UBRARY OF CONGRESS QDDaD3baa5fl% LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. %p&k?§0it^g]^ f u Shelf ..Yy..S?.5 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. > A PICTURE PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED WITH ANECDOTES AND STORIES TAKEN FROM REAL LIFE. f BY WILLIAM fGREY. V ^ ^ n ^^■i-N-VN -^ . X<\:„ AUTHORS EDITION. SAN FRANCISCO PRINTED BY W. M. HINTON & CO., 536 CLAY STREET 1881. MSS5 Entered according to Act of Consiress, in tlie year 18S1, by WILLIAM M. HINTON. In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington. INTRODUCTION. This book is respectfully dedicated to the boys aud girls born on the Pa- cific Slope, of jnoueer parents. Its object is to draw a correct and faithful picture of pioneer times in California, and thus expose the misstatements of itinerant lecturei-s and thoughtless or vicious writers, who seem to delight in wholesale misrepresen- tation of the habits aud character of the first American settlers of this coast. The time has come when this matter should be discussed and set right; for the pioneers are fast passing away, aud in a few short years not one will be left to contradict and expose the slanderous charges now constantly put forth against them. In the picture I have drawn, I have sought to avoid claiming for the pio- neers one virtue not fairly theirs; nor have I attempted to conceal their errors. When speaking of individuals, I have tried to avoid undue praise or unjust censure. How far I have succeeded in making my picture a truthful repre- sentation, I leave my fellow pioneers to judge. The destinies of the great young States of the Pacific are fast passing into the hands of the children of the pioneers, and we, the parents, cheer- fully resign our trust, feeling sure that the amor palriai with them is most heartfelt, and, burning brightly, will be " the pillar of fire by night and the cloud by day " to guide them onward, and ensure a great future to the States of their birth. In resigning our leadership, it ought to be our ambition that our children should honor our memory, and feel proud that thoy are the children of California aud Oregon pioneers. It is this ambition that has iiromjited the writing of this volume. It is directly addressed to our young people; but I hope it will be found attrac- tive and interesting to every American citizen, and especially so to all our Ijioneers, who, day by day, as the shades of evening fall on their path, and their numbers lessen, grow nearer and nearer to each other, and more and more attached to all the recollections of the days when, as a band of brothers they, with cheerful hearts, faced every danger, side by side, and aroused into life this whole Pacific Coast. If my fellow pioneers find- that I have performed the task I assigned myself but iudifl'ereutly, I. hope they will at least credit a good intention and an earnest endeavor to the author. WILLIAM GKEY CONTENTS Chapter I—" The Annals of San Francisco."— Their unpardonable errors — The foundin<>' of the Missions — The good they accomplished — The'r great wealth— Influence upon the Indians — The traducers of the Mission Fathers— Mr. Dwinelle's address at the centennial celebration of the founding of the Mission Dolores — Miss Skidmore's poem 1 Chapter II — " Reflections of the " Annals." — The future of the American Republic— Our true policy — The London " Times" and the civil war 16 Chapter III— The conquest of California — The absurd account of it given in the " Annals." Exaggerations and misstatements — Stockton, Kearny and Fremont — Stockton's march to Los Angeles — His reception at San Francisco— His alleged project of invading Mexico — Second reduction of California 20 Chapter IV — Conditions which made the conquest of California an easy one — The murder of Foster — The tell-tale revolver — The vaquero's story — Capture of Mariana — His ex- amination — Subsequent escajje — Mr. Breen's story — The old woman and the dying man — Mr. Breen and the man — The Msxinan's confession — The murder of his affi- anced and an American — Death of the Cary brothers — The Mexican's murder of his own friend — His remorse — Father Anzer's visits — The burial — Other murders. . 31 Chapter V — Discovery of gold by Marshall — Unsuccessful endeavor to keep the matter secret — Life in California — Incorrect account of it in the " Annals." — AUegeJ dis- sipation of all classes — General indulgence in gambling — Amusements, etc 48 Chapter VI — The nature of our early immigration — Difficulties and expense— The writer's own experiences — The South Carolina — Character of the voyagers, and their amuse- ments—The only lady passenger — Rio— Three scalawags and their fates — The Em- peror's garden — Puzzling money — Slave trade and civil rights — Isaac Friedlander, Conroy and O'Connor— John A. McGlynn, W. T. Shaw, D. J. Oliver, Wm. F. White — Air castles — Dead and living 67 Chapter VII — Island of Juan Fernandez^Escape of the convicts — Entering the Golden Gate — Unwillingness of captains to command California bound ships — Preparations to check mutiny — Mutinies on two ships, and their justification 79 Chapter VIII — First impressions of San Francisco — Its hurry of business— Meeting old faces — 57,000 gain on an investment of nothing — A lesson from "Tony" — First brick building — John A. McGlynn and one of San Francisco's two wagons — The monthly mail— Curious government accounts — Mr. McGlynn at the great fire 81 Chapter IX — The three classes of citizens — The gentlemen politicians — The cause of the Vigilance Committees — The typical miner — Welcome arrivals— Ingenious furniture. Early law courts • 95 Chapter X — Bill Liddle — A dangerous pass in the mountains — Old Kate's intelligence — The meeting in the pass— Valor of old Kate — The discomfited conductor — The trial, and the Alcalde's decision — Comparison between the old and new methods of settling disputes— Life of a politician — A Cabinet Minister's advice to a young applicant for a position 115 VI CONTENTS. Chapter XI — Strange recognitions — Stolen money returned — Monterey — Hospitality of its inhabitants — Its decay — A fandango — Don David Spense and Don Juan Cooper. Meeting of old friends — Talbot H. Green — His generosity — Refusal of nominations for United States Senator and Mayor — His marriage — Recognition by a lady — The Democratic Convention — Green's identification as an absconder— Denial of the charge — His departure from San Francisco — Subsequent career 122 Chapter XII — Wages and merchandise — A slow English firm — A customer for bowie knives. A shrewd speculation in sheetings .- 132 Chapter XIII — .lohn W. Geary — Historj- of his advancements — As Alcalde and as Mayor. . . 139 Chapter XIV — The Society of California Pioneers — Their indorsement of the "Annals.'" " Woman's rights" — True sphere of a woman — Resources of California — News- papers, banks and manufactories — The judiciary — The railroads and the new con- stitution — Californians who have won laurels in the East — Loss of the Central America — Rescue of the women and children by the brig Marine — Terrible part- ing.s — Cowardice of two men — Others saved— General Sherman's account — A pas- senger's story 162 Chapter XV — Fascination of pioneer times — Anecdotes and stories in illustration 173 Chapter XVI — A California miser — A speculation in hogs — A marriage of a bashful womin. A life saved by New York law — A lawyer's first appearance in court — A good speech reserved— Squatters dispersed by refusing to talk — A case won by using an Irish authority— A "divide " with robbers and lawyers — Dan Murp'ij- loses his cash 179 ELLEN H.\RVEY; OR, THE WIFE S DIS.\PPOINTMENT. Chapter I — On board of the steamer II — A pleasant lunch party — Retrospect 219 III — The proposal of marriage 230 IV — Departure for California 236 V — Sickness — Susan Marsh, the nurse 241 VI — Mrs. Gabit— The wife's anguish 2-18 VII— Ellen and the Rev. Father 262 VIll— Frank's letter to his wife 273 IX — The wife's letter to her husband 28t' X — Susan Marsh's subsequent history— Conclusion 287 ADA ALLEN; OR, THE HUSBAND S SURPRISE. Chapter I— Arrival in San Francisco— Captain Casserly 293 II— Edmund Allen— A beautiful girl 301 III — A troublesome coluun of figures 307 IV — The poor widow— Mr. Morehouse and Edmund 312 V— The song— The proposal of marriage 320 VI — News from California— A terrible dream 325 VII — Minnie Wagner— Brother and sister 329 CONTENTS Vll VIII — The girl's eriaml — Ada and Minnie 337 IX — Desire to fro to California — Departure 343 X— First letter from Edmund— Mrs. Bucket 348 XI — Mr. and Mrs. Morehouse and Mrs. Bucket • • 3S7 XII— Tbe welcome letter from Edmund 365 XIII— The wife's anxiety — Departure 369 XIV — San Francisco— The pretty little cottage 383 XV — From the theater— The joyful meeting 387 XVI — Waiting for letters— Mrs. Bucket again 393 XVII — A housekeeper's difficulties — Conclusion 39') MINNIE ■\VAGNER: OR, THE FORGED NOTE. Chapter I — A happy breakfast — Arrival in California 401 II — Sir .John Cameron — Agnes and Liisk 4Cn III — A selfish child — Father and daughter 417 IV— The robbers trapped— Young Lusk 422 V — Escape — Capture of a Chilean vessel — The fight 430 VI — News from Walter — Mrs. Lighthead 4S9 VII— Minnie's plan to meet her brother 458 XIII — Rich gold diggings — .John Ward ■ ■ 463 IX — Discovery— Wild and Jim Becket — In danger 481 X — Pursuit — The villains foiled — New friends 497 XI — The drunken messenger — The forged note fiOS XII — Waiting — Attempted abduction — The villains' fate 516 XIII — A visit from Captain Ward — Somber thoughts 533 XIV— James De Forest and Minnie — The Colonel's cattle 530 XV — Preparing for sea — Captain Ward and Brown 54f. XVI — Confession of love — Captain Ward's arrival 551 XVII — Attempted assassination — A consultation 559 XVIII — The robbery — Minnie's encouragement 566 XIX — More trouble for Walter — Minnie's request 580 XX — Arrival of James De Forest — Minnie's generosity 588 YXI — A note from Captain Ward — " A boat ahoy !" 599 XXII — A visit to Father Maginnis — Captain Ward's proposal 605 XXIII — Walter and Ward — Caught in a trap 613 XXI V— Miss Scott and Lizzie— The struggle 626 XXV — Anxiety for Walter and Minnie — On the track 639 XXVI — The prisoners — Captain Ward's horrid fate 644 XXVII — At sea in an open boat — Rescued by De Forest 6.57 XXVIII — Happy events- Honclusion 67:2 A PICTURE OF PIONEER TIMES IN CALIFORNIA, CHAPTER I. "THE ANNALS OF SAN FRANCISCO"— THEIR UNPARDONABLE ERRORS-THE FOUNDING OF THE MISSIONS — THE GOOD THEV ACCOMPLISHED — TIIEIU GREAT WEALTH- INFLUENCE UPON THE INDIANS— THE TRADUCERS OF THE MISSION FATHERS— MR. DWINELLE'S ADDRESS AT THE CENTENNIAL CELE- BRATION OF THE FOUNDING OF THE MISSION DOLORES— MISS SKIDMORE'S POEM. In the year 1854, -when the duration of the American rule in California was yet but little over five years, three well known citizens, then residing in San Francisco, wrote and published a book entitled "The Annals of San Francisco," and dedicated it to the "Society of California Pioneers." This book was neither more nor less than a caricature of the manners and habits of the early American settlers of this coast. We all knew of its grave misrepresentations, and looked upon it with contempt, not only for that, but because it was plainly got up to puff individuals mostly unworthy, and because it was written in a stylo of bold, immoral bravado, that was disgusting to all true Californians. Notwithstanding this, it was for a time widely circulated, and read almost Avithout adverse comment, for in the rush and ex- citement of those days no one had time to attack it and expose itS true character. It had its run; and, as is the case with all such books, it soon dropped out of sight. Its publication and i'ls fate, however, prevented any attempt by others to write a more faithful history of the times; so that to-day it remains the only book claiming to be a regular, authentic history of the pioneer times iu California. 2 PIONEER TIMES IN CALIEORNIA, As I have said, it was dedicated to the Society of Cali- fornia Pioneers, and they never repudiated the dedication. The book, therefore, went forth with their indorsement. This gave it a standing it never could have had otherwise. As the Society of California Pioneers is of the very first respectability, each individual member is supposed to be a competent witness to the truth of its assertions. This criminal neglect by the society, in not repudiating the dedication, was most serious in its conse- quences; for, although the book is very seldom met with in pri- vate libraries, we find it constantly quoted by lecturers and writers on California, as first class authority. In this volume I do not pretend to give a regular history of pioneer times in California; but simply n. picture of them, intend- ing to show the true character of the emigrants who flocked to this State on the discovery of gold in 1848, and later. This pic- ture of mine will be found so entirely different from any that could be drawn from the "Annals," that, to satisfy my readers that I do not condemn that book unjustly, it is necessary for me to give some parts of it in a short review. In many instances the " Annals " give the facts of history correctly, but the trouble is the authors are not satisfied to let the facts speak for themselves, when the imj)ression given is op- posed to their views and prejudices. No; in such cases they do all they can to make "truth seem a lie," or vice versa, as may be agreeable to them. For instance, let us take the history of the early Missions in California, just as it is recorded in the "Annals," without the comments, sneers and "reflections" of the authors themselves, and what do we find ? "We find that, a little over one hundred years ago, in 1776, this beautful State of ours lay almost asleep here on the Pacific slope, inhabited only by about seventy-five i^housand Indians. According to the "Annals," we find those tndians to be of the most degraded caste, making a precarious and miserable livelihood by hunting, fishing and collecting the acorns that are found on a sort of scrub oak in the mountain dis- tricts. They were naked and houseless. Then we find coming on the scene the Missionary Fathers, at first four in number, and according to the "Annals" men of wonderful energy, of surprising judgment, pious and virtuous — "pure in their lives, and faithful to their calling," they tell us. They had nothing of self to work for. Their lives were simple as frugality could make J'lONEER TIMES IN CALIPOBNtA.. 3 them. They had no wives and children to be aggrandized and made rich. They had no string of poor relations hanging around them to be cared for. No; according to the facts given us in the "Annals," they had nothing to urge them on but the purest be- nevolence and their anxiety to bring those benighted, poor, miserable human beings to the knowledge of the true and onlj- God, and at the same time to relieve their physical wants by clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. According to the "Annals," the Missionaries succeeded in converting more than twenty-five thousand of these j)eoplo to the knowledge of God and the Christian religion; and then we find these Indians clothed, fed, housed, and happy. We find them industrious and hard working, as the monuments left attest. We find, by the testimony of the "Annals," that the government under which the Missionary Fathers had brought them was of a kind, parental character. The same authority tells us that "towards the converts and actually domesticated servants the Fathers always showed such an afi'ectionate kindness as a father pays to the youngest and most helpless of his family." Then, from the "Annals" we learn, that the labors of the Missionaries were crowned with success to the fullest, changing this idle, vagabond people into an industrious, productive farming community, as the following statement of live stock raised by the Missionaries in 1825, and of the farming produce of the harvest of 1831, will attest: In 1825 the Mission Dolores, of this city, had 76,000 head of cattle, 950 tame horses, breeding mares, 84 stud of choice breed, 820 mules, 79,000 sheep, 2,000 hogs, 456 yoke of working oxen, 18,000 bushels of grain, $35, - 000 worth of merchandise, and $25,000 in specie. In 1823 Santa Clara branded 29,400 calves as the year's increase, and owned 74,280 head of full-grown cattle, 407 yoke of working oxen, 82,540 sheep, 1,890 trained horses, 4,235 mares, 725 mules, 1,000 hogs, and $120,- 000 in goods. San Jose had, in 1825, 3,000 Indians, 62,000 head of cattle, 840 tame horses, 1,500 mares, 420 mules, 310 yoke of oxen, and 62,000 sheep. San Juan Batista, in 1820, owned 43,870 head of cattle, 1,360 tame horses, 4,879 mares, colts and fillies, 69,530 sheep, 321 yoke of working oxen, $75,- 000 in goods, and $20,000 in specie. In 1825, San Carlos branded 2,300 calves, and had 87,600 head of cattle, 1,800 horses and mares, 365 yoke of oxen, 5,400 sheep, much merchandise, and $40,000 in specie. Santa Cruz, in 1830, had 48,200 head of cattle, 3,200 horses and mares, 72,500 sheep, 200 mules, large herds of swine, and $25,000 worth of silver plate. 4 PIONEER TIHES IX C.iLIFORXIA. Soledad, in 1826, owned 3G.000 head of cattle, 300 yoke of oxen, 70,000 sheep, and more horses and mares than any other Mission. So rapidly did its horses increase that they were given away in order to preserve the pas- tures for cattle and sheep. In 1822, San Antonio owned 52,800 head of cattle, 1,800 tame horses, 3,000 mares, 500 yoke of working oxen, COO mules, 48,000 sheep, and 1,000 swine San Miguel, in 1821, owned 01,000 head of cattle, 1,100 tame horses, 3,000 mares, 2,000 mules, 170 yoke of working oxen, and -17,000 sheep. San Fernando, in 1826, owned 56,000 head of cattle, 1,500 horses and mares, 200 mules, 400 yoke of working oxen, 64,000 sheep, 2,000 swine, $50,- 000 in merchandise, "IA. case, ridicule as absurd the attempts that religious men are con- stantly making all the world over to bring heathens to the knowledge of God and His religion. If this is the position of our authors, we can understand them, so far as religion goes; but they should explain to us how it is that humanity owes nothing to those who, as they tell us, rescued thousands, and tens of thousands, of poor human beings from nakedness, hun- ger and cold, and changed them into a happy, well-fed, prosper- ous people. They tell us the Missionaries were virtuous, good, and faithful to their calling. Why is it that that calling was not a noble one which they so faithfully followed for over seventy-five years '? "V\'hy is it that if the authors of the "An- nals " had saved ten human beings from cold and starvation, be their skins white, black or red, they would expect their praises to be sung throughout the laud ? And so they surely would be. Yet, the mighty work of the Missionaries '"deserves nothiug from humanity!"" "Why is it that the name of Florence Nightin- gale is a household word with the English-speaking people all the world over? Yet, what comparison is there in what she did to earn her well-deserved renown to the life-long charity of the Missionary Fathers in California? Yet the "Annals" tell us they " deserve nothing from humanity."' It is to be regretted that such a man as Doctor Stillman should also yield to early- imbibed prejudices so far as to chime in with these authors of the "' Annals"" in an onslaught on the California Missions, as he does in his very entertaining book entitled, "Seeking the Golden Fleece." His statements to the disadvantage of the Missionaries are supported by quotations from the reports of some early navigators on this coast — one a Frenchman, another a Russian, and two more. Englishmen. Every one of these men was the bitterest natural enemy of Spain, and anxious that their own respective nations should get possession of this beau- tiful countiT. Some of them were badly treated here, and were generally only permitted to remain a few days in the country. "Under these circumstances, it is not surprising that the reports they gave of all they saw in California should be most unfavora- ble to the Spanish authorities, and especially to the Mission- aries. But why go back so far to get testimony for or against iho Missionaries of California, when we have it here at home, where its truth can be tested ? Why did not the Doctor go to Santa Clara, or any of the other principal old Missions, and in- PIONEER TIMES IN CALTFORNU. 7 terview old men, wno are there to be found even now, who lived at those Missions at the very time some of the Doctor's witnesses are said to have visited this coast, and ascertained from those living witnesses the truth as to the conduct of those Missions when under the rule of the Missionaries ? "When we came here, in '4:0, there were Americans, Englishmen and Scotchmen living here who had been on this coast from ten to twenty years before our time, and of course while the Missions were in the hight of their power, yet not a word had any of them to say that would corroborate Doctor Stillman's represen- tations. The Doctor's statement, in brief, is about this: That the Missionaries were "cruel" and "brutally tyrannical" in their government of the Indians. That they sunk the Indians to a lower state of *• nastiuess and filth " and " general degrada- tion " than they found this people in when they came among them. Then the Doctor concludes by telling us, in sober earnestness, that "The three great divisions of Christendom, Catholic, Greek Catholic and Protestant, give a fearful array of evidence " to prove that all this is so. One division he makes out to be the Frenchman, as he supposes him to be a Catholic. The second division of Christendom he calls the Eus- sian, as he takes him to be a Greek Catholic. The thii'd division is his English witness, as he supposes him to be a Protestant. If the Doctor is right in holding that Christendom or Christian- ity was embodied in these three men, the evidence they give is undoubtedly very important; but if the plain truth were known, I think there are hine chances to one that not one of these sail- ors cared a fig about religion of any sort. They were all men of the world, attached to their own nationalities and against all others, with the strong prejudices of those times. They un- doubtedly agreed on one point, and that was, that all done by Spain was badly done, and must be represented to the home government in the worst possible light. Dr. Stillman's attack on the Missions is more wholesale than that of the " Annals," because the "Annals" give the facts of history, and those facts contradict their own assertions. The Doctor tries to avoid this, and does avoid it, except in one in- stance. On page 304 of his book he quotes from his great Catholic witness. La Yseronse, who says, " There ivasno attempt made to teach them [the natives] the most common arts. Their gi-ain was ground by women in the primitive Indian method." 8 PIOSEER TIMES IN* CALIFORXLV, On page 315 the Doctor gets his Greek Catholic witness to tell us that when the Missionary rule ceased, " Not a solitary memo- rial of benefit conferred remained. No mill, not even a black- smith, and the commonest wants of civilized life were not sup- plied to mitigate the rigorous despotism." Then, on page 320, in speaking of this same period, the Doctor calls up an English witness, who says: "They [the Indians] had been taught in many of the arts, and there loere, in almost evert/ division, weavers, tanners, shoemakers, blacksmiths, carpenters, bricklayers and other artificers." What now becomes of the Doctor's great Catholic witness, as quoted from page 3U4'? It surely cannot be that one whole divi- sion of Christendom lied. This quotation from page 320 also puts the Greek Catholic division of Christendom in a very ques- tionable light — in fact, it looks to me as if it let both these divi- sions out, as witnesses worthy of credit, particularly as we all, here in California, know, of our own knowledge, that the quota- tion from page 320 is true, and the other untrue. But what is the use of further notice of such misrepresenta- tions of the Missions as these of Dr. Stillman, who bases his accusations on such testimony as that of long since dead sailor3. who visited this coast only for a few days, and who were filled with national prejudices against the Missionaries and the nation to which they belonged, while he ignores or refuses, or neglects to hear, the testimony of witnesses, many of whom have not yet passed away from among us, and who fiiatly contradict the repre- sentations of those roving sea captains of long 'ago. We cannot help feeling pity for men who allowed themselves to be so govei'ned by their prejudices as to make them seek to rob the glorious dead of the good name they so fairly and justly won. We should all be sure to have an authentic history of those wonderful Missions in our family library, and when our heart sickens, as it sometimes must, at the dailj' exhibitions all around us of selfish, cunning, plotting, hypocritical men, each trying to outreach and get the advantage of the other, crushing out, in their mad struggle with each other, all the teachings of Christianity, and all the natural benevolence of the human heart. AVhen every one, as he rushes by in his frantic pursuit of selfish, worldly joys, cries fool to hioa who is yet humane and unselfish, and who seeks, in the light of the teachings of the Cross, to share all with all. Yes, when our faith is shaken by this disgusting PIONEER TEHES IN CALIFORNIA. 9 aspect of our humanity, which makes the beasts of the field seem superior to us, let us take from the shelf that book and read the story of the Missions of California, and it "will restore firmness to our faith and admiration and respect for our humanity. Fox' there we will find men of education and of the highest order of ability, resigning home, friends and every prospect of worldly comfort, dedicating their whole lives, without any reserve for self, to a struggle in a foreign land, to rescue a nation of misera- ble, degraded savages from hunger, nakedness and the lowest depths of superstition. A^ the worldly-proud white man reads the first line of the story of