Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-06-27
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THE RIDE OF TIE ONE HUNDRED
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A late decision of our United State
Supreme Court a,vin- rendered iard =
act Of justice to one who has opened tc
US an empire, it seemed to ma that y.
personal rcuilliscenec might be accept
able.
In tic carly part Of -thc ynor 1Sl1.
business called me t, Alta California.
Having been long resident cnthc Pr
eiiie coast. and being familiar with th.
Language and customs of the people,
was selected to ef-et large contract Of
hides, for on: Of our eastern firms, tie
trade being nearly paralyzcd at the tin >
by the war then in progress between cur
country and Mexico where handful
df noble men were accomplishing deedg
which have given chem place in history
by tha side OF Lconidas aud his brave
The CALIFORNIA; had become to us a de-
siaeratum; although their mineral " ealtl.
still slulr barad waiting FOR that cnchant
er of modern days, Yankee enterprise
their splendid harbors, the contiguity Of
our possessions in Oregon, and tn, ia
cilities for trade with China, were sut-
ficient incentive. Commodore Stockton
had hurried up from Callao in the frigato
Congress, AMI General Kcarnev hid
crossed the plains from tho Missouri
River, with force Of am ID hunters, for
the purpose Of taking the country and
holding it as Il gage for a satisfactory
treaty.
The native .Californians who hal
long sroancd beneath the imports of
distant governmct and venal governors,
had themselves invited our ,cvcrturcs
but few of heir leaders, with a dead.q
hatred towards the Yankees. and hope OF
personal reward from Mexico. were as
siduously endeavorin2 to stir the people
up to reyolt-in many cases with toe
great success. Manuel Castro, veal
thy and influential rancAcro, noted for
his determined opposition to all change.
and ennlity to th. ''Grigcs, had arrang-
ed for an attack on the Pueblo los Angc-
los, the head quarters Of Kearney, held
by a small f rec Of marncs and volunteers.
His agents were in all parts of the coun-
try, intiaming the inhabitants and uryiny
them to join him. BY some means biz
plan leaked out.
/ WAS at this TIM. ;t the ranch Of my
old friend. General Martitez Vallejo, o..
the Sono.nt Creek: my companion wa
Capt. D, who has sine, cspousc.
one of our hosts daughters. Valleiu
was one OF tn largest laadholders in
Calitorl ia, owning some sixty squal.
miles, with torty thous tnl hca Of cattle
and several hundred horses. cattle ami
horses at tn Il tim b.in, & mans avail
able wealth IL had ben formcrl,
mllltar,r g1y ri 30: tn III lt!'y, al W.
considered fair sp,il by our people,
though IN justice ! must state that he
was kindly dis, ID. towards the Amcr;-
cans. The house WIS a substantial cd;-
fee oft stories, surrounded by c,r-
raj. with stout gateway; the household
consisted of some twenty rsons.
We lad all retired to rest and wora
wrapped in slamhcr, when the loud
barking Of dogs and halloing of many
men aroused US suddenly from our
dreams. Expecting an attack of the
Bear Party a baad of lawless despcra-
does who infested the country all rush.
el to the court yard, armed as we'll as
the time permitted, and in costumes the
most picturesque, as primtiveness is
usually considered so. The General.
sabre in hand, came last; he challenged
the intruders with
"Quien cs la :" who is there =
"Americanos ami Cos. .abrc n pucrta,
Americans and friends, open the gatej
was the response, a blow accompanying
the words that made the floor shqk4
again
yho demand was perforcc compiled;
with, and a band OF some fifty men wa.
presented to our view. mounted and ar
r,yed It's trappers and hunters, and arm
ed to the teeth. Foremost among them,
on a black mustang, WIS Il small, sinewy,
dark man, evidently their lea der, with
ian eye like Mars to threaten and com
mand. a countenance expressive of tho
greatest determination, and bearing
that, notwithstanding his rough dress,
stamped him as one born to command
TO LEAD. This vas Fremont.
II am an officer Of the United States
said he: Il am on my way to Los An
gclos, | must have horses
but sud Vail 10.
81 said. sir, | MUST have them; yo.
will be rccompensed by my government
ORDER you, sir, to deliver to nv
men what horses you may have i'll corral.
Finding remonstrance. would be OF
nc avail with sach a man. Vallejo callc;i
his vaqneros and gave the directions. Il,
the meanwhile my friend D mad
himself known t. Fremont having me,
him in Washington.
Il have information of Castro ia.en.
ton to attack Los Angeios, i have ST.,
DAYS to reacn there before the outbreak:
for that. need these horses, for | mus,
be in at tae death"
But the distance; six hundred miles,
said q. The roals'
II shall do it, he replied, and turn q,
a,va, n, .1,,orvisc, hi nrro,tren,out,