USA > California > Santa Barbara County > History of Santa Barbara county, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 16
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 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111
" Having returned to the town, we saw a crowd col- lected in the square before the principal pulperia, and, riding up, found that all these people, men, women and children, had been drawn together by a couple of bantam cocks. The cocks were in full tilt, springing into one another, and the people were as eager, laughing and shouting, as though the combatants had been men.
" There had been a disappointment about the bull; he had broken his bail and taken himself off, and it was too late to get another, so the people were obliged to put up with a cock fight. One of the bantams having been knocked in the head and having an eye put out, gave in, and two monstrous prize cocks were brought on. These were the objects of the whole affair, the bantams having been merely served up as a first course to collect the people together. Two fellows came into the ring holding the cocks in their arms and stroking them, and run- ning about on all fours, encouraging and setting them on. Bets ran high, and like most other con- tests, it remained for some time undecided. Both cocks showed great pluck, and fought probably bet- ter and longer than their masters would have done. Whether in the end it was the white or red that beat I do not recollect, but whichever it was, he strutted off with the true veni-vidi-vici look, leaving the other panting on his beam ends.
A HORSE RACE.
" This matter having been settled, we heard some talk about 'caballos' and 'carrera,' and seeing the people streaming off in one direction, we followed, and came upon a level piece of ground just out of the town, which was used as a race-course. Here the crowd soon became thick again, the ground was marked off, the judges stationed, and the horses led up to one end. Two fine-looking old gentlemen-Don Carlos and Don Domingo, so-called-held the stakes; and all was now ready. We waited some time, during which we could just see the horses, twisting round and turning, until, at length, there was a shout along the lines, and on they came, heads
63
SANTA BARBARA AS SEEN BY DANA.
stretched out and eyes starting, working all over. both man and beast. The steeds came by us like a couple of chain shot, neck and neck, and now we eould sec nothing but their backs and their hind hoofs flying in the air. As fast as the horses passed. the crowd broke up behind them and ran to the goal. When we got there we found the horses returning on a slow walk, having run far beyond the mark, and heard that the long, bony one had come in head and shoulders before the other. The riders were light-built men, had handkerchiefs tied around their heads, and were bare-armed and bare-legged. The horses were noble-looking beasts, not so sleek and combed as our Boston stable horses, but with fine limbs and spirited eyes. After this had been settled and fully talked over, the crowd seattered again, and flocked back to the town.
DANCING.
" Returning to the large pulperia, we heard the violin and guitar screaming and twanging away. under the piazza where they had been all day.
" As it was now sundown, there began to be some dancing. The Italian sailors danced, and one of our crew exhibited himself in a sort of West India shuffle. much to the amusement of the bystanders, who cried out, ' Bravo !' 'Otra Vez!' and 'Vian los Marmeros;' but the dancing did not become general, as the women and the 'gente de razon' had not yet made their appearance. We wished very much to stay and see the style of dancing, but, although we had our own way during the day, yet we were after all, but fore-mast jacks; and, having been ordered to be on the beach by sunset, did not venture to be more than an hour behind time, so we took our way down.
AMONG THE BREAKERS.
"We found the boat just pulling ashore, among the breakers, which were running high, there having been a heavy fog outside, which, from some cause or other, always brings on, or precedes, a heavy sea.
"Liberty-men are privileged from the time they leave the vessel until they step on board again; so we took our places in the stern sheets, and were congrat- ulating ourselves on getting off dry, when a great comber broke front and aft the boat, and wet ns through and through. filling the boat half full of water. Having lost her buoyancy by the weight of the water, she dropped heavily into every sea that struck her, and by the time we had pulled out of the surf into deep water, she was but just afloat and we were np to our knees. By the help of a small bucket and our hats, we bailed her out, got on board, hoisted the boats, eat our supper, changed our clothes, gave (as is usnal) the whole history of our days adventures to those who had stayed on board, and, having taken a night smoke, turned in. Thus ended our second day's liberty on shore.
DESCRIPTION OF A FESTIVAL, JANUARY 10, 1836.
"Great preparations were now being made on shore for the marriage of our agent, who was to marry Doña Anita la Guerra de Noriega y Carrillo, youngest daughter of Don Antonio Noriega, the grandee of the place, and the head of the first family in Califor- nia.
"Our steward was ashore three days making pastry and cake, and some of the best of our stores were sent off with him. On the day appointed for the wedding, we took the captain ashore in the gig, and had orders to come for him at night, with leave to go up
to the house and see the fandango. Returning on board we found preparations making for a salute. Our guns were loaded and run out, men appointed to each. cartridges served out, matches lighted, and all the flags ready to be run up. I took my place at the starboard after gun, and we all waited for the signal from on shore. At ten o'clock the bride went up with her sister to the confessional, dressed in black. Nearly an hour intervened when the great doors of the mission church opened. the bells rang out a loud discordant peal, the private signal for us was run up by the captain ashore, the bride. dressed in complete white, came out of the church with the bridegroom, followed by a long procession.
"Just as she stepped from the church door, a small. white cloud issued from the bows of our ship, which was full in sight. the loud report echoed among the hills and over the bay, and instantly the ship was dressed in flags and pennants from stem to stern. Twenty-three guns followed in regular succession. with an interval of fifteen seconds between each, when the cloud blew off and our ship lay dressed in her colors all day. At sundown another salute of the same number of guns was fired, and all the flags run down.
"This we thought was pretty well-a gun every fifteen seconds-for a merchant-man with only four guns and a dozen or twenty men.
" After supper the gig's crew were called and we rowed ashore, dressed in full uniform, beached the boat and went up to the fandango. The bride's father's house was the principal one in the place, with a large court in front, upon which a tent was built, capable of containing several hundred people. As we drew near we heard the accustomed sound of violins and guitars, and saw a great motion of the people within. Going in, we found nearly all the people of the town-men, women, and children, collected and crowded together, leaving barely room for the dancers; for on these occasions no invitations are given, but every one is expected to come, though there is always a private entertainment within the house for particu- lar friends.
" The old women sat down in rows, clapping their hands to the music and applauding the young ones.
" The music was lively and among the tunes we rec- ognized several of our popular airs, which we, without doubt. have taken from the Spanish.
" In the dancing. I was much disappointed. The women stood upright with their hands down by their sides, their eyes fixed upon the ground before them. and slid about without any perceptible means of motion; for their feet were invisible, the hem of their dresses forming a circle about them, reaching to the ground. They looked as grave as though they were going through some religious ceremony, their faces as little excited as their limbs, and on the whole, in- stead of the spirited, fascinating, Spanish dances which I had expected, I found the Californian fan- dango, on the part of the women at least, a lifeless affair.
"The men did better. They danced with grace and spirit, moving in cireles around their nearly stationary partners, and showing their figures to advantage.
" A great deal was said about our friend Don Juan Bandini, and when he did appear, which was toward the close of the evening. he certainly gave us the most graceful dancing that I had ever seen. He was dressed in white pantaloons, neatly made, a short jacket of dark silk gaily figured, white stockings and thin morocco slippers upon his very small feet. His slight and graceful figure was well adapted to dane-
64
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
ing, and he moved about with the grace and daintiness of a young fawn.
" He was loudly applauded, and daneed frequently toward the close of the evening. After the supper the waltzing began, which was confined to a very few of the "gente de razon," and was considered a high accomplishment, and a mark of aristocraey. Here, too, Don Juan figured greatly, waltzing with the sister of the bride (Doña Angustia, a handsome woman and a general favorite), in a variety of beau- titul figures, which lasted as much as half an hour, no one else taking the floor. They were repeatedly and loudly applauded, the old men and women jumping out of their seats in admiration, and the young people waving their hats and handkerchiefs.
CURIOUS CUSTOM.
"The great amusement of the evening-owing to its being the carnival-was the breaking of eggs filled with cologne, or other essenees, upon the heads of the company. The women bring a great number of these secretly about them, and the amusement is to break one upon the head of a gentleman when his baek is turned. He is bound in gallantry to find out the lady and return the compliment, though it must not be done if the person sees you. A tall, stately Don, with immense gray whiskers, and a look of great importance, was standing before me, when I felt a light hand upon my shoulder, and, turning round, saw Doña Angustia (whom we all knew, as she had been up to Monterey and down again in the Alert), with her finger upon her lip, motioning me gently aside. I stepped back a little, when she went up behind the Don, and with one hand knocked off his huge sombrero, and at the same instant, with the other, broke the egg upon his head, and, springing behind me, was out of sight in a moment. The Don turned slowly round, the cologne running down his face and over his elothes, and a loud laugh breaking out from every quarter. A great many such tricks were played. and many a war of sharp manœuvering was carried on between couples of the younger peo- ple, and at every successful exploit a general laugh was raised.
LOVE'S OFFERING.
"Another of their games I was for some time at a loss about. A pretty young girl was dancing, named -after what would appear to us an almost sacri- legions eustom of the country-Espiritu Santa, when a young man went behind her and placed his hat directly upon her head, letting it fall down over her eyes, and sprang back among the crowd. She danced for some time with the hat on, when she threw it off, which ealled forth a general shout, and the young man was obliged to go out upon the floor and piek it up. I soon began to suspeet the meaning of the thing, and was afterwards told that it was a compli- ment, and an offer to become the lady's gallant for the rest of the evening, and to wait upon her home.
" The captain sent for us about ten o'clock, and we went aboard in high spirits, having enjoyed the new seene mueh, and were of great importance among the erew, from having so much to tell, and from the pros- pect of going every night until it was over; for these fandangos generally last three days. The next day two of us were sent up town, and took care to eome baek by way of Señor Noriega's and take a look into the booth. The musicians were again there, upon their platform, scraping and twanging away, and a few people, apparently of the lower classes, were
dancing. The dancing is kept up, at intervals, throughout the day, but the crowd, the spirit, and the e'ite come in at night. The next night, which was the last, we went ashore in the same manner, until we got almost tired of the monotonous twang of the instruments, the drawling sounds which the women kept up, as an accompaniment, and the slapping of the hands in time with the musie in place of eastanets. We found ourselves as great objects of attention as any persons or anything at the place. Our sailors' dresses were much admired, and we were invited from every quarter to give them an American dance. Our agent, with a tight, blaek, swallow-tailed eoat just imported from Boston, a high, stiff eravat, looking as if he had been pinned and skewered, with only his feet and hands left free, took the floor just after Bandini, and we thought they had had enough of Yankee grace. The last night they kept it up in grand style, and were getting into a high-go, when the captain ealled us off to go aboard, for, it being southeaster season, he was afraid to remain on shore long; and it was well he did not, for that night we slipped our cables, as a erowner to our fun ashore, and stood off before a southeaster, which lasted twelve hours, and returned to our anchorage the next day."
CHAPTER XIV. THE AMERICAN CONQUEST.
Accession of Micheltorena as Governor-Pio Pico Governor- Condition of California in 1845-Fremont's Coming-His Departure and Sudden Retur -Capture of Sonoma-The Famous Brar Flag-Fremont's Battalion-U. S. Flag Raised in Monterey-Fremont's Capture of Military Stores-Pio Pico's Remonstrance-Stockton to the Front-Second Con- quest-Flores' Proclamation-Approach of General Kear- ney-The March to Los Angeles-Fremont's March-Van- dalism-Battle of San Gabriel-Fremont's Treaty-Political and Military Storm-Occupation of Santa Barbara by Ste- venson's Regiment-Story of the Lost Cannon.
WE left Alvarado enjoying the authority and emoluments of the position of Governor. The latter formed mueh the largest attraction to men of Alva- rado's character. He was not allowed to enjoy the proceeds in peace, however. Many of the influential families, among whom was Vallejo, were engaged in getting a successor appointed. Alvarado had as carnestly worked to have a new general appointed in place of Vallejo. Both were gratified, in some respects at least; both were removed.
In Angust, 1842, General Micheltorena arrived with the appointment to the Governorship of Cal- ifornia. He was an old soldier, having fought in Texas with Santa Ana and learned something of the fighting qualities of the American people. He brought many of his old soldiers with him who were said to be an undesirable element even in frontier society. Many of them had wives of the sort that follow camps. He was received with re- joieings, however, for a new Governor would be the occasion for fandangos and bull-fights. He landed at San Diego, and was traveling northward, receiv- ing the homage and hospitality of the country, when he received a message that made him retrace his
RESIDENCE OF G.C. WELCH, SANTA BARBARA, CAL.
RESIDENCE OF MAGDALENA MOORE SANTA BARBARA CAL.
65
THE AMERICAN CONQUEST.
steps. Commodore Jones, of the United States Navy. had sailed into the harbor of the capital with the sloop-of-war Cyane and the frigate United States, and had taken possession of the town in the name of the United States, hoisting the stars and stripes. Alva- rado, the acting Governor, rather favored this trans- fer than otherwise, preferring to yield up his authority to the United States, perhaps looking to future favors.
The act was an astounding one under any circum- stances. The two nations were supposed to be at peace. There had always existed a fear that the wild trappers from the Rockies would capture the country, but men-of-wer were supposed to be in the command of gentlemen. The circumstances require an explanation. Both the United States and England had been looking with a longing eye to the harbor of San Francisco. Both had possessions on the coast, and both were well-informed as to the value of the harbor and its surrounding, as well as to the weak- ness of the Mexican Government, which could exert but a nominal authority over the distant colony, which, it was expected, would soon drop like a ripe apple into the hands of some stronger power. Texas had some years before achieved its independence, and had made application to be admitted into the Union. After the death of Harrison the project of admission was favored by the administration, though not actu- ally consummated until the last year of Tyler's rule. The politicians had expected on the admission of Texas. that Mexico, who, through her minister, had said that the admission of Texas would be considered a justifiable cause of war, would go on the war-path. Our fleet had been ordered around here with instruc- tions to take possession of the country at the earliest excusable opportunity. Commodore Jones' informa- tion was premature; the war had not commenced, and he hauled down the flag, making such apology as the case demanded-that it was a great mistake; that he tendered the Government his most distin- guished consideration, and all that sort of fine talk.
Micheltorena assumed the chair of state without opposition. Lest Commodore Jones should again make a mistake and capture Monterey, he removed the ammunition and war stores to the mission of San Juan. Alvarado, having surrendered to a for- eigner without firing a gun, and was not in favor with the new administration, united with the discon- tented Vallejo, and. aided by Castro, captured the military stores and organized an insurrection. After some parleying the discontents refused to lay down their arms, and proposed to attack the capital. Micheltorena summoned General Sutter, whose fol- lowers now amounted to near a hundred, to his assistance. Before consenting, he stipulated that grants of land should be made to his friends as he might direct, which were assented to; but he made such slow work of coming to the assistance of the Governor that his men mostly left him. On the 21st of February, 1845, the revolutionists under Castro moved out of Los Angeles to meet the Government
forees under Micheltorena. As there was about the same number of foreigners on either side, it was mutually agreed that they should stand aloof, leav- ing the natives to settle the question of suprem- acy. Whether any battle ocenrred is doubtful, but one was reported to the home Government, with Micheltorena defeated and numbers slain, the de- feated party, with such of his officers and adherents who had not intermarried with the Californians. going on board of an American ship and sailing for San Blas. It is a notable circumstance that inter- marriage with the Mexican families was considered security for the good behavior of a foreigner; hence Burton. Thompson, Jones, and other Americans of Santa Barbara were not molested in the affair or 1840.
PIO PICO GOVERNOR.
Pieo was appointed Governor by the Departmental Deputation, and came into possession of the custom, Castro, of course, commencing to intrigue against him. Pico was the last of the California Governors. So far the revolutions had not broken the surface of every day affairs. The cattle in the thousand valleys went on multiplying, making their owners rich, with- ont regard to the collection of customs at Monterey; but the time had come when a new order of events was to succeed.
CONDITION OF CALIFORNIA IN 1845.
The secularization of the missions, and the conse- quent immigration, had worked a marvelous change. From a few hundred scattered among the missions, the European population, and their descendants, had become at least 15,000. Of these, 2,000 were from the United States, made up, as a general thing, from the most daring and active of the Western States. They were settled, to a great extent, in the northern part of the Territory. They were used to privations, and knew how to defend themselves either from the attacks of wild beasts, wilder Indians, or the half-civilized Californian. It is quite probable that a few years more would have seen the story of Texas re-enacted ou the Pacific Coast, and a new Anglo- Saxon empire carved out of the once vast Spanish possessions. The American population only needed an occasion and a leader. and these are scarcely ever wanting, to oust the Spanish population and set up a dominion of their own.
While local circumstances were pointing to this final result, the relations between Mexico and the United States were becoming every day more criti- cal, and it was evident to every intelligent man that a near collision between the two nations was inevi- table. War with the hated gringo was popular in Mexico, and the extension of national boundaries by conquest, not less so in the United States.
FREMONT'S COMING.
While things were in this eventful condition, the United States Government dispatched John C. Fre- mont on a third tour across the plains, ostensibly to
66
HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
find a better route to the mouth of the Columbia River, but with a private understanding that he should be sufficiently near to assist in the event of the breaking out of hostilities between the two nations. He reached the frontier early in March, 1846, with a force of only sixty-two men. The force was ample to cross the plains, or to make a scientific exploration, but very much too small for military purposes; he was a natural leader of men, daring and decisive, and, if necessary, could organize the Yankee population into a battalion that would soon settle all questions of the supremacy of the Anglo-Saxon or Spanish races. He visited the capital, and asked permission to recruit his men and horses in the San Joaquin Valley, where there was plenty of game and grass, but no ranches, before proceeding on his way to Oregon, which was granted. Castro, however, thought he saw the opportunity of getting into favor with the Mexican Government, by captur- ing Fremont and his band, and immediately com- menced raising a company for that purpose, and in a few days had 300 mounted men. He now, under plea of fresh instructions from Mexico, ordered Fre- mont out of the country under penalty of utter extermination. Fremont refused to depart after hav- ing had permission to remain, and entrenched him- self at " Hawk's Peak," about thirty miles from Mon- terey. Castro issued several high-sounding procla- mations, and rode furiously around the little band, but made no attack, having a wholesome fear of the unerring rifles of Fremont's party. It is likely that both parties were not desirous of bringing on fight- ing, as the destruction of Fremont's party would have arrayed all the Americans against the Goveril- ment, and the death of many of the Mexicans would have made the pacification of the people more diffi- cult in case he was to take possession of the country. If, however, Fremont could be frightened into sur- rendering, without bloodshed, as Mrs. Toodles would say, "it. would be so convenient," but he did not sur- render.
HIS DEPARTURE AND SUDDEN RETURN.
Finding that there was little danger of being attacked, he left his fortified camp, and leisurely traveled towards Oregon, leaving Castro to boast of having driven him out of the country. When Fre- mont had reached the Oregon line, he learned that an officer of the United States Army was on his trail with important dispatches. He immediately retraced his steps and met Lieutenant Gillespie, who had crossed the continent from Vera Cruz to Mazatlan, and thence to Monterey, in a sloop of war, with unwritten, but important dispatches, the written letters only commending him to Fremont's favor and confidence. A letter from Thomas H. Benton and other members of the family, contained paragraphs, which would have appeared innocent enough if cap- tured by the custom house, or other authorities, but which, explained by the verbal communications,
were momentous. On his return to the Sacramento Valley, Fremont found the settlers in a state of ex- citement. The determination of the Californians to drive out the gringos was becoming more apparent every day, and in the absence of better information, they were led to believe that Fremont had actually fled before Castro's cavalry. There was a report that Castro was advancing with a force upon Sacra- mento Valley, and the settlers immediately began to flock to Fremont who had his camp near the mouth of Feather River. The story of the actual move- ment of troops to expel the settlers was so far true, that horses for mounting a legion to expel the Amer- icans were being taken from Sonoma and other val- leys to San Jose. It was deemed wise and justifiable to interfere with this arrangement, and actual hostil- ities were commenced by intercepting the horses and sending word to Castro by the vaqueros, that if he wanted the horses, he must come and take them.
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.