USA > California > Santa Barbara County > History of Santa Barbara county, California, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 27
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In 1849 he started for California, by way of the Isthmus of Darien. This was before the construction of the railroad, before any means of transit had been provided, except by row-boats, propelled by the naked natives. They were three days on the Chagres River. When he got aeross the isthmus, the trouble had just commenced. Tickets on the steamers were sold for three months ahead, but an unele who was in command of one of the first steamers (the Falcon) that was on the route, managed to have Dixie work his passage up to San Francisco, the only chance to go, as tickets were sold for $800 premium. Many of the passengers died of Panama fever They reached San Francisco December 28, 1849. He remained in San Francisco until July of the follow- ing year, when he went to the mines with a party from Maine, making the passage as far as Marys- ville in a schooner. At Marysville they eamped on the ground now occupied by Front Street. Here they were informed that the mines were " worked out," a piece of information that was often volun- teered to new-comers as far baek as 1848. The party, however, shouldered their blankets, cooking and mining utensils, and pushed out. They were the first on Bidwell's Bar. They mined about
three months without getting much better off. for when Thompson left San Francisco he had $100; when he returned to San Francisco he was a badly bankrupted individual, with "ne'er a red;" in fact, was obliged to work his passage down to Marysville by rowing a boat. He had an experience in the "'49 prices," while at Onion Valley, which was common enough then, but which sounds strangely in these days of plenty-onions and potatoes, $1.00 per pound, molasses, 81.50 per bottle. When at Marys- ville they slept on the bank of the river, among the piles of boxes, bales of hay, and other goods. The place, like all other landing-places at that time, swarmed with rats, that went trooping over their faces when they were trying to sleep. When he returned to San Francisco he got a job with a man on Government works at Vancouver, where he went to work at $8.00 per day, as carpenter, finishing off log houses built by the soldiers.
After this, he turned his nautical experience to account, and aeted as mate and commander of several steamers and sailing vessels-the Independence, Wil- liam Robinson, Ohio, etc. In 1852 he bought the schooner Sophia, and took 3,000 sheep off the island of Santa Rosa. He made Santa Rosa, then, as now the property of the More brothers, his headquarters from 1853 to 1857, hunting and shipping stock. The cattle had grown to be nearly as wild as buffalo, and were far more dangerous. The males were caught, castrated, and disarmed, that is, their horns chopped off, so as to render them harmless. He was also connected with Captain Greenwell in the coast survey.
After a few years of this kind of life, he purchased a portion of the San Miguel Rancho, adjoining the town of San Buenaventura, and commenced farming on his own aceonnt. The land is finely situated on a mesa along the sea-shore, and is of the best quality, producing usually large crops of corn and other grain. In 1880 the product of wheat reached as high as sixty bushels to the acre. IIe has the tract under a high state of cultivation. He also owns 227 aeres of land near Santa Barbara.
BIOGRAPHY OF DIXIE W. THOMPSON.
MANAGER OF THE ARLINGTON.
It is said there are hundreds of men who cau write poems, orations, or magazine articles, who can manage a law case with consummate ability, or make a splendid Fourth-of-July speech, who cannot run a hotel. The latter business requires a man of rare and peculiar talent. Several persons had tried the Arlington, and had failed either to suit the public or bring dividends to the stock-holders. What peculiar talent he possessed, none could say. His whole life had been passed in rougher phases than the keeping of a first-class hotel. He certainly had none of the traditional qualities of the typical hotel clerk. He is neither haughty, lofty, nor dignified, hut be can run a hotel notwithstanding. A residence of some weeks is required to learn all of the secret, though it may be summed in the one sentence-" Make the guests comfortable." This principal command, when taken in all its ramifications, is what few people can do. It means well-aired rooms and bedding, clean towels,
fresh water, comfortable fires, wholesome, appetizing food, cheerfully-performed service from the employees, pleasant recreations and amusements, and numerous questions pleasantly answered. All this is found at the Arlington. If a guest wants information about a point in the neighborhood, Mr. T. will cheer- fully furnish it. If a guest wishes to know where a team, carriage, or driver can be had, Mr. T. knows all about it, as much as if he had made a special object of getting the information. Invalids ask his advice about the sea-bathing, or the hot springs; the sportsman as to where he is likely to start a deer; the naturalist where to find shells and curiosities. If a hackman or tradesman has made extortionate charges, he will see that restitution is made. In short, his whole demeanor is that of a friend, rather than of an avaricious, crusty Boniface. He is atten- tive without being obtrusive; polite, pleasant, and respectful without servility, and dignified without being haughty.
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EXCITING EVENTS.
which they suffer for want of means of intercommu- nication by mail. From Monterey to San Diego, a distance of about 600 miles, the only mail service is now performed by sea, and only three points sonth of Monterey are touched, namely: Santa Barbara, Los Angeles (by the port of San Pedro), and San Diego. The inhabitants, intermediate of these points, have therefore no public means of intercommunica- tion with each other, or with the rest of the world. At San Luis Obispo, only, is there a post-office, and that is not furnished with a mail. When I was there in September last, that important port, village, and surrounding settlements had just received their first mail in a space of four months, and that was brought by a special messenger, paid from private subserip- tions.
" The coast country from Monterey to Santa Bar- bara ineludes some of the old mission establishments of California, namely: La Soledad, San Antonio, San Miguel, San Luis Obispo, La Purissima, and Santa Ynez, as well as two important seaports, San Simeon and San Luis Obispo, and a large num- ber of the oldest farms and settlements in the State. It is peculiarly hard, and the inhabitants feel it a great injustice that this extended district should have no publie means of intercommunication.
" From Santa Barbara to Los Angeles and from thenee to San Diego, the distances are not so great, and there is more travel, and hence more facilities for communicating by private means. Nevertheless, between each of these points, there ought also to be additional post-offices, and a regular land mail for the publie convenience.
" The hardships of this non-intereommunication are the more felt, particularly in the districts between Santa Barbara and Monterey, from the fact that at the two distant points of San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Government of the United States is prosecuting an active litigation against a large num- ber of the inhabitants, with respect to their titles to lands, leaving the inhabitants at the same time, with- out facilities for corresponding with their attorneys, and attending readily and promptly to the defense of their rights. It is my knowledge that just causes before the conrts have been long delayed, and are endangered for this reason. The inhabitants of the coast country of California were better provided with means of intercommunication under the Spanish Government, eighty years ago, and during the con- tinuance of that government, and even under the inefficient one of Mexico, than they are now. In the time of the Spanish domination, couriers were dis- patched twice in each month to Monterey, the capi- tal of the province, one to San Francisco at the north, and one to San Diego at the south, stopping at each mission, presidio, and village on the route. The journey to San Diego was made in seven days, and baek again in the same space of time. Under the Mexican Gov- ernment the same system continued, and, though not efficiently and regularly carried out, did not at any time leave the country, as now, entirely desti- tute of a publie mail.
" It is believed that a regular weekly mail, carried in the same space of time as that occupied by the Spanish couriers-seven days from point to point-might be economically established between Monterey and San Diego. The contract, I believe, would be taken by responsible persons at from $7,000 to 810,000 per year. It would gratify the people of the country, and at the same time be no more than their due. It would promote travel and intereourse, and the set- tlement of that interesting region. A mail carried
by sea. and thus delivered only at long distances, does not answer any of these advantageous purposes, and ean only accommodate, and that but indiffer- ently, a small part of the community.
"I respectfully request your early attention to this
subject, and remain Your obedient servant, "WM. CARY JONES. " To Hlon. James Campbell, Postmaster General."
OVERLAND STAGE.
Within a year or two the overland stage, carrying mails and passengers, was established by the United States Government. It was expected to open a line of settlements from Texas through to California. The cost was about a half a million a year. The measure was considered in the interest of the South- ern States. Few passengers were carried through, and, as the schedule time was not much less than by steamer, the large Eastern mail was not diverted from the main lines of passenger travel. The route was through the coast connties, and afforded to the people the long-needed mail facilities. The rebellion, of course, put an end to the overland stage, the horses and other stock being soon scattered.
ROADS.
The Gazette did not rest contented with Santa Bar- bara as it was, or spend much force in landing it above all else in the world, but read frequent lectures to the people on the necessity of publie improve- ments. Twenty-five years later the necessity of all the improvements the Gazette so vigorously advocated would have been readily acknowledged, but, consid- ering the eminently conservative character of the old families, who for half a century had given tone to public opinion, the course of the Gazette in mov- ing faster than the people would follow was highly imprudent. The paper again took up the question of roads, and told some very plain and unpalatable truths.
" The Gaviota Pass had been considered and per- mitted to be impassable until a party of emigrants constructed a substitute for a road, and passed through it with wagons, thus solving the question."
" Granted that a given wagon has cseaped the steep ascents and descents of the infernal 'Costa' without leaving a wheel behind; has floated safely over the depths of the Quemada; has succeeded in getting relay oxen at the Arroyo Hondo, and has met with no fresh land-slide at the Gaviota; and granted that at the Cruces 'it goes about and fetches the " Alisal" on the other tack,' and the valley of Santa Ynez is reached, with the prospect of a fair voyage henceforward, what has the traveler gained ? He has started west, then northwest, and then north- east, to make a N. northwest course. He has traversed innumerable mountains to avoid crossing one mount- ain. He has beat about for days in order to accom- plish a few hours plain sailing, and described the sides of a triangle instead of a hypothenuse. .
. The mountain of San Marcos is the only thing in the way. We remember that Colonel Fremont erossed it with his artillery in a rainy day. . . We can- not conceive that the energies of Santa Barbara are unequal to the building of a road over it,"
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HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
The editor appeals to some of the citizens to tear themselves away from the blandishments of keno and billiards to examine the routes for a road, and make estimates of the cost. The only available wagon road, up to this time, between Santa Barbara and San Buenaventura was along the beach, around Punta Gorda and Rincon Point, and the character of this road was so changeable in consequence of the falling down of masses of earth from the cliffs, which in some places were 400 feet high, and from the washing of sand and gravel by the waves, that the road for the transportation of goods was nearly worthless. Many propositions had been made for improvement. Wm. Johnson, employed by the county to survey the road, recommended a causeway to be erected above high tide, to be protected with a plank facing, or of building a causeway of stone six feet above the tide, with openings for the passage of water and places for turn-outs. These plans were estimated to cost from $35,000 to $50,000 each. It was urged that with these roads the trade to the southern mines could be secured in preference to Los Angeles.
PROPOSED PENAL COLONY.
The conservative character of the old town con- tinually stirred the editor's bile. When appeals for straightening the streets and removing obstructions were without avail, the editor discoursed thus :-
" When the city is built towards the bay, as it undoubt- edly will be, because in that direction the streets are not sold, obstructed. and disfigured with slaughter houses, corrals, pig-sties, and groggeries, the presidio may be converted into a jail or penal colony."
PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS FOR 1856.
The proceedings of the Board are interesting in many respects. The Castilian dignity is often appar- ent. The prices allowed for services .of the different officers will be of interest.
FEBRUARY 7, 1856.
Bill of Russel Heath for board of prisoners for $411.12; approved, $399.25.
Ordered that the Sheriff be allowed seventy-five cents per day each for board of prisoners.
Clerk ordered to communicate with Wm. Johnson, engineer, as to the cost of making a road around Rincon Point and Punta Gorda.
MARCH 20th.
The plan of Wm. Johnson was referred to Pablo de la Guerra for examination.
MARCH 25th.
The Clerk ordered to invite proposals for building a county jail according to plans in the office.
Ordered that the Sheriff and Anditor report in full their transactions with the County Treasurer.
Attention was called to the fact that the Connty Government had not been extended to the islands which formed part of the county.
MAY 10, 1856.
Ordered that they hereafter be considered a part of Township No. 2.
Ordered that the plan for a jail be submitted to Russel Heath, Eugene Lies, and Jose Maria Covar- rubias for amendment.
MAY 14th.
Reports of Treasurer, Anditor, and Sheriff received, and considered for four days.
AUGUST 16th.
Treasurer requested to furnish reports of the dif- ferent funds on separate sheets.
MAY 21st.
Accounts of Treasurer Raymundo Carrillo exam- ined up to December 31, 1855. Ordered that the accounts be published. The report made the county indebtedness April 30, 1856, $24,593.50.
AUGUST 5th. Improved plan of jail accepted, and the Clerk ordered to invite proposals for building it.
AUGUST 9th.
County Treasurer asked leave to withdraw his report for amendment. The amended report was referred to the District Attorney for examination.
AUGUST 11th.
Assessment roll considered. Pedro Arrellanes' assessment raised $5,000; Bauman & Co., 1,000; S. B. Brinkerhoff, 5,000; L. T. Burton, 1,500; Juan Camarillo, 5,000; Nicolas A. Den, 4,500; R. S. Den, 1,500; Chas. Fernald, 550; Gaucheron & Abadie Brothers, 18,000; Russel Heath, 1,500; José Herrera, 1,000; Cook & Co., 5,000; Augustin Janssens, 700; L. T. Burton & Co., 4,000; Raymundo Olivas, 3,500; Juan Rogalla, 1,500; Joaquin Romero, 1,000; Leandro Saing, 2,500; Pacifico Sanchez, 3,000; F. Schiappapietra, 1,000.
Gaucheron & Abadie Brothers stated they had $4,000 of solvent debts due them, which were not assessed, which, added to the other made an increase of their assessment of $22,000.
AUGUST 26th.
One hundred and twenty-five dollars appropriated to purchase standard weights and measures. Reports of District Attorney regarding Treasurer's report laid on table. Taxes assessed at 70 cents on each hundred dollars for State purposes, 50 cents for county purposes, the latter being apportioned at 35 cents for General Fund, 10 cents for Jail Fund, and 5 cents for School Fund. The Board also assessed 40 cents on each hundred for jail purposes, and 5 cents for school purposes, making a total of $1.65 on each $100.
The County Clerk was ordered to make an abstract of the Treasurer's report for publication.
OCTOBER 14th. Elections ordered and polling places and officers appointed.
TOWNSHIP NO. 1.
Mission of San Buenaventura, house of Emidio Ortega. Inspector, José Moraga; Judges, Ramon Gonzales, F. Tico. Carpenteria, house of Henry Dally. Inspector, Geronimo Ruiz; Judges, Henry Dally, C. Rodriguez.
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EXCITING EVENTS.
TOWNSHIP NO. 2.
Santa Barbara. house of L. T. Burton. Inspector. Pedro C. Carrillo; Judges, V. W. Hearne, Guillermo Carrillo.
TOWNSHIP NO. 3.
House of Augustin Janssens. Inspector, Juan Ygnacio Cota; Judges, Augustin Janssens, M. Ortega. Guillermo Carrillo appointed School Superintendent.
NOVEMBER 10th.
" The Board sitting as a Board of canvassers, hav- ing received the election returns of all the precincts of the county, opened the same and ordered that the said election returns remain on the table, until the Clerk shall estimate the vote of the county and draw up a statement of the same."
This note is copied from the records and shows a curious state of affairs, considering that Pablo de la Guerra was on the Board.
NOVEMBER 11th.
" The Board, sitting as a Board of canvassers, received from the Clerk the statement of the vote of the County of Santa Barbara, and deelared the fol- lowing to be the result of the general election held on the 4th of November inst."
Here follows a statement of the persons receiving the highest vote, the Republican electors receiving 183 votes each; others not mentioned.
" It was ordered that the returns be sealed up and directed to the County Judge, that he might decide who were elected Supervisors of the County."
It was the custom to refer nearly all the matters to some person about the Court House for examina- tion. The Sheriff's accounts would be referred to the District Attorney, his accounts to the Clerk, and vice versa.
NOVEMBER 18th.
Fourteen bills referred to Geo. D. Fisher for exam- ination.
FERUARY 17, 1857.
Ordered that the report of the engineer, Johnson, who was directed to make a survey and estimate the cost of putting the road in order around the Rincon and Punta Gorda be referred to the member of the Legislature, José Maria Covarrubias.
MARCH 4th.
New Board, Ramon Gonzales and Antonio Maria de la Guerra.
It was somewhat difficult to tell from the records of the Board of Supervisors who were elected, but the Gazette contains the following list, under the heading of County Directory :-
Judge Second District, Joaquin Carrillo; County Judge, Charles Fernald; District Attorney, Charles E. Huse; Sheriff, Russel Heath; Deputy, Harry Swain; County Clerk, George D. Fisher; Treasurer, Raymundo Carrillo; Assessor, Nicolas A. Den; Sur- veyor, E. Nidever; Superintendent of Schools, John Kays.
EARTHQUAKE IN 1857.
This was one of the greatest ever experienced in California, although the destruction of life and prop- erty was less than in 1811. The morning was clear and cool, the sun shining brightly, and, to an ordi- nary observer, there was no indication of the throes the earth was abont experiencing. Rivers were turned from their beds, the San Gabriel at Los Angeles being particularly disturbed. At Fort Tejon the earth opened ten or fifteen feet for a distance of thirty or forty miles, extending in the direction of the trend of the mountains, almost in a straight line. At Santa Cruz a portion of the bluffs were loosened and fell with a crash. The Gazette gives the follow - ing account of the shocks at Santa Barbara :-
EARTHQUAKE.
" On Friday last, January 9th, this city and adja- cent settlements was visited by a succession of earth- quake shocks, one of which was the most severe which has visited the coast for a large number of years. It extended from Point Concepcion to Los Angeles. There was no unusual condition percept- ible in the atmosphere. At about ten minutes past eight there was a sudden vibration of the earth, which, however, was of short duration. Some twenty minutes later the severest shock eommeneed and con- tinned from forty to sixty seconds. It was univers- ally felt throughont the city, and was so violent that all the inhabitants left their dwellings. Many of the people fell on their knees in terror, and began to invoke the saints. The shock or temblor com- menced gently but gradually increased in force, and attained an undulatory motion like the swell of the ocean, and then gradually ceased. It fortunately passed off with no destruction of life and but little damage to property, though many of the adobe walls of our houses were cracked.
" During the day several lighter shocks were felt, and probably a properly-constructed instrument would have shown that the earth was in a trembling condition the entire day and night. The reservoir at the mission rocked so that the water slopped over each of the four sides until quite a stream was set to running. Near the hot springs several large rocks were detached from the cliffs and rolled into the valley.
"At San Buenaventura the Mission Church was badly injured; the roof gave way, falling partly down, and the belfry was badly damaged.
" The time of the shocks at Ventura were: 8 o'clock 24 minutes A. M., 8 o'clock 34 minutes A. M., 8 o'clock 36 minutes A. M., 8 o'clock 38 minutes A. M., the last accompanied with a rumbling noise; vibrations N. E. and S. W.
"In the evening of the same day were several lighter shocks, ocenrring as follows: 8 o'clock 27 minutes, 8 o'clock 50 minutes, and 10 o'clock 36 minutes.
" At Santa Barbara a shock was felt at midnight, and also the following morning."
It was also severely felt at Point Concepcion, where the tower of the light-house was severely damaged.
THE LAST OF JACK POWER.
During the winter of 1856-57 a series of murders and robberies occurred in Los Angeles, which aroused
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HISTORY OF SANTA BARBARA COUNTY.
the whole country. The organization, for such it was, for murder and plunder seemed to be extensive, and strong enough to defy the county authorities and render for awhile business and ordinary pursuits impracticable. Bands of twenty or thirty men would be encountered, armed and drilled to act in concert, in fact, the leader, Flores, was a trained dragoon, and put in practice the tactics he had learned in the army. Jack Power was suspected of belonging to this gang, and was arrested in Los Angeles and examined before Justice Millard, but no proof of being connected with the depredations appearing, he was discharged. When he put in an appearance at Santa Barbara he was again arrested. He urged that he was not in Los Angeles at the time of the murders, and could have had no connection with them; desired counsel, and was taken to the office of Eugene Lies, who undertook his defense. Lies asked that a writ of habeas corpus might issue to bring out any evidence which existed against him. Mr. Lies asked that Power should be left with him in his office for a short time, agreeing to be responsible for his appearance. In the course of the evening, however, he left without notice. The Sheriff blamed Lies for the escape, and he, in turn, laid the blame on Power, who had given his word not to attempt an escape. Many persons thought that the whole affair was irregular; that a Sheriff should put a person charged with a criminal offense into the custody of a lawyer, and that a lawyer should take his word not to escape, was bad practice. It was believed that Power was concealed in the town, and the Gazette, as it had often done before, appealed to the citizens not to harbor criminals. An ex parte hearing of the matter was had before Judge Fer- nald, who decided that there was sufficient ground for detaining Power. Lies inserted the following notice in the Gazette :-
NOTICE.
"Whereas, John Power, a prisoner in charge of the Sheriff at Santa Barbara, effected his escape while in consultation with me as his counsel, I hereby promise to pay Two HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS for his apprehension and delivery into the hands of the Sheriff. EUGENE LIES.
Power left and no more troubled this part of the country. His future career is mentioned elsewhere.
EXCITEMENT AT SAN BUENAVENTURA.
The short distance from Los Angeles, and the facility with which a band of robbers could surprise the town from the south, induced the citizens to form themselves into a Vigilance Committee, to apprehend suspected persons, and to more readily assemble for defense, in case of necessity. Late in the evening of February 3d, two horsemen were seen approaching the town, apparently intending to pass unobserved towards the Rincon. When they found they were noticed they endeavored to escape; one, however, who gave his name as José Jesus Espinosa, was
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