The Placer herald., 1857-03-07
The Old Church at Santa Cruz DESTROYED

The Pacific Sentinel says that about three
o'clock on Monday morning, 10th February
the town of Santa Cruz, in the vicinity of
the Court House, was awakened by the ter
rible crash of the falling down of the south
western end Of the old Mission Church. The
building is now a mass Of ruins. The .Senh-
mel does not mention what were the immedi-
ate causes of the fall. No person seems to
have been injured. That journal INDUCES in
the following reflections on the subject:
This old church was commenced in 1893,
and dedicated in 1896. 1t was built of ado be
or sun-dried brick, covered with a tile roof
1t was reared by the hands of the aborigines
in their tuteage in the manners and customs
Of civilization under the Roman Catholic
priests, who came hither to tame and Chris
tianize the wild children Of the plains and
forests. At one time in the history of this
old fabric, it was surrounded by incredible
numbers of these baptized Indians, whose
every want was cared for by the Fathers in
charge of this Mission, and who performed
their services in return. Thousands of cat
tie, sheep and horses, added to their food
and comfort The hand of the Father was
kissed by his cred colored children" kneeling
bestowng gratitude for his kind and paren-
tai care and protection. The church formed
the nucleus around which these sons of the
Pacific clung for their support and protec-
ton; in which they met each morning at the
summons of the matin bell, and offered up
their praises to Him who they had lately
been taught was their Creator. They drew
their grain from its granary, and their blan-
kets and clothing from the supplies furnished
for them by the Padre. Those were happy
days for the poor Indians. But alas. for
,hem; the scene has long since changed; the
ruthless hand of secuIarization laid its axe at
the root of their happiness. The cattle
horses and sheep, which they had he ped to
rear, and which had been provided for their
support, was taken and distributed to those
who had not assisted in their rearing, and to
whom they did not legally OF equitably ap-
pertain. The lands of their nativity was
granted to the new corners, and the fields
they had enclosed and cultivated, had been
ruthlessly taken possession Of by others. The
native was left to flee from his native home,
for lands he knew not of, to hunt his game
and make his bread of acorns His father
had no more Blankets and his barn was des
ttute of grain.
The Indians returned to the valley of the
San Joaquin and foothills of the Sierra Ne
vada, from which place they made war and
carried on acts of reprisa against those who
had unrighteously despoiled them of their
homes in the Missions. Eternal enmity was
declared by them against the Californians
and what they considered their horses and
their cattle, were retaken by them upon every
opportunity, even at the sacrifice of blood
shed and life. This state of things existed
until the stars and stripes had unfolded their
protection to all, the red man as we'll as the
white. Peace was declared on the part Of
the Indian toward the Americans, which ne
cessarily brought peace to the Calitornlans
under their protection. God brought the
whites to the new homes of the red men;
whose doors they have invaded, and having
no where else to iiee, in their forced proxim-
ty they have contracted the habits and dis
eases Of those claiming to be their superiors
in intelligence, and by which they are fast asst
dwindling away, and like eastern tribes, will
exist only in history.