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had enemies in San Diego and vicinity is shown by the fact that he held but one elective office, and that a minor one. Lieutenant George H. Derby made San Diego his home for about two years, from 1853 to 1855, and left behind him memories which the people of San Diego cherish to this day. This, not merely because the scene of so many of the funny things in Phoenixiana is laid here, but quite as much on account of his lovable personality. It may be assumed that the reader is familiar with that delectable book and it will therefore not be profitable to reproduce any considerable part of it; but it is believed that something about Derby's life and personality, with a few selections of local interest from Phoenixiana and others from the old Herald files not so familiar to the public, will prove of interest. George Horatio Derby was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, April 3, 1823. He attended school in Concord and is remembered by Senator Hoar, who says in his Autobiography that Derby was very fond of small boys. Afterward he tended store Page 306 in Concord, but failed to please his employer, "who was a snug and avaricious person." During the proprietor's weekly absences in Boston, Derby would stretch himself out on the counter and read novels, and at such times did not like to be disturbed to wait on customers and was quite likely to tell them the goods they wanted were out. He afterward entered West Point and graduated with distinction, in 1846. He served through the Mexican War, was wounded at Cerro Gordo, and was made a first lieutenant. In April 1849, he arrived in California on board the Iowa, with General Bennett Riley and a part of the Second Infantry Regiment. He was employed on different tours of duty in the Topographical Corps, until July, 1853, when he was detailed to superintend the turning of the San Diego River to make it debouch into False Bay. His description of the voyage down and of the appearance of the town of San Diego at that period, in Phoenixiana, are among the funniest things he ever wrote. He met Judge Ames, and has this to say about him: "I fell in conversation with Judge Ames, the talented, goodhearted, but eccentric editor of the San Diego Herald. . . . I found 'the Judge' exceedingly agreeable, urbane and well informed, and obtained from him much valuable information regarding San Diego." Ames appears to have proposed to Derby almost immediately to take charge of his paper for two weeks, while he made one of his frequent trips to San Francisco. Ames and Derby had probably met in San Francisco. At least, it is quite certain they were acquainted, for Derby had been in San Diego during the preceding April, on business connected with the work on the river, and at that time visited the Masonic Lodge, of which order they were both members. He was undoubtedly well acquainted with Derby's reputation as a writer, as his sketches had appeared in the San Francisco papers over the pen names of "John Phoenix" and "Squibob." Derby readily fell in with the proposal, doubtless foreseeing opportunities for no end of fun. The situation is developed thus in the Herald: In his issue of August 13th, Ames said: "Our Absence.--we shall leave on the first steamer for San Francisco, to be absent about two weeks. A friend of acknowledged ability and literary acquirements, will occupy the 'old arm chair' during our absence." Derby writes, in his letter to a San Francisco paper:
"Lo, I am an editor! Hasn't Ames gone to San Francisco (with this very letter in his pocket), leaving a notice in his last edition, 'that during his absence an able literary friend will assume his position as editor of the Herald,' and am I not that able literary friend? (Heaven save the mark). 'You'd Page 307 better believe it.' I've been writing a 'leader' and funny anecdotes all day ... and such a 'leader' and such anecdotes. I'll send you the paper next week, and if you don't allow that there's been no such publication, weekly or serial since the days of the "Bunkum Flagstaff" I'll crawfish, and take to reading Johnson's Dictionary." In the Herald he made the following announcement: "Next week, with the Divine assistance, a new hand will be applied to the bellows of this establishment, and an intensely interesting issue will possibly be the result. The paper will be published on Wednesday evening; and, to avoid confusion, the crowd will please form in the plaza, passing four abreast by the City Hall and Herald office, from the gallery of which Johnny will hand them their papers. 'E pluribus unum,' or 'A word to the wise is bastante.'" Ames neglected to ask what Derby's politics were, or to give instructions respecting the policy of the paper during his absence. The result was disastrous, for Derby immediately changed its politics from Democratic to Whig. The mingling of fun and seriousness in his political leaders of this time is inimitable. He sometimes mixed up the two gubernatorial candidates. Waldo and Bigler, referring to them as "Baldo and Wigler," or "Wagler and Bildo." "Old Bigler," he declares, "hasn't paid the people of this county anything for supporting him (though judging by the tone of the Independent Press, he has been liberal enough above). We think therefore they will do precisely as if he had,--vote for a better man." Again: "Frank, our accomplished compositor, who belongs to the fighting wing of the Unterrified Democracy, 'groans in spirit and is troubled,' as he sets up our heretical doctrines and opinions. He says 'the Whigs will be delighted with the paper this week.' "We hope so. We know several respectable gentlemen who are Whigs, and feel anxious to delight them, as well as our Democratic friends (of whose approval we are confident), and all other sorts and conditions of men, always excepting Biglerites and Abolitionists. Ah! sighs the unfortunate Frank, but what will Mr. Ames say when he gets back? Haven't the slightest idea; we shall probably ascertain by reading the first Herald published after his return. Meanwhile, we devoutly hope that event will not take place before we've had a chance to give Mr. Bigler one blizzard on the subjects of 'Water-front extension,' and 'State Printing.' We understand these schemes fully, and are inclined to enlighten the public of San Diego with regard to them. Ah! Bigler, my boy, old is J. B. but cunning, sir, and devilish sly. Phoenix is after you, and you'd better pray for the return of the editor de facto to San Diego, while Page 308 yet there is time, or you're a goner, as far as this county is concerned."
Page 1 and 2:
History of San Diego 1542-1908, An
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the story of it was handed down fro
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convenient, and well sheltered," an
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Page 36 ably the prophecy of a grea
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priests who were to go, some by sea
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they approached San Diego they met
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Page 47 water in the river, and it
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The San Antonio had sailed for San
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hilltop on that fateful morning and
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1774, to make a new start and to la
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ans who had gone to the Presidio re
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sionary zeal knew no bounds. Better
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tions, the Franciscan enthusiasts w
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eholder, but serves to show the sim
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Page 72 looked with longing eyes up
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ciated with the pioneers of pioneer
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1800. Their successors were José P
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income outside their pay. The chief
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Page 86 [Presidio Hill Today] Page
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were left as a guard to see that th
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was at San Diego, three years earli
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Argüello arrived he found that the
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agriculture successfully.. By 1790
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firm. The Sachem did not call at Sa
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1834, Roxana. 1835, Pilgrim. 1836,
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passed to the American Government.
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The story of the American whaling t
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Ex-Mission of San Diego Santiago Ar
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Late in 1826, the governor ordered
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where the transfer of office was ma
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In 1831, the first revolution, whic
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civil rule. They constituted the fi
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ored to raise a force to renew the
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Before turning to the brighter days
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he published in 1832 told some rema
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provided, greatly to the delight of
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pending American invasion, there we
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The different classes of society we
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for on these occasions no invitatio
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Even a funeral was made the occasio
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sic, and towards the end of the eve
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and a feast held, after which games
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had to be stalked on foot, or in bo
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food was passed around in plates or
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Page 161 PART II. CHAPTER VI. PROMI
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He died on his Tia Juana ranch in 1
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"Among our passengers was a young m
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lar, but overindulgent and careless
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MARRON, Sylvester. Son of Juan Mar
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of his small stature. Wilkes ridicu
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pressed them because she did not ca
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Dana has also left his opinion on r
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El Cajon, where he seized Chief Jaj
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to stop, the narrow defiles affordi
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Page 187 shall, a renegade sailor f
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The line of march was by way of the
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mand: "Ready ! Aim! Fire!" and Anto
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next morning, she saw the body hang
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"Potrero"--Including Rincon, Gapich
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served in the archives of the gover
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mission, where a few rangers were t
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pedition he was about to send out m
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Page 212 fell back. A ranger now da
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crepancy is only in the number of w
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Of the adventures of these men on t
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the baggage was burned, as it was t
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Choosing the latter course, Kearny
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The Mormons, then as now objects of
Page 137 and 138: 24. William Power. 25. Peter Gribbi
Page 139 and 140: SECOND PRECINCT-POLL LIST. Pursuant
Page 141 and 142: The first term of the district cour
Page 143 and 144: seized. He wanted to know what he s
Page 145 and 146: new settlement sprouting on the sit
Page 147 and 148: "There was then no doctor at Old To
Page 149 and 150: flats near his residence, having a
Page 151 and 152: wood and to look out for vessels th
Page 153 and 154: The coastwise trade opened briskly
Page 155 and 156: E. Mason, and was the occasion of g
Page 157 and 158: chants and mechanics, who intended
Page 159 and 160: "Your jurors in the within case of
Page 161 and 162: It will now be in order to give som
Page 163 and 164: On April 5, 1851, he married Ysidor
Page 165 and 166: Past Master's jewel, which the latt
Page 167 and 168: where he lived for twenty years. In
Page 169 and 170: postmaster in 1853-4, trustee again
Page 171 and 172: any pecuniary liability without the
Page 173 and 174: old and active Freemason and a memb
Page 175 and 176: el between Governor Smith and his c
Page 177 and 178: Town. Mrs. Smith died recently. Est
Page 179 and 180: WITHERBY, Oliver S. Judge Witherby
Page 181 and 182: After the discovery of gold, he joi
Page 183 and 184: Ames cast in his lot with the new t
Page 185 and 186: It is probable that on account of h
Page 187: men as Garrison and Sumner, who are
Page 191 and 192: "Like unto the great Napoleon after
Page 193 and 194: the editorial column, under the nam
Page 195 and 196: How they ought not to let Oregon ge
Page 197 and 198: Page 318 carried also eight or ten
Page 199: Page 321 [Charles P. Noell] slight
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