Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1878-04-02
"reminiscences.

Argonaut some of his recollections
of brief sojourn in Southern Cal.
ifornia about the close of the Next
can war. His fifth paper is brimful
Of memorabilia of people univer-
sally known In Los Angeles. We
make few extracts:
About the first of July General
Condo, the Commissioner on the
part of Mexico. arrived with his
staff and escort, and the two par
ties met at the adobe house occu-
pied by Colonel Weller as his
headquarters, in the middle of the
square OF the old town. The Next
can gentlemen were, of course, re-
ceived with all proper courtesy,
and they Joined with much good
natured heartiness in the celebra-
ton Of the Fourth. Col. Weller
delivered the grafton, and the occa-
sion was made the most of. Many
Of the Californians entered with
spirit into the festivities, but some
held back, not yet reconsiIed to the
rule and fellowship of those whom
they had so recently regarded as
foes, and in conflict with whom
many had lost relatives and
friends. Profuse hospitality reigned
throughout the day. The Indians
were treated to abundant rations,
both solid and liquid, and they got
gloriously drunk. They lay along
the streets, with the food but halt
consumed scattered all around
them. A flock of buzzards lowered
overhead, swooping down occa-
sionally, to tear a piece Of meat
from the relaxed gasp of the I'M
conscious inebriates. In the even.
ing a grand ball was given by Mr..
Bandini, who had several beautiful
daughters. The widow Flores was
present, the widow Fitch, and sew
eral other native Californians, then
distinguished for more than
ordinary beauty. The ball given
by Don Juan Bandini the night we
accompanied Major Emory to the
house Of that gentleman, was at.
tended by most of those ladies aud
several others from Los Angeles
and Santa Barbara, then stopping
at San Diego, and by all the officers
OF the garrison. To Hays, Caper-
ton. and myself, just in from six
months of wood-life, the scene was
singularly pleasing and attractive.
The rich dresses of the ladies', the
handsome uniforms of the army
officers, the music of n tolerable
band, the gay chitchat of halfSpan-
ish and half English, in the course
OF which the mistakes on both sides
created merry bursts of laughter
altogether made up for us, to whom
the woods and the wilderness had
impaired a keen zest for civilza-
ton, a potent charm and attract
iveness that dwell upon our menu
Dry to this day. We had before
seen more splendid parties, with
more gorgeous and elaborate sur
roundings, but 1 much doubt if
ever, at any entertainment at
which we have assisted, our enjoy
ment brimmed over so exuberantly
as at that dancing party at the
house of Dan Juan Bandini. re-
member that, at the supper there
were present no native wines-all
were foreign vintage. Not for some
years thereafter did we taste the
wines Of California.
-
or those whom we met at San
Diego many are dead. Don Juan
Baudini died several years since at
San Diego. John b. Weller, cleo ted
United States Senator from Cali
fornia in the Winter of 1923,
| onruaH nj his IA a To- a
Governor on his return. He went
to New Orleans after the war to as
sumo the practice of his profession
and died there n few years ago.
Cave Johnson Coutts resigned from
the army, lived for many years on
his ranch in San Diego county, and
there died. Evans is dead. Rich
ardson, one of the most remarka-
BILE men connected with the COM
mission, while still Marshal of the
Northern District of California,
was, in 1855, killed by Charles
Cora. u gambler, in the doorway of
Fox h O'ConnoPs liquor store, on
Clay street, near Leidesdorff; and
for the killing Cora WAS afterward
hanged by the Vigilance Commit
Iec VI tiAt year. AuuIeW 1Tdy
died in New Orleans. Colonel Rust
challenged and fought the editor of
Il rival newspaper, whom he
wounded. He afterward removed
to Calaveras county, where he died.
Condo, Cnrasco aud Iturbide are
dead. Carasco died of cholera in
Mexico. Among the survivors are
Colonel Hays, Major Caperton,
General Emory, General McKin-
stry, General Sweeny, George f.
Hooper, of the First National
Gold Bank, then engaged In mer-
camille pursuits in New San Diego.
Lieutenant Slaughter j lined the
| Confederate service, but | have lost
sight of him. Robinson, who was
succeeded IN the Office Of State
Printer by Mr.. Eugene Casserly in
1851, returned to Ohio some time
afterward, and was running for Of
flee the last time [ heard of him.
OF the daughters of Bandini but
one, Dofla Josefa, the eldest, mar
ried o native Californian, Don
Pedro Carrillo, of Santa Barbara,
aftsrward member of the Assembly
from that county. All the others
married Americans. Arcadia mar
ried Don Abel Stearns (now dead
when she was little over fourteen
years of age; Isidora married Cap
tain Coutts; Dolores married Mr..
Charles johnston, of Santa Bar
bara; and the youngest, whom her
| .oIotiyao oolIa,J Chuf, /I h.Iioya