Columbia gazette., 1853-11-19

their return to the Mission, the priest
and chief were unfavorably received
The Indians refused the chief because
he was become so much of Spaniard;
this caused a civil war,-the tribes a
,ainst the missionaries and the soldiers
The priests had two much confidence in
the Holy Virgin to be subdued by sava-
ges. One Sunday, while they were
singing high mass to the Virgin for pro-
lection, the Indians made bold rush on
the church, and fought the whole day,
till the soldiers ammunition was expend-
ed. The Indians at length gained the
day, and set the whole Mission on fire;
and in a short time the whole building
fell in upon the missionaries and the
soldiers, who were all buried under the
ruins to this day. Thus fell, in one day
the most Aourishing Mission that ever
was founded in California.
There are other such ruins to be
found on the Gila: such as what is COM
monty called the House of Montezuma,
an cid Spanish fortifcation, now heap
of ruins.
The year following the destruction Of
said Mission of Conception, there came
one of the greatest arrecie and hurri-
canee that ever was known, from the
south. The tempest, so violent, har-
ried up the largest trees, and swept the
mountain clean of all its rich verdure,
and till this day the country presents
desolation as if caused by some convul-
sion from volcanic irruption, masses of
earth were seized up in the eddying
whirlwind, burying the rich pearl fisher
les in its course up the Gulfto the Col
orado. There it discharged its sandy
contents all over, and actually burying
up that large portion of the country
which your travellers remark on the
Colorado, ."now the most barren, was
once the garden and granary of the con-
tinent, and the abode of millions of our
race"
1 wish, however, to go further than
this, and show you this paradise of the
world, now become the very home of
desolation,'' and across which I have
travelled six different times. In lS47,
with my family, I was again crossing
the desert for the State of Sonora. At
leaving the settlements I was taken
prisoner by Gen. Kearny and his troops,
marching to California. These troops
arrived at my camp at midnight, and in
the most violent manner took my family
prisoners, and seized all my property of
forty-6ve gentle travelling horses, sad
dies and pack saddles, ETC., and instru-
ments necessary for my occupation, as
naturalist; besides my clothing, provis-
ions and sundry other articles; likewise
a large manuscript Of about six reams
of paper, containing 1000 drawings,
maps, ETC., of the inland coast of Cali
fornia, most Of them executed by my
self, and the rest obtained from the
Missionaries for services. These manu-
scripts and maps had never been in
print. My whole twenty-six years la
Dor was in one hour totally destroyed by
the Indians in the employ of the Amer
lean commander. From the most cred
table men in California, among them
Colonel Fremont, | procured thirty affi-
davits, stating the value of said manu-
scripts to be not less than $3.50, ,OOO.--
Samples of said drawings, maps, etc.,
are still exhibited in the surveying Off
ces at Washington, and / was offered
$50, for one small fragment of the orig
inal. If the ruinous fort in the desert
has caused so much excitement, what
then would have been the effect of said
manuscripts, allowed to have been the
largest collection Of originals ever ex-
hibited in America.
Sir, yours truly, VIM. MONEY.