USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego > History of San Diego, 1542-1908 : an account of the rise and progress of the pioneer settlement on the Pacific coast of the United States, Volume I > Part 18
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
That the citizens endured this state of affairs as long and patiently as they did, may well exeite wonder. Only one inci- dent of vigilante work in San Diego proper' has come to light. There was a poor old tailor in the town who used to get drunk quite often. One day, having borrowed a dollar from a friend, on the plea that he was suffering from want of food, he was soon seen in an intoxicated condition. The next morning, his body was found lying on the side of the hill just above the town. He had been beaten to death with stones and the jawbone of
195
WORK OF VIGILANTES
a bullock, stripped naked, and left lying there. The manner of his death and the fact that he was known to be poor and had evidently been killed for his clothes, gave rise to the belief that it was the work of Indians. A search of the ground near the body resulted in the finding of a knife which was known to belong to an Indian called Manteca [fat, or tallow], and with this clew the names of a number of Indians who had been seen with the tailor on the evening of his death, were soon discov- ered. The murderers had decamped, but about six months afterward some of them ventured back to town, and with the aid of other Indians, three of them were arrested and lodged in jail.
The citizens now thought it time to act, and also that it was just as well to save the county the expense and trouble of legal proceedings. The vigilante party consisted of Robert D. Israel, E. W. Morse. John Van Alst, and one other man whose name has not been learned. These four men went to the jail and took the three Indians out with the intention of hanging them. Israel, who was a veteran of the Mexican war and knew some- thing of military affairs, protested that the party was too small to handle the Indians all at once, and suggested that they be dealt with one at a time. He was overruled, however, and the result was that as soon as the Indians learned the intention of the party, they began to fight hard and two of them succeeded in getting away. One of these two escaped and was never re- captured, and the other would have done so had not Mr. Morse shot him and broke his leg. They then hanged one of them in a vacant building which had belonged to Agostin Haraszthy. and the other in an old adobe building built by Crosthwaite near the American cemetery. Mrs. Carson says that on look- ing out the next morning, she saw the body hanging in the Haraszthy house, mistook it for an effigy and called to her hus- band that the Spanish had been "hanging Judas" again.
Mrs. Carson tells many interesting stories about the Indians of San Diego in early days. They kept an Indian servant who one day was missing, and after two days was found in the bot- tom of a dry well. He was taken out, very much bruised, his wounds dressed, and an Indian employed to nurse him. IIe improved and was thought to be out of danger; but one day the nurse went away and left a blind Indian in charge of the patient, who thereupon crawled out of bed and proceeded to treat himself by the Indian method. This consisted of taking a brand from the fireplace and scorching himself on the side with it, to set up a counter irritation by burning. He burned him- self so severely that he only lived a few hours afterward.
Thomas Whaley bought an Indian girl from her parents, giv- ing them something like $100 worth of goods from his store in
.
196
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
exchange for their consent for the girl to live in his family. The girl stayed about a month and then disappeared and re- turned to her parents. When Mr. Whaley went after her they were willing to let her go, but wanted to be paid over again, and this continued as long as the kind-hearted merchant would allow himself to be "worked," the girl running away as often as her parents felt the need of supplies from the store.
ROBERT D. ISRAEL One of the oldest living pioneers and participants in Indian troubles
There was an Indian rancheria near the palm trees in Old Town where they were accustomed to hold dances. "It was like an old-fashioned spelling bee," says Mrs. Whaley; "the Indians would stand up in two long rows and dance, and the one of each opposite pair that could dance best won the other's clothes. I dressed this girl well, but she would go to those danees and
197
EL CAPITAN OF SAN DIEGO
always came home in rags, having lost the clothes I gave her, at the dance."
On May 26, 1869, the Union contained this item: "We noticed a half dozen or more of the Lo family parading the streets last week, dressed after the fashion of Adam and Eve before they left the garden of Eden. If there is an old clothes society in this part of the moral vineyard, we would suggest to its members that these children of the forest receive a little of their attention."
This was a common occurrence for many years before and after. Mrs. Morse speaks of "wild Indians, nude, with the exception of a cloth about the loins," who, "stalked majestic- ally across the plaza, their long hair streaming in the wind, or, if in mourning, plastered up with paste made of grease and ashes. The rings in their noses were equally as useful and ornamental as the rings in the ears of white ladies."
In 1873, the Indians about new San Diego made themselves so objectionable by petty thieving and nightly brawls, that City Marshal Gassen and José Guadalupe Estudillo were sent to notify them to move their camp out of town. Their old chief, El Capitan, was found in the midst of a harangue, which he broke off to hear the message of the alcaldes, and promised obedience. In the following month he entered an indignant protest against putting out poisoned meat for the purpose of killing dogs, a practice which, it appeared, had led to the death of two of his warriors.
This venerable chief was one of the best of his race, and long an interesting figure about San Diego. The words El Capitan mean simply the captain, or chief, and give no clew to his name. HIe was once a chief of the Cahuillas. He always wore a "plug" hat and carried a cane, and in his younger days was a manly figure. He exerted considerable influence over his turbulent people, and aided the authorities in keeping them in order. He died in San Diego on December 10, 1875. at an advanced age.
In March, 1880, there was complaint of "too much pistol- shooting around town after dark" by Indians. And on May 18, 1886, Constable Rice -shot and killed an Indian on lower Fifth street in new San Diego. The Indian was drunk and attacked Officer Kerren with a knife. Rice interfered. where- upon the Indian turned upon him and was shot.
In October, 1883, the only surviving daughter of Chief O'Tay, of .the Diegueno Indians, died at Old Town. She was among the first of the Indians converted by the missionaries. Father Ubach thought her to be at least 120 years old. About two years before her death, she eut a third set of teeth. Another of these first converts, a man named "Nevos." lived to the age of 125, dying at Old Town on January 23, 1887. He
198
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
was a native of Lower California and was brought to San Diego with the first expedition, in 1769. He bore his age well, was never crippled, and although blind for years could hoe corn and beans, cut wood, and wash dishes, to the last. The characteristic old age of San Diego Indians has been alluded to by Dana :
Here among the huts, we saw the oldest man that I have ever met with; and, indeed I never supposed a person could re- tain life and exhibit such marks of age. He was sitting out in the sun, leaning against the side of the hut, and his legs and arms, which were bare, were of a dark red color, the skin withered and shrunken up like burnt leather, and the limbs not larger around than those of a boy of five years. He had a few gray hairs, which were tied together at the back of his head, and he was so feeble that, when we came up to him, he raised his hands slowly to his face and, taking hold of his lids with his fingers, lifted them up to look at us; and, being satisfied, let them drop again. All command over the lids seemed to have gone. I asked his age, but could get no answer but "Quien sabe?" and they probably did not know.
There is an aged Indian yet living who is one of the land- marks of Old Town-Rafael Mamudes. He is a native of Her- mosillo and has led an adventurous life. He was once a baker and followed his trade at Monterey. He also mined in Calaveras County, and made a sea voyage to Guaymas. He claims to be over a hundred years old, but it is not possible to verify this, and his real age is probably less. He came here about fifty years ago, and has supported himself by day labor. He has been married but is now alone, save for an aged sister. IIe owns the little plot on which the old jail stands.
MISSION INDIAN LANDS
Extracts from Executive Order, dated Washington, D. C., January 7, 1876, making reservation of tracts for the permanent use and occupation of the Mission Indians in Southern Cali- fornia :
"Potrero"-Including Rincon, Gapich, and La Joyo: Town- ship 10, south range 1 east; sections 16, 23, 25, 26, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and fractional sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29.
"Cahuilla"-township 7, south range 2 east; sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 33, 34, 35, and 36; township 7, south range 3 east; see- tions 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, and 35; township 8, south range 2 cast; sections 1, 2, 3, and 4; township 8, south range 3 east, sections 31 and 32; township 15, south range 2 east, sec- tions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.
"Capitan Grande"- township 14, south range 2 east, sections 25. 26, 27, 34, 35, and 36; township 14, south range 3 east, sec- tions 31 and 32; township 15, south range 2 east, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10; township 15, south range 3 east, sec- tions 5 and 6.
199
MISSION INDIAN LANDS
"Santa Isabel" (including Mesa Grande)-township 11, south range 2 east, south half of section 21, northwest quarter and east half of section 28, and sections 25, 26, and 27; township 11, south range 3 east, sections 25, 26, 27, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and fractional sections 29, 30, and 32; township 12, south range 2 east, sections 3, 10, 14, 15, and fractional section 13; township 12, south range 2 east, sections 1, 2, 12, and fractional sections 3, 4, 10, 11, 13, and 14.
"Pala"-township 8, south range 2 west, northeast quarter of section 33, and north half of north half of section 34.
"Agua Caliente"-township 10, south range 3 east, south- east quarter of section 23, southwest quarter of section 24, west half of section 25, and east half of section 26.
"Lycuan" -- township 16, south range 1 east, northeast quar- ter of section 13.
"Maja" -- township 13, south range 3 east, northeast quarter of section 35.
"Cosmet "-township 13, south range 3 east, north half of northeast quarter of section 25.
CHAPTER VIII
SAN DIEGO IN THE MEXICAN WAR
HE people of San Diego lived through an anx- ious and exciting experience during the war T with Mexico. As the only important port in Southern California, the town was of obvious strategie importanee, and both sides tried to hold it as a base of operations. The most conspicuous Americans identified with the war in the West, Stockton, Fremont, Kearny, participated in movements in this neighborhood, and the hard- est battle which marked the progress of the struggle in Califor- nia was fought at San Pasqual. The town itself was taken, lost, and taken again by the American forces before the new flag went up to stay .. In the midst of it all, the stream of social gaiety flowed on with only slight interruptions and the joy of it was actually inereased, at times, by the presence of gallant soldiers from abroad.
The pleasantest memory of the period which comes down to us is the attitude of native Americans who had married Cal- ifornian women and become Mexican citizens. Beset on one hand by the claims of their native land, and on the other by their obligations to their adopted country and the natural sym- pathies of their wives with the race to which they belonged, these Americans were certainly in a very embarrassing situa- tion. Without exception, and with little or no hesitation, they declared for the United States. What is yet more beautiful and touching, from the American point of view, their Spanish wives stood by them, even when their own fathers and brothers were in arms on the Mexican side. If blood is thicker than water, love is thicker than blood-the love which these men felt for their country and these women for their husbands. The native population divided between the two sides, while some remained neutral. The most prominent Spanish families, the Argüellos, Bandinis, and Pedrorenas, promptly espoused the American cause when they found that war was inevitable. They elearly recognized that Mexico could not hold the country in the face of the growing power of the United States, and wisely decided to throw their influence on the side which could offer personal security, material prosperity, and liberal self-government.
201
THE STARS AND STRIPES
On July 29, 1846, Captain Samuel F. Dupont arrived from Monterey in the sloop-of-war, Cyane. With him were John C. Frémont and his company of 80 men, and a like number of marines; also, Kit Carson, Alexis Godey, and four Delaware Indians. The whole composed the "California Battalion" of volunteers, with Frémont as major and Archibald H. Gillespie as captain. This formidable party received a friendly greet- ing from leading citizens, and lost no time in hoisting the Amer- ican flag on the Plaza at Old Town. The log of the Cyane shows the following entries :
CAPT. SAMUEL F. DUPONT
Who came to San Diego, in command of the sloop-of-war Cyane, bringing Fremont and his men
July 29 .- S to meridian. At 10:30 hauled up courses, stand- ing in for harbor of San Diego. At 11:30 came to in 91% fath- oms; hoisted out boats. Found the Mexican brig Juanita at anchor in the harbor. At 11:45 sent Lieutenant Higgins along- side with instructions to overhaul her papers. At 3:40 the launch and Alligator, under command of Lieutenant Rowan, and the Marine Guard under Lieutenant Maddox, left the ship to take possession of the town of San Diego and hoist the Ameri- can flag. From 4 to S, Major Frémont left the ship with a de-
202
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
tachment of his men. At 9 p.mn. launch returned and at 10:50 the Alligator with Lieutenant Rowan, after taking possession of San Diego and hoisting the American flag, leaving all our marine guard, under Lieutenant Maddox, on shore to defend the flag and town.
July 30 .- Crew employed in landing Major Fremout's Bat- talion with their equipments. 8 to meridian. Finished land- ing Major Frémont's troops and baggage.
August 9 .- Lieutenant Maddox and the marine guard came on board; also, Lieutenant George L. Selden. Meridian to 4 p. m. Beating out to seaward.
The flag used on this oceasion was a naval flag. One of the first American flags used in San Diego was made by the three daughters of Juan Bandini,-Josefa, Ysabel, and Arcadia, of red and blue flannel and white muslin sheets. The only one of these ladies now surviving is Mrs. Arcadia Bandini de Baker of Santa Monica. Their flag is preserved in the archives of the government at Washington, together with the history of its mak- ing and use.
Frémont's orders were to use San Diego as a base for the capture of Los Angeles. After collecting cattle, horses and other supplies, he marched north Aug. 8th, riding "an uncom- monly beautiful sorrel horse," which had been presented to him by Bandini. A small garrison was left behind, but it did not remain long, or was regarded by the citizens as inadequate, for about the middle of September twelve men under Captain Eze- kiel Merritt came down from Los Angeles to assist in the pro- tection of the town, in response to a demand which had been voieed by Henry D. Fiteh. Prominent citizens aided in pre- serving order and accepted offices under the election which was ordered by Stockton, and took place on Sept. 15th. Miguel de Pedrorena became justice of the peace, and Pedro C. Carrillo was appointed collector of customs.
Los Angeles promptly surrendered to Stockton and Frémont. who joined forces when the former arrived from San Pedro and the latter from San Diego. The victory was not lasting. how- ever, for in a short time the Californians rose and recaptured Los Angeles. Thus encouraged, they determined to regain San Diego also. For this purpose Francisco Rico was sent south early in October with fifty men. Rico did not reach San Diego, being recalled in haste after reaching the Santa Margarita, but Sérbulo Varela was soon after sent in his stead. A number of Merritt's men had been sent from San Diego to Los Angeles from time to time with dispatches, so that there were at that time but six or seven left. On the approach of Rico's forces, John Bidwell, who had been left in charge at San Luis Rey, left that place and joined Merritt's party at San Diego. The little garrison were alarmed by the approach of the Mexicans. as well
203
MEXICAN FLAG AGAIN HOISTED
as by apparently well-founded rumors of a plot of the Califor- nians to kill the Americans. They therefore embarked on board the Stonington, a whale-ship then lying in the harbor, which had been chartered by the government. The refugees included the garrison, the American residents and their families, and a number of Californians who had reason to fear for their safety. The town was immediately occupied by the enemy, and, looking out the next morning, the refugees saw the Mexican flag float- ing from the flagstaff above the plaza.
In this emergency, Bidwell was sent to San Pedro with four men in a small boat to ask for reinforcements. He returned after a dangerous voyage and steps were immediately taken to recapture the town. It often happens that we worry most about
MRS. ARCADIA DE BAKER
One of the daughters of Juan Bandini, who made the flag in Old Town in 1846. She now resides at Santa Monica and is known as "the wealthiest woman in Southern California"
things that never occur, and the refugees in the whale-ship wor- ried about the fact that two of the old eannon lay at the Pre- sidio, and that the Mexicans might mount them on ox-carts, bring them down to the shore, and bombard the ships. To ren- der such a disaster impossible, Albert B. Smith was put ashore at La Playa, and succeeded in reaching Presidio Hill by a cir- cuitous route. He found the guns, spiked them, and returned in safety. Relieved of anxiety on this seore, and emboldened by Smith's exploit, Captain Merritt the next morning landed all his available force, together with the whalers and two can- non from the ships, and marehed upon the town. The Mexican
204
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
troopers were formed in battle array but soon gave way and ran off over the hills. The Mexican flag was hauled down by María Antonia Machado, who carried it off to save it from the Americans. Albert B. Smith then climbed the flagpole, attached the new halyards and hauled up the American flag. Since that day, it has never been hauled down. The Mexicans shot at Smith during his daring feat, and he replied by waving his hat at them in defiance. He was not hit and none of the Americans were wounded.
Though driven out of town, the Mexican rangers retired but a short distance and continued the siege. They were reinforced late in October by 100 men from Los Angeles under command of Captains Cota and Carrillo. Their taeties were to avoid engagements and cut off supplies. Every day they appeared on the hills and shot at anyone in sight, and on one occasion drove some cattle away from the flat in town. As a conse- quenee, provisions grew short and suffering increased.
Commodore Stockton, awakened to the fact that California had not yet been conquered, eame to San Diego early- in Novem- ber in the 60-gun ship Congress.
The situation of the place was found to be miserable and de- plorable. The male inhabitants had abandoned the town, leav- ing their women and children dependent upon us for food. He at once sent Captain Samnel Gibson, of the Battalion, in the Stonington to Ensenada, and this expedition returned in a few days overland, driving about 90 horses and 200 head of cattle into the town. Stockton had in the meantime made a trip to San Pedro in the Congress, and on his return the ship grounded and was in danger of tumbling over. While the crew were en- gaged in staying the ship with spars, the enemy, irritated, I suppose, by the loss of his animals, came down in considerable force and made an attack; they were, however, soon driven back with the loss of two men and horses killed, and four wounded.
The date of this report. November 23rd, marks the time when vigorous measures were begun for clearing the country of the enemy. Up to this time the American losses were one man killed and one wounded. Varela had brought a eannon. with which he attacked the post from the hill. Earthworks had been thrown up at this place in 1838, at a time when an attack was expected from General José Castro, and from this protection the rangers menaced the town. They were so near that Juan Rocha could be heard shouting to his aunt for ropa [elothing] and chocolate. From this coign of vantage J. M. Orozco amused himself by shooting at Miguel de Pedrorena while he was escorting a young lady. But this all eame to an end in consequence of a gallant exploit, led by Captain Santiago E. Argüello.
This officer assailed the hill, his company dragging a cannon with them, drove the Californians from the trenehes. captured
205
FORT STOCKTON EQUIPPED
their gun, and turned it against them. The enemy made a new stand behind the old Presidio walls, but soon retreated up the valley toward the mission. Arguello having been wounded in the leg, Captain Pedrorena led the men in pursuit, and about a mile up the valley exchanged shots with a party under Lean- dro Osuna. A little farther on an American, going to water his horse in a cañada, was killed. A skirmish occurred at the old mission, where a few rangers were taken prisoner. The enemy then scattered, a part deserted, and the rest retired to the Soledad.
One of Stoekton's first cares was now to place the town in a state of defense. The captured earthworks were speedily im-
MIGUEL DE PEDRORENA
A leader of the Spanish families who supported the American cause in the war with Mexico
proved by the sailors and named Fort Stockton. It consisted of a ditch or moat, behind which casks filled with earth were placed at intervals of two feet. Twelve guns were mounted in the spaces between these casks in a manner to command the approaches from Los Angeles and Mission Valley. One hun- dred men, under Lieut. Minor, were placed in the fort as a gar- rison. The work was well done and constituted a formidable
206
HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
defense for the town. The remains of the earthworks stand today, in a fair state of preservation.
Stoekton now began preparations for an advance upon Los Angeles. The first thing to be considered was a supply of cat- tle and horses. The enemy had swept the country clean of live- stock and the horses brought in by Captain Gibson were in such poor condition that they required weeks of rest to become fit for service. The Stonington was therefore sent once more down the coast, abont the end of November, with a force under Cap- tain Samuel J. Hensley, of the Battalion, to secure supplies. In this work, Bandini, Pedrorena, and Argüello, were active. Stockton had landed his force and, while awaiting the return of this expedition, he improved the time by organizing and drill- ing at the old Presidio. His men consisted of sailors and marines from the fleet, members of Frémont's "Battalion of California Volunteers," and volunteers who enlisted here. Fré- mont was operating elsewhere, but Major Gillespie, Captains Hensley, Gibson, and Bell, Alexis Godey, and some Delaware Indians of his command, were here. John Bidwell was quarter- master of the entire force, a man named Fisher was commissary, and Merritt and his twelve men were already here. Among the. local volunteers, Santiago E. Argüello and Miguel de Pedrorena were made captains of cavalry. Philip Crosthwaite, who was on an otter-hunting expedition to Lower California in October, reached the Rosario Mission and was surprised there to meet the fugitives, Governor Pieo and his secretary, and to learn of the breaking out of the war. He hurried home and enlisted in the volunteers, under Captain Alexander Bell. William Curley, John C. Stewart, Julian Ames, John Brown, A. B. Smith. John Post. and Thomas Wrightington were members of the same company.
It is elaimed that no muster rolls of these volunteer compa- nies were ever sent to Washington, and not a man who served in them was ever able to secure a discharge. This afterward worked considerable hardship in the ease of San Diego Volun- teers, making it impossible to obtain the pensions to which they were entitled. It is difficult to understand how, without turn- ing in any muster rolls, the officers secured the money to pay their men. The late Dr. Winder made some investigation of the matter, as well as the present writer; but without result. It is therefore impossible to give anything like a complete record of the services of San Diegans in this war, the only informa- tion available being that disclosed by the participants who were thoughtful enough to set down their recollections. Gillespie wrote that the force in Stoekton's camp numbered 450 men. Strict discipline was established, the men were thoroughly
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.