes and business. I have gone his security."
" And what is his name and country ?"
"None of us nuderstand his lingo, and he don't understand ours. All I ean find out is, his name is Jose, and he speaks a language they call English. We took a negro among them, but he was the only one of the rognes that showed fight, and so Corporal Ruiz lassoed him and brought him head over heels, sword and all. I left him in Santa Bar- bara to repair damages. He is English, too."
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