anaheim-gazette 1913-07-17

EARLY HISTORY GIVEN TO THE WORLD DIARY OF FORMER GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA PUBLISHED FOR FIRST TIME TALES OF MANY HARDSHIPS AND DANGERS EXPERIENCED BY THE PIONEERS Indian massacres near Yuma, thirst endured in the trackless wastes of the Colorado Desert, in what is now the rich Imperial Valley, warfare with savage tribes, and danger and privation in the mountains and deserts of 18th century Southern California—these perils braved by the Spanish pioneers are vividly illuminated in an ancient diary just given to the world by the University of California. After lying in manuscript for a century and a third, this diary of Lieut. Col. Fages has now been translated and edited by Herbert Ingram Priestley, assistant curator of the academy of Pacific Coast history, and published by the university. It was written with his own hand by a famous early governor of California, Don Pedro Fages. Here Fages recorded, day for day, the stirring tale of how in 1781 he led his few but hardy soldiers on an expedition to rescue captive Christian women and children, and to punish the Yuma declared that they realized the mistake they had made, and that they were mortal and not wood or stone, but that if we desired peace, they wanted the same thing." Exchange of the last captives was agreed on for the next day. "These circumstances," says Fages, "were the cause of our not effecting their punishment, that being deferred to a better occasion for fear that they would kill our Christian women." Next day the last prisoners, Juliana Sambrano and her new-born child were returned to the Spaniards. That instant the Spaniards tried to wreak vengeance for the slain priests and settlers, but at the premature beating of a drum the Indians took flight, on light horses, or throwing themselves into the river, and pursuit availed nothing. "Today, December 5," says Fages for the morrow, "we killed one man and two women of the Yuma nation, which numbers about three thousand. After midday we retired to camp without event, nor had anything happened to those we had felt in it, nor to those who guarded the horses. The troop was placed in order, and we passed the night in peace. Today one cow was butchered." There was desultory fighting during the days that followed, but little resulted save the recapture of Captain Palma's silver-gallooned hat, and the finding of varied spoils of the victims of the mission massacre. In the distance the Spaniards saw the smoke of fires where the Yumas were burning those slain in battle, with the clothing, horses, and household goods of the dead. The martyred priests, Father Garces and Father Berreneche, were found where "an Indian woman who esteemed them highly had performed the company (which was that he might go back which he knew from it before with me). was able to convince Proceeding westward Palms, and camping spring "near which he or four very tall palm trees crossed a high tains, and found a land and numerous groves other trees. The Indeed and friendly. After much rugged country valley of San Luis, with little village, and India their cows, and many herds of breed mare And so they came San Diego, "enclosedravelins at the foot church is well ornamental small, considering these dians who attend its usual it is prosperous; it is somewhat lackliness the scarcity of water suffers." Next day Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara." And for his gallant Colonel Fages soon made Governor of the manuscript wrote down his vivid adventures was long Monterey, and in 18 After lying in manuscript for a century and a third, this diary of Lieut. Col. Fages has now been translated and edited by Herbert Ingram Priestley, assistant curator of the academy of Pacific Coast history, and published by the university. It was written with his own hand by a famous early governor of California, Don Pedro Fages. Here Fages recorded, day for day, the stirring tale of how in 1781 he led his few but hardy soldiers on an expedition to rescue captive Christian women and children, and to punish the Yuma Indians, three thousand strong, for having butchered priests, garrison, and settlers of two missions planted among them in the fertile bottom lands near the confluence of the Gila and the Colorado rivers. Until now this diary has been unknown to historians, save by its name. The expedition's first engagement with hostile savages was one night within a week after setting out from the presidio of Pitic, in the Mexican state of Sonora. Next day the soldiers followed blood-marked trails, and rescued a woman captive. They seized, also, 15 other women and infants. "With them," says Fages, "were three vagabonds who fled; and another who remained was killed by Sergeant Tovar for resisting. His ears and scalp have been brought to me by two cuirassiers. The soldiers brought the native women with them on their horses." A week later the captives and prisoners were delivered to the Royal Presidio of Altar. Wandering natives presented themselves, offering to go to war with the Spaniards against the Yumas. Colonel Fages accepted 76 Pimas and Papagos, and friendship was sealed by gifts of watermelons, squashes, and muskmelons, which the Spaniards reciprocated with a few boxes of cigarettes. The villages they saw were of huts shaped like a half-orange, or built like ovens, covered with branches and earth. Cotton, melons, and corn were being tilled. In one village smallpox was raging. Two hostile Indians, on horseback, appeared the day they reached the Colorado river, after a month's journey through Sonora and Southern Arizona. A captive soldier, released by the Yumas, brought a message from their leader, Captain Palma, that if the Saniards came in peace, he was also thus inclined. Across the Colorado the answer was awaited by 500 Indians, armed with bows, arrows, spears, and some guns. Forty-eight captives were ransomed by the white men that day, in exchange for baize, blankets, beads, and cigarettes. Captain Palma himself received a shirt and one of Colonel Fages' own peaked hats, gallooned the days that followed, but little resulted save the recapture of Captain Palma's silver-gallooned hat, and the finding of varied spoils of the victims of the mission massacre. In the distance the Spaniards saw the smoke of fires where the Yumas were burning those slain in battle, with the clothing, horses, and household goods of the dead. The martyred priests, Father Garces and Father Berreneche, were found where "an Indian woman who esteemed them highly had performed the kindly deed of burying them." Above them "a quantity of very fragrant camomile had grown." On the high altar in the burned church they placed the martyr's relics, and troop and people recited the rosary in concert. The expedition's altar for saying mass had gone astray on a pack-mule. Twenty-five soldiers were sent out to look for the lost altar. "We regretted very keenly," says Fages, "that a jewel of so much importance as this altar should remain in the possession of the infidels, and we be thus deprived of the spiritual nourishment of the celebration of the holy mass." The rescued captives and the relics of the martyred priests were sent to Altar, while Fages went to the mission of Caborca to prepare for a new overland expedition. This set out February 27, 1782, to go from Sonora to the mission of San Gabriel, "in the new settlements of Monterey." Yuma spies were encountered near the Gila river. Nevertheless Fages and his soldiers forded the Colorado, and went boldly on in column, right through the midst of the villages of the three thousand Yumas. Though surrounded by shouting Indians, raising clouds of dust, the Spaniards marched on, unmolested. Then came forced marches, totaling over a hundred miles without a drop of water, and with little pasturage, and then a water-hole, from which wretched water was scooped up in kettles for the animals to drink. On the further edge of the desert one Pachula, the captain of a native village, gave then mescal, and with his son and two other Indians joined them for the rest of the journey, through the mountain passes and on to San Gabriel, where they arrived March 26, 1782. A week later the indefatigable Fages set out with twenty men to go back to the Colorado river, to carry orders to soldiers now waiting there. Arriving at the worst portion of the desert, he cached his supplies, and with three days' rations only, placed on a little mule, went on into the enemy's country. By night the horses were kept saddled, the bridles on the saddle horns. Two hours before daybreak two proceeding "over leopard land," arrived at the Gabriel, whence they to Governor Felipe de la Cruz in the new settlement Santa Barbara." And for his gallant Colonel Fages soon made Governor of thie. The manuscript wrote down his vivid adventures was long Monterey, and in 1880 Robert E. Cowan consented to the univeral Collis P. Huntington ed by the University; she first time, as partitions of the Academy History, a series used editorship of Prof. Margt of the university. Assessor Sleeper Commanding a Fort Its Assessor The Irvine Company objection to the assessorerty made by Assessor tition for a reduction to board of equal ranch comprises a large acres. The portion Irvine Company to have too high in comparison of the county is that valley, lying for three miles north Fe railroad. That last from $40 to $108 per a ment placed upon it that Sleeper and his Cotant. This is the first with the equalizers figures made this year been assessed by blood assessment this year for Company holdings in $5,036,020, which is $750,000 over last year. Assessor Sleeper stands against any reduction sessment, and as a asked that hilly land raised in value. He had time to equalize but was satisfied his low. He therefore assures figures be raised. The board yesterdaythe Irvine ranch makinand will probably decide A captive soldier, released by the Yumas, brought a message from their leader, Captain Palma, that if the Saniards came in peace, he was also thus inclined. Across the Colorado the answer was awaited by 500 Indians, armed with bows, arrows, spears, and some guns. Forty-eight captives were ransomed by the white men that day, in exchange for baize, blankets, beads, and cigarettes. Captain Palma himself received a shirt and one of Colonel Fages' own peaked hats, gallooned with silver and adorned with a cockade. That night a runner came from three allied "nations" announcing that next day they would attack the Yumas, and asking the Spaniards to prevent the Yumas from crossing the river. The request, though disfasteful to Fages, was fulfilled next day, the allied tribes shedding much blood and looting and burning the Yuma huts. Since five Christian women and several children still remained in the hands of the Yumas, Fages dared not undertake punitive measures for the mission massacres of July 17, 1871, he had come to avenge, but instead he retreated a hundred and fifty miles to the Papago village of Sonoitac, sent the rescued Christian captives on to Altar, and a month later, on November 23, 1781, started back to face the Yumas again. Arrangements were now soon made for the exchange of all the remaining captives. But the vengeful Spaniards hid troops in the hills and by the river bank, hoping to capture alive some of the head men of the Yumas, as soon as the last captives were returned. The wary Indians escaped the trap, by remaining on their own side of the Colorado and by retaining one white woman. "They said they felt resentment," says Fages, "on account of the Indians whom we had killed on the preceding days; to which we replied that they had first raised arms against us. Theytain passes and on to San Gabriel, where they arrived March 26, 1782. A week later the indefatigable Fages set out with twenty men to go back to the Colorado river, to carry orders to soldiers now waiting there. Arriving at the worst portion of the desert, he cached his supplies, and with three days' rations only, placed on a little mule, went on into the enemy's country. By night the horses were kept saddled, the bridles on the saddle horns. Two hours before daybreak two soldiers went reconnoitering, looking by the light of cigarettes for Indian tracks. Next day they joined the camp of their fellow soldiers on the river, and learned from friendly Indians that the Yumas had temporarily exiled themselves, abandoned their fertile bottom lands, burned their villages and various effects, and gone off to engage in a bloody war with the Jalcheduledes. That the Indians in the mountains about San Diego were in a state of semi-insurrection was news that reached Fages on his return journey, at Pachula's village, on the western edge of the desert. "I thought I might observe their movements and make them feel some respect if I should change my route and pass through their territory on my way," says Fages. Pachula and thirty of his Indians wanted to go along. This prospect was not at all agreeable to Colonel Fages, so he told the interpreter to dissuade Pachula, because on his return "the Camillares Indians of the mountains would kill him and all his people, since they were enemies. I also represented to him that we were not going to the mission, but to embark at San Diego. This displaced them all, especially Pachula, who threw down his cane as if he were offended, saying he no longer wanted to be captain. I again began to persuade him affectionately through the interpreter that all I had said was for his good and because I loved him very much; but as he insisted that it was only to keep them from going in our..." ANAHEIM GAZETTE NORTH DAKOTA HAS GREAT FUEL RESOURCE Lignite of Great Potential Value as an Ultimate Source of Power The production of coal (lignite) in North Dakota in 1912, according to E.W. Parker of the United States Geological Survey, amounted to 499,480 short tons, valued at $765,105, compared with 502,628 short tons, valued at $720,489, in 1911, the latter tonnage being the maximum output in the history of the State. The decrease of 3,148 short tons in 1912 was so small as to possess no significance, while the increase of $44,616 in the value of the product indicates a satisfactory condition of trade. It is not, however, in the comparatively small production of coal in North Dakota that the importance of the State as a fuel producer lies. The vast lignite deposits of North Dakota must be considered as an enormous potential resource. On account of its heavy percentage of moisture and rapid disintegration on exposure lignite does not stand transportation well, and consequently its field of usefulness has been thus far limited. Its principal use has been to supply fuel to the settlers on the treeless plains in the western part of the State, and for that purpose it has been mined in a crude way in almost every county in the lignite-bearing area. Commercial mines are situated on the lines of railway and supply the towns of the State with fuel for domestic purposes and for use under steam boilers. But lignite has been found to be an county Y. M. C. A. work of Southern California, will be in charge of the camp, R. J. Hamilton, county secretary of Orange county, will take charge of the commissary and equipment department, Mr. C. H. Hartwig, secretary of San Bernardino county, will have the educational and physical department, and C. A. Gummere, secretary of Los Angeles county Y. M. C. A., will have charge of the religious work and camp fire programs. Leaders will be provided for each tent of six or seven boys and Ben Oertly, of Garden Grove has been secured as swimming instructor. R. P. Anderson, physical director of the Pasadena Y. M. C. A., will be at the first camp and will assist as a tent leaders and with all physical activities. Tom, the famous chef of the Pasadena Y. M. C. A. camp, has been secured as camp cook. The same general elective system has been adopted for securing camp honor emblems, first year boys having to win 100 points, second year 150, and third year 200. There are seven departments into which these activities are divided, athletics, aquatics, woodcraft, scouting, camp fire, religious and miscellaneous. Some of the events listed in these departments are as follows: Making an athletic record, win a ribbon, climb black jack, trip across the island, swim 20 yards, swim 10 yards on the back, diving, win a beginner's or swimmers' button, teach a boy to swim, demonstrate resuscitation and release, rowing, name and describe 20 varieties of birds or fish, collect and identify 15 varieties of leaves or shells, name and locate 15 stars and constellations, photograph a wild animal, bird, or fish, draw a sketch of poison oak and ivy proceeding "over level, well-grassed land," arrived at the mission of San Gabriel, whence they sent a messenger to Governor Felipe de Neve, "who was in the new settlements on the Canal de Santa-Barbara." And for his gallantry and judgment, Colonel Fages soon thereafter was made Governor of the California. The manuscript in which Fages wrote down his vivid narrative of these adventures was long in the archives at Monterey, and in 1897, as part of the Robert E. Cowan collection, was presented to the university by the late Collis P. Huntington. It is now printed by the University of California for the first time, as part of the Publications of the Academy of Pacific Coast History, a series under the general editorship of Prof. Frederick J. Teggart of the university. IRVINE COMPANY ASKS REDUCTION Assessor Sleeper Comes Back by Demanding a Further Raise in Its Assessment The Irvine Company has entered an objection to the assessment of its property made by Assessor Sleeper. A petition for a reduction was filed with the board of equalization. The big ranch comprises a little over 100,000 acres. The portion alleged by the Irvine Company to have been assessed too high in comparison to other lands of the county is that in the center of the valley, lying for a mile southwest and three miles northeast of the Santa Fe railroad. That land is assessed at from $40 to $108 per acre in the assessment placed upon it this year by Assessor Sleeper and his field deputy, Al. Cotant. This is the first objection filed with the equalizers against Sleeper's figures made this year. The ranch has been assessed by blocks. The total assessment this year for the entire Irvine Company holdings in this county is $5,036,020, which is a raise of about $750,000 over last year. Assessor Sleeper strongly protested against any reduction in the Irvine assessment, and as a counter measure asked that hilly land on the ranch be raised in value. He said he had not had time to equalize these hill values, but was satisfied his figures wer etoo low. He therefore asked that his own figures be raised. The board yesterday traveled over the Irvine ranch making investigations and will probably decide today whether field of usefulness has been thus far limited. Its principal use has been to supply fuel to the settlers on the treeless plains in the western part of the State, and for that purpose it has been mined in a crude way in almost every county in the lignite-bearing area. Commercial mines are situated on the lines of railway and supply the towns of the State with fuel for domestic purposes and for use under steam boilers. But lignite has been found to be an excellent fuel for the generation of producer gas, and with teh development of manufacturing industries in the State, the extensive deposits of lignite in North Dakota will receive more attention as a source of power. It has been found that one ton of lignite in the gas producer will yield as much horsepower in internal-combustion engines as one ton of the best bituminous coal under boilers. As the gas producer adn internal-combustion engines in large units come into more general use n the West, as they are rapidly doing in the East, the hundreds of billions of tons of lignite known to underlie North Dakota will be found to possess great potentialities in the settlement and economic development of the State. STATE TO REGULATE RAILROAD RATES Railway Commission Makes Important Decision on Water Traffic By a decision of the California railroad commission made public yesterday, the state takes unto itself the power to regulate the rates of steamship companies plying over regular routes between California ports, even though the ships traverse the high seas. The decision was rendered on a complaint brought by J. H. Miller and E. Donaldson of Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, against the Wilmington Transportation Company, which operates steamships between Avalon and San Pedro. In challenging the jurisdiction of the commission, the transportation company cited language in previous court decisions declaring that commerce when on the high seas became "commerce with foreign nations" and therefore subject only to federal regulation. The commission ruled that regulation of water rates between ports in the same state was purely a local matter, that it had never been taken up by the national government that follows: Making an athletic record, win a ribbon, climb black jack, trip across the island, swim 20 yards, swim 10 yards on the back, diving, win a beginner's or swimmers' button, teach a boy to swim, demonstrate resusitation and release, rowing, name and describe 20 varieties of birds or fish, collect and identify 15 varieties of leaves or shells, name and locate 15 stars and constellations, photograph a wild animal, bird, or fish, draw a sketch of poison oak and ivy and tell treatment for same, catch and cook a fish, tell height of tree, tie eight standard knots, box the compass, pass first aid examination, write a camp story or song or yell, send an article to home newspaper, furnish a part on camp fire program, pass an examination on the camp Bible study, name divisions and books of the Bible, pass an examination on some book selected, etc. No one boy at camp is expected to do all these things, but he has his choice, trying to make the necessary number of points. It is a real part of a boys' education to learn some of these things, many of which are not taught in school. It is safe to say that every boy will have a busy time at this camp and a very profitable one. Names of those desiring to attend should be handed to R. J. Hamilton, 1047 West Fifth street, Santa Ana, to W. B. Tedford at the First National Bank, Harry L. Hanson, at the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank, Martin Warren at the Santa Ana postoffice, Harry W. Lewis, P. M. German, Garden Grove, L. W. Humphill or A. Higgins, Orange, C. Eygabroad, Anaheim, Wm. Starbuck, Fullerton, or Geo. B. Key, Placentia. J. N. Anderson and J. P. McCarter have appraised the estate of A. A. Lee at $1,110. Anderson, Ben Duser and August Backs have appraised the estate of Conrad Stueckle at $15,190.16. Assessor Sleeper strongly protested against any reduction in the Irvine assessment, and as a counter measure asked that hilly land on the ranch be raised in value. He said he had not had time to equalize these hill values, but was satisfied his figures wer etoo low. He therefore asked that his own figures be raised. The board yesterday traveled over the Irvine ranch making investigations and will probably decide today whether to lower its assessment or raise its hill land values. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION Applicants For P. O. Clerk and Carrier Will Be Heard Aug. 9 An examination for clerk and carrier will be held on August 9, at the Library building, in this city at 9 A. M. prompt. Age limit, 18 to 45 years on the date of the examination. Married women will not be admitted to the examination. This prohibition, however, does not apply to women who are divorced or those who are separated from their husbands and support themselves, but they are eligible for appointment only as clerk. Applicants must be physically sound, and male applicants must be not less than 5 feet 4 inches in height in bare feet, and weigh not less than 125 pounds without overcoat or hat. For application blanks and for full information relative to the examination, qualifications, duties, salaries, vacations, promotions, etc., address immediately, MISS ALICE V. ROBISON, Secretary, Board of Civil Service Examiners, Postoffice, Anaheim, Cal. WANTED—Sewing by the day. Write R. F. D. No. 2, Box 129. In challenging the jurisdiction of the commission, the transportation company cited language in previous court decisions declaring that commerce when on the high seas became "commerce with foreign nations" and therefore subject only to federal regulation. The commission ruled that regulation of water rates between ports in the same state was purely a local matter, that it had never been taken up by the national government, that the reserved to itself all powers not expressly taken over by the national government, and finally that "the State of California clearly has the right to regulate the rates for such commerce, at least until the federal government sees fit to act." Since 1883 there has been in effect an injunction which prohibited the State of California from exercising rate-making jurisdiction over such commerce. The present commission has disregarded the injunction on the ground that ample authority is bestowed for its action in the public utilities act of 1911. PLANS ADOPTED FOR COUNTY CAMP Tri-Counties Committee Arrange For Annual Outing in August Saturday a number of leaders of the Y. M. C. A. camp conducted jointly by the county committees of Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino counties, met and spent the day making final plans for the outing at Catalina Island. Arrangements have been made to accommodate 40 boys from each county at the younger boys' camp from August 6 to 18 and for the same number a the camp for those 16 years of age and older from August 20 to 30. Mr. E. J. Ruenitz, group secretary of the Thursday, July 17 Hupmobile The CAR for safety and real pleasure! The CAR that costs very little to maintain! The CAR that gives you the most value for your money! LET ME GIVE YOU A DEMONSTRATION THE AUTO MAN :: 111 E. Center St. Starr, Richmond, Remington, Hallet, Davis and any other grade of pianos at the right price. G. E. WEATHERWAX 111 E. Center St. "The Piano Man" ANAHEIM, CAL. ORANGE COUNTY WINE COMPANY We will Publish Weekly in this space a SERIES OF TOASTS Watch Weekly for It TOAST NO. 6 "May the Best day you have seen Be worse than the worst day that is to come." Watch Weekly for It TOAST NO. 6 "May the Best day you have seen Be worse than the worst day that is to come." NOTICE! Is your poll tax paid? If not it will be $3.00 after Monday, August 4th. JAMES SLEEPER, Assessor of Orange County. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE having your wheel well looked after. We know all about wheels and getting them in good shape; we have ample facilities and ask only fair prices for doing first-class work. WM. H. HOUTS The stronger and rougher whiskey tastes---the more harm it will do. WM. H. HOUTS The stronger and rougher whiskey tastes---the more harm it will do. Why take chances with your nerves, your stomach, your general health. Cyrus Noble is pure, old and palatable Bottled at drinking strength. Sold all over the world. Orange County Wine Company, Distributors Commercial Hotel FIRST-CLASS DINING ROOM AND BAR Handsomely Furnished Rooms Everything neat and clean A home for the Travelling Public A trial will convince JOHN ZIEGLER, Manager When seeking the best table wines, sweet wines, and champagne, seek no posite West Anaheim Southern Pacific depot. THE NATIONAL MARKET HERMAN REINKLIEB, Prop. The best of everything in the meat line and prices always reasonable. If you will give me a trial I will guarantee to give you satisfaction. CENTER STREET, ANAHEIM