USA > California > San Diego County > San Diego county, California; a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume I > Part 7
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While the battle thus raged on the outside, Fathers Junipero and Viscaino
MISSION VALLEY, SHOWING THE OLD MISSION IN THE DISTANCE
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remained inside the hut, which served the purpose of their temporary chapel. Being, unlike some of their clerical brethren, non-combatants, all they could do was to recommend themselves to God and pray that no blood might be spilled. At length, however, a considerable time having thus been spent and the fate of the day being still uncertain, Viscaino had the curiosity to raise the mat which formed the door of the structure and look out. As he did so, an arrow struck him upon the hand, whereupon he quickly dropped the mat and betook himself again to prayers. But alas, this little spice of the comic was destined to be soon followed by an affecting tragic incident. Scarcely had Viscaino dropped the mat, when it was raised from the outside and in rushed Jose Maria, the body servant who waited on the fathers. He was bleeding from a ghastly wound in the neck. Throwing himself at the feet of Junipero he cried, "Absolve me, father ; for the Indians have killed me." Junipero hurriedly performed the re- quired ceremony, and the poor man immediately afterwards expired. Had his death been known to the Indians they would probably have felt encouraged in their undertaking, but the fathers were careful to conceal it and in a short time the assailants, finding or imagining their attempts vain, picked up their comrades that had fallen, and withdrew. Of the Christians, one only was killed, but Vis- caino, a soldier, an Indian neophyte and the valorous blacksmith were each slightly wounded. Of the Indians it is not known how many perished. A number of the wounded ones presented themselves several days afterwards and were re- ceived and kindly cared for by Pedro Prat, the surgeon, and from that time for- ward the Spaniards were treated with more consideration and much greater respect.
Peace being thus restored, Junipero again turned his attention to the work of conversion. Among the Indians that now frequented the mission was one of fifteen years of age, who had gradually picked up a smattering of the Spanish language. Through him, Junipero proposed to the natives that, if they would send him one of their children, the little fellow should not only be made a Chris- tian and a son of the church, but regarded as related to the soldiers and like them be dressed in fine clothes. The offer being accepted, in a few days afterwards one of the Indians accompanied by a crowd of others, made his appearance with an infant boy in his arms and by signs indicated that he desired him baptized. Junipero was overjoyed and to testify his pleasure and gratitude, he immedi- ately produced a large piece of beautiful cloth and threw it over the child. He then invited the corporal of the guard to stand godfather and the soldiers to be- come witnesses of the first baptism. But as he was about to proceed with the ceremonies and apply the water, the Indians suddenly snatched the child away and ran off with it, leaving Junipero standing with the shell containing the holy water in his hands. At such impiety on the part of the savages, the soldiers were furious and would have punished the insult on the spot, but Junipero called to his aid all his prudence and restrained them. For a long time, however, he felt keenly the disappointment and with tears in his eyes attributed it all to his own many sins.
Meanwhile the rainy season came on, and in the midst of it the expedition, which had gone in search of Monterey, returned. It had failed to recognize the port, which it had gone to find, and was very much disheartened, though as a matter of fact it had discovered the bay of San Francisco and thereby accom- Vol. I-4
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plished a result of much more importance than the re-discovery of Monterey. It had suffered a great deal from wet weather, roughness of the way and want of provisions. And upon its return to San Diego, there was little of encourage- ment at that place to revive its drooping spirits. Junipero, Parron and Viscaino it is true, notwithstanding the bad commencement of their labors of conversion, had persisted in their work and were gathering in a large harvest of souls. But there was little to eat and not much prospect of relief, and, as there was now a large accession of mouths to feed, what provisions still remained were disappear- ing with great rapidity. Under these circumstances Governor Portola, fearful of being left destitute, announced his intention of abandoning the country unless the San Antonio should speedily return or relief come from some other quarter. He fixed upon March 20 as the last day that he was willing to wait and began making preparations for his departure. It was arranged, among other things, that a sufficient number of persons should be placed upon the San Carlos to navigate it back to Lower California, and that the remainder of the adventurers should retrace their journey overland. Such being the orders, nearly every one became very busy, and nothing else was talked about except the return, and par- ticularly as the appointed time approached. But Junipero had not for a moment acquiesced, and was not likely to acquiesce, in the thought of abandoning his great enterprise. On the contrary he struggled by every means in his power to save it. He was satisfied that, if now abandoned, the conquest of Alta California under the auspices of Spain and the Spanish church would be retarded for many years and might perhaps never take place. Being unable, however, to change the resolution of the governor, he prayed the interposition of Heaven, and, as the result of much wrestling of the spirit, he worked himself up to the determination that as for himself, come what might, he would under any and all circumstances stand by his mission.
Having thus made up his mind, Junipero looked around him for sympathy and cooperation. He first applied to the other missionaries but only one of them had the courage to come to his assistance. This was Father Crespi, who at once and without hesitation resolved to stand by his chief. Strengthened with this great support, Junipero next caused himself to be rowed out into the har- bor to the San Carlos for the purpose of discussing the situation with Vicente Vila, its commander. He laid before that functionary the proposed abandon- ment and the causes which, according to his information, induced the governor to contemplate such action. One of these was a common opinion, prevalent among those who had taken part in the late expedition, that the port of Monterey had been filled up with sand and therefore could not be found. But Junipero was clearly of the opinion, which he frankly expressed, that the port still existed and in exactly the same state as it had been seen by Cabrillo and Viscaino, and that the recent expedition had merely passed without recognizing it. To this Vila on his part answered that, from his own examination of the maps and from all he had heard upon the subject, he was not only of the same opinion as Juni- pero that the port still existed, but he believed it existed in the immediate neigh- borhood of the sands which had been supposed to fill it up. The manner and tone in which he gave this answer convinced Junipero that Vila was not satisfied with the search that had been made for Monterey, and thereupon, announcing the fact that Crespi and himself were determined to remain in the country notwith-
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standing the departure of the others, he proposed that Vila, instead of imme- diately sailing for home, should take Crespi and himself on board his vessel, run up the coast and ascertain the truth as to the reported filling up of the lost port. Vila, interested as a navigator in the geographical question thus artfully pro- pounded, agreed to the proposition, and Junipero returned to shore.
But Junipero's resolution thus to remain was not to be put to the test. On March 19th, the day before that fixed upon by Governor Portola for his departure, the event, which was to put a new aspect on the face of affairs, occurred. This was the appearance of a sail which, though at a great distance, was clearly and distinctly seen. It was a somewhat remarkable coincidence that this sail should appear on the last day of the period fixed by Portola and that such day should happen to be the festival of St. Joseph, the patron of the expedition. As a mat- ter of fact, there was nothing at all supernatural in the circumstance. But Juni- pero had such thorough faith in miracles that he firmly believed the appearance of the sail at that particular juncture a special providence and attributed it to the interposition of the saint. In other words, one more was added to the already somewhat prolific list of miracles which he had experienced.
The sail, as has been stated, appeared on March 19th. It was far out at sea, but instead of making for land as might have been expected, it headed northwest- ward and finally disappeared beyond the watery horizon. Nor was anything further seen or heard of it until four days afterwards, when the San Antonio sailed into port. Then all was explained. The vessel, which had left San Diego in the previous July, had arrived at San Blas in twenty days. It had then for- warded its dispatches to the visitador-general, but on account of his absence in the interior of Mexico, it had taken some time for them to reach him and also some time for his replies to get back to San Blas. But no sooner were these received than, in accordance with the directions they contained, the requisite num- ber of sailors and a full cargo of provisions were supplied and the vessel ordered back immediately. It was, however, specially instructed not to stop at San Diego on its way back but to proceed at once to Monterey, where it was supposed the larger part of the people would be found, as the recent dispatches had given notice of their intended march for that place. It was in pursuance of these instructions that the vessel had passed San Diego on March 19th without stopping and there is no doubt it would, in pursuance of the same, have passed on to Monterey. But when it reached the Santa Barbara Channel its water supply gave out and it was compelled to run in near Point Concepcion to replenish. There the Indians reported the return of the Monterey expedition to San Diego, and besides this, the San Antonio while in that neighborhood accidentally lost its anchor, on account of both which reasons it was deemed proper to turn round and first make San Diego, and this was accordingly done. It was thus that the sail appeared at the time it did, then disappeared and again appeared four days afterwards. It was thus also that the supposed miracle was a mere coincidence, and that the Joseph who wrought it was Joseph the visitador-general, and not Joseph the saint.
Having been repelled in their attack, the Indians' behavior improved very much. The wisdom of the Fathers also increased and a stockade was built around the mission as a further means of protection. The Indians, whose deport- ment had been improved, still kept aloof from the advances of the priests, which
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was very discouraging to the missionaries and gloom settled over Presidio Hill. Nineteen of the little band of forty had died.
Portola returned to Presidio Hill and on January 24, 1770, having accom- plished nothing in the north, his discouragements were greatly added to by the failure of the efforts of Serra in the south, which led him to declare that San Diego should be abandoned. To this end preparations were made March 19th for the abandonment but on that date a ship entered the harbor with supplies and recruits, and the idea of giving up the work was forgotten but was carried on by Father Serra with renewed vigor and encouragement.
In 1773 it was determined, even against Father Serra's wishes, to remove the settlement up the valley. The spot selected was about six miles from the original settlement on Presidio Hill, in what is now known as Mission valley. It pos- sessed advantages in the way of soil and water, of sheltering hills and gentle climate for an agricultural, industrial and pastoral establishment, under a patri- archal form of government like that of the Mission Fathers. Aside from these material considerations, the place appealed powerfully to the devoted priests, so there the missionaries went in August, 1774, to make a new start and to lay the foundations of a mission. For more than a year the work proceeded prosper- ously with a constant increase in the number of converts, growing herds and crops. Fathers Fuster and Juame were in charge of affairs. Everybody seemed happy and nothing occurred to mar the harmony of the scene, yet, within a month of the feast of St. Francis, October 3 and 4, 1775, the Indians rose in revolt. The mission was wiped from the face of the earth and the cause of St. Francis received a staggering blow at a moment when its promoters felt entirely secure.
CHAPTER VIII
THE END OF FRANCISCAN RULE
Spain's empire in Mexico lasted for three centuries. It was in 1521 that ยท Cortes virtually completed his conquest, and it was in 1821 that Iturbide wrested the country from the feeble grasp of Ferdinand VII. The Mission of San Diego was then almost at the zenith of its prosperity, and as the good Fathers basked in the sunshine or looked out upon their smiling fields, they fondly believed that their works would endure to bless the land and enrich their order for many generations to come. They knew that the eternal fires of revolution had been blazing in Mexico for more than a decade, but had little fear that the hand which had held the region for three hundred years would lose its hold, at least in their time.
The Spanish statesman had given the missionaries the utmost latitude because their scheme of converting and utilizing the Indian population was admirably adapted to meet the political necessities and naturally proceeded to make differ- ent plans. It had no time to lose in strengthening itself against the rising power of the United States. It could not leave so precious a possession as California to the control of an element which at best could be but lukewarm toward the new born power which had overthrown Spanish control, and thus done violence to the great tradition of which the missions were themselves an important part. Moreover, Mexico had friends to reward as well as enemies to punish. Some of the men who had fought its battles and who would be needed to fight its battles again, looked with longing eyes upon the rich dominions of the missions and began to dream of founding great families and great estates.
It is a very convenient thing to be able to pay your debts with other people's property. Mexico was in this fortunate position and proceeded to take advan- tage of it. In 1824 the Colonization Law was enacted. This authorized the gov- ernment to make grants of unoccupied lands to Mexican citizens to the extent of eleven square leagues. Under this law thousands of acres were parceled out among the supporters of the government. These grants encroached upon the mission holdings and gave the Fathers their first shock of serious apprehension for the future. In 1832 the Mexican power mustered the full courage of its con- victions, its necessities and its desires. It passed the Act of Secularization, which was simply an act of confiscation, from the Franciscan point of view. It was the object of this legislation to take all the property of the missions, real and personal, and divide it among those who would use their wealth and influence for the defense and development of Mexico. The attempt of Governor Figueroa to put it into effect in 1833 was a failure but it was gradually executed, being
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extended little by little until the day when Mexico lost the country to the United States.
With the adoption of the policy of secularization, the Mission Fathers knew that their long day was passing into twilight and that it could be a question of but a few years when they must relinquish their hold upon California. Some of them were utterly discouraged and unwilling to attempt the continuance of their work. Some were frankly hostile to the new rulers and went home to Spain. A few persisted to the last and died peacefully at their posts. The effect of the new order of things on the Indians was demoralizing. Their loyalty could hardly be expected to survive the shattering of priestly power. The only government they understood was the patriarchal form, and the very foundation of this govern- ment had now disappeared. Nevertheless, the Mission of San Diego lived on for more than a dozen years after its ultimate downfall was clearly foreshadowed. It was not until 1846 that the ownership of the property was legally and finally taken from the church.
The full force of the blow could no longer be stayed. Mexico was threatened with invasion by the United States and it became imperatively necessary that the country should be put in the best possible condition of defense. Thus the gover- nors of the various states and departments were vested with extraordinary powers and instructed to adopt drastic measures to strengthen the government. Governor Pio Pico sold the missions as rapidly as possible in order to raise money for the war which impended. In June, 1846, he sold to Don Santiago Arguello so much of the property of the San Diego Mission as had not already been granted to Mexican citizens. The deed of sale read as follows :
"Being previously authorized by the Departmental Assembly to alleviate the missions, in order to pay their debts and to avoid their total ruin; and knowing that Don Santiago Arguello has rendered the government important services at all times, and has also given aid when asked, for the preservation of the legiti- mate government and the security of the Department, without having received any indemnification; and, whereas, this gentleman has, for his own personal benefit and that of his numerous family, asked to purchase the mission of San Diego, with all its lands and property belonging to it, both in town and country, he paying fully and religiously the debts of said Mission, which may be estab- lished by the reports of the Committee of Missions, binding himself besides to provide for the support of the priests located at said Mission, and of divine worship. In view of all which I have made real sale and perpetual alienation of it forever, to Don Santiago Arguello, according to, and in conformance with, what has been agreed upon, with all the appurtenances found and known at the time as belonging to it, whether consisting of lands, buildings, improved real estate or cattle."
The reader will not fail to note the pious terms in which the instrument was drawn. The object of the transfer was "to alleviate" the Mission, and to avoid its "total ruin." The purchaser was required to provide for the support of the priests and to maintain divine worship. These diplomatic phrases deceived no one, and least of all, the priests. The idea of a proprietary mission dependent for its support upon the bounty of an individual, must have been repugnant to their souls. Certainly such an arrangement could never have proven workable, but it was not put to the actual test. The war came on with swift footsteps and
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when it had passed, Mexico had gone the way of Spain and the Missionary Fathers had gone with them, so far as the dominion of California was concerned.
What was the net result of Spanish dominion in San Diego which nominally began with the discoveries of Cabrillo in 1542 and Viscaino in 1602, and ripened into actual occupation with the expedition planned by Galvez and executed by naval, military, civil and missionary leaders in 1769?
They of course left a great memory which will endure to the end of time and which is likely to grow rather than diminish in the quality of picturesque and romantic interest. They left their nomenclature and this is somehow so pleasing to the ear and eye of the composite race which has evolved into the American population of today that it seems likely to last as the visible expression of the Spanish tradition. Not only does it remain in the name of the city and of land- marks to which it was given by the Spanish explorers and founders, but it blooms perennially in many other forms, including the names of new residences and estates, for which it is frequently preferred to names associated with the racial, national and family traditions of their owners. Nothing could more strikingly illustrate the power of the memories of Spanish occupation upon the popular imagination. The same influence is apparent in architecture and this seems to be growing and likely to grow more in the future. The Spanish speech still lingers and may do so for a long time, though it tends to disappear and will some day be no more in evidence than the speech of other European peoples who had noth- ing to do with the early time.
Aside from the virile tradition expressed in the nomenclature and architecture of the city and its surrounding country, the Spaniard left nothing pertaining to his national life. But the value of this contribution to civilization should not be underestimated. Happy is the land which has memories to cherish! Twice happy when the memories are associated with the pioneers of pioneers! And thrice happy if, as in this case, those memories chance to be sanctified by the struggle to light the lamp of spiritual exaltation in the darkness of ignorance and savagery! As time goes on, the earliest history of San Diego will be revived in art. More and more it will supply a rich theme for painting, for sculpture, and for literature. But the institutions which it sought to plant deep in the soil have perished almost utterly. English law and English speech have taken the place of Spanish law and speech and even the religion which the founders brought apparently owes little or nothing of its present strength to their teaching or their building. The Catholic church is powerful of course, but by no means as power- ful in San Diego, whose legitimate child it was, as in Boston, which was estab- lished by those who deliberately fled from its influence.
What shall be said of the missionary achievement? For the most part, the answer to this question depends upon the individual point of view. No mere material conquest is to be compared with the salvation of immortal souls. The Mission Fathers brought thousands to the foot of the Cross and persuaded them to live in accordance with religious ways. Those who believe that these thou- sands of souls would otherwise have been lost justly place the missionary achieve- ment above the most enduring things done by the soldier, the law-giver, or the founder of institutions. Those who accept distinctly modern views of religion may hold more lightly the purely spiritual conquest accomplished by Junipero Serra and his fellow priests, yet even such must credit them with the noblest
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aspirations and must concede that the Indian population gained much in simple morality from the missionary teachings. Nor has this gain been wholly lost, even after Father Serra has slept for more than one hundred and twenty years in his grave at Monterey. The Indian was unquestionably elevated by his spirit- ual experience and by his manual training, and, dubious as his condition seems today, is still a better man because the mission once flourished under the sunny skies of San Diego.
The literature of the missions is voluminous and constantly increasing. For reasons already stated, it is somewhat remote from the real history of San Diego. It is not the picture itself, but the shadowy background of the picture. Nothing more finely expressive of the appeal which it makes to the poetic senses has been written than the following extract from a sketch of the Mission of San Luis Rey, by Will H. Holcomb:
"To behold this beautiful structure for the first time under the softening effect of moonlight requires no great stretch of the imagination, to believe one's self among the romantic surroundings of some Alcazar in old Spain. Below, among the purple shadows of the valley, which half conceal and yet reveal, lies the river, a counterpart of the Guadalquiver ; ranged about are the hills, dreamy, indistinct, under the mystic canopy of night, while nearer at hand are the deli- cate outlines of arches, facades and vaulted roofs, reflecting the pearly light and appearing half real, half visionary, against the ambient breadths of starless sky. The land breeze wafts down the valley from the mountain heights, cool and sweet, and whispers among the columns and arches, and we are tempted almost to in- quire of these voices of the night something of the tales of adventure, of love, of ambitions gratified and hopes unfulfilled, which cling to this sacred spot, from the shadowy period of the past.
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