doc241 - Schoenherr Home Page in Sunny Chula Vista

should set up an empire of his own and divide the glory of Spain. Thus it happened that
Mendoza was made Viceroy of the Spanish possessions in the New World and Cortés
returned to complain to the king. He never saw New Spain again, and his dream of
northern exploration vanished forever.
One of his former lieutenants, Pedro de Alvarado, had cherished the same ambition
and proceeded to build ships as a means of carrying it into effect. He was in favor
with the court and with Mendoza, and thus enabled to proceed with his plans. But Fate
did not intend that Alvarado should realize the dream of Cortés and become the discoverer
of a northern realm. He was drawn into a war with the Mixton Indians in Mexico and
killed while assaulting one of their strongholds. Thus it happened that Cabrillo sailed
northward from Natividad, Mexico, on June 17, 1542, on the long-deferred voyage of
discovery.
Fortunate, indeed, is the discoverer in the quality of his fame. The achievement
of the soldier, of the scholar, of the statesman, of the founder of institutions may be surpassed
in subsequent times and relegated to comparative obscurity by those who
achieve even more greatly; but the claim of the discoverer cannot be superseded. His
distinction endures with the lands he brought to light and gains with their growth through
the centuries. California is yet in its infancy, so that it may-be said that the day of Cabrillo's
greatest glory will come in the future.
The historic sailor knew a good harbor when he saw it and was the first of a long
line of mariners to realize that the bay of San Diego is a spot favored by nature and destined
for great things. "A land-locked and very good harbor," he called it, and gave it the
name of San Miguel. On the very day of his arrival, he sent a small boat "farther into the
port, which was large." While it was anchored "a very great gale blew from the southwest,"
but this did not disturb the boat and its occupants. The port being good, we felt
nothing," says the narrative, which is only too meager.
Page 29
[Ship of Cabrillo's Time]
The explorer sent a party ashore to replenish his supply of water. They landed on
Point Loma and followed the river until they found a pool. It was the driest season of
year, and then, as now, the San Diego River was a little of water at that season. It was
late in the day when they set out, and dark when they started to return. They chanced
upon the shores of False Bay and looked in vain for ships. The mistake was natural
enough under the circumstances, and the traveller who approaches the city by rail also
falls into the same error of mistaking False Bay for true bay of San Diego when he
catches his first glimpse of country. The sailors camped for the night, but were found
early the next morning by another party and guided to the ships.
It was not long before the Indian inhabitants discovered the presence of the
strangers. Word of the extraordinary event must have passed rapidly from mouth to
mouth, and doubtless
Page 30
[Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo]