USA > California > San Bernardino County > Ingersoll's century annals of San Bernadino County, 1769-1904 : prefaced with a brief history of the state of California : supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and portraits of many of its representative people > Part 15
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The family life was simple and healthful; they rose early as a rule; the mother spent her day in directing her Indian servants and teaching her daughters to sew and embroider ; the father, after his chocolate, rode away to direct his mayor-domo, or overseer, or to look over his herds, or perhaps to gallop twenty or thirty miles to call upon his nearest neighbor and talk over the last Indian raid, or the latest report, by way of Los Angeles, from Mont- erey, of the new governor, or government.
The Lugo houses were somewhat out of the beaten track; but the hacienda of the Yorbas was near the road from San Juan Capistrano to San Gabriel : the Cucamonga was a stopping place between San Bernardino and Los Angeles, and "El Chino" was on the overland trail from the Colo- rado to Monterey. Travelers came occasionally and they never passed a hacienda without entertainment. A hearty welcome, "Como hay de buena por aqui!" (How much good we have here), and a feast of fresh beef and mutton, "olla," tortillas (cakes), frijoles (beans), with fruit and wine of the country, was set ; a fresh horse in place of the wearied one and a vaquero as guide, if needed, were furnished; in some houses it is said to have been a custom to place a handful of gold upon the table of the guest room-the guest might help himself, if he had need. Truly in those days the Spanish phrase, "my house is yours," meant something more than mere form.
The California women were noted for their beauty and their simple-
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hearted goodness. Alfred Robinson, who was acquainted with nearly every family between San Diego and San Francisco from 1829 to 1842, says: "The men are generally indolent and addicted to many vices, caring little for the welfare of their children who, like themselves, grow up unworthy members of society. . Perhaps there are few places in the world where, in proportion to the number of inhabitants, can be found more chastity, indus- trious habits and correct deportment, than among the women of this place.
Their adherence to the faithful observances of the church, as in all Catholic countries is truly firm; and the most trifling deviation from its commands is looked upon with abhorrence. The extreme deference shown toward the holy teachers of their religion and the wonderful influence exer- cised by them, even in the affairs of their every-day life, may account for an, virtue they may exhibit. The friar's knowledge of the world and his su- perior education, give him a station far above the unenlightened state of the laity and place him in a sphere to inculcate good or disseminate evil. Fort- unately, however, for the country, the original founders of Christianity in California were truly pious, excellent men, and their successors generally have endeavored to sustain their honorable character."
Of one California woman, the same author says: "An American woman once remarked to me that there were two things supremely good in Cali- fornia-la Señora Noriega and the grapes !"
Of the dress of this time, Robinson says: "The dress worn by middling class of females is a chemise trimmed with lace, a muslin petticoat flounced with scarlet and secured at the waist by a band of the same color, shoes of velvet or of satin, a cotton reboso, or scarf, pearl necklace and ear-rings, with the hair falling in broad plaits down the back. Others of the higher class dress in the English style, and instead of the reboso substitute a rich and costly shawl of silk or satin." There are still to be seen among some of the old families exquisite shawls embroidered by hand and others of rich Chinese crape, relics of the day when they served as rebosas and were managed with such skill as to add greatly to the beauty of the wearer.
The costume of the men. according to Robinson, was: "Short clothes and jacket trimmed with scarlet, a silk sash about the waist, botas (gaiters) of ornamented and embroidered deerskin, secured by colored garters, em- broidered shoes, the hair long, braided and fastened behind with ribbons, a black silk handkerchief about the head, surmounted by an oval and broad- brimmed hat, is the dress universally worn by the men of California."
Except for the occasional passing of travelers and visits of "neighbors" from perhaps fifty miles away, the women of the San Bernardino homes must have led a very quiet life-no gossip outside the family, and seldom a church service to attend, unless they went to one of the Missions for a "Fiesta" (feast day). On these occasions the whole family went on horse- back, attended by a retinue of Indian servants-or, in later days, my lady may
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have been driven in her "carreta," a home-made cart, drawn by oxen or mules. Elaborate services were held in the church, then followed games, horse races, bear and bull baiting, and in the evening a fandango. The fathers entertained the guests of distinction at their own tables, setting forth rich spreads for all comers, while the Indians were feasted in their "ramadas."
Weddings, or "festas de boda," were also celebrated with great fes- tivities. All the relatives and friends of the families from San Diego to Santa Barbara were gathered for the event and the dancing and feasting was often prolonged for several days.
"El Noche Buena" (Christmas) was observed with much ceremony and rejoicing. The arrival of a ship at San Pedro was an event eagerly awaited, even as far from the coast as San Bernardino. When it was at hand, "El Padrone," as the Indians called him, loaded his wooden-wheeled carts with hides and tallow and, drawn by oxen-each yoke guided by a pair of Indians armed with sharp pointed sticks-he proceeded to the coast to exchange his goods for the year's supplies. Perhaps "la Señora," or his bright-eyed, swift- tongued daughters, accompanied "el papa" on horseback to visit relatives and make their own selection of ribbons, silks and finery.
The common custom in dealings between the merchants and the Cali- fornians was for the purchaser not to take occasion to ask the price, the seller quietly naming it at once. There was a perfect understanding between the parties and confidence was felt on both sides that no advantage would be taken.
"The merchants sold to the rancheros and other Californians whatever goods they wanted, to any reasonable amount, and gave them credit from one killing season to another. I have never known of a single instance in which a note, or other written obligation was required of them. At the time of purchase they were furnished with bills of the goods, which were charged in the account books, and in all my intercourse and experience in trade with them, extending over many years, I never knew a case of dishonesty on their part. They always kept their business engagements, paid their bills promptly at the proper time, in hides and tallow, which were the currency of the time, and sometimes, though seldom, in money. They regarded their verbal
promises as binding and sacred. . This may be said of all their
relations with others-they were faithful in their engagements and promises of every kind. They were too proud to condescend to do anything mean or disgraceful. This honesty and integrity was eminently characteristic of these early Californians."-Davis.
A picture of this life would not be complete without a reference to faithful service rendered these families by many of their Indian servants. Some of these people, trained in the missions, usually, became the mayor- domos, assuming a large share of the care and the responsibility of large estates and making their master's interest entirely their own.
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These warm-blooded, impulsive Spanish Californians loved and hated, rejoiced and sorrowed with a vehemence-and a changeableness-that we colder-blooded Americans do not know. And they were happy with a light- hearted freedom from worry and forethought that makes us look back from the complicated perplexities of our present day civilization with something like regret to the simpler and more easily satisfied needs of those "dias alegres" (care-free days).
CATTLE ON A THOUSAND HILLS.
The chief occupation of the residents of California and the chief source of their wealth from the settlement of the Missions to the discovery of gold, was stock raising. The party of Gov. Portala and Fray Junipero Serra which ar- rived in Alta, California in 1769, brought with them a few cattle and mules. As the Missions were established, every supply ship or train brought its complement of domestic animals. By Spanish law it was decreed that every colonist in the pueblos (towns) should be furnished two mares, two cows and a calf, two sheep, two goats, one cargo mule and one yoke of oxen or steers, These animals, under the genial climate of California and feeding upon the rich ungrazed valleys and mesas, multiplied with wonderful rapidity. The Spansh policy discouraged trade; few vessels touched on the California coast prior to 1830 ; after supplying the residents with meat and with saddle horses, there was little use for the stock which roamed wild over the hills. As early as 1806, it was necessary to get rid of the surplus horses and near San Jose more than 7,000 horses were slaughtered in a single month. J. J. Warner says that in 1825, the number of neat cattle and horse kind had increased so much that the pasturage embraced in this (Los Angeles) county was insuffi- cient for its support and for that of the wild horses of which there were tens of thousands that had no claimant and which in small bands, each under its leader, roamed over their respective haunts, consuming the herbage, and enticing into their bands the horses and brood mares of the stock breeders. To relieve themselves of these horses the rancheros constructed large pens (corrals) with outspreading wings of long extent from the doorway into which the wild horses were driven in large numbers and slaughtered. At a later period and when the number of neat cattle had been somewhat lessened, the wild horses were driven into such pens and domesticated." Many stories are told of dry seasons in later years when large numbers of both horses and cattle were killed, or driven over banks into the ocean in order to save the rest.
In 1834 it was estimated that the Missions alone possessed 396.400 head of cattle, 32,600 horses, and 321,500 sheep, goats and swine. Within ten years these vast herds had vanished. With the final decree of secularization began an indiscriminate slaughter of Mission stock and destruction of Mission property. Robinson remarks, "Contracts were made with individuals to slaughter the cattle and divide the proceeds with the Missions. At San
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Gabriel the ruin was more perceptible than at other places, owing to the superiority of its possessions. Thousands of cattle were slain for their hides only, whilst their carcasses remained to decompose upon the plains."
A MATANZAS (Slaughter)
The same author gives a good description of the annual cattle killing of the thirties. "Numbers of the poor animals lay stretched upon the ground, already slaughtered; others just suffering under the knife of the butcher; whilst, in a spacious enclosure hundreds were crowded for selection. The vaqueros, mounted on splendid horses and stationed at the entrance, per- formed by far the most important part of the labor. When the mayor-domo pointed out the animal to be siezed, instantly a lasso whirled through the air and fell with dexterous precision upon the horns of the ill-fated beast. The horse accustomed to the motion, turned as the rope descended and dragged him to slaughter. Another lasso was then thrown which entrapped his hind legs and threw him prostrate on the ground. In this position he was slaught- ered and the horseman returned for another. Sometimes one would escape and make off for the fields, pursued by the vaqueros, who, as they rode close in full chase, swung their lassos above their heads aad flung them over the animal's head and horns and neck, giving their well trained horses a sudden check, which brought him tumbling to the earth ; or some one of the more expert would seize upon him by the tail and, putting spurs to his horse, urge him suddenly forward, overthrowing the bull in this manner."
The hides and tallow, which were the chief staples of California trade, were sold to the American and English ships which were becoming frequent visitors under Mexican rules in the thirties.
A RODEO. (Round-up)
Every year rodeos were held in the different localities when all the stock on the ranges were collected, the owners of the various ranges, or their repre- sentatives, assembled, the stock was sorted, so to speak, each owner taking possession of his own and branding his calves. An officer known as "El Juez de Campo" (Judge of the Plains) was usually present, whose duty it was to settle disputes as to brands and ownership. A lively picture of such a rodeo in Southern California is given by Maj. Horace Bell in his "Reminiscences of a Ranger." "In May, '53, I was invited to attend a grand rodeo, which was to take place on the San Joaquin Rancho, about forty-two miles east of Los Angeles; so in company with a fellow gringo (American) I betook myself thither, arriving late in the afternoon. Reaching the ranch house, I was surprised at the numbers present ; rancheros from all parts of the country, and from San Diego, either in person, or by their representatives, the mayor domos. The Machados of La Ballona, the Picos from San Fernando and San Diego, the Dominguez, the Sepulvedas, the Lugos from everywhere, the
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Avilas, the Sanchez, the Cotas, the Stearns, Rowlands, Reeds, Williams, the Yorbas of Santa Ana, and the Temples of Puente-all were there. All were there with their trains to separate and to drive to their respective ranchos whatever cattle may have strayed to the confines of San Joaquin. When I unsaddled I could see groups of dozens here and there, seated upon and sur- rounding a blanket spread upon the ground, engaged in the national game of monte. These were the vaquero servants. At the house I found Don Jose Sepulveda, the owner of San Joaquin, with dignified courtesy receiving the visitors to the rodeo. The ranchmen are busy in dealing out beef and other comestibles to the vaqueros, and the house emits the odors of cookery, for the patrons and mayor domos must be entertained as becomes their quality. Full a hundred persons sup at the ranch table, after which conversation com- mences and is kept up long after the writer has passed the boundary of dream- land. Before daylight, however, the whole camp is astir, and when I take my coffee scarce a man is to be seen, all having gone to the field to form the rodeo for the day's work. By nine o'clock, thirty thousand head of horned cattle are brought into one herd and surrounded by vaqueros, armed with the terrible riatas, and now the work of separation and marking begins.
"The cattle of these many owners have not only to be separated, but the calves must be marked on the ear and branded. All of this work must be done inside of two days, as during this time this great herd has no food and may become maddened and unmanageable from hunger and thirst. To penetrate this formidable body, to a gringo, is a most delicate and dangerous operation, but to see how the vaqueros do it, their perfection of horsemanship, the adroitness with which they apply the riata, the cleverness and ease with which they extricate a cow and calf from this living labyrinth, excites one's admiration in the highest degree. As they are extricated, each owner receives his own marks, and brands the calf and drives them to his separate herd. So by the time the rodeo is over the grand herd of 30,000 is broken into many small herds and the vaqueros drive them to their respective ranches. These rodeos were grand affairs and the young men of the ranchos vied with each other in feats of horsemanship and throwing the lasso."
SHEEP SHEARING.
The annual sheep shearing was another great occasion in the life of the ranchos. All the bands of sheep belonging to one owner were driven to- gether. The shearers, who were usually bands of Indians, camped near the corrals. The herders drove the sheep in to a small corral where they were caught and passed to the shearer, who threw the animal on the ground, caught its head between his knees and shaved it so skillfully that when it bounded away. a perfect mold of the shorn was left. The wool was packed into great gunny-sacks, the packer trampling it down into the sacks, and the shearers were paid five cents every time they tossed a fleece to the packers.
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HORSES AND HORSE RACING.
No history of stock raising would be complete without some description of the early California horse and the racing which was one of the chief amuse- ments of the Spanish-speaking people. The California horse, was not large, and did not possess all the "points" of the thoroughbred ; but for intelligence and endurance, these "mustangs," or "broncos" as they were called, were far superior to any other horse ever known. Wonderful stories are told of the rides that were made and the endurance displayed by these early Califor- nian horses and riders. Harlan tells of one horse which was ridden hard for nearly thirty-six hours and then after a few hours rest was taken out of the stable and started off as "fresh" as though just from the pasture. Robinson mentions rides of fifty-four miles in seven hours, and of eighteen leagues in eight hours, as ordinary occurrences. Fremont rode from Los Angeles to Monterey and back again-over 800 miles-in eight and a half days, being in the saddle almost 100 hours. Guinn tells of the ride of John Brown, or Juan Flaco, who was sent by Gillespie with a message to Stockton and rode from Los Angeles to Monterey, a distance of 460 miles in 52 hours, without sleep ; then after three hours sleep, he continued to Yerba Buena (San Francisco), 130 miles further.
The California boy learned to ride horseback as soon as he learned to walk, and the men spent most of their waking hours in the saddle-even taking their meals horseback, one writer declares.
The following interesting account of methods employed in stockraising in the early days in California is from the pen of Judge J. E. Pleasants, a well known Orange county resident, and appeared some years ago in a Los Angeles publication :
"From the settling of California by the Spanish to 1863 the principal in- dustry of the country was stock raising-chiefly horses and cattle, as up to that date sheep were raised in comparatively small numbers. The horses were generally understood to be of Andalusian stock, introduced from Spain into Mexico and thence to California. The horses of California were super- ior to those of Mexico, probably owing to the difference in climate and feed. It has since been proven in the rearing of blooded horses that California climate is a strong factor in making the bone and muscle necessary to the speed and endurance required to compete with the world's record breakers And for beauty, spirit and endurance, I have never seen the old California horses surpassed, even by blooded stock. I have known horses to be ridden a hundred miles in a day without injury, and fed entirely upon the wild grass. Indeed, I believe that the horses fed en- tirely upon the native grasses possessed greater endurance than those fed on grain. Their hoofs possessed great durability. Saddle horses were never shod, and suffered nothing in consequence. The greatest care was taken in breaking and training the saddle horses. There has probably never
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been better trained or more beautiful saddle horses in any country than those of California at that time. The work and travel of the country was done on horseback ; so the saddle horse was an institution. All the men and many of the women were expert riders. The horse and all the equipments of the horseman were matters of especial pride. It was usually considered that it required a year's time to properly bit a horse. Then a mere touch of the rein served to guide him. The shades of color and markings of stock all had their names. It has been estimated that the Spanish language con- tains at least two hundred names for the colors of stock. There are many colors for which we have no synonyms in English.
"During the early sixties there was more stock in the country than had ever been at any previous time. The Stearns ranchos alone at that time branded from 5000 to 6000 head of calves a year ; and many rancheros counted their yearly increase by the thousand.
"Nearly the whole of the southern part of the state was used as grazing land. Around Los Angeles, the missions, and along the rivers there was a limited amount of farming and fruit raising done, but the balance of the land was one great pasture. The old method of managing stock was very sys- tematic, though done on a large scale. Each rancho had its majordomo, and under him served a corporal. Then came the regular vaqueros, who num- bered from ten to twenty for each rancho, according to the size of the place and number of stock to be handled. During the spring rodeos there would be twice that number employed. The business of the vaquero was to look after the stock and break saddle horses. As a rule, his work was light and his wages small. Fifteen dollars a month was about the average. Each vaquero had his own caballos de su silla, or saddle horses, allotted to him, and no man rode another's horse. Enough horses were allotted to one man to make the work light for the animals. A horse was never ridden two days in succession during the busy season, and one usually had several days of rest to one of work. In this way they were kept in excellent condition the season through. Horses were kept in separate bands. A manada, or band of mares and quite young stock, would usually number from forty to sixty. These would be under the leadership of a stallion. Each horse would keep his manada to itself, and while they usually avoided each other, when two old leaders did meet there would be a fight worth seeing. The young geld- ings and fillies remained with the manada until the fillies were two to three years old and the geldings three to four.
"The fillies were put at the proper age into a newly-formed manada ; and the geldings were taken away to be broken. Mares were never used to work or ride. In the spring the young horses (potros) were put into a band by themselves under the leadership of a bell-mare (caponera.) They were herded for a time until they grew accustomed to the new leader. They were now apportioned out among the vaqueros for breaking, each man taking
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a number, riding and gentling them in turn. They were also broken to stake. Broncos (wild horses) were ridden for some time with a hacima, a sort of halter, before using the bit. Quite strict observance of ranch lines was kept. The boundaries were well defined and recognized; and though stock roamed frequently from one rancho to another, one ranchero or his men must obtain permission of the owner before driving stock away from his land. In the spring, varying in time with the season, came the rodeos, or round-ups. They were never begun until feed was plentiful and the stock in good con- dition.
"The 'recogidos', or gathering of horses, began about a month earlier than the rodeo of the cattle, and were managed in the same way. All orejanos (unbranded) stock became the property of the rancho on which they were found at the time of the rodeo. After taking the stock home the animals were herded for a time to break them to the home range. Following the recogidos and rodeos came the private ones at each rancho for the pur- pose of branding young stock. These also were under supervision. The municipal regulations of San Jose of January 16, 1835, say that 'none might brand, mark or kill stock except on days designated by the Ayuntamiento, and never without permit of the Juez del Campo, who should inform the Alcalde of such.' The penalty for the first offense was twenty reales; who- ever lassoed or saddled a beast not belonging to him should pay $9, and as much more as the owner claimed in justice. The rodeos were scenes of lavish hospitality, such as is now seldom seen. It was often the custom to place a complete complement of saddle horses at the disposal of the visiting rancheros during their stay at the rancho, that their own need not be used until the time of their departure. Many beeves were killed, and much good cheer abounded."
Warner, in his "Centennial History of Los Angeles," says: "The Pion- eers of 1850 were passionately fond of the turf. They might justly boast of their horses which had sometimes drawn applause at the capital of Mexico. Now, and for many successive years, they gave full play to this passion. August 16th, 1851, Don Pio Pico and compadre, Tomaso Yorba, gave their printed challenge 'to the North' with bold defiance- the glove is thrown down, let him who will take it up' -for a nine mile race, or four and a half miles, and repeat, the stake 1,000 head of cattle, worth $20.00 apiece and $2,000 ; with a codicil, as it were, for two other races-one of two leagues out and back, the other of 500 varas, (about half a mile)-$2,000 and 200 head of full grown cattle, bet on each race. March 21st following, the nine-mile heat. was run two miles south of the city (Los Angeles), between the Sidney mare, Black Swan, backed by Jose Sepulveda, and the California horse Sarco, staked by the challengers. The mare won by 75 yards in 19 minutes and 20 seconds. Sarco, the previous spring had run nine Mexican miles in 18 minutes and 45 seconds. Not less than $50,000 must have changed hands over this race."
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