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forest growth. The tanning operations of the venerable Mr. Rose are responsible for much of this disappearance of timber. We asked Captain Bogart how he accounted for the fact that there were no reminders of the forest growth at the Playa. He replied that he had occasion to cut a road to the Playa once, and came across many stumps. Captain Bogart's accounts agree with the narratives of the old Missionaries, who say that when they came here, nearly a hundred years ago, the site of San Diego was covered with a forest." Andrew Cassidy thinks there is no doubt that Point Loma was once quite heavily wooded, but is of the opinion that the Page 35 Spaniards exaggerated the size of the trees. This is probably the case, for the early tales of their explorations are notoriously full of such exaggeration. The disappearance of the forest in the manner described by Captain Bogart, or by fire, is entirely probable, and is only another instance of the familiar process by which the natural resources of the West have been wasted. Viscaino ordered a tent to be pitched on shore for religious worship, and then proceeded to clean and tallow his ships. His men were also busy getting wood and water, and a few were employed in keeping guard to prevent any sudden attack by the natives. They obtained water from "a little island of sand," where they dug deep trenches. "During the flood," says the account, "the water was fresh and good, but on the ebb, salt." Viscaino and his men saw much of the Indians during their brief stay and found them both interesting and friendly. On their first appearance they came in great numbers, armed with bows and arrows. For the most part, they were naked, but their skins were daubed with black and white. Father Antonio went forth to meet them, attended by six soldiers. They responded to his overtures for a peaceful conference. Presents were distributed by the Spaniards, and the Indians went away pleased with the visitors. It is related that "the kind of paint they used looked like a mixture of silver and gold color; and on asking them by signs what it was, they gave them a piece of the metallic ore, from whence they made it." They also signified that they had seen men like the Spaniards in the interior. In return for the food and trinkets which were given them, the Indians left a good many skins of wild animals. The explorers were delighted with San Diego, and their expressions sound much like those of the tourist of today. They admired the beauty of the scene and appreciated the remarkable climate. They declared that the situation offered "a fine site for a Spanish settlement." Of the mineral possibilities of the country Father de la Ascension wrote: "In the sands of the beach there was a great quantity of marcasite, golden and spongy, which is a clear sign that in the mountains round the port there are gold-mines, because the waters when it rains bring it from the mountains." They also found in the sand masses of a gray light substance, which it was thought might be amber. Some very heavy blue stones with which, when powdered and mixed in water, the natives made shining streaks on their faces, were thought to be rich in silver. But most of all, the visitors were impressed during their ten days' stay, with the importance of San Diego as a natural seaport. In their whole voyage they found no more perfect harbor, nor any place upon which nature had written more unmistak-
Page 36 ably the prophecy of a great destiny. In fact, it may be truthfully said that Viscaino and his chroniclers were the first San Diego "boomers." And yet for a period of one hundred and sixty-seven years after this exploration, which added so richly to geographical lore, civilization held aloof from the tempting opportunity. For one hundred and sixty-seven years-what history was made elsewhere in that space of time-the sun rose and set, the seasons came and went, and the ocean roared along the shore, while this land, which daring explorers had rescued from the unknown, slept in primeval silence The Indian papooses that Father de la Ascension blessed in 1602 grew to manhood, and their children and children's children lived and passed away, before the white man came again with sword and cross to plant the first seed of institutions which were destined to take root and flourish. Page 37 PART I. CHAPTER II. BEGINNING OF THE MISSION EPOCH It was in the year 1769 that Spain finally got ready to reap where her explorers had sown generations before. Carlos III. was King, the Marquis de Croix, a man of great energy and enterprise, was Viceroy of New Spain, Don Joseph de Galvez was Visitador General. The royal order came for occupation of the ports of San Diego and Monterey. And it was high time. Spain could not hope to hold vast territories indefinitely by mere right of discovery, and both England and Russia had eyes upon the Pacific Coast of North America. It was the latter's aggression which was most feared and which probably gave the specific impulse to the new movement. It is not, however, the name of king or statesman which survives in the popular imagination when the early settlement of San Diego, and the coast line which stretches north of it, is recalled, but the name of an immortal missionary. And it is a fine tribute to the quality of mind and heart which finds its expression in unselfish and loving service that this is so. But as I study the records of the past it seems clear enough that it was the lust of empire far more than religious zeal which led to the pioneer plantings in California. This judgment is no reflection on the Missionary Fathers, who simply availed themselves of a favorable political situation to accomplish designs unquestionably born of a high conception of duty to God and man. But if we seek the motive behind the movement, we find it when we ask ourselves the question: If the Spanish King had not wanted to hold California for the advantage of his empire, would it have been within the power of the Franciscans to found a line of missions from San Diego northward, and thus to lay the foundation-stones of an enduring civilization? The question must be answered in the negative, for the missionaries could not have supplied the necessary ships and soldiers nor the other provisions essential to the great undertaking. Put the question in another way and ask: If there had been no missionaries, and if the Spanish King had still desired to occupy the California coast, could he have done so with the men Page 38
Page 1 and 2: History of San Diego 1542-1908, An
Page 3 and 4: the story of it was handed down fro
Page 5: convenient, and well sheltered," an
Page 9 and 10: priests who were to go, some by sea
Page 11 and 12: they approached San Diego they met
Page 13 and 14: Page 47 water in the river, and it
Page 15 and 16: The San Antonio had sailed for San
Page 17 and 18: hilltop on that fateful morning and
Page 19 and 20: 1774, to make a new start and to la
Page 21 and 22: ans who had gone to the Presidio re
Page 23 and 24: sionary zeal knew no bounds. Better
Page 25 and 26: tions, the Franciscan enthusiasts w
Page 27 and 28: eholder, but serves to show the sim
Page 29 and 30: Page 72 looked with longing eyes up
Page 31 and 32: ciated with the pioneers of pioneer
Page 33 and 34: 1800. Their successors were José P
Page 35 and 36: income outside their pay. The chief
Page 37 and 38: Page 86 [Presidio Hill Today] Page
Page 39 and 40: were left as a guard to see that th
Page 41 and 42: was at San Diego, three years earli
Page 43 and 44: Argüello arrived he found that the
Page 45 and 46: agriculture successfully.. By 1790
Page 47 and 48: firm. The Sachem did not call at Sa
Page 49 and 50: 1834, Roxana. 1835, Pilgrim. 1836,
Page 51 and 52: passed to the American Government.
Page 53 and 54: The story of the American whaling t
Page 55 and 56: Ex-Mission of San Diego Santiago Ar
Page 57 and 58:
Late in 1826, the governor ordered
Page 59 and 60:
where the transfer of office was ma
Page 61 and 62:
In 1831, the first revolution, whic
Page 63 and 64:
civil rule. They constituted the fi
Page 65 and 66:
ored to raise a force to renew the
Page 67 and 68:
Before turning to the brighter days
Page 69 and 70:
he published in 1832 told some rema
Page 71 and 72:
provided, greatly to the delight of
Page 73 and 74:
pending American invasion, there we
Page 75 and 76:
The different classes of society we
Page 77 and 78:
for on these occasions no invitatio
Page 79 and 80:
Even a funeral was made the occasio
Page 81 and 82:
sic, and towards the end of the eve
Page 83 and 84:
and a feast held, after which games
Page 85 and 86:
had to be stalked on foot, or in bo
Page 87 and 88:
food was passed around in plates or
Page 89 and 90:
Page 161 PART II. CHAPTER VI. PROMI
Page 91 and 92:
He died on his Tia Juana ranch in 1
Page 93 and 94:
"Among our passengers was a young m
Page 95 and 96:
lar, but overindulgent and careless
Page 97 and 98:
MARRON, Sylvester. Son of Juan Mar
Page 99 and 100:
of his small stature. Wilkes ridicu
Page 101 and 102:
pressed them because she did not ca
Page 103 and 104:
Dana has also left his opinion on r
Page 105 and 106:
El Cajon, where he seized Chief Jaj
Page 107 and 108:
to stop, the narrow defiles affordi
Page 109 and 110:
Page 187 shall, a renegade sailor f
Page 111 and 112:
The line of march was by way of the
Page 113 and 114:
mand: "Ready ! Aim! Fire!" and Anto
Page 115 and 116:
next morning, she saw the body hang
Page 117 and 118:
"Potrero"--Including Rincon, Gapich
Page 119 and 120:
served in the archives of the gover
Page 121 and 122:
mission, where a few rangers were t
Page 123 and 124:
pedition he was about to send out m
Page 125 and 126:
Page 212 fell back. A ranger now da
Page 127 and 128:
crepancy is only in the number of w
Page 129 and 130:
Of the adventures of these men on t
Page 131 and 132:
the baggage was burned, as it was t
Page 133 and 134:
Choosing the latter course, Kearny
Page 135 and 136:
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 and 188:
men as Garrison and Sumner, who are
Page 189 and 190:
"Lo, I am an editor! Hasn't Ames go
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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