History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 6

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West
Number of Pages: 538

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quest to the present, and therefore contain articles of Euro- pean manufacture. Others, however, such as those I opened near Avila, contain no articles of a metallic nature -no glass, wood, cloth, skins, or hair-indicating igno- rance of metals, non-intercourse with Europeans or Asiat- ics, and great age. Besides the graves proper, there are scores of shell heaps all along the sea-shore, the remains of thousands of dinners.

"In these heaps are the bones of many species of fish, of mammals, of birds, and of mollusks, showing that they were bountiful livers, those early Californians, and were not very particular what they had for dinner.

"These are the two sources from which the history of the aboriginal inhabitants of our county and State is gathered. No written characters or hieroglyphics have ever been discovered in the graves as far as I have heard. The nearest approach to meaning characters that I have seen is upon a small flat stone which I picked up on Har- ford Point. It is nothing more than a series of straight lines, running diagonally across the stone."

THE GRAVES AT PORT HARFORD.

The San Luis Obispo Tribune of March 9, 1883, no- tices some discoveries of relics in the old Indian cemetery near Port Harford, through which the Pacific Coast Rail- way Company was cutting a way for the road, as follows :-

"On Monday last a large stone mortar was found at a depth of about fourteen feet from the surface. The mor- tar is twenty inches in diameter at the top, eight inches depth of bowl, and the stone is from two to three inches in thickness. This was broken through the center into two equal parts, but both parts were found. This, with many other relics, will be preserved in the museum of the railway company as evidence of the people once occupying this country unknown years in the past, and of whose history, manners, and modes of living only these remain."

CHAPTER III. FOUNDING OF THE MISSIONS.

Palou's Life of Junipero Serra-The Visitador-General-Expeditions to California-Equipment of the San Carlos-Interesting Docu- ments-The Expedition by Land-Governor Portalà's Com- mand-Father Junipero and the Muleteer-Arrival at San Diego -Founding a Mission-Gathering the Indians-The Expedi- tion to Monterey -- Father Juan Crespi's Diary-The Expedi- tion in this Region-The Earliest Footprints-Difficult Travel- ing --- At the Bay of Monterey-Discovery of the Bay of San Francisco-The Missions in 1786-Second Expedition to Mon- terey-Threatened Abandonment of California.

NE of the most valuable of the old Spanish books pre- served for the modern historian's study is that of Father Francisco Palou, published in Mexico in 1787. The interest and care taken by the pious father is shown in the manner in which he preserved the records of the founding of the missions of California, and his devo- tion to the President of the missions, Father Junipero Serra, whose life the book purports to relate. Father Palou gives prominence to Junipero Serra, and the common be-

THE MISSION SAN MIGUEL, SAN LUIS OBISPO CO. CAL. 1883.

THE ABORIGINES.

lief appears to be that to him, his enterprise, persever- ance and ability is dne the settlement of Alta California, and the founding of the missions, but, not wishing to be iconoclastic, we must say the chief credit should be elsewhere bestowed.

THE VISITADOR-GENERAL.

The King and the ministry of Spain had sent Josè de Galvez, who bore the title of "Visitador-General," to the Pacific Coast of Mexico with orders to send expeditions to rediscover and occupy the ports of San Diego and Monterey in Alta California. Galvez was a man of great ability and energy, and his power, as direct from the King, was supreme. He appears to have conceived the idea of occupying California by means of missions. To carry out the plan, he selected Father Junipero Serra as chief mis- sionary, who entered into the project with great enthu- siasm and earnestness.

EXPEDITIONS TO CALIFORNIA.

Galvez had determined to found three missions, one at San Diego, one at Monterey, to be called San Carlos, and one midway between these to be called San Buenaven- tura. Two expeditions were dispatched from La Paz, in Lower California, one by sea and one by land, to San Diego.

The Visitador-General labored hard to equip and dis- patch these expeditions. Two vessels joined the sea- going fleet, the San Carlos and the San Antonio; upon these Galvez had placed all kinds of household and farming utensils, with material for repairs, every species of seeds, not forgetting garden herbs, flowers, and flax, the land being, he said, in his opinion, fertile for every- thing, as it was in the same latitude with Spain. For the same purpose, he determined that from the furthest north of the missions of Lower California, the expedi- tions by land should take two hundred head of cows and bulls in order to stock the new country with large cattle, to cultivate the land and provide something to eat.

Father Junipero blessed the vessels and the flags, and Galvez made an impressive address, and the expedition sailed from the port of La Paz on the 9th day of Jan- uary, 1769. The whole enterprise was commended to the patronage of the Most Holy Patriarch St. Joseph. On the San Carlos sailed Don Vicente Villa, commander to the maratime expedition; Don Pedro Fages, a Lieuten- ant commanding a company of twenty-five soldiers of the Catalonian volunteers; the engineer, Don Miguel Con- stanzo; likewise Dr. Pedro Prat, a surgeon of the royal navy, and all the necessary crew and officers. With them, for their consolation, went the Father Friar Fernando Parron.

The San Antonio sailed from Cape San Lucas on the 15th of February, 1769. The Captain was Don Juan Perez. With him sailed two priests, Fathers Juan Viz- cayno and Francisco Gomez. Much of this is taken from the lecture of Hon. Edmund Randolph to the California Pioneers in 1860.

EQUIPMENT OF THE SAN CARLOS.

The archives of this State contain a paper of these

times which cannot but be read with interest. It is the copy of the receipt of the Commander Vicente Villa, con- taining a list of all the persons on board of the San Carlos and an inventory of eight months' provisions. It reads thus :--

OFFICERS AND CREW, SOLDIERS, ETC., OF THE SAN CARLOS. The two army officers, the father missionary,

the captain, pilot, and surgeon 6 persons The company of soldiers, being one sergeant,

one corporal, and twenty-three men . . - - - 25 The officers of the ship and crew, including

two pages (cabin boys, doubtless). 25

The baker and two blacksmiths 3

The cook and two tortilla makers 3

Total 62 persons

Dried meat, 187 arrobas (an arroba being 25 lbs.), 6 libras; fish, 77 arrobas, 8 libras; crackers (common), 267 arrobas, 3 libras; crackers (white), 47 arrobas, 7 libras; Indian corn, 760 fanegas; rice, 37 arrobas, 20 libras; peas, 37 arrobas, 20 libras; lard, 20 arrobas; vinegar, 7 tinajas (jars); salt, 8 fanegas; panocha (domestic sugar), 43 arrobas, 8 libras; cheese, 78 arrobas; brandy, 5 tinajas; wine, 6 tinajas; figs, 6 tinajas; raisins, 3 tinajas; dates, 2 tinajas; sugar, 5 arrobas; chocolate, 77 arrobas; hams, 70 arrobas; oil (table), 6 tinajas; oil (fish), 5 tinajas; red pepper, 12 libras; black pepper, 7 libras; cinnamon, 7 libras; garlic, 5 libras; 25 smoked beef tongues; 6 live cattle; 70 tierces of flour, each of 25 arrobas, 20 libras; 15 sacks of bran; lentiles, 23 arrobas; beans, 19 arrobas, 20 libras; $1,000 in reals (coin) for any unexpected emer- gency. Besides 32 arrobas of panocha (domestic sugars), 20 for the two missions of San Diego and Monterey, one-half to each, and the remaining 12 arrobas for the gratification of the Indians and to barter with them; 16 sacks of charcoal; I box of tallow candles of 472 arrobas; I pair of 16-pound scales; 2 pounds of lamp wick.

INTERESTING DOCUMENTS.

The original of this simple and homely document, but which enables us to realize so clearly these obscure transactions, yet so full of interest for us, was given, unquestionably, to Galvez, and this copy we may pre- sume brought to California on this first voyage of the San Carlos to serve as her manifest. It is dated the 5th of January, 1769. Of the same date we have the in- structions of Galvez to Villa and Fages, addressed to each of them separately-that is, the original is given to Villa under the signature of Galvez, and a copy to Fages. They are long and minute. The first article declares that the first object of the expedition is to establish the "Catholic religion among a numerous heathen people, submerged in the obscure darkness of paganism, to extend the dominion of the King our lord, and to pro- tect this peninsula from the ambitious views of foreign nations." He also recites that this project had been entertained since 1606, when it was ordered to be executed by Philip III., referring to orders which were issued by that monarch in consequence of the report made by Vizcayno, but which were never carried into effect. He enjoins that no labor or fatigue be spared now for the accomplishment of such just and holy ends. San Diego, he says, will be found in latitude 33, as set forth in the royal cedula of 1606 (163 years before),

HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

and that it cannot fail to be recognized from the land- marks mentioned by Vizcayno. At the conclusion, in his own handwriting, we have the following:

NOTE. - That to the fort or presidio that may be constructed, and to the pueblo (village) of the mission which may be established at Monterey, there shall be given the glorious name of San Carlos de Monterey. JOSÉ DE GALVEZ. (With his rubric.)

When the San Antonio sailed she seems to have car- ried a letter from Galvez to Pedro Fages, who had gone in advance on the San Carlos, for we have it now in the archives. It is dated Cape San Lucas, February 14, 1769. The body of the letter is in substance: That the San Antonio arrived at the bay (San Lucas) on the 25th of last month (January), that she was discharged and cleared of barnacles; that he examined the vessel with his own eyes, and found the keel thereof as sound as when it was placed in the vessel; that the necessary repairs had been made and her cargo again placed on board, and that to- morrow, if the weather permit, she will sail, and that he trusts in Providence she will come safely into Monterey and find him (Fages) already in possession of the coun- try.

So far it is in the handwriting of a clerk. He then adds a postscript with his own hand, addressed as well to Father Parron and the engineer, Constanzo, as to Fages. "I read it," says Mr. Randolph, "for it is pleasant to have, as it were, a personal acquaintance with the eminent per- sonage who directed the foundation of Upper California, and to find him a gentleman of such manifest abilities, generous temper, and enthusiasm" :-

Mv FRIENDS: It appears that the Lord, to my confu- sion, desires infinitely to reward the only virtue I possess, which is my constant faith, for everything here goes on prosperously, even to the mines abounding in metals. Many people are collecting, with abundance of provisions.

I hope you will sing the Te Deum in Monterey, and in order that we may repeat it here, you will not withhold the notice of the same an instant longer than is necessary.

This is also for Reverend Father Parron.

JOSÉ DE GALVEZ. (Rubrica.)

THE EXPEDITION BY LAND.

Just as active was he in getting off the land expedition. The chief command was given to Don Gaspar de Portala, Captain of Dragoons, and then Governor of Lower Cali- fornia; the second rank to Don Fernando Rivera y Mon- cada, Captain of a company of foot soldiers who carried leathern bucklers. And in imitation of Jacob, Galvez, in view of the dangers of the route through savages and an unknown country, divided the force into two parts, to save one if the other were lost.

Rivera was to lead the first and the Governor to follow after. Rivera sets out toward the north as early as Sep- tember, 1768, collecting mules and muleteers, horses, dried meat, grain, flour, biscuits, etc., among the missions; encamps on the verge of the unexplored regions, and sends word to the Visitador-General that he will be ready to start for San Diego in all of March. Father Juan Crespi then joins him, and on the 24th of March, which was Good Friday, he begins the journey. This party

consisted of the Captain, Rivera, Father Crespi, who went to keep a diary, twenty-five foot soldiers with leath- ern bucklers, three muleteers, and a band of Christian Indians of Lower California to serve as pioneers, assist- ants to the muleteers, and for anything else that might be necessary, and who carried bows and arrows. They spent fifty-two days in the journey, and on the 14th of May arrived, without accident, at San Diego.

GOVERNOR PORTALA'S COMMAND.

Father Junipero Serra, President of the missions of Lower California, and of those that were to be founded, marched with Portala. The season of Lent, the disposi- tions to be made for the regulation of the missions dur- ing his absence, and the preparation for the expedition in its spiritual part, detained him, so that it was May be- fore he joined Portala at the same encampment from which Rivera had set out.

FATHER JUNIPERA AND THE MULETEER.

The reverend Father President came up in a very bad condition. He was traveling with an escort of two sol- diers, and hardly able to get on or off his mule. His foot and leg were greatly inflamed, and the more that he always wore sandals, and never used boots, shoes, or stockings. His priests and the Governor tried to dissuade him from the undertaking, but he said he would rather die on the road, yet he had faith the Lord would carry him safely through. A letter was even sent to Galvez, but he was a kindred spirit, and agreed with Father Junipero, who, however, was far into the wilderness before the answer was received.

On the second day out, his pain was so great that he could neither sit nor stand 'nor sleep, and Portala being still unable to induce him to return, gave orders for a lit- ter to be made. Hearing this, Father Junipero was greatly distressed on account of the Indians, who would have to carry him. He prayed fervently, and then a happy thought occurred to him. He called one of the muleteers, and addressed him, so runs the story, in these words: "Son, don't you know some remedy for the sore on my foot and leg?"

But the muleteer answered : "Father, what remedy can I know? Am I a surgeon? I am a muleteer, and have only cured the sore backs of beasts."

"Then consider me a beast," said the father, " and this sore which has produced the swelling of my leg, and the grievous pains I am suffering, and that neither let me stand nor sleep, to be a sore back, and give me the same treatment you would apply to a beast."

The muleteer, smiling, as did all the rest who heard him, answered, "I will, father, to please you;" and, tak- ing a small piece of tallow, mashed it between two stones, mixing with it herbs, which he found growing close by, and having heated it over the fire, anointed the foot and leg, leaving a plaster of it on the sore.

God wrought in such a manner-for so wrote Father Junipero himself from San Diego-that he slept all that night until daybreak, and awoke so much relieved from the pains that he got up and said matins and prime, and

THE ABORIGINES.

afterwards mass, as if he had never suffered such an acci- dent; and to the astonishment of the Governor and the troop at seeing the father in such health and spirit for the journey, which was not delayed a moment on his ac- count.

Such a man was Father Junipero Serra, and so he journeyed when he went to conquer California.

ARRIVAL AT SAN DIEGO.

On the first of July, 1769, they reached San Diego, all well, in forty-six days after leaving the frontier. When they came in sight of the port the troops began firing for joy; those already there replied in the same manner. The vessels at anchor joined in the salute, and so they kept up the firing, until, all having arrived, they fell to embracing one another, and to mutual congratulations at finding all the expeditions united and already at their longed-for des- tination.

Here, then, we have the officers and priests, soldiers and sailors, and laborers, mules, oxen and cows, seeds, tools, implements of husbandry, and vases, ornaments, and utensils for the church, gotten together to begin the work of settlement, conversion, and civilization on the soil of Californian. The year 1769 is our era. The ob- scure events noticed must yet by us be classed among its greatest occurrences, although it saw the birth of Na- poleon and Wellington.

The number of souls then at San Diego should have been about two hundred and fifty, but the San Carlos had had a very hard time at sea, not reaching San Diego (which place she found with difficulty) until twenty days after the arrival of the San Antonio, which sailed five weeks later. She had, of the crew, but one sailor and the cook left alive; all the rest had died of scurvy. The first thing to be done was to found a mission, and to look for Monterey, which from Vizcayno's time had been lost to the world.

FOUNDING A MISSION.

For founding a mission this was the proceeding :-

Formal possession of the designated spot was taken in the name of the King of Spain. A tent or arbor, or whatever construction was most practicable, was erected to serve as a temporary church, and adorned as well as circumstances would permit; a father in his robes blessed the place and the chapel, sprinkling them with water, which also he had first blessed for the occasion, and immediately the holy cross, having first been adored by all, was mounted on a staff and planted in front of the chapel. A saint was named as a patron of the mission, and a father appointed as its minister. Mass was said and a fervent discourse concerning the coming of the Holy Ghost delivered. That service, celebrated with such candles or other lights as they might have, being over, the Veni Creator Spiritus-an invocation to the Holy Ghost-was sung, whilst the continual firing of the soldiers during the ceremony supplied the place of an or- gan, and the smoke of the gunpowder that of incense, if it was wanting.

GATHERING THE INDIANS.

The mission being founded, the next thing was to at- tract the Indians. This was done in the simplest manner, by presents of food and cloth to the older ones, and bits of sugar to the younger ones. When they had learned enough of their language to communicate with them, they taught them the mysteries of the faith, and when they were able to say a few prayers and make in some sort a confession of faith, they were baptized and received into the fold of the church. At the same time they were drawn from a wandering life, collected in villages around the mission church, and instructed in the habits and arts of civilized life. To keep them in the practice of their lessons, spiritual and secular, the father in charge of the mission had over them the control of a master, and for them the affection of a parent, and was supported in his authority by the soldiers at the presidios, or an escort stationed at the mission itself.

This was the mode of accomplishing what Galvez in his instructions declared to be the first object of the enterprise. And in this manner Father Junipero began the work at San Diego on the 16th day of July, 1769.

THE EXPEDITION TO MONTEREY.

On the 14th day of July, 1769, the Governor Portala, and a servant; Fathers Juan Crespi and Francisco Gomez; Capt. Fernando Rivera y Moncada, the second in command, with Serg. Don José Francisco de Ortega and twenty-six soldiers of the leathern jackets; Lieut. Pedro Fages and seven of his soldiers-the rest had died on the San Carlos or were left at San Diego; Don Miguel Constanzo, the engineer; seven muleteers, and fifteen Christian Indians-sixty-five persons in all, with a pack-train carrying a large supply of provisions, set out. to rediscover Monterey. The mortality on board the San Carlos prevented any attempt at that time by sea; that vessel having to be laid up at San Diego, whilst all the efficient men were transferred to the San Antonio, which was sent back with the news and for reinforcements, and lost nine men before reaching San Blas, although she made the voyage in twenty days. Such was naviga- tion on this coast at that time.

A third vessel, the San Jose, had been dispatched from Loreto on the 16th of June, 1769, but after leaving the coast of Lower California was never seen again.

FATHER JUAN CRESPI'S DIARY.

The preceding particulars of the expedition to found the missions in Alta California are from the "Life of Father Junipero Serra," by Father Palou, which is made up largely from the diary kept by Father Juan Crespi, who, as has been stated, accompanied the party for the purpose, and were first given to the public in a lecture before the Society of California Pioneers by Hon. Ed- mund Randolph, September 10, 1860. Father Crespi continued his diary while journeying by land with Gov- ernor Portala in search of the bay of Monterey and the place where the priests of the Vizcayno expedition, in 1603, had set up the cross. Portala did not recognize Monterey, but found and named the bay of San Francisco.

HISTORY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY.

THE EXPEDITION IN THIS REGION.

That portion of the diary relating to the passage of this pioneer exploring party across the territory now com- prising San Luis Obispo County, has been translated for this book by Mr. H. O. Lang, of Oakland.

The explorers halted on the evening of September I, 1769, by the borders of a lake to which the father, with his partiality for names of a religious cast, entitled the Laguna Grande de San Daniel. Here the latitude was taken, and the party was found to be in latitude thirty- four degrees, thirteen minutes. From this statement we are inclined to give Father Crespi little credit for strict accuracy in his astronomical observations, since, as we see, he was in error nearly three-fourths of a degree; but some of his subsequent determinations were strikingly exact, if one takes into consideration the imperfection of the instruments of that date.

We will now proceed with the diary from the time of their departure from the Laguna de San Daniel :-

SATURDAY, THE 2ND .- We set out from the laguna at a quarter past eight, crossing the adjacent plain a distance of two leagues; by the course that we followed; being. toward the northwest, the remainder of our day's journey lay over mesas (table-lands) until we came to a watering-place, which was a large laguna, circular in form, within a glade, some sand piles lying between it and the sea; all this dale is covered with rushes and 'cat-tails,' and is very swampy and wet. It lies from east to west. In the afternoon the soldiers went out to hunt bears, of which they had seen signs, and succeeded in shooting one, the animal measuring fourteen palms from the bottom of his feet to his head; he might have weighed more than fifteen arrobas (375 lbs.). We tried the meat, and to me it seemed very palatable. Six gen- tiles (Indians) came to visit us, who live in two ranche- rias, which they say are not far distant. We gave to this lake the names of La Laguna de los Santos Martires, San Juan de Perugia, and San Pedro de Sacro Terrato. Here Serg. Don Josè Francisco de Ortega fell sick of what seemed to be flatulency (flato), also several soldiers complained of their legs.

SUNDAY, THE 3D .- This day we rested to allow the scouts to search out a pass by which we might cross the Sierra that we had in sight, and that we supposed extended down to the sea-shore. It seems to be the same range that we have seen upon our right ever since leaving San Diego; retiring in places, and again intruding upon the shore, and now is so close thereto as to cut us off from that course. Our stopping-place was called by some of us Real de los Vivoras; others call it El Oso Flaco (lean bear).

MONDAY, THE 4TH .- At half-past six in the morning we started out, taking the road to the west, and crossing the sand-hills by the shortest route that our scouts were able to discover, it being only half a league to the beach. We came then to the shore, which we followed for about a league to the northwest, turning then to the east and cross- ing the sand-hills again at a narrow place, when we found ourselves on firm ground. For a league further we trav- eled, our course lying between two bodies of water. At the right lay a lagoon of fresh water, which rests against the sand-dunes, and is by them cut off from the sea; at the left we have an estero which enters this plain, and obliges us to make a détour to the northwest to pass it. Then taking the road to the north we entered the sierra through a glade covered with live-oaks, alders, willows, and other trees, and halted near a running stream covered

with water-cress. In all our course of more than four leagues we encountered but one little rancheria of Indians; but near our stopping-place we found an Indian settle- ment whose people came to visit us, bringing presents of fish and seeds, to which our Señor Commandante re- sponded with some glass beads. The head man of this rancheria had an immense tumor hanging from his neck, at sight of which the soldiers dubbed him El Buchon, the name extending also to the rancheria. The name San Ladislao was given by me to the halting-place, that he might be its patron and protector until its conversion. I observed the latitude and made it 35° 28'.

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History of San Luis Obispo County, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 6

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West Number of Pages: 538

Author: Angel, Myron; Thompson & West
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Oakland, Calif. : Thompson & West
Number of Pages: 538