Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-07-24
100 THE GOLDEN sT1TEA4
How California was Saved 10 Uncle


From the San Francisco Bulletin.l
Twenty-Five years ago Commodore
Sloat raised the 0Americ an flag over
Monterey, then the capital of California,
under Mexican rule, and proclaimed
the province a portion of the United
States HeI arrived at Monterey rom
Mazatlan FIVE days before with the
frigate Savannah and five smaller yes
sells. under instructions from Secretary
Of Navy Bancroft (now minister to Ber-
lin) to watch the drift Of events, and IN
case of breach of peace to employ his
fleet for hostile purposes. The real OBJ.
ject'of Sloat's expedition waste prevent
California from falling into the hands
of, the English in case of war with
Mexico. War actually broke out in May,
1876. two months before. Sloat. reached
Monterev; but while be Suspected this,
he did not know it, though he had proba-
bly, heard of Tremont's Bear flag insqr-
rection, at Sonoma, He was decided IN
his course, however, by observing that .
British fleet of ten vessels on this coast
was watching American movements and
nursing some design in opposition to
them. When Sloat left Mazatlan on the
Savannah, the British flag ship, the Col
lingwood, carrying Rear Admiral Slr
George Seymour, left San Bias, and the
two vessels had a race for Monterey.
The Savannah was the fastest sailer and
reached Z the port first, bNwhere. Sloat
learned that the English had nearly per
fected a plot to put California under
British protection, as security or equlva-
lent for the Mexican debt to British sub
iects, the transfer to abe followed by a
scheme of colonization in the San Joai
quin valley and around the payso Mon
terey and San Francisco.
Sioat did not then know, that instrpc-
tions were the.: on the way to him d.
rectipg him to seize. and hold Mazatlan,
Monterey and, San francisco, and take
all measures in his power to secure the
CONQUEST of the country. but he knew
this was within the plans oflthe Coy
ernment and saw that unless he acted
at once the British would supercede him,
and California be lost to the United
States. So on the 7th of July, 1916, he
sent force of two hundred and fifty
men ashore to hoist the stars and stripes
and make proclamation as ahoye4 fIhe
act was not only not opposed, but was
hailed with cheers by the people, who
were generally anxious to separate from
Mexico. and had been plotting more
than once to set up for themselves, On
the Sth Of July, in .compliance with q
MESSAGE from Sloat, Commander Mont.
qomery, of the United States sloop Of
war Portsmouth, raised the American
flag at San Francisco, on the plaza
which has ever since borne the name
of his vessel, and took possession of the
then petty village of Yerba Bnena IN
/ the name OF his country. On the. 10th
of July, Montgomery sent the national
flag to Sonoma, where it was gladly ae-
cepted by the Fremont revolutionists IN
lieu of the rude Bear flag, which may
still be seen in the hall of the Pioneers
lin this city, These acts followed by
various land operations of o later day
Insured the acquisition of California by
the United States, which was completed
by formal treaty at the end OF the war
with Mexico. The feelings Of Admiral
Seymour when he tardily reached Mon
terey and saw the Yankee flag flying
! over the town, mas. be imagined. 1t is
pretty certain that if Sloat had not got
ahead of him, the British flag would
have been hoisted instead, and, Calitor-
mia might either not have been an
American State to-day, or else have be-
come so only after a war with Great
Britain. utrrr uLriLl az