USA > California > Placer County > History of Placer county, California > Part 2
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 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
CHAPTER XL. CHURCH, BENCH, AND BAR.
An Eloquent Sermon-A Financial Sermon-Church Organiza- tion-Mormonism in Auburn-James E. Hale-The Beneli and Bar-The Judiciary-District Judges-Superior Judge -County Judges-Distriet Attorneys-Attorneys Regis- tered in Plaecr County-W. H. Bullock-C. A. Tuttle. . . . 315-323
CHAPTER ALI. THE CRIMINAL RECORD.
The Rarity of Crime-The t'rst Highway Robbery-Execution of Robert Scott-Seott's Last Words-Execution of John- son at lowa Hill-A Law-maker Law-breaking-James Freeland flanged-Execution of Joseph Bradley-Murder and Lynching at Auburn-Robbery and Battle-" Rattle- snake Diek "-Dick Changes his Location-The Robber Gang-Robbery of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express-Record of George Skinner-Dick and a New Gang -Dick's Hatred of John C. Boggs-Escape from Jail-Robberies by the Gang-Phillips, of the Mountaincer House-Mysterious Death of a Prisoner-Death of " Rattlesnake Dick "-An Affecting Letter-The Last of the Tragedy-Chinamen Slaughter a Family-The Chinese Expelled from Rocklin- Expedition After Ah Sam-Discovery and Death of the Murderer-Murder by Indians-Wrecking a Railroad Train-Singular Reve ation of Murder-A Tragic End- Homicides and Robberies. . .. .323-345
CHAPTER XLII. MILITARY.
First Military Organization-The Miners' Guard-State Militia -Placer Rifles-The War of the Rebellion-"1 Wish I Was in Dixie's Land "-First Company for the War-Camp Sigel-Defending Colonel Forman-Movements of the Vol- unteers-Murders by Secessionists-End of the War- Grand Army of the Republic .. ... .345-350
CHAPTER XLIIL. DESTROYED BY FIRE.
Ophir Burned-Sundry Fires-Great Fire in Auburn-lowa Hill Burned-Michigan Bluff Destroyed-Fires again in Auburn -Jowa Hill again Burned-Dwelling Burned-Fire at Rattlesnake-Destruetive Conflagrations in Auburn -- Flour- ing-mill Burned-Buildings Burned-Hotels Burned at Roeklin-Fire at Auburn Depot-More Fires-Empire Mill Burned-Incendiary Fire in Auburn-Dwellings Burned- Hoisting Works Burned-Saw-mill and Lumber Destroyed -Fire at Forest Hill-Destructive Fire at Dutch Flat- Round House and Locomotives Burned-Colfax in Ashes- Residenee of J. C. Boggs Burned-Hotel Burned-Ineendi- arism-Burning at Lineoln-Barn and Horses Burned- Serious Loss at Lincoln-Residence Destroyed-The Aggre- gate Losses-Later fires in Auburn. . . .. . .. 350-355
CHAPTER XLIV. REMINISCENCES OF ILLINOISTOWN.
Site of Illinoistown-Alder Grove-Mining on the River-The Pioneer Settlers-Landing at Sacramento-First Prospect- ing Experience-The Mining Lesson Learned-Generosity and Gratitude-Seeking Shelter-Indians-Dastardly Rob- bery and Bloodless Battle-Pursuit of the Indians-First Military Company Organized-Campaign against the Sar- ages-A Frontier Picture-The Camp Receives its Name- The Pioneer Family-First Fruit Culture --- Chivalrous Pio- neers-Houses of Entertainment-Rescued from the Snow -An Exhausted Traveler-In the Spring of 1850-Wing Dams in the River -Result of Mining -- Early Physical Fea- tures-l'ike County Represented .. .355-364
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS-ILLUSTRATIONS.
CHAPTER XLV. TOWNS AND LOCALITIES.
Alta-Antelope - Applegate-Auburn-Great Fires -- List of Losses-Incorporation of Auburn-A Railroad Town-Fare Reduced-A Business View-Old Settlers-Water Supply -- Great Freshet-William Ambrose-A. F. Boardman-James Borland-Dr. J. R. Crandall-C. C. Crosby-Alexander Lipsett-D. W. Lubeck-T. M. Todd, M. D .- Antoine Canon-Barnes Bar-A Glimmer of the Great Rebellion- Barrett's Store-A Death Struggle-Bath .. . ..... 364-376
CHAPTER XLVL. TOWNS AND LOCALITIES. [CONTINUED. ]
Bogus Thunder-Brushy Canon-Butcher Ranch-Cisco-Colfax -Darins V. Norton -- Clipper Gap-Damascus -- Dead wood- -Dutch Flat-Henry A. Frost-Herman R. Hudepohl Frytown-Duncan Canon-Fort Trojan-James W. Chinn -Gray Horse Cañon-Humbug Canon-Johnson's Ranch -Manzanita Grove-Newtown-Grizzly Flat- Lincoln- Peter Ahart-Isaac Stonecipher-Sheridan-Rogers' Shed- Shirt-tail Canon-Sunny South-Emigrant Gap-Forest v Hill-J. G. Garrison-William Rea-Gold Hill-Gold Run
-Iowa IIill-Dr. Oliver H. Petterson-Michigan Bluff- Newcastle -- Ophir -- Penryn --- Griffith Griffith -- Placer County Granite-Elisha Grant -- Rocklin-W. Dana Perkins -- Rose- ville-Todd's Valley-First Shaft in Todd's Valley-Alfred A. Pond-Nicolas Quirolo-Wisconsin Hill-Yankee Jim's. 376-400
CHAPTER XLVII.
RIVER BARS. VALLEYS, LAKES, ANIMALS, ETC.
The Old River Bars-Old Time Improvements-The Rivers in their Purity-Along the Southern Boundary-The Hunter's Home-Tahoe City-Lake Tahoe-Lake Tahoe's Name-The Georgetown Snag-Mountain Lakes-Mountain Peaks -- Mountain Valleys-Squaw Valley-French Meadows- Picayune Valley-Soda Springs Valley-American Valley- Animals-An Amphibious Mouse-Unclassified Big Trees -Mining on Bear River in 1849. 400-40S
CHAPTER XLVIII. OBITUARIES OF PIONEERS.
Obituaries of Pioneers 408-412
PATRONS DIRECTORY. .412 -- 416
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Ahart. Peter, Residence. Facing Page 40
Hoosier Con. Min. Claim, Todd's Val. Facing Page 48
Ambrose. Wm,
336
Hosmer, T. N., Residence .. 164
Ashley, J. T.
.. 168
Hudepohl, H R., 380
Auburn Hotel. Anburn.
280
Hulbert, J. W .. 24
Baker Divide Min'g Co., Mich. Bluff
184
Jacobs. J. M., 104
Banvard's Hotel, Alta
364
Kearsarge Mill. Dutch Flat 368
Bear Valley Mill, Dutch Flat. 369
Lee, W. N., Residence. 256
Bernhard. B, Residence 248
Lewis. G. C., Residence. 180
Boardman. A. F. 344
Lubeck, D. W., Store and Residence
312
Borland's Hotel. Auburn ..
272
Muir Tunnel 184
Breece, A, Residence.
372
Norton, D. V., Toll-house and Res.
360
California Iron Company, Hotaling.
208
Orleans Hotel, Auburn
152
Carlson, John. Residence.
288
Placer County Court House, Auburn
Title page
Central Hotel, Forest Hill .
56
Pond. A. A., Residence Page 384
Chinn, J. W., Residence. 164
Pond A. A., & Co., Store 384
Crosby, C. C .. Empire Stable.
312
Putnam House, Auburn. 0
Crutcher. W. M , Residence.
136
Quirolo, Nicolas, Store, Todd's Val. 408
Empire Livery Stable, Auburn
312
Reamer, G. W., Residence. 120
Frost. H. A .. Residence ..
380
Reeves, Joshua, 240
88
Garrison, J. G.
188
Stevens, S. M., Drug Store
328
Gates, A. II. Gould. J. G.
200
Stephens, T. E.,
352
Grant, E., Hotel, Penryn
248
Van Vactor, Wm., " 376
Griffith, G .. Store and Residence. 66
400
Weske Con. Mining Co's Tunnel 185
Griffith Granite Works. Penryn
400
Whitcomb, J. B .. Residence. 240
Hidden Treasure Mine. Sunny South 224
White, J. H., 6
72
Hillhouse, W. H., Residence.
200 Woodward, John, ..
244
Culver. E. W ..
24.4
Rea. Wm., Cen. Hotel, Forest Hill. 36
Gardner. Mrs. A. E. A .. Residence.
232
Spear, D. W., 16
1 336
Stevens, S. M., Residence ._
328
viii
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES-PORTRAITS.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
Page
Adams, Frank D.
Page. 138
Hudepohl, H. R.
.381
Ahart, Peter.
.386
Hulbert. J. W.
248
Ambrose, William.
369
Lardner, W. B.
141
Andrews, Moses.
249
Lee. W. N.
256
Ashley J. F.
168
Lipsett, Alex.
.371
Banvard, E. M
157
Lubeck, D. W ..
.372
Bernhard, B
252
Mitchell, Tabb.
294
Bisbee, J. G ..
140
Munson, W. L
169
Boardman, A. F
369
Norton, D. V.
377
Boggs, J. C.
.139
Perkins. W. Dana
.397
Borland, James
370
Petterson, Dr. Oliver II
392
Bullock, W. H
.321
Pond, A ..
399
Carlson, Jobu
291
Quirolo. Nicolas.
399
Chinn, Jas. W.
382
Rea, Wr
390
Crandall, Dr. J. R
.370
Reamer, Geo. W
196
Crosby, C. C.
.371
Seavey, O. F.
267
Crutcher, Wm. M.
134
Smith. John Julius.
372
Filcher, J. A ..
295
Soule, A. J.
170
Frost, H. A. .
381
Starbuck, J. B.
373
Garrison, J. G.
389
Stephens, T. E.
372
Grant, Elisha.
396
Stonecipher, Isaac.
386
Griffith, G
395
Todd, T. M., M. D
373
Hale, James E
.317
Tuttle, Cbas. A.
322
Hollenbeek, O. W
.307
Van Vactor, Wm ..
165
Hosmer, Thos N.
375
Walkup, Joseph.
174
PORTRAITS.
Adams, F. D.
Facing Page 128
llale, J. E ..
Faeing Page 96
Andrews, Moses
32
Hollenbeck, O. W
304
Ashley, J. T.
320
Lardner, W. B ...
144
Banvard, E. M ..
160
Lee, W. N.
256
Bisbee, J. G.
192
Lee, Mrs. W. N
..
256
Breece, A. .
372
Munson, W. L ..
112
Breece. Mrs. A
372
Petterson. O. H.
392
Crandall, J. R ..
16
Seavey, O. F.
264
Filcher, J. A.
296
Soule, A. J.
80
Gardner, M. S
216
Stephens, T. E.
352
Garrison, J. G.
188
Stephens, Mrs. T. E.
332
Garrison, Mrs. J. G
6. 188
Todd, T. M.
6 .
..
64
Griffith, G
396
Walkup, Joseph .. .
..
176
..
PUTNAM HOUSE AUBURN, PLACER CO. CAL. SAML. PUTNAM PROPT.
HISTORY -- OF- PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
BY-
MYRON ANGEL
INTRODUCTION.
E herewith introduce to our patrons and the public the Illustrated His- tory of Placer County. Since the occupation of the country by Amer- icans, following the discovery of gold, Placer has borne such an im- portant part in the affairs, develop- ment and progress of the State that she may be classed as the most dis- tinctive representative county. By her position, midway in the tier of counties, rising like a grand wall into the snowy regions of the sky along our eastern border, she presents the con- figuration of the keystone to an arch reared by the Almighty, binding the mountain to the plain, the lowlands of the Sacramento Valley to the plateau of Nevada, the only county of the series having such connection and embracing so many features. Placer County is a representative from the extended section of territory occupied, including many soils, climates and productions ; from the wealth and different character of her mines; from being the home of many pioneers, who, in lofty spirit, enterprise, statesmanship, and progress, have moulded the policy, advanced the prosperity, and made the most indellible impress upon all matters of the State; from her fruits of every zone; from her geology, mineralogy, and topography; from her broad semi-tropie plains and her snow-erowned peaks; from her forest-covered ridges and deep cañons; from her lovely lakes and gold-bedded
-
rivers; from her hundreds of miles of mining canals her deep explorations of the ancient glacial channels; her bold system of wagon roads, and from her long lines of railroads, she stands as the most observed of the counties of California; the one presenting the most salient features for delineation; the one whose history is the most comprehensive and important.
Her history could not be written without including many acts, incidents and descriptions belonging to other sections of or pertaining to the State, either having a distant or close connection, or constituting a basis upon which to build. In the following pages such divergence from the direct history of Placer will be observed, but adding to its completeness. Preceding page sixty-five is reference to the pre- American history of California, to the gold discov- ery, to immigration, routes of travel, and physical features of a general character, applicable to the State; and in the political history, the affairs and politicians of the State and Nation are introduced, all forming' so close a connection as with difficulty to segregate. The aim and design of the publishers and writers have been to make a concise, comprehensive, exact, and complete history of Placer County, with her connection with the State, setting forth the varied and unparalled resources; the progress and prosperity; and sueb sketches of the people and of individual property as will record for future thought and observation the occupation, social condition. manners, and life of the past and present. We have studied to present the dry facts of history in an attractive manner, with biographical sketches and portraits of many prominent men, views of many of the pretty homes throughout the county, illustrating
10
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
the refinement of the people, the scenery and resources. We hope we have been successful in accomplishing these designs.
The literary work has been under the charge of Myron Angel, assisted by M. D. Fairchild; both pioneers of 1849; both early residents of Placer County ; both connected with the press through many years of editorial life, and familiar with the region and the subjects of which they have written. Mr. Fairchild was one of the settlers of Illinoistown in 1849, and there passed that eventful and stormy winter, fighting the predatory savages and seeking ont and rescuing people canght in the unexpected snows, instances of which he has impersonally related. For several years he was a resident of the county; the discoverer of Rich Bar on the North Fork of the American, where he washed out tens of thousands of dollars of the beautiful golden flakes, and with the exception of a very few years spent in other parts of the country, Placer, Nevada and El Dorado Counties have been his home. He is at present editor of the Oroville Mercury, in Butte County.
The writings of others are credited in their places in the book. Many references to the Placer Herald will be observed. We have been fortunate in obtain- ing complete files of that paper, the oldest in the county and one of the oldest on the Pacific Coast, always an able journal and comprising in its thirty volumes through thirty years of publication, a con- temporaneons history of the State in general and of Placer County in particular. For these files we are indebted to the courtesy of W. Dana Perkins, Esq., of Rocklin; Isaac Stonecipher, Esq., of Lincoln, and J. A. Filcher, Esq., the publisher. To Mr. Stonecipher the public are under obligations for the care he has taken in the preservation of the first three volumes of the Herald, being, we believe, the only complete ones in existence; and to Mr. Perkins for his fore- sight and care in preserving the twenty-seven later volumes in full, and parts of the first three. The value of such a continuous series of papers can scarcely be estimated, and their value increases as the years pass by. A newspaper gives the facts of the day and the history of the time. an indisputable diary is very interesting while fresh, is regarded as useless rubbish in a week or a month, but a sacred relie when years have dimmed its color and mark its date in the faint memories of the past. Men's recollections differ, and few agree on the most important questions, but with the files of the old papers for reference, an umpire is found which fairly and correctly settles all disputes.
To Mr. H. W. Hulbert, of Georgetown, El Dorado County, we are indebted for files of the Advance and other papers of Placer County; to Henry W. Fenton. Esq., editor and publisher of the Argus. for papers and courtesies; to O. F. Seavey, Esq .. for a comprehensive article on the schools of the county; to Claude Chana, of Wheatland, Yuba
County, for his aecount of the gold discovery in Anburn Ravine, and his first efforts in horticulture; to Charles A. Tuttle, Esq., of Oakland, for informa- tion on the beneh and bar and other subjeets; to John B. Hobson, M. E., of Iowa Hill, for his notes and the use of his map of the Iowa Hill Divide; and to all who have rendered assistance we return our thanks.
To our patrons we express our sense of obligation for their liberal support of the work and the interest they have taken in having prepared a history and exposition of the beauties and resources of their county. Without their generous aid, no such book could have been published. In compliance . with their desire we have made a book that will be both useful and ornamental. Every effort has been made to gather from every source of information obtaina- ble all the facts of history and statistics of produc- tion and progress. These are now collated and preserved, and will stand forever the basis of any future history that may be written. In this volume are preserved the records of events, of pioneers, of elections, of' candidates and office-holders, of road and railroad building, and of all the material sub- jects that have agitated the public mind during the eventful period of the discovery of gold, the forma- tion of the Government, and to the present time. In this we have endeavored to do absolute justice, unbiassed by politics, self-interest or pre-conceived opinions. That we have extolled the wealth and resources of the county is because we have investi- gated them, and while some opinions and selections appear exaggerated to the pessimist and the casual observer, we believe in all we have said. In our remarks on the Central Pacific Railroad Company and its controversy with the people we express no opinion but that founded on facts and a clear sense of right. The facts are given and are incontro- vertible.
Undoubtedly there are many imperfections in the work. Much more could be written of Placer, more events narrated, comments extended, men and local- ities noted which have been omitted, some through lack of space and time, some through accident, neg- lect or want of information, and perhaps something is published that were better left out. But we believe our book to be valuable as a history, attraet- ive as an ornament, and fulfilling the purpose of our promise.
In conclusion, we wish to refer with gratitude to the excellent work displayed in the publication, to the Pacific Press Publishing Company, of Oakland; to Louis H. Evarts, of Philadelphia, for wood engravings, and to J. L. Laplace, lithographer, of San Francisco.
Among the publications of value which have rendered aid are the Directories of Placer County, one published in 1861 by Messrs. Steele, Bull, and Houston, and the other by the Argus Publishing Company, in 1875.
11
EARLY HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA.
CHAPTER I.
Scanty Knowledge of the Pacific Coast Fifty Years Since-Story of "Sergas," by Esplandin-Titles to Immense Regions Conferred by the Pope -Expeditions for Discovery and Settlement-Sir Francis Drake's Operations-Expeditions Overland-Marvelous Stories of a Big Canon-Expedition of Father Escalante.
THOSE who studied geography forty or fifty years since, recollect how little was known of the "Great West." "Lewis and Clarke's Expedition to the Rocky Mountains and Oregon," contained about all that was known of the Pacific coast; and hundreds of persons now living, remember that that portion of the map now marked California and Arizona, was oeenpied with a table of distances from Wash- ington to our larger cities. The Rocky Mountains were represented as a single range, running from the Isthmus of Darien to the North Pole. More facts concerning the Pacific slope were learned in the first fifty years after the discovery of the New World, than in the following two hundred. The deserts of Arizona and the "Great Canon," shut off exploration and settlement from this direction, though rumors of a country rich in gold, had circu- lation among the hordes that overrun Mexico soon after its conquest by Cortez and his followers. On snch rumors, was founded the story of "Sergas" by Esplandin, the son of Amadis of Gaul, which con- tained "the story of a country called California, very near to the terrestrial paradise, which was peopled by black women without any men among them, because they were accustomed to live after the manner of the Amazons. They were of strong and hardened bodies, of ardent courage, and great force. The island was the strongest in the world, from its steep and rocky cliffs. Their arms were all of gold, and so were the caparisons of the wild horses they rode."
At that time, the world was filled with rumors of wonderful discoveries, by land and by sea. Some, like De Soto, set off in quest of the "spring of eter- nal youth," which it was confidently asserted was just on the other side of a certain range of mount- ains. It was easier to believe in a land of gold, than in a spring of eternal youth. This exciting book, written to satisfy the literary market of that age, was universally read in Spain; and, it is highly probable, was partly the cause for the expedition which afterwards, under the charge of Ilernando Grijalva, actually discovered "California very near to the Terrestrial Paradise;" so that it is probable that a dreamy old romancer in Seville, Spain, sug- gested the name of the country that was to upheave new continents in the commercial world.
IMMENSE REGIONS GRANTED BY THE POPE.
Cortez had achieved the conquest of Mexico with but a handful of men, in 1519; and nine years after returned to Spain, laden with the spoils of an empire larger and richer, and, perhaps, more civilized than
Spain herself; also with accounts of countries still richer and larger, to the north-west of Mexico. He was received with distinguished honors by Charles V., and rewarded by many royal concessions, among which were the right to one-twelfth of all the precious metals he could find, and a perpetual vice- royalty for himself and heirs, over all the countries he should discover. It must be remembered that the Pope, in consideration of the dissemination of the " True Faith," had granted to the Emperor of Spain all lands that his subjects might discover; so the title seemed to be fee simple in Cortez, who, from being a piratical, roving vagabond, bounded into royal honors.
EXPEDITIONS OF DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.
Returning to Mexico, he immediately set about the expedition; but, delayed by the difficulty of building and titting out ships on the western coast, he did not get off until 1535. Having landed on the lower peninsula of California, he found the country so barren and uninviting, that he abandoned the expedition, and returned to Mexico in 1537. On his return, he heard of the De Soto expedition, which, like all the other expeditions, had nearly, but not quite, reached the land where arms, as well as trap- pings for horses, were made of pure gold. This led to the fitting out of another expedition in 1542 under José R. Cabrillo, who sailed northward as far as Cape Mendocino, which he named Cape Mendoza, in honor of his friend, the Viceroy of Mexico. Keep- ing within sight of the coast the greater part of the way, he discovered the Farallone Islands, also some of the more southern groups; but, like his predeces- sor, failed to see the future Golden Gate. In an English work printed in 1839, Mr. James Alexander Forbes states that two out of the three vessels, com- posing this expedition, with some twenty men, were lost in the Gulf of California, in consequence of a mutiny and a difficulty with the natives, near La Paz.
These expeditions were so unsatisfactory, that Cortez resolved upon exploring the coast himself. Three vessels were fitted out at Tehuantepec, be marching overland with a large body of soldiers, slaves, settlers, and priests. Cortez explored the Gulf of California, proved that California was not an island, but part of the main land. For some time the Gulf of California was known as the Sea of Cortez. It was also called The Red Sea (El Mar Rojo), from having a reddish color from the wash of the Colorado river, which empties into the gult at the head. Cortez returned to Acapulco, but con- tinued to employ others in the explorations, which were confined mostly to lands in the vicinity of the gulf. Several attempts were made to settle tbe land, but, as it was very barren and poor, the col- onies made little progress. The natives were desti- tute of' means and character, both sexes going nearly or quite naked.
12
HISTORY OF PLACER COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
SIR FRANCIS DRAKE'S OPERATIONS.
Sir Francis Drake reached the Pacific ocean in 1578, through the Straits of Magellan, thirty-six years after Cabrillo named the Cape of Mendocino, and, not having heard of the former expeditions, took possession of the whole country in the name of Queen Elizabeth. It has been claimed for him that he entered the Bay of San Francisco; but the lati- tude in which he located it (37º 59 5"), proves it to have been some miles north, at a place now called Drake's bay, though most of the old geographies give the present sea-port as " The Bay of Sir Francis Drake." It is strange that, having much inter- course with the natives, he should have failed to discover the great harbor which was in sight from some of the surrounding hills. The real discovery of the Bay of San Francisco, was made by Portala, in an overland expedition. What a vision, when he stood on the top of some of the low ranges of mount- ains surrounding, and saw the rich valleys reposing in a perpetual Indian Summer, stretching to the northward sixty miles. Little did the Spaniard, or those who came after him, suppose that the rivers flowing into the bay ran over golden sands, or that the hills near the outlet would be covered by a city larger than any of the cities of magnificent Spain.
It is now time to turn to the attempts to explore the country in other ways.
EXPEDITION OVERLAND-MARVELOUS STORIES.
The ill success attending the expeditions up the coast, induced explorations by land, especially as marvelous reports of rich walled cities in the far north, occasionally reached the capital of Mexico. In less than fifty years from the discovery of Amer- ica, soldiers and priests had explored the Colorado river for a considerable distance above its mouth. The stories of a gigantic people, walled towns, and impassable cañons a mile or more in depth, were con- signed to the same fate as the stories of mermaids and other sea monsters. Cervantes in Spain, and Dean Swift in England, had poured unsparing ridi- cule on the fabulous stories and achievements of the age succeeding the discovery of America. Since the exploring expedition sent out by the United States, the accounts of the great Colorado river have been overhauled and read with avidity, and what was then deemed a pleasant after-dinner fiction of some bibulous priest, has proved to be substantially cor- rect, though the Mojaves, who, doubtless, are the persons described as giants, do not quite come up to their ai cestors of three hundred and fifty years ago.
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.