USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 10
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" We soon reached and ransacked the wagons, hoping to find something to eat; but found nothing. Taking the tar bucket that was hanging under one of the wagons, I scraped the tar off and found a streak of rancid tallow at the bottom. I remember well that when I announced what I had found, Herren, who was sitting on a rack near by, got up, hallooing with all the strength he had, and came to me. I handed the tar paddle to him having some of the tallow about the size of a walnut on it. This he swallowed without giving it a smell. I then took a piece myself but it was very repulsive. He, craving more, I gave him another piece. Still wanting more, I positively refused, stating that it would kill him. After leaving the wagons, probably fifty yards, I became deadly sick and blind. In resting myself against a rock, I leaned my head on the muzzle of my gun. Herren, seeing my condition, came to me and said : "My God. Mr. Reed, are you dying !" After resting a few minutes, I recovered, much to his joy.
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" The wagons were within a short distance of the steep descent going down into Bear River valley. After descending the first steep pitch, I discovered wagons in the valley below us. "Herren," said I, "there are wagons in the valley," pointing to them. When he saw them, he gave vent to his joy, hallooing at the top of his voice, but could not be heard ten rods off, he being so weak. The sight of the wagons revived him and he descended the mountain with all his ability.
" On reaching the wagons we found several families of emigrants, who supplied us with bread. I here met Mr. Stanton, with two Indians, on his return to the company with provisions sent by Capt. Sutter, on receiving my letter. Next morning Mr. Stanton started for the company and myself for Capt. Sutter's.
" When I arrived, making known my situation to him, asking if he would furnish me horses and saddles to bring the women and children out of the mountains, [I expected to meet them at, the head of Bear valley by the time I could return there], he at once complied with the request ; also, saying that he would do everything possible for me and the company. On the evening of my arrival at the Captain's, I found Messrs. Bryant, Lippen- cott, Grayson, and Jacobs, some of the early voyagers in the Russel company, they having left that company at Fort Laramie, most of them coming on horseback.
" During the evening a meeting was held, in which I participated, adopting a memorial to the commander of Sutter's Fort, to permit them to raise one or more companies of volunteers, to proceed to Los Angeles, we being at war with Mexico at this time. The companies were to be officered by the peti- tioners. Being requested to take command of one of the companies, I declined, stating that it would be necessary for the Captain to be with the company; also, that I had to return to the mountains for the emigrants; but that I would take a Lieutenancy. This was agreed to, and I was, on my return to the emigrants, to enlist all the men I could between there and Bear valley. On my way up I enlisted twelve or thirteen.
" The second night after my arrival at Captain Sutter's, we had a light rain; next morning we could see snow on the mountains. The Captain stated that it was low down and heavy for the first fall of the season. The next day I started on my return, with what horses and saddles Captain Sut- ter had to spare. He furnished us all the flour needed, and a hindquarter of beef, giving me an order for more horses and saddles at Mr. Cordway's, near where Marysville is located. In the meantime Mr. MeCutchen joined me, he being prevented from returning with Mr. Stanton, on account of sick- ness. After leaving Johnson's ranch we had thirty horses, one mule, with two Indians to help drive.
" Nothing happened until the evening before reaching the head of Bear
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valley, when commenced a heavy rain and sleet, continuing all the night. We drove on until a late hour before halting. We secured the flour and horses, the rain preventing us from kindling a fire ; next morning proceed- ing up the valley to where we were to take the mountain, we found a tent, containing a Mr. Curtis and wife. They hailed us as angels sent for their delivery, stating that they would have perished had it not been for our arrival. Mrs. Curtis stated that they had killed their dog, and at the time of our arrival had the last piece in the Dutch oven baking. We told them not to be alarmed about anything to eat, for we had plenty, both of flour and beef; that they were welcome to all they needed. Our appetites were rather keen, not having eaten anything from the morning of the day previ- ous. Mrs. Curtis remarked that in the oven was a piece of the dog, and that we could have it. Raising the lid of the oven, we found the dog well baked, and of a fine savory smell. I cut ont a rib, smelling an I tasting, found it to be good, handed the rib over to Mr. Mccutchen, who, after smelling it some time, ate it, and pronounced it very good dog. We partook of Curtis' dog. Mrs. Curtis immediately commenced making bread, and in a short time had supper for all.
" At the lower end of the valley where we entered, the snow was eighteen inches in depth, and when we arrived at the tent, it was two feet. Curtis stated that his oxen had taken the back track ; that he had followed them by the trail through the snow. In the morning before leaving, Mrs. Curtis got us to promise to take them into the settlement when on our return with the women and children. Before leaving we gave them flour and beef suffi- cient to keep them until our return, expecting to do so in a few days.
" We starte I, following the trail made by the oxen, and camped a number of miles up the mountain. In the night, hearing some of the horses going down the trail, we went to the spot where the Indians had lain down, and found they had gone. Mccutchen mounted his horse and rode down the mountain to Curtis' camp; found that the Indians had been there, stopped and warmed themselves, and then started down the valley. He returned to camp about the middle of the night.
" Next morning we started, still on the trail of the oxen, but unfortunately the trail turned off to the left from our direction. We proceeded on, the snow deepening rapidly, our horses struggling to get through, we pushed them on until they would rear upon their hind feet to breast the snow, and when they would alight, they would sink in it until nothing was seen of them but the nose and a portion of the head. Here we found that it was utterly impossible to proceed further with the horses. Leaving them, we proceeded further on foot, thinking that we could get in to the people; found that impossible, the snow being soft and deep.
"I may here state that neither of us knew anything about snow-shoes,
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having always lived in a country where they never were used. We were here compelled to return, and, with sorrowful hearts, we arrived that night at the camp of Mr. Curtis, telling them to make arrangements for leaving with us in the morning. Securing our flour in the wagon of Mr. Curtis, so that we could get it on our return, we packed one horse with articles belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, and started down the valley to where the snow was light, and where there was considerable underbrush so that our famished animals could browse, they not having caten anything for several days.
" After packing Mr. Curtis' horse for him the next morning, we started; in a short time, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis proceeded ahead, leaving the pack- horse behind for us to drive, instead of his leading him ; we having our hands full in driving the loose ones they scattering in all directions. The pack turned on the horse. Mr. Curtis was requested to return and help repack, and lead his horse, but he paid no attention to us. We stood this for some time; finally Mccutchen became angry, and started after him, determined to bring him back. When he got with him he paid no attention to Mccutchen's request to return ; Me. becoming more exasperated, hit him several times over the shoulder with his riata. This brought him to his
senses. He said if Mc. would not kill him he would come back and take care of his pack animal, and he did.
" As soon as we arrived at Captain Sutter's I made a statement of all the circumstances attending our attempt to get into the mountains. He was no way surprised at our defeat. I also gave the Captain the number of head of cattle the company had when I left them. He made an estimate and stated that if the emigrants would kill the cattle, and place the meat in the snow for preservation, there was no fear of starvation until relief could reach them. He further stated that there were no able-bodied men in that vicinity, all having gone down the country with and after Fremont, to fight the Mexicans. He advised me to proceed to Yerba Buena, now San Fran- cisco, and make my case known to the naval officer in command.
" I left Captain Sutter's, by way of San José, for San Francisco, being unable to come by water. When I arrived at San José, I found the San Francisco side of the bay was occupied by the Mexicans .. Here I remained and was attached to a company of volunteers, commanded by Captain Weber, until after the fight at Santa Clara.
" The road now being clear I proceeded to San Francisco, with a petition from some of the prominent citizens of San Jose, asking the commander of the navy to grant aid to enable me to return to the mountains. Arriving at San Francisco, I presented my petition to Commodore Hull, also making a statement of the condition of the people in the mountains as far as I knew; the number of them, and what would be needed in provisions and help to
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get them out. He made an estimate of the expense that would attend the expedition, and said that he would do anything within reason to further the object, but was afraid that the department at Washington would not sustain him, if he made the general outfit. His sympathy was that of a man and a gentleman.
"I also conferred with several of the citizens of Yerba Buena. Their advice was not to trouble the Commodore further. That they would call a meeting of the citizens and see what could be done. At the meeting the situation of the people was made known, and committees were appointed to collect money. Over one thousand dollars was raised in the town, and the sailors of the fleet gave over three hundred dollars. At the meeting, Midshipman Woodworth volunteered to go into the mountains. Commo- dore Hull gave me authority to raise as many men, with horses, as would be required. The citizens purchased all the supplies necessary for the outfit and placed them on board the schooner -- , for Hardy's ranch, mouth of Feather river. Midshipman Woodworth took charge of the schooner, and was the financial agent of the Government.
" I left in a boat for Napa by way of Sonoma, to procure men and horses, and when I arrived at Mr. Gordon's, on Cache creek, I had all the men and horses needed. From here I proceeded to the mouth of Feather river for the purpose of meeting Mr. Woodworth with the provisions. When we reached the river the boat had not arrived. The water was very high in the river, the tule lands being overflowed. From here I sent a man to a point on the Sacramento river opposite Sutter's Fort, to obtain information of the boat with our provisions ; he returned and reported the arrival of the boat at the fort.
" Before leaving Yerba Buena, news came of a party of fifteen persons hav- ing started from the emigrant encampment and only seven getting in to John- son's. I was here placed in a quandary-no boat to take us across the river, and no provisions for our party to take into the mountains. We camped a short distance back from the river, where we killed a number of elk, for the pur- pose of using the skins in covering a skeleton boat. Early next morning we started for the river and to our delight saw a small schooner, belonging to Perry McCan, which had arrived during the night. We immediately crossed, MeCutchen and myself, to the opposite bank of the river. I directed the men to cross and follow us to Johnson's ranch. We arrived there carly that day. Making known our situation, he drove his cattle up to the house, saying, "There are the cattle, take as many as you need." . We shot down five head, stayed up all night, and, with the help of Johnson and his Indians, by the time the men arrived next morning, we had the meat fire-dried and ready to be placed in bags. Mr. Johnson had a party of Indians making flour by hand-mills, they making during the night nearly two hundred pounds.
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" We packed up immediately and started. After reaching the snow, the meat and flour was divided in suitable packs for us to carry, we leaving the horses here. At Johnson's, I learned that a relief party had passed in a few days previous, being sent by Captain Sutter and Mr. Sinclair.
" Leaving a man at this camp with all the extra provisions we could not pack, with instructions to prepare a camp for the parties coming out, we passed on, and at the head of Bear valley met the band returning with some of the women and children. Among them was my wife and two of my children. We delayed no time, only a few minutes, and pushed on until the snow became too soft for us to travel on. Then stopping until it froze sufficient to bear us ; we traveled all this night, and about the middle of the next day we arrived at the first camp of emigrants, being Mr. Breen's. If we left any provisions here it was a small amount, he and his family not being in want. We then proceeded to the camp of Mrs. Murphy, where Keysburg and some children were. Here we left provisions and one of our party to cook and attend them. From here we visited the camp of Mrs. Graves, some distance further east. A number of the relief party remained here, while Messrs. Miller, Mccutchen and one of the men and myself pro- ceeded to the camp of the Messrs. Donner. This was a number of miles further east.
" We found Mrs. Jacob Donner in a very feeble condition. Her husband had died early in the Winter. We removed the tent and placed it in a more comfortable situation. I then visited the tent of Geo. Donner, close by, and found him and his wife. He was helpless. Their children and two of Jacob's having come out with the party we met at the head of Bear valley.
" I requested Mrs. George Donner to come out with us, as I would leave a man to take care of both George Donner and Mrs. Jacob Donner. Mrs. George Donner positively refused, saying that as her children were all out she would not leave her husband in the situation he was in. After repeatedly urging her to come out, and she as positively refusing, I was satisfied in my own mind that Mrs. George Donner remained with her husband from pure love and affection, and not for money.
" When I found that Mrs. George Donner would not leave her husband, we took the three remaining children of Jacob Donner, leaving a man to take care of the two camps. Leaving all the provisions we could spare, and expecting the party from Sutter's Fort would be in in a few days, we returned to the camp of Mrs. Graves, where all remained during the night, except Mccutchen, Miller and myself, we going to the cabin of Mr. Breen, where two of my children were. Notice was given in all the camps that we would start on our return to Sutter's early the next day. About the middle of the day we started, taking with us all who were able to travel; in a short time we reached Donner lake. Traveling on ice a short distance we made
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camp on the eastern side. Here were several springs; in the water were many small fish. The next day we traveled up to the head of the lake on the ice, making camp here for the night. From this camp I sent in advance of us two of our men, Jondrieux and Dofar, good mountaineers, for the pur- pose of getting the provisions in our last cache and returning with them, they to meet us on the road the next day.
" When coming in we made three caches, or deposits of beef. Two of them were made by taking a bag of dried beef to the top of a pine sapling, then securing it, cutting all the limbs off the tree to prevent animals from getting up and destroying the meat.
"The next morning we proceeded up the mountain, and in the evening we came to one of the camping places of the party we had met in Bear valley.
" With a little repair everything necessary for building a fire on the snow, which was twenty feet, at least, in depth, was here. We camped for the night. During all this day the sky had been overcast, threatening a storm. This night a heavy snow-storm burst upon us, continuing all this night, and the following day and night, and up to the middle of the next day. Our provisions gave out, and one of the children died. I expected the two men, Jondrieux and Dofar, at the latest to be back the morning after we had made camp here. But the storm had overtaken them. They found the cache had been destroyed by animals, and had proceeded on to the next one, finding that partly destroyed. There they were snow-bound and were nearly per- ishing.
"As soon as the storm abated, we made preparations for leaving. All that were able started, with the exception of Mr. Breen and family. He stated that if he had to die, he would rather die in camp than on the way. A strange proceeding of Mr. Breen, when he and his family were all strong enough to travel. We remonstrated with him, advising him to come with us; that if we perished, let us us all die together in the effort to get out. Finding that we could not prevail upon him, I asked some of the men stand- ing by to witness that I then told Mr. Breen "that if his family died, their blood be upon his head, and not on ours."
"We had not proceeded far before the weather became intensely cold, and when we stopped for the night many of the party had their feet frozen. The next day our travel was slow, many in pain. When night came on those in advance camped, the next coming straggling in making consider- able noise. This gave the camp of Mr. Woodworth the first intimation of our proximity to them. He sent some of his party to us, requesting that we would come down to his encampment; but the most of us having laid down for the night, declined going, but would be glad if he would send us some- thing to eat, which he did, and some of the party who had not camped went
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down. Next morning Mr. Woodworth proceeded on with all haste, and my impression is that two or three of our party went back with them.
"We proceeded slowly, and the second night, we reached the encampment at Bear valley, in company with Mr. Woodworth, he returning to Sutter's Fort. From here a majority of the party rode to Sutter's, I stopping at Mr. Sinclair's."
Of the residents who arrived in 1847, we have the names of Dr. Ben. Cory, S. O. Houghton, James McCormick, A. Pfister.
No single event has, probably, created so much exciting interest in this valley as did the killing of young Pyle by Valencia, in 1847, and the discov- ery and execution of the murderer in 1849. From a great many different stories in regard to the occurrence we glean the following facts :-
In 1847, a young son of Edward Pyle visited the ranch of Anistasio Chabolla south of San Jose, for the purpose of playing with the young Spanish boys on the ranch. During the play, one of the boys, named Val- encia, and a nephew of Chabolla, accidentally injured the horse of young Pyle. The horse was so nearly disabled by the accident that another one was procured to carry Pyle home. After the latter had left the ranch, Val- encia's companions began to plague him about his awkwardness, and saying that when Pyle reached home he would tell how his horse had been hurt and his folks would make Valencia's mother pay for it.
Valencia appears to have been a very sensitive boy, and the jeers of his companions worked him up to such an extent that he jumped on a horse and followed Pyle with the determination to not allow him to tell anything about the accident.
He soon overtook Pyle, and, throwing his riata, dragged him from his horse and for several hundred feet along the road. He then cut his throat with his knife, and dragged the body into the foot-hills and covered it with · rubbish.
When Pyle did not return home, his friends instituted search for him, making inquiries in all directions, but in vain. No clue was obtained to his whereabouts, although murder was suspected, until 1849, and the man- ner in which the murder was finally discovered is yet a subject of dispute. Fred. Hall, in his history says that in the year 1849, a brother of the deceased Pyle was in the San Joaquin valley, where he met a man whom he believed knew that his brother had been murdered, and by whom. Pyle embraced an opportunity when alone with this man, and, pointing his gun at his breast said: "If you do not tell me all about the murder of my brother, I will kill you right here." The man finally confessed that he knew all about the death of young Pyle and related the facts substantially as stated above. Pyle brought the man to this valley, and through his aid found the remains of his brother, and caused the arrest of Valencia.
GRBaken
THEN ٠٠
ASTOR, LENOX AND TILEN FOLAAT N
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Another story, and one which we are inclined to credit, comes from Julius Martin, of Gilroy. In 1849, Martin had a lot of cattle at or in the immediate vicinity of Mormon Island. One of his Spanish vaqueros, named Camillo Ramero, was taken sick with a fever, and Martin brought him to his home in this valley. One night, after dark, as they were riding along a little this side of Bernal's, Ramero was taken with a chill, and thought he was going to die. While in this condition, he told Martin all about the murder of young Pyle, who did it, how it was done, and where the body had been deposited. Among other things he told him that after Valencia had dragged Pyle he left him, but, meet- ing his uncle, Anistasio Chabolla, his uncle told him that he must go back and kill Pyle and bury him; that if he allowed him to live he would tell his friends, and the Americans would hang him (Valencia). He worked on the boy's fears in this manner until Valencia went back, found Pyle, cut his throat, and buried him in the foot-hills beyond Silver creek. Mr. Martin, on hearing Ramero's story, immediately came to town, and meeting Cad Keyes told him what he had heard. Keyes happened to find John Pyle in town, and they made up a posse and arrested Valencia.
A party consisting of Peter Davidson, John Pyle, Wm. Mccutchen, and other persons whose names we are not able to recall, went out to find young Pyle's remains. They were discovered in the place indicated by Ramero. They also discovered that Valencia had been living a life of torment ever since he had committed the deed. From the place where he lived to the spot where he had buried his victim a path had been worn by his fre- quent visits to the grave. It is said that scarcely a night passed that he did not go out in the hills and remain several hours at this spot.
After his arrest, Valencia was arraigned before R. H. Dimmick, Judge of First Instance, and made a confession in which he acknowledged the killing of Pyle, saying that Chabolla induced him to do it. He was tried by a jury and convicted on his confession and other corroborating circumstances.
He seemed relieved that his crime had been detected, and made no effort at defense. His conscience had evidently been a continual torture to him ever since the deed was committed and he was glad to make atonement. At one time an opportunity was presented for his escape. It was after the trial, the prisoner was in the Court House loosely guarded, when a Mexican rode up, dismounted, and remarked that he had a fast horse, if anybody wanted it. Valencia, however, would not avail himself of the offer. While lying in jail awaiting his execution, he told an American that he did not wish to live; that whenever he closed his eyes, he could see Pyle on his hands and knees, with his tongue out, staring at him and that the continual presence of this apparition had made life a torment.
He was executed on Market plaza, San José, in the presence of Judge Dimmick, then Alcalde, and a large number of spectators. This was the sec- ond execution of the death penalty in this county.
7
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
In 1848, there came M. Barbat, A. A. Case, Doctor W. H. Warburton, and others ; but this was not a year when permanent settlements were made in agricultural districts.
Who does not think of '48 with feelings almost akin to inspiration ?
The year 1848 is one wherein was reached the nearest attainment of the discovery of the Philosopher's stone, which it has been the lot of Christendom to witness. On January 19th, gold was discovered at Coloma, on the American river, and the most unbelieving and cold-blooded were, by the middle of Spring, irretrievably bound in its fascinating meshes. The wonder is, that the discovery was not made earlier. Emigrants, settlers, hunters, practical miners, scientific exploring parties had camped on, settled in, hunted through, dug in, and ransacked the region, yet never found it; the discovery was entirely accidental. Franklin Tuthill, in his History of California, tells the story in these words: " Captain Sutter had contracted with James W. Marshall, in September, 1847, for the construction of a saw-mill in Coloma. In the course of the Winter a dam and race were made, but, when the water was let on, the tail-race was too narrow. To widen and deepen it, Marshall let in a strong current of water directly to the race, which bore a large body of mud and gravel to the foot.
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