The Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1869-1872, 1870-09-03
Acquisition OF California.
from the Colusa (cai., sun. ]


On the 7th day of July, 1876, Com. Sloet ar
rived at Monterey, the Mexican Capital Of
California, took possession of the town, and
hoisted the American flag. Several insignit-
cant battles subsequently, took place between
the American and Mexican forces; but from
that day dates the proprietorship of the
United States TO California. Few events in
history, at the time of their occurrence appa-
rently Of 50 little import, have been SO rapidly
followed by results affecting the interests Of
the whole civilized worlds. +. Examiner.
We had the good fortune to hear, from the
venerable CommodOre's own mouth, the par
ticulArs of the important event. The Com
modore was lying at Mazatlan with frigste
and n op-of-war-while Admiral Seymour,
Of the British Navy, was there with the line
of-battle ship, Collingweod. Sloat had Or
ders to take Monterey whenever he heard of
actual hostiHties between the United States
and Mexico. Circumstances led him to be-
lieve that Admiral Seymour had similar or
ders, or that there was an understanding be-
tween England and Mexico that the former
should take California and hold il from the
United States. courier arrived from the
city of Mexico bringing dispatches 10 Scy-
mour but none to Sloat Seymour was, after
the arrival OF the courier, "all in all " with
the leading MeXicaHs. while they looked dag
gers at Sloat. The Commodore watched the
movements of the Admiral. The iine-cf-bat-
tie ship hove short on her anchors and made
ready for q voyage--the two little American
vessels (little IN comparison) did the same,
The COlhugwOOd weighed anchor, and with
clouds of canvas spread, she moved majesti-
cally out of the harbOr Within the half hour
the Savannah and the Preble were blowing
the bosom of the deep, while the mind of tho
gallant old Commodore was made up TO take
California or have the American Navy mum.
Der two ships Of war and one Commander
less. On the 7th of July, As stated above, Uy
the Examiner, he arrived Et Monterey, with
out having seen anythingof the CollingwOod.
He lost no time iE demanding the surrender
Of the town, and ia a short time, without fir
ing gun, the Stars and stripes toatcd over
the fort and the custom house Very soon
after the surrender, we think il WAS the next
day, the Collingwood hove in sight. The
decks Of the two American vessels were
cleared, the anchors were hove short, the
matches were lighted and the gunners stood
by loaded cannon, the ynrd-arms were full of
men ready To drop the sails OH the instant of
IA signal. " In fact" said the Commodore,
I'VE did everything but show our teeth'-run
the guns out at the port holes. On came the
huge ship of the line; and although he must
have seen the state OF affairs IA soon as he
entered the harbOr, the Admiral gave no indi-
cation Of his intentions. On she came to
within stones throw Of the flagship, and
dropped her anchor. The Commodore in-
his compliments TO the Admiral. The Admi-
raj came in person TO return tho compliment
HIS pTacticcd cy" could not help hut observe
the PREPARATIONS for immediate uction.
''l"n seem Z" il" about tr give y0ur men
some practice IN the urt of gUuuIng, " said the
Admiral ~ he shook hands with the Commu-
drr".
The American commander pointed io the
fog an shore aud remarked thuI h- did not
know bnt 1t would take some practice to keep
il there.
"Hiii Won answer IN" cnndilly one qucs.
'inu," asked the Admiral. Did YOU get nuy
dispatches through Mexico just before you LETT
MnZa,lau;'
E" did uu;, was the prompt answer.
After n few moments study. the Admiral
said: "Nou did right, perhaps and your Gov
crnment will no dOub; sustHin yOu as the
case now stands; but, duut you know, Com
mOiOTe, that there Is not an officer in the
British Navy who would have dared To have
taken the responsibility you have done. You
doubtless had orders to take Monterey in case
of war, but when YOU left Mazatan there
were only few leading MuNicuus and myself
who knew of the existence of hOstilities. ::
is all over now" he continued. but tell me.
Commodore, since you are not "A man 10
shrink from responsibility, what You would
have donr hud there been, when you reached
hcTa the Nag of another nationality floating
where yours now floats, and that flag guarded
10y ship of-the.lineY'
81 would" suid tho COmmodore, "have
fired nj least one shot ut It, perhaps have gone
To the bottom, and left my Government to
settle the matter as IT thought best"
Thus are we indebted to the promptness
and bravery of this brave old Commodore for
our possession OF California. and we have
often thought, when monuments to prominent
men have been spoken Of, that Commodore
Sloat better deserved monument at the
hands of Califoniaus than any other man
connected with our history. As the Pioneers
celebrate the day upon which the flag WAS
raised. why don't they take some steps to.
wards honoring the man who dared to place II
there without any positive knowledge of the
T, existence Of hos:!li:iC8? Had hU hosi:atod,
we would not have had California to-day, cx.
cept we had been able TO wrest it from the
/ power of Great Britain.