USA > California > Los Angeles County > History of Los Angeles county, Volume I > Part 46
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57
375
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Fe, on the El Paso road, at a place called Point of Rocks. Some one approached me, inquiring who and what I was, and upon giving him the required information he told me they were seeking for some one to go out to the place of disaster, with a party of men, bury the dead, and do anything that circumstances might call for.
I offered my services, provided they would give me a suit of clothes and an animal to ride. Started same evening; three or four Americans accompanied me. We had letters from the Governor of Santa Fe, to the Alcaldes rio abajo, to furnish us all the men we might need. Reached the scene of the disaster, found twelve dead bodies in a state of decomposi- tion ; dug a large pit, and deposited the bodies therein. Found many burnt wagons, but nothing of any value. Returned to Santa Fe, and made report. I had not been back many days, when a merchant offered me a clerkship in his store, with wages at $25 per month and edibles, which I had to cook myself. Remained with him only three or four months.
Whilst I was there, Dr. Gregg (afterwards the author of a work on the prairies ), arrived with a large quantity of merchandise ; wishing to pass on with a portion of his goods to Chihuahua, he engaged me to take charge of the rest of his goods. I attended to all his business to his satisfaction.
This now brings us to the winter of 1836-7. About this time, Mr. Eames and his party arrived from Oposura, and remained in Santa Fe over the winter. Eames lived with me during that time, he related to me all that passed in connection with Juan Jose's murder. Johnson met with the retribution that his crime deserved. He received no reward from the Mexican Government. Oposura was besieged by the Apaches so effectively that he could do no business whatever; had to sell his property, left his family there, and escaped. He came to California, lived in great poverty, and died near Gilroy, some years later. I never met him in California ; nor did I wish to come again in contact with such a wretch. His act of treachery caused the destruction of a large number of Americans, and the Apache war has continued from that day to this. Eames' arrival in Santa Fe brought us the first full information as to the cause of my own, Kemps and Keykendall's disaster.
My two men, Maxwell and Tucker, were not killed, they got away, but I never saw them again. I learned that Tucker died some years later. I also learned that Mangas, the Chief, had a row with his people, who broke his arm. He frequently visited me in Santa Fe afterwards, and, in con- sideration of his services to me and my companions, was a pensioner of mine.
In 1837, there was a great revolution in Santa Fe; the Governor, Alvino Perez, and all his officers, and every other respectable man that had in any way been connected with the Governor, were killed. Armijo, who had until that time been merely a successful sheepman, headed the Pueblo Indians and the New Mexican rabble, and made that revolution. After Governor Perez, the three Obica brothers, and the rest had been murdered, the rebels went through the City with the murdered men's heads stuck on pikes, and crying, "Death to the Americans! Death to the Gringos!" There were besides myself, about six Americans (the deceased Major Samuel Hensley, was one of them). We shut ourselves up, and remained so for six days, till the riot was over. The rioters tried to get into our
376
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
store, but the old Indian Chief Pedro Leon, who was at the head of the Pueblo Indians and was acquainted with me, saved us by declaring to the others, that we were not in the store, so they all went away.
That time I did really expect that our life was not worth the purchase. Armijo, as soon as the rabble dispersed to their homes, and the Territory was left entirely disorganized and without a government, issued a call for the leaders to hold a convention in Santa Fe, and on their arrival there from all parts of the Territory, he had a squad of his own satellites arrest
the leading men, thirty-two in number; marched them back on the hill behind the public square of Santa Fe, and the next morning, had them all shot. After that he declared himself loyal to the Mexican Government, and soon his commission as Governor of the Territory arrived. He was the man who, in 1841, captured Colonel Cook, and his company, one of whom was George Wilkins Kendall, one of the editors of the New Orleans Picayune.
The fellow who betrayed the Cook party, received no other compensa- tion from Armijo, than a few hundred dollars, and a peremptory order to leave the Territory. Armijo had promised to reward him with an office in the Custom House, but afterwards told him that he could not trust a man who had been a traitor to his own people. This I learned afterwards, from a source entirely reliable, Mr. John Rowland, who had obtained the facts from Armijo's own lips. Rowland died here in Southern California, a few years ago, at the Puente Ranch, which he owned.
I remained in charge of Dr. Gregg's business, some two years, and then bought out the remainder of the goods, and remained in Santa Fe, till the Fall of 1841. Mr. John Rowland, and William Workman, who were old residents of that country, at Taos, and had been in correspondence with prominent parties in Texas, learned that a party, or expedition, was being fitted out to come and take New Mexico, as part of Texas. They were convinced that the plan might succeed, but, in the meantime, prominent foreigners in New Mexico would probably be sacrificed to the fury of the Mexicans. As it was, Armijo had information that the Texans were com- ing. This was in the summer of 1841.
It was even whispered that we were in correspondence with the Texans. On the day that Armijo was haranguing his rabble to rise to a man and meet the foreigners who were coming to destroy their customs and religion, an American French Creole from near St. Louis, who was a bold gambler, named Tiboux, made some insulting remarks in a stentorious voice. This came very near being the destruction of all of us, for the whole wave of the rabble moved towards us, but fortunately Armijo called them back, promising to punish the offender. However, he was not found out, and came out to California with us in the fall. Under the circumstances, Row- land, Workman and myself, together with about twenty other Americans, including William Gordon and William Knight, concluded it was not safe for us to remain longer in New Mexico.
We formed a party, and were joined by a large number of New Mexicans. In the first week in September, 1841, we started from our rendezvous in the most western part of New Mexico, a place called "Abiqui," for California. We met with no accidents on the journey, drove
377
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
sheep with us, which served us as food and arrived in Los Angeles, early in November, of the same year.
As far as I am able to judge, Rowland, Workman, Gordon and Knight, and most of the foreigners of our party, came here with the intention of settling. I had no such idea, my plan was to go to China, and from thence return home. But after three different journeys to San Francisco, in search of a ship to go to China, I arrived at the conclusion that there would be no chance for carrying out my original intention, and so I finally purchased a ranch in 1843, and stocked it with cattle. That place is now Riverside. In the Spring of 1842, Mr. Rowland and myself went to Monterey to see Governor Alvarado.
Mr. Rowland had obtained from the priest at San Gabriel, and from the Prefect of the second district, certificates stating that there was no objection to the granting to Messrs. Rowland and Workman, the Ranch of La Puente, which they had petitioned for, as such grant would not be prejudicial to the Neophytes. Upon the presentation of the documents to the Governor, the grant was made to the petitioners, who were entitled to the privilege under Mexican law, being married to Mexican wives, natives of New Mexico, and having made application for Mexican citizenship.
I never got any grant of land, as I would not apply for Mexican citizen- ship. The Jurupa Ranch, I bought from Don Juan Bandini. I am under the impression that the law did not forbid the owning of land by a foreigner, provided it was at a certain distance from the sea coast. I am not sure whether it was from twenty to twenty-five miles. This was either a law or regulation issued by the Supreme Authority of Mexico.
After many unsuccessful efforts to leave California, and receiving so much kindness from the native Californians. I arrived at the conclusion that there was no place in the world where I could enjoy more true happi- ness, and true friendship, than among them. There were no courts, no juries, no lawyers, nor any need for them. The people were honest and hospitable and their word was as good as their bond; indeed, bonds and notes of hand, were entirely unknown among the natives. So as I said I settled upon the Ranch, and led a ranchero's life, for some years.
In 1844 I married Ramona Yorba, a daughter of Don Bernardo Yorba, one of the owners of the Santa Ana Ranch, which had about thirty leagues of land. No event of any serious import occurred in my rancher's life, except the following: In the fall of 1844 my ranchman reported that a large bear had been close to the ranch house and killed one our best milk cows. I took an American named Evan Callaghan with me, and went to hunt for the grizzly. We separated. He went one path, and I went by the one leading from the cow's carcass; followed the track a few hundred yards, and it went under an elder bush, covered with wild vines. Thinking the bear had passed out on the other side, and going around the bush myself, I became entangled in another bush. In that condition the bear rushed from under his cover and bounded on behind me, bringing both the horse and myself to the ground. He bit me on the right shoulder into the lungs, and once in the left hip. By this time my dogs came up and the bear left me. A vaquero was coming to me when I managed to get up, and walked a few steps into an open space. I told the vaquero to take the saddle and bridle off the horse, as I supposed it was dead, but when the
378
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
vaquero approached the horse, he raised his head, looked around, sprung to his feet, and ran home at full gallop with the saddle and bridle. Upon examination, he was found entirely unharmed. His instinct had told him to feign death as long as he thought the bear was thereabouts.
It is well known that the bear is not a carrion beast. I was carried home and laid upon a blanket, where I bled so that I lost my sight and speech, though I still retained the power of my senses. A few native Cali- fornian women came to my assistance, and by their judicious nursing, I was soon on my feet again. But I still carry on my shoulder the marks of that bear's tusks, in the form of a large hole, which can hold a walnut.
The bear in question remained on the ranch, killing cattle almost every night. As soon as I felt myself able to move around, I advised my vaquero to kill a calf, and drag it through the brush near where the bear lurked, and leave it under a certain sycamore tree. I then took a servant with me, both well armed, and repaired to the tree. At the approach of dark the bear made his appearance, and commenced eating the calf. Myself and man both fired at him out of the tree, and both hit him. The bear made three attempts to climb to us, but my man's shot crippled one of his hind legs, my shot having struck him through the ribs behind the shoulder. He went away, and we returned to the house. The next morning I called all the neighbors, servants and dogs I could find, and went to hunt that bear. We trailed him to a marsh, after diligent search for him, and, almost despairing of finding him, my attention was called to a hole in the mud no larger than a black bird, when I became satisfied it was the bear's nose. I got off my horse to give him a deadly shot in the head, when he jumped out with the rapidity of lightning and made for me, who stood about twenty feet from him. He came very near catching me a second time; a general fight followed, when the beast was finally put to death. I have mentioned this part of the occurence to corroborate what I have been told by others- that bears have the sagacity to seek the healing of their wounds with appli- cation of mud.
In 1845, about July or August, the Mojave and other Indians were con- stantly raiding upon the ranches in this part of the country, and at the request of the Governor, Don Pio Pico, who had promised me a force of eight well mounted men, well armed, I took command of an expedition to go in pursuit of the Indians. Organized the expedition in San Bernardino, sent the pack train and soldiers (less twenty-two which I retained with me) through the Cajon Pass. Myself and the twenty-two went up the San Bernardino River through the mountains, and crossed over to what is now Bear Lake. Before arriving at the Lake we captured a village, the people of which had all left, except two old women and some children. On the evening of the second day we arrived at the Lake, the whole Lake and swamp seemed alive with bear. The twenty-two young Californians went out in pairs, and each pair lassoed one bear, and brought the result to the camp, so that we had at one and the same time, eleven bears. This prompted me to give the Lake the name it now bears.
Pursued our course down the Mojave River, before we met the balance of the command. Then all together marched down some four days. Was in advance with one companion some two or three miles, with a view of looking for signs of Indians.
379
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
I saw ahead of us four Indians on the path coming towards us. Noticing that they had not seen us, I went down into the river bed, and continued on my course until a point was reached that I supposed was opposite to where they would be, and then went up on the bank again. My calculation was correct. The Indians were right opposite on the plain, and I rode towards them. I spoke to them and they answered in a very friendly manner. My object was not to kill them, but to take them prisoners, that they might give me information on the points I desired.
The leading man of the four happened to be the very man of all others I was seeking for, viz .- the famous marauder Joaquin, who had been raised as a page of the Church, in San Gabriel Mission, and, for his depre- dations and outlawing, bore on his person the mark of the Mission-that is, one of his ears cropped off, and the iron brand on his hip. This is the only instance.I ever saw or heard of, of this kind. That marking had not been done at the Mission, but at one of its ranches (El Chino) by the Majordomo. In conversation with Joaquin, the command was coming on ; and he then became convinced that we were on a campaign against him and his people. It was evident before that he had taken me for a traveler. Immediately that he discovered the true state of things, he whipped out from his quiver an arrow, strung it on his bow, and left nothing for me to do but to shoot him in self-defense. We both discharged our weapons at the same time. I had no chance to raise the gun to my shoulder, but fired it from my hand. His shot took effect in my right shoulder, and mine in his heart. The shock of his arrow in my shoulder caused me to involuntarily let my gun drop. My shot knocked him down disabled, but he discharged at me a tirade of abuse in the Spanish language such as I had never heard surpassed. I was on my mule back; got down to pick up my gun. By this time my command arrived at the spot. The other three Indians were making off, out over the plains. I ordered my men to capture them alive, but the Indians resisted stoutly, refused to the last to surrender, wounded several of our horses and two or three men, and had to be killed.
Those three men actually fought eighty men in open plain, till they were put to death. During the fight Joaquin laid on the ground uttering curses and abuses against the Spanish race and people. I discovered that I was shot with a poisoned arrow. Rode down some five hundred yards to the river ; and some of my men, on returning and finding that Joaquin was not dead, finished him. I had to proceed immediately to the care of my wound. There was with me a Comanche Indian, a trusty man, who had accompanied me from New Mexico to California. The only remedy we knew of was the sucking of the poison with the mouth out of the wound. Indeed, there is no other remedy known, even now. I have frequently seen the Indians preparing the poison, and it is nothing more than putrid meat or liver, and blood, which they dried into thin sticks, and carry in leather sheaths.
When they went on hunting or campaigning expeditions they repeatedly wetted their arrows with the stick; when it was too dry, they softened it by holding it near the fire a little while. By the time I got to the river, my arm and shoulder were immensely swollen; at once my faithful Comanche, Lorenzo Trujillo, applied himself to sucking the wound, which was extremely painful, he soon began reducing the swelling, and in the course of three or four days it had entirely disappeared, and the wound in a fair
380
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
way of healing. It never gave me any trouble after, although there was left in the flesh a small piece of flint, which I still carry to this day. As I was unable to travel while the wound was healing, I kept with me five men of the command, and ordered the rest to proceed down the river on the campaign, till they found the Indians. They went under command of my second, Enrique Avila, a native Californian and resident of Los Angeles.
After an absence of over two days, they returned to my camp, and reported that about ten leagues below the camp they had struck a fresh trail of Indians, pursuing it up a rocky mountain, found the Indians fortified in the rocks, attacked them a whole day and finally were obliged to leave the Indians in their position, and come away with several men badly wounded.
I had to abandon the campaign, as besides the wounded men, the com- mand had all their horses worn out. On the return by way of Bear Lake, the same twenty-two men that went with me to that Lake repeated the feat of bringing eleven bears to camp, making twenty-two killed on the trip. We all returned and had our rendezvous at my Ranch of Jurupa, to refit with new horses, provisions, etc., for another campaign. Some twenty of these men, for wounds or other causes, left and the command was reduced to about sixty. Our march this time was through the San Gorgonia Pass, where the railroad now runs, down into the Cahuilla country, our object being this time to capture two renegade San Gabriel neophytes, who had taken up their residence among the Cahuillas, and corrupted many of the young men of that tribe, with whom they carried on a constant depredation on the ranchmen of this district. Nothing of note occurred on our journey, till arriving at the head of the desert, in the place called Aqua Caliente (Hot Springs). We were there met by the Chief of the Cahuillas, whose name was Cabezon (Big Head), with about twenty of his picked followers, to remonstrate against our going upon a campaign against his people, for he had ever been good and friendly to the whites. I made known to him that I had no desire to wage war on the Cahuillas, as I knew them to be what he said of them, but that I had come with the determination of seizing the two renegade Christians, who were continually depredating on our people. He then tried to frighten me out of the notion of going into his country, alleging that it was sterile and devoid of grass and water, and then ourselves, and our horses would perish there. I replied, that I had long experience in that sort of life, and was satisfied that a white man could go wherever an Indian went. I cut the argument short by placing the Chief and his party under arrest, and taking away their arms. He became very much alarmed, cried and begged of me not to arrest him, as he had always been a good man.
I assured him that I would avoid, if possible, doing him or his people any harm, but had duties to perform, and I intended carrying them out in my own way. I then sternly remarked to him there were but two ways to settle the matter ; one was for me to march forward with my command, looking upon the Indians I met as enemies, till I got hold of the two Chris- tians ; the other was for him to detach some of his trusty men, and bring the two robbers dead or alive to my camp. He again protested, but when he saw that I was on the point of marching forward, he called me to him, and said that he and his men had held counsel together, and that if I would
381
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
release his brother Adam, and some twelve more of his people whom he pointed out, himself and six or seven more remaining as hostages, Adam would bring those malefactors to me, if I would wait where we then had our camp. I at once acceded to his petition, released Adam, and the other twelve and let them have their arms.
I told them to go on their errand, first asking how many days they would require to accomplish it. They asked for two days and nights. We stayed there that night, and all the next day with the most oppressive heat I had ever experienced. It was so hot that we could not sit down, but had to stand up and fan ourselves with our hats. The ground would burn us when we attempted to sit. Late the following night, the Chief called me and asked me to put my ear to the ground, stating that he heard a noise, as if his men were coming. I did as he desired and heard a rumbling noise which at every moment became clearer. In the course of an hour we could begin to hear the voices, and the old Chief remarked to me, with much satisfaction, that it was all right, he could tell by the singing of his men that they had been successful in their errand. I ordered thirty of my men to mount their horses, and go to meet them to see if all was right, as it was possible those Indians were coming with hostile views.
In due time horsemen came back and reported that they believed all was right. I then had my men under arms, and waited the arrival of the party, which consisted of forty or fifty warriors. Adam ordered the party to halt some four hundred yards from my camp, himself and another companion advancing, each one carrying the head of one of the malefactors, which they threw at my feet, with the evident marks of pleasure at the successful results of their expedition, Adam at the same time showing me an arrow in one of his thighs, which he had received in the skirmish that took place against those two Christians and their friends. Several others had been wounded, but none killed except the two renegade Christians. By this time day was breaking, and we started on our return. The campaign being at an end, left the Indians with the two heads at Agua Caliente, after giving them all our spare rations, which were very considerable, as they had been prepared in the expectation of a long campaign.
After we reached our homes and dispersed, there arrived in my Ranch of Jarupa, some ten or twelve American trappers (it was in the same summer). I related to them how our campaign ended down the Mojave, with the defeat of my force. They manifested a strong desire to accom- pany me back there. The chief of that party was Van Duzen. I at once wrote to my old friend and companion, Don Enrique Avila, to ask him if he would join me with ten picked men, and renew our campaign down the River Mojave. He answered that he would do so, con mucho gusto. He came forthwith and we started for the trip, twenty-one strong. Some seven or eight days after reached the field of operations, myself and Avila being in advance, we descried an Indian village. I at once directed my men to divide into two parties, to surround and attack the village. We did it successfully, but as on the former occasion, the men in the place would not surrender, and on my endeavoring to persuade them to give up, they shot one of my men, Evan Callaghan (mentioned before) in the back.
I thought he was mortally wounded, and commanded my men to fire. The fire was kept up until every Indian man was slain. Took the women
ยท
382
HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
and children prisoners. While the fighting had been going on, a sad accident occurred between the two Mexican servants that had charge of the pack train and loose animals. My servant had my double barreled gun, that I had given him to carry. He had handed it to the other man to hold, while he was righting a pack mule, but hearing our firing he demanded of the other man to hand him the gun, which the latter declined. Both men were on horseback. My man grabbed the gun and the other punched back at him with the breach. The hammer of the lock struck my man on the forehead just above the eye, the gun went off shooting the man that held it, and the two-ball charge entered his body just below the heart, and he died in a few hours. After burying the dead man we found that we had to remain encamped there all night owing to the suffering of our wounded, Evan Callaghan. Fortunately the next morning he was able to travel and we marched on our return home, bringing with us the captured Indian women and children. We found that these women could speak Spanish very well, and had also been neophytes ; that the men we had killed had been the same who had defeated my command the first time and were likewise Mission Indians.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.