USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 8
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Some of their religious ceremonies were very grotesque and amusing, the personification of "The Wise Men of the East," being of this character. At the supposed anniversary of the visit of the Wise Men to Bethlehem, seven or eight men would be found dressed in the most fantastic styles, going in company from house to house looking for the infant Saviour. They were invariably accompanied by one representing the devil in the garb of a Fran- ciscan friar, with his rosary of beads and the cross, carrying a long rawhide whip, and woe to the man who came within the reach of that whip-it was far from fun to him, though extremely amusing to the rest of the party. The chief of these ceremonies, however, was the punishment of Judas Isca- riot for the betrayal of his Master. On the supposed periodicity of this event, after nightfall and the people had retired to rest, a company would go out and prepare for the forthcoming ceremonies. A cart was procured and placed in the public square in front of the church, against which was set up an effigy made to represent Judas, by stuffing an old suit of clothes with straw. The houses were then visited and a collection of pots, kettles, dishes, agricultural implements-in fact almost every conceivable article of personal property was seraped together and piled up around Judas, to represent his effects, until in appearance he was the wealthiest man in the whole country.
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Then the last will and testament of Judas had to be prepared, a work which was accorded to the best seribe and the greatest wit of the community. Every article of property had to be disposed of, and something like an equal distribution among all the people made, each bequest being accompanied by some very pointed and witty reason for its donation. Among a more sensi- tive people, some of these reasons would be regarded as libelous. The will, when completed and properly attested, was posted on a bulletin board near the effigy, and the night's work was performed. As soon as sufficiently light, the entire population, men, women and children, congregated to see Judas and his wealth, and to hear read, and discuss, the merits of his will, and appropriateness of its provisions. Nothing else was talked of; nothing else was thought of, until the church bell summoned them to mass, after which a wild, unbroken mare was procured, on the back of which Judas was firmly strapped; a string of fire-crackers was then tied to her tail, they were lighted, she was turned loose, and the ultimate fate of the figurative Judas was not unlike that which we are told occurred to his perfidious prototype.
The native Californians were a temperate people, intoxication being alnost unknown. Wines and liquors existed in the country, but were sparingly used. In a saloon when a " bit's worth" was called for, the decanter was not handed to the customer, as is now the case, but was invariably measured out, and if the liquor was a potent spirit, in a very small dose; while a " bit's worth " was a treat for a considerable company, the glass being passed around from one to the other, each taking a sip. The following amusing episode in this regard, which occurred in 1847, may find a place in this chapter. Juan Soto, an old gray-headed man and a great friend to Americans-for every one who spoke English was an American to him-had come into possession of a " bit," and being a generous, whole-souled man, he desired to treat five or six of his friends and neighbors. To this end he got them together, marched them to Weber's store in the Pueblo de San Jose, and there meeting -, who, though hailing from the Emerald Isle, passed for an American, invited him to join in the symposium. The old Spaniard placed his "bit " upon the counter with considerable éclat, and called for its value in wine, which was duly measured out. As a mark of superior respect he first handed it to -, who, wag that he was, swallowed the entire contents, and awaited the dénouement with keen relish. Soto and his friends looked at each other in blank amazement, when there burst out a tirade in their native tongue, the choice expressions in which may be more readily imagined than described.
There was one vice that was common to nearly all of these people, and which eventually caused their ruin, namely, a love of gambling. Their favorite game was monté, probably the first of all banking games. So passionately were they addicted to this, that on Sunday, around the church, while the women were inside and the priest at the altar, crowds of men would have
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their blankets spread upon the ground with their cards and money, playing their favorite game of monte. They entertained no idea that it was a sin, nor that there was any thing in it derogatory to their character as good Christians. This predilection was early discovered and turned to account by the Americans, who soon established banks, and carried on games for their amusement especially. The passion soon became so developed that they would bet and lose their horses and cattle, while, to procure money to gratify this disposition, they would borrow from Americans at the rate of twelve and a half per cent. per day; mortgaging and selling their lands and stock, yea, even their wives' clothing, so that their purpose should be gratified, and many unprincipled Westerns of those days enriched themselves in this man- ner at the expense of those poor creatures.
Before leaving this people, mention should be made of their bull and bear fights. Sunday, or some prominent holiday, was invariably the day chosen for holding these, to prepare for which a large corral was erected in the plaza in front of the church, for they were witnessed by priest and layman alike. In the afternoon, after Divine service, two or three good bulls (if a bull-fight only), would be caught and put into the inclosure, when the combat com- menced. If there is anything that will make a wild bull furious it is the sight of a red blanket. Surrounded by the entire population, the fighters entered the arena, each with one of these in one hand and a knife in the other, the first of which they would flaunt before the furious beast, but guardedly keeping it between the animal and himself. Infuriated beyond degree, with flashing eye and head held down, the bull would dash at his enemy, who with a dexterous side spring would evade the onslaught, leaving the animal to strike the blanket, and as he passed would infliet a slash with his knife. Whenever by his quickness he could stick his knife into the bull's neck just behind the horns, thereby wounding the spinal cord, the bull fell a corpse and the vietor received the plaudits of the admiring throng. The interest taken in these exhibitions was intense ; and, what though a man was killed, had his ribs broken, was thrown over the fence, or tossed on to the roof of a house ; it only added zest to the sport, it was of no moment, the play went on. It was a national amusement.
When a grizzly bear could be procured, then the fight, instead of being between man and bull, was between bull and bear. Both were taken into the corral, each being made fast to either end of a rope of sufficient length to permit of free action, and left alone until they chose to open the ball. The first motion was usually made by the bull endeavoring to part company from the bear, who thus received the first " knock down." On finding that he could not get clear of Bruin, he then charged him, but was met half-way. If the bear could catch the bull by the nose, he held him at a disadvantage; but he more frequently found that he had literally taken the bull by the
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horns, when the fight became intensely interesting, and was kept up until one or other was killed, or both refused to renew the combat. The bull, unless his horns were elipped, was generally victorious.
This custom of bull and bear fighting was kept up by the native Califor- nians, as a money-making institution from the Americans, until the year 1854, when the Legislature interposed by " An Act to prevent Noisy, and Barbarous Amusements on the Sabbath."
Judge R. F. Peckham tells the following incident in regard to this Act, which though not having occurred in this county, still took place in the Santa Clara valley. Shortly after the foregoing enactment became a law, great preparations were made for having a bull-fight, on the Sabbath as usual, at the old Mission of San Juan Bautista. They were notified by the officers of the existence of the new law, and that they must desist from the undertak- ing. Doctor Wiggins, a mission pioneer in California since 1842, was then residing at San Juan; he spoke Spanish fluently, and was looked upon as a great friend by the native Californians. He never smiled nor appeared to jest, yet he was the greatest tale-teller, jester and punster on the Pacific coast. In sallies of genuine wit he stood unequalled. In their perplexity about the new law, the Californians took counsel with the doctor; he examined the title of the Act with much seriousness and great wisdom: "Go on with your bull-tights," was the doctor's advice; " they can do nothing with you. This is an Act to prevent noisy and barbarous amusements on the Sabbath. If they arrest you, you will be entitled to trial by jury; the jury will be Amer- icans ; they will, before they can conviet you, have to find three things: first, that a bull-fight is noisy; this they will find against you; second, that it is barbarous; this they will find against you ; but an American jury will never find that it is an amusement in Christ's time. Go on with your bull-fights." They did go on and were arrested, to find that the doctor had been practicing a cruel joke on this long-cherished institution. They were sentenced to pay a fine, and it was the last of the bull-fights. Thus passed away the only surviving custom of a former civilization.
The history of the settlement of any county of California follows as sequen- tially, and is so closely allied with the history of the Pacific coast in general, and this State in particular, that to commence the chronicling of events from the beginning naturally and properly takes us back to the first discoveries in this portion of the globe, made by the bold old voyageurs who left the known world and charted seas behind them and sailed out into an unknown, untrav- ersed, unmapped and trackless main, whose mysteries were to them as great as those of that " undiscovered country " of which the Prince of Denmark speaks.
In the year 1728 a Dane named Vitus Bering, was employed by Catharine of Russia to proceed on an exploring expedition to the north-west coast of
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America and Asia, to find if possible an undiscovered connection between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. On this voyage he solved the riddle and gave to the world the straits which now bear his name. On his return he tendered to the Empress the handsome skins which he had procured on his cruise, and so delighted was she, and so excited was the cupidity of capitalists from other countries, that soon settlements were established on the coast, and the collec- tion of furs commenced. In 1799 the Russian American Fur Company was organized and located in what is now known as Alaska ; Sitka was founded in 1805 ; and for many years the neighbors of the Russ were the Austrians and Danes. Now came the British. An association known as the King George's Sound Company was organized in London in 1784, for the purpose of making a settlement on the Pacific coast, whither many of their vessels found their way, up till 1790. Between the years 1784 and 1790, the coast was visited by ships of the East India Company; and about the last-named year craft of the United States were first seen in these waters.
The ship Columbia, Robert Gray, Captain, arrived at the Straits of Fuca June 5, 1791, and traded along the coast, discovering the Columbia river, which he named after his vessel, May 7, 1792. In 1810, a number of hunt- ers and trappers arrived in the ship Albatross, Captain Smith, and estab- lished the first American settlement on the Pacific coast. In the same year, under the leadership of John Jacob Astor, the Pacific Fur Company was organized in New York; and in 1811 they founded the present town of Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia river. The British, however, soon after wrested it from their hands and drove all the Americans out of the country, many of whom found their way into California. Between the years 1813 and 1822, save deserters from vessels, and those connected with trading-posts, there were no Americans on the coast.
In his " Natural Wealth of California," Titus Fey Cronise informs us that from 1825 until 1834, the whole of the California trade was in the hands of a few Boston merchants. A voyage to this coast and back, during that time, was an enterprise of very uncertain duration, generally occupying two or three years. The outward cargo, which usually consisted of groceries and coarse cotton goods, had to be retailed to the missionaries and settlers, as there were no "jobbers " in those times, and neither newspapers, telegraphs, nor stages through which to inform customers of the ship's arrival. The crew had to travel all over the country to convey the news, which occupied considerable time. It was this portion of their duties that caused so many of them to desert their ships. They saw so much of the country, became so charmed with the freedom, case and plenty, that prevailed everywhere, that they preferred to remain on shore. Each of these vessels generally brought several young men as adventurers, who worked their passage out for the privilege of remaining. Many of the early settlers, whose children are now
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among the wealthiest citizens of the State, came to California in this manner.
The outward cargo being disposed of, the homeward one had to be pro- cured. Sometimes, when the season had been too dry, or too wet for the lazy vaqueros to drive the cattle into the missions to kill, there were no hides or tallow to be had. On such occasions the vessel was obliged to remain till the next season, when a sufficient number of cattle would be slaughtered to pay for the goods purchased, as there was no "currency " used in the country, except hides and tallow.
First in California to settle, and foremost in Santa Clara county, was John Cameron, commonly called Gilroy. He was born in Invernessshire, Scotland, in the district of Lochaber, in the year 1794, and in the year 1813 arrived in Monterey in one of Her Britannic Majesty's ships, on board of which he was rated as coxswain of the captain's gig. From here he deserted in company with a comrade known as "Deaf Jimmy," and waiting carefully hid until the vessel had departed, the two friends then sought employment, and finding their way into this valley, Gilroy established himself at the little town of San Ysidro, now generally called Old Gilroy, and there marrying, remained till his death, which occurred in July, 1869. His comrade, "Deaf Jimmy," after staying with his confrere for some time, went to the north of the Bay of San Francisco and died in Sonoma county. At this time there were not half a dozen foreign settlers in the whole country, save the Russians who then occupied Bodega and Fort Ross on the coast of Sonoma, while, from San Francisco to Los Angeles, there were only eight ranchos, the property of Mexican colonists.
In the year 1818 there arrived at Monterey another of those grand noble- inen, cast in nature's mould, in the person of Don Antonio Suñol. His birth- place was Barcelona in Spain, but a love for the French people induced him to enter their naval service and he was present when the First Napoleon sur- rendered as a prisoner before his exile to the island of St. Helena. He died at his residence in San José, March 18, 1865, having earned in life by his generosity, the respect of the entire community.
Prior to the year 1820 the manner of living was most primitive, and had it not been that horses were plentiful, the mode of locomotion would have of a necessity been confined to pedestrianism, for, as there were no roads there were no vehicles, while the wheels of those which existed were innocent of fellah, spoke, hub, or tire. Not a hotel, or public house of entertainment was to be found throughout the length and breadth of the land, while there was no sawed timber; that used for building being hewn with axes by Indians. A fire-place or stove was unknown in a dwelling, nor did these come into use until 1846, after the American Occupation.
The first American-born settler in Santa Clara county, was Philip Doke
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or Doak, a block and tackle maker, who having left a whaling vessel in Monterey about the year 1822, came into this valley, settled on the rancho of Mariano Castro, near Gilroy, and married one of his daughters. About the same time, 1822, Mathew Fellom, a Dane, having landed from a whaler at either Bodega or Fort Ross, traversed the intervening wilds, and located on land now occupied by W. N. Furlong, near San Ysidro, or Old Gilroy. This gentleman died in 1873.
In the year 1828 there was an Englishman named William Willis living in the Pueblo de San José, but when he came to the county we have no means of ascertaining.
It is believed that in or about the year 1830 there were not more than a hundred foreigners in the whole of California. About that year there came to this county the future Alcalde during the American Occupation: John Burton, who married in 1831. In the Fall of 1833, Harry Bee came to San José from Monterey, where he had arrived in company with Dr. Douglas, a naturalist, in October, 1827. He was born in the parish of Westminster, London, England, and is to-day the oldest living settler of Santa Clara county. In 1833 there also came with the Hijas colonization expedition to the valley, William Gulnac, a native of Hudson City, New York, where he was born, August 4, 1801. In the year 1819 he sailed around Cape Horn and settled in Lower California, where he married Maria Isabel de Caseña, in 1825. He died July 12, 1851, having been mayordomo of the Mission San José for a considerable period. In this year, too, came James Alexander Forbes, afterwards Vice Consul for Great Britain, who died in Oakland, Alameda county, May, 1881, and James Weekes, who served as Alcalde in 1847. In that year there were John Mulligan and a watchmaker, whose name is unknown, at Gilroy's. Besides these, Harry Bee says, about the time he arrived, or shortly after, there were living in the Pueblo de San Jose, Nicholas Dodero, an Italian; John Price, an Ameri- can, William Smith, better known as " Bill the Sawyer;" George Ferguson, who is still alive and now a resident of Mayfield; Thomas Pepper, alias Pimiento, William Welsh, an Irishman; "Blind Tom," an English sailor; Charles Brown, now of San Francisco, and also an Irish dragoon, a deserter from the British service. To these Mr. Weekes, who died in May, 1881, at the residence of his old friend Harry Bee, adds the name of Moche Dan. In 1834 Thomas Bowen and William Daily came.
In the year 1835 thirty citizens, styling themselves as of the Ranchos of the north, that is of districts to the north of the bay, presented the following petitions to the Governor which are produced in the hope that they may prove instructive as well as amusing to the reader. It is a desire on their part to belong to the jurisdiction of San Jose, instead of that of San Francisco :-
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" To His Excellency the Governor-
" The residents of the adjoining ranchos of the north, now belonging to the jurisdiction of the port of San Francisco, with due respect to your Excel- lency, represent: That finding great detriment, and feeling the evils under which they labor from belonging to this jurisdiction, whereby they are obliged to represent to your Excellency that it causes an entire abandoning of their families for a year by those who attend the judiciary functions and are obliged to cross the bay. Truthfully speaking, to be obliged to go to the port by land, we are under the necessity of traveling forty leagues, going and coming back; and to go by sea we are exposed to the danger of being wrecked. By abandoning our families, as above stated, it is evident that they must remain without protection against the influences of malevolent persons; they are also exposed to detention and loss of labor and property, and injury by animals. There is no lodging to be had in that port, where. for a year, an ayuntamiento is likely to detain them, and, should they take their families, incurring heavy expenses for their transportation and necessary provisioning for the term of their engagement, there is no accommodation for them. Wherefore, in view of these facts, they pray your Excellency to be pleased to allow them to belong to the jurisdiction of the town of San José, and recognize a commission of justice that will correspond with the said San José as capital for the people in this vicinity; wherefore, we humbly pray your Excellency to favor the parties interested by acceding to their wishes.
" San Antonio, San Pablo, and the adjacent ranchos north, May 30, 1835."
It is unnecessary here to produce the names of the signers of the docu- ment, rather permit us to dwell upon the changes rung by time since then. Six and forty years ago the bay was indeed a veritable "sea of trouble " to those rancheros; it is now crossed in half the number of minutes that years have elapsed. Where there were no accommodations, the finest and best con- ducted hotels in the worlds have sprung up as if by magic; and travel by land has been rendered secure, inexpensive, comfortable, and expeditious. Such a wonderful transformation is hard to realize; but the facts speak for themselves.
In due course the document was received at Monterey. Let us follow it: Under date August 12, 1835, it was indorsed: "Let it be kept to be reported to the deputation." September 1st, it was docketed : " On this day the same was reported and referred to the Committee on Government," who, September 5th, reported as follows: " Most Excellent Sir: The Committee on Government being required to report upon the memorial, with the parties subscribed thereto, made to the Political Chief on the 30th day of May last, finds that the said memorial is grounded upon good reasons and public con-
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venience; but, as the subject should be considered upon proper reports for a due determination, the Committee is of opinion that the reports of the Ayuntamientos of the towns of San Jose and San Francisco are required for that purpose. Therefore, the Committee offers, for the deliberation of the most Excellent Deputation, the following propositions: Ist. That this expediente be referred to the Ayuntamientos of the towns of San José and San Francisco, in order that they report upon said memorial. 2d. That after which, the same be returned for determination.
" MAN'L JIMENO, " SALVIO PACHECO."
" Monterey, September 10, 1835. At the session of this day the most Exalted Deputation has approved the two propositions made in the report of the Committee on Government. MANUEL JIMENO."
" Monterey, September 28, 1835. Let this expediente be forwarded to the Ayuntamiento of the town (pueblo) of San José Guadalupe, for a report upon the prayer of the foregoing memorial, and to that of San Francisco for the like purpose. The Ayuntamiento of the latter town will, moreover, give a list of the residents of the vicinity of the same. Don José Castro, senior member of the most Excellent Territorial Deputation, and Superior Political Chief of Upper California, thus commended, decreed, and signed this, which I attest. "JOSE CASTRO. "FRAN'CO DEL CALSELLO NEGRETE, Sec'y."
" In pursuance of the foregoing Supreme Order of Your Excellency, this Ayuntamiento begs to state the following: That with regard to the residents on the northern vicinity, now under jurisdiction of San Francisco, and who in their memorial prayed to be exempted from belonging to that jurisdiction, owing to most notable detriment occasioned to them, now and then, from having indispensably to cross the bay, or to travel upwards of forty leagues; while on half their way they can come to this town (pueblo), under the juris- dietion of which they formerly were, which was most suitable and less inconvenient to them; this Ayuntamiento thinks that their prayer should be granted, if it is so found right.
" JOSE BERREYESSA, Secretary.
" ANTONIO MA. PICO, " IGNACIO MARTINEZ.
" Town of San José Guadalupe, November 4, 1835."
In a response, or rather a remonstrance, the complaints of the petitioners were treated as frivolous by the Ayuntamiento of San Francisco, who rebuked them for their want of patriotism; and were asked if their service of having traveled a paltry forty leagues could bear the slightest comparison with those of others who had journeyed hundreds of leagues in the interior, and some who had gone on public service from San Francisco to San Diego.
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