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 27
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Insolence .- There is a man in this town, holding a public po- sition, who has got to using his tongue pretty freely of late, and but that we esteem him beneath the notice of responsible citizens, we have been half inclined, on several occasions, to knock him down and give him a good sound thrashing. If we thought the better portion of the community would justify us, and the District Attorney would not bear down too hard upon us for a fine, we would try what good a little pummeling would do an insolent official.
It is probable that Ames's immense size kept him out of trou- ble, as no one cared to tackle him. There is no record of his hav- ing been engaged in a duel, or in any personal combat, except the mythical one with Lieutenant Derby, but an item in the Herald of August 13, 1853, shows that he was a valuable peace officer and something of a sprinter as well.
Indian Rows .- There is scarcely a day passes that there is not some fight among the Indians abont town, in which one or more is ent or otherwise mutilated-and all through the di- rect influence of whiskey or some other intoxicating drink sold
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THE ADVENT OF DERBY
to them by Californians or Americans. . A row occurred last Sunday night in which some fifteen or twenty drunken In- dians participated, some of whom got badly beaten or ent with knives. Sheriff Conway called upon a number of citizens about 12 o'clock to go and arrest these disturbers of the peace. They succeeded in capturing eleven of the tribe, who were arraigned the next day before Justice Franklin. One was fined $10 and sentenced to ten days imprisonment, another to receive 25 lashes each for two offences; and two were fined $5 and costs. On arresting the last "batch" the ringleader was put in charge of Judge Ames, to convey to the "lock-up." They had ad- vanced but a few rods from the rest of the party when the Indian made a sudden spring from his leviathan escort and made tracks towards the river. The Judge commanded him to stop, but he kept on, and was fired at twice-the last ball tak- ing a serateh at his side just under the left arm. Having no more shots, legs were put into requisition, and then came the tug of war. The Indian held his own for about fifty yards. when the Judge began to gain on him, and when he had got within striking distance, that ponderons arm of his came down twice with a "slung shot," breaking the Indian's right arm and his left collar bone, which brought him to the ground, when he was secured and taken to the calaboosc.
Soon after this occurrence, Ames advertised for the return of a sword eane. It also appears that he had some difficulty with Major Justus Mckinstry, which mutual friends thought it nec- essary to arrange before Ames's departure for the East, in April, 1853, and J. R. Gitchell published a card stating that a recon- ciliation had been effected. It is clear that, notwithstanding his gigantie size, our first editor was not altogether a man of peace. It is also a fact that he was very remiss in the payment of his debts. That he had enemies in San Diego and vicinity is shown by the fact that he held but one elective office, and that a minor one.
Lieutenant George H. Derby made San Diego his home for about two years, from 1853 to 1855, and left behind him mem- ories which the people of San Diego cherish to this day. This, not merely because the scene of so many of the funny things in Phocniriana is laid here, but quite as much on account of his lovable personality. It may be assumed that the reader is famil- iar with that delectable book and it will therefore not be profit- able to reproduce any considerable part of it ; but it is believed that something about Derby's life and personality, with a few selections of local interest from Phocniriana and others from the old Herald files not so familiar to the public, will prove of interest.
George Horatio Derby was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, April 3. 1823. He attended school in Coneord and is remem- bered by Senator Hoar, who says in his Autobiography that Derby was very fond of small boys. Afterward he tended store
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
in Concord, but failed to please his employer, "who was a snug and avaricious person." During the proprietor's weekly absences in Boston. Derby would stretch himself out on the counter and read novels, and at such times did not like to be disturbed to wait on customers and was quite likely to tell them the goods they wanted were out. He afterward entered West Point and graduated with distinction, in 1846. Ile served through the Mexican War, was wounded at Cerro Gordo, and was made a first lieutenant.
In April, 1849, he arrived in California on board the Iowa. with General Bennett Riley and a part of the Second Infantry Regiment. He was employed on different tours of duty in the Topographical Corps, until July, 1853, when he was detailed to superintend the turning of the San Diego River to make it debouch into False Bay. His description of the voyage down and of the appearance of the town of San Diego at that period, in Phoenixiana, are among the funniest things he ever wrote. Ile met Judge Ames, and has this to say about him: "I fell in conversation with Judge Ames, the talented, good-hearted, but eccentric editor of the San Diego Herald. I found 'the Judge' exceedingly agreeable, urbane and well informed, and obtained from him much valuable information regarding San Diego." Ames appears to have proposed to Derby almost immediately to take charge of his paper for two weeks, while he made one of his frequent trips to San Francisco. Ames and Derby had probably met in San Francisco. At least, it is quite certain they were acquainted. for Derby had been in San Diego during the preceding April, on business connected with the work on the river, and at that time visited the Masonic Lodge, of which order they were both members. He was undoubtedly well acquainted with Derby's reputation as a writer, as his sketches had appeared in the San Francisco papers over the pen names of "John Phoenix" and "Squihob." Derby readily fell in with the proposal, doubtless foreseeing opportunities for no end of fun. The situation is developed thus in the Herald :
In his issue of August 13th, Ames said :
Our Absence .- We shall leave on the first steamer for San Francisco, to be absent about two weeks. A friend of acknowl. edged ability and literary acquirements, will occupy the "old arm chair" during our absence.
Derby writes, in his letter to a San Francisco paper :
Lo. I am an editor! Hasn't Ames gone to San Francisco (with this very letter in his pocket), leaving a notice in his last edition, "that during his absence an able literary friend will assume his position as editor of the Herald," and am I not that able literary friend? (Heaven save the mark). "You'd
307
GOING BACK ON BIGLER
better believe it." I've been writing a "leader" and funny anecdotes all day and such a "leader" and such aner- dotes. I'll send you the paper next week, and if you don't al- low that there's been no such publication, weekly or serial. since the days of the "Bunkum Flagstaff'' I'Hl crawfish, and take to reading Johnson's Dictionary.
In the Herald he made the following announcement :
Next week, with the Divine assistance, a new hand will be applied to the bellows of this establishment, and an intensely interesting issue will possibly be the result. The paper will be published on Wednesday evening; and, to avoid confusion. the crowd will please form in the plaza, passing four abreast by the City Hall and Herald office, from the gallery of which Johnny will hand them their papers. "E pluribus unum," or "A word to the wise is bastante.'
Ames neglected to ask what Derby's politics were, or to give instructions respecting the policy of the paper during his absence. The result was disastrous, for Derby immediately changed its polities from Democratie to Whig. The mingling of fun and seriousness in his political leaders of this time is inimitable. He sometimes mixed up the two gubernatorial can- didates, Waldo and Bigler, referring to them as "Baldo and Wigler," or "Wagler and Bildo."
"Old Bigler," he declares, "hasn't paid the people of this county anything for supporting him (though judging by the tone of the Independent Press, he has been liberal enough above). We think therefore they will do precisely as if he had. -vote for a better man." Again :
Frank, our accomplished compositor, who belongs to the fighting wing of the Unterrified Democracy, "groans in spirit and is troubled, "' as he sets up our heretical doctrines and opin- ions. He says "the Whigs will be delighted with the paper this week."
We hope so. We know several respectable gentlemen who are Whigs, and feel anxious to delight them, as well as our Demo- cratic friends (of whose approval we are confident), and all other sorts and conditions of men, always excepting Biglerites and Abolitionists. Ah! sighs the unfortunate Frank, but what will Mr. Ames say when he gets back? Haven't the slightest idea; we shall probably ascertain by reading the first Herald published after his return. Meanwhile, we devoutly hope that event will not take place before we've had a chance to give Mr. Bigler one blizzard on the subjects of "Water-front ex- tension, " and "State Printing. " We understand these schemes fully, and are inclined to enlighten the public of San Diego with regard to them. Ah! Bigler, my boy, old is J. B. but cunning. sir, and devilish sly. Phoenix is after you, and you'd better pray for the return of the editor de facto to San Diego, while
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
vet there is time, or you're a goner, as far as this county is concerned.
On September 17th, Derby says that Ames had promised to write to the Herald regularly. "We present to our readers this week the only communication we have received from him for publication, since his departure. It contains the speeches of William Waldo, advocating his own election; the remarks made by the Judge himself before the Railroad meeting, in favor of San Diego as the Western terminus; and the political principles in full of John Bigler. Apart from these matters of interest. it may be considered in some respects a model commu- nication, for it contains no personal allusions whatever, nor anything that could cause a blush on the cheek of the most mod- est maiden, or wound the feelings of the most sensitive or fas- tidious. As a general thing, it may be considered the most entirely unexceptionable article the worthy Judge ever com- posed. Ilere it is :
"Letter from J. J. Ames, Esq., for the San Diego Herald." (A blank space.)
But although Ames was strangely silent for a time, he did write Derby, at last, protesting against his policy. This letter was not received, however, until after the election, and remem- bering this faet it is interesting to note how Derby treated it:
We have received by the Goliah, an affecting letter from Judge Ames, beseeching us to return to the fold of Democracy from which he is inclined to intimate we have been straying. Is it possible that we have been laboring under a delusion- and that Waldo is a Whig! Why! lor! How singular! But anx- ious to atone for our past errors, willing to please the taste of the Editor, and above all, ever solicitous to be on the strong side, we gladly abjure our former opinions, embrace Democracy with ardor, slap her on the back, declare ourselves in favor of erecting a statue of Andrew Jackson in the Plaza, and to prove our sincerity, run today at the head of our columns, a Democratic ticket for 1855, which we hope will please the most fastidious. Being rather hard up for the principles for our political faith, we have commenced the study of the back numbers of the Democratic Review, and finding therein that "Democracy is the supremacy of man over his accidents," we hereby express our contempt for a man with a sprained ankle, and unmitigated scorn for anybody who may be kicked by a mule or a woman. That's Democratic, ain't it? Oh, we un- derstand these things-Bless your soul, Judge, we're a Demo- crat.
The ticket which he "ran up" was as follows:
Democratic State Nominations.
Subject to the Decision of the State Democratie Conven- tion, May, 1855. For Governor, John Bigler. For Lientenant- Governor, Samuel Purdy.
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COMMENTS ON ELECTION
Concerning the Whig ticket he says:
The "Phoenix Ticket" generally, appears to give general satisfaction. It was merely put forward suggestively, and not being the result of a clique or convention, the public are at perfect liberty to make such alterations or orasures as they may think proper. I hope it may meet with a strong sup- port on the day of election; but should it meet with defeat, I shall endeavor to bear the inevitable mortification that must result with my usnal equanimity.
Like unto the great Napoleon after the battle of Water- loo, or the magnanimous Boggs after his defeat, in the guber- natorial campaign of Missouri, I shall fold my arms with tran- quillity, and say either "C'est fini," or "Oh shaw, I know'd it!"
The Whig ticket carried the county, but the Democrats car- ried the state. His comments upon the result of the election are interesting :
News of the Week .- We publish this week the gratifying intelligence, sobre la izquierda (over the left), of the trium- phant re-election of John Bigler to the chief magistracy of this commonwealth. The voice of the Democracy has been heard, pealing in thunder tones throughout the length and breadth of the State, waking the echoes on Mokelumne Hill, growling in sub-bass from the San Joaquin (Republican), re- verberating among the busy and crowded streets of Monterey, and re-echoed from the snow-eapped summits of San Bernar- dino, with extensive shouts of Extension and John Bigler for- ever! While we of San Diego, through the culpable negligence of the Goliah (which put the Voice aboard but left it at San Pedro), have gone on unhearing and nnheeding and voted for William Waldo, just as if nothing extraordinary was taking place. Many reasons are assigned by the Independent Press of San Francisco, and our Whig exchanges, for the election of Bigler. I am inelined to attribute it principally to the de- feat of Waldo, and the fact that the San Diego Herald took no active part in the Gubernatorial election. Had Waldo been sneeessful, or our course been of another character, there is every reason to suppose that the result would have been differ- ent. But "whatever is, is right, " as the old gentleman sweet- ly remarked, when he chopped off the end of his nose with a razor, in an endeavor to kill a fly that had lit thereon while he was shaving. "There is a Providence that shapes our ends rough-hew them as we may. " Governor Bigler is still Gorernor Bigler, there'll be no Er. to his name (unless it be ex-tension) for the next two years; the people are satisfied, he is gratified, and I am delighted, and the Lord knows that it makes very little difference to me individually, or the people of this county at large, whether the water front of San Fran- cisco remains unaltered, or is extended to Contra Costa. San Diego boasts a far finer harbor at present than her wealthier rival, and when that of the latter is entirely filled up, it will be more generally known and appreciated. "It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good." If this election should, how- ever indirectly, canse San Diego to assume its proper position as the first commercial city of California, I shall reverence
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
the name of John Bigler forever, and I will bestow that hon- ored appellation upon my youngest child, and have it engraved upon a piece of leather or other suitable material, and sus- pended about that tender infant's neck, until such time as he shall be old enough to learn and love the virtues of his hon- ored Godsire.
Derby never wrote anything more delicious than his account of the combat (which did not ocenr) between himself and Ames upon the latter's return, when "we held 'the Judge' down over the press by our nose (which we had inserted between his teeth for that purpose)," until "we discovered that we had been laboring under a 'misunderstanding,' and through the amicable intervention of the pressman, who thrust a roller between our faces (which gave the whole affair a very different complexion) . the matter was finally adjusted on the most friendly terms." The people of San Diego took the change of politics of the Herald rather seriously, greatly to Derby's delight. One old gentleman, still living, admits that he hurried to the Herald office and paid a year's subscription in the belief that the change was genuine. There was quite a little speculation as to "what Ames would do to Derby when he got back," and Derby played upon this apprehension and purposely let it be understood that he was awaiting Ames's return in trembling terror. Thus. he says :
Though this is but my second bow to a San Diego audience. I presume it to be my last appearance and valedietory, for the editor will doubtless arrive before another week elapses, the gun will be removed from my trembling grasp, and the Herald will resume its great aims, and heavy firing, and I hope will discharge its debt to the public with accuracy, and pre- cision. Meanwhile "The Lord be with you." "Be virtuous and you will be happy."
The friendly relations between Ames and Derby were never broken, and the combat which Derby describes was purely imaginary. The editor was a very large man, and had a rep- utation as a fire eater, while the lieutenant was small, and such a combat would have been a very unequal affair. Ames's own comments, in the first number after his return, show that, if he did not entirely relish the joke, he reconciled himself to bear it:
Turned Up Again! Here we are again! Phoenix has played the "devil" during our absence, but he has done it in such a good humored manner, that we have not a word to say. He has done things which he ought not to have done, and has left undone things which he onght to have done; but as what evil he has done cannot be undone, we may as well "dry up" and "let it slide."
311
PUBLICATION OF "PHOENIXIANA"
Ile has abused Captain Wright, and like David of scripture memory, he has killed off the Goliah. He has abused our noble friend. Governor Bigler, but as the people in this region con- sidered it only a faint echo of the Independent (?) Press of San Francisco, it had a contrary effect from that intended, and we are perfectly satisfied with the result. Notwithstanding the great hue-and-ery throughout the State, that Gov. Big- ler was the father of the "Extension Scheme, " and every imaginable outrage against the rights of the people, and that hired emissaries were sent down here from San Francisco, to stir up discord in the ranks of the Democracy, Waldo got but about thirty majority in the county-and these votes were all east in one precinct. Well, it's all over, Bigler is Gov- ernor, and the country is safe for the next two years, at least.
The files of the Herald give incontrovertible proof of the friendship which continued to exist between these two men, so long as they both lived. In 1855, Ames compiled Phoeniciana and superintended its publication. This was done against Derby's judgment, he apparently thinking the matter too ephemeral for such a setting. It is possible that he also doubted Ames's competency. and if so, he was justified, for a more slop- pily gotten-up book has seldom been issued. Notwithstanding this, the naive humor and exquisite drollery with which it abounds made it a success and today it is a classic. It was with considerable pride that Ames announced, in 1859, that he had re-engaged the services of "John Phoenix" to write for the Herald exclusively.
The fun which Derby had while conducting the Herald. aside from the famous political bouleversement, has received too lit- tle attention. In his first number, he added to the editorial col- umnn, under the name of Ames: "Slightly assisted by Phoenix." He had fun with ex-Governor MeDougal, who chaneed to visit the city :
Distinguished Visitors .- His ex-Excellency. the Hon. John Me Dougal, and Col. J. B. Wells, from San Francisco, have ar- rived among us on business, which will detain them until the arrival of the next steamer (as they have no other means of getting away).
The Governor looks as hale, hearty and roseate as ever: don't think Bigler stands much chance of election, and wouldn't be quite inconsolable if he should be defeated. He has been engaged in a theological and polemical controversy with the Rev. Dr. Reynolds since his arrival, in which they have had it "Nip and Tuck," the Gov. taking an occasional "Nip"' to clear his mind and fortify his spirits as "Friar Tuck"' would get a little advantage in the argument. At their last sitting, the disenssion turned upon the "Divinity of the Serip- tures," and was closed by a remark of the Governor's, "that the Bible (like his adversary's nose), was a good deal read."
Governor MeDougal goes to the Playa today to wait for the Northerner to take him to San Francisco, The Gov. ex-
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HISTORY OF SAN DIEGO
presses himself much gratified with his visit; and we are pleased to hear that it is his intention to purchase an elegant man- sion lately erected at New Town, bring his family here in the spring, and make San Diego his permanent residence. He will devote himself to the profession of the law, and will be a most valuable acquisition to our bar.
The Herald having received a letter from the resident phy. sician of the Stockton Insane Asylum, asking for a copy of the paper, Derby says he will send it, and anxiously inquires whether two could not be used ? He also asks whether the idea of sending for the Herald was the doctor's or the patient's; and if the latter, "they're sensible to the last," "there's method in their madness," and "they ought immediately to be discharged, every mother's son of them."
Derby was fond of San Francisco, and his writings abound with allusions to it. This remark may aid somewhat in the appreciation of the following :
The Press of San Francisco .- The steamer of the 1st from San Francisco brought no papers, none whatever-Some three or four weeks since, two little papers, ealled, we believe, the " Alta California" and the "Herald, " were published regularly in that village, and we used occasionally to receive them. They were made principally of excerpts from the San Diego Herald, and we cannot but regret that the failure of the Goliah, and the uneertainty of the mails, preventing our paper reaching them with its customary regularity, should have caused their publication to be discontinued.
San Francisco is a place of little business or importance, but in a large city like this, country intelligence is occasionally amusing, and should either of the above papers be republished or a new press started in San Francisco, we shall be willing to exchange. We are just informed that two little political sheets called the "Commercial Advertiser," and the "Placer Times and Transcript," are occasionally published yet in San Francisco. Ah, we dare say; we have never seen them, however. Willing to encourage the humble efforts of any individuals if exerted in a proper direction, we shall not object to an exchange with either of these little affairs, if they think proper to request it.
While the work on the San Diego River was progressing. he allowed himself the luxury of a few jibes about it. Upon his arrival, he wrote :
Here I saw Lient. Derby [himself], of the Topograph- ical Engineers, an elderly gentleman of emaciated appearance and serions cast of features. Constant study and unremitting at- tention to his laborious duties have reduecd him almost to a skeleton, but there are not wanting those who say that an un- requited attachment in his earlier days is the cause of his eareworn appearance.
Ile was sent out from Washington some months since "to dam the San Diego River, " and he informed me with a deep
313
TURNING THE RIVER
sigh and melancholy smile, that he had done it (mentally) sev- eral times since his arrival.
A little later he noted that : "The report that Lieut. Derby has sent to San Francisco for a lathe, to be used in turning the San Diego River is, we understand, entirely without foundation."
The Indians at work on the river behave well and shovel with great ardor con amore. . There are at present 47 of them at work, and 50 more are expected early in the week. They are under the control of Mr. Conroy and Charles Gage, over- seers, and their own chiefs, Manuelito and old Tomás. Tents
LIEUTENANT GEORGE H. DERBY
Author of "Phoenixiana" whose fame as a humorist has endured and seems likely to grow with the years
have been pitched for them, and with an unlimited supply of beans, and the flesh of bulls (a burnt offering they do not des- pise), they are as happy as circumstances will admit, and "doing as well as could be expected."
The shanty occupied by the workmen on the San Diego River has been christened "The Phoenix Hotel, " out of com- pliment to the brevet editor of the San Diego Herald.
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