Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-09-08
Gus Suselss Aerala.
THE OLD CANNON

Mounted on the Court Hours Sidewalk-W her'
they Game From and when-An Entertain
ing Scrap Of History.
The two old cannon which were
the other day mounted on carria'
ges and placed at the corner of the
Court House, were contributed by
Don jose Mascarel and Col. r. s.
Baker, one of the guns being taken
from the street near Baker Block
and one from Sonoratown. It is
proposed to take up the two others
which stand half embedded in the
earth at the corner of Main and
Commercial streets and mount
them in similar manner, so that
one piece may be planted at each
corner of the Court House. The
resurrection of the old guns at this
time and the placing of them in
position where they will be pre-
served and appreciated is work of
peculiar fitness, while we are cele-
brating the centennial of the pu-
eblo, and for which, as we stated
the other day, the public is main
ly indebted to DR.. ]. P. Widney.
The following history Of the old
cannon is furnished by Mr.. Chas.
III. Forbes, who obtained his data
from the archives of the late Don
Abel Stearns. 1t will be found a
most readable chapter of history:
In the year 1880 General Manuel
Victoria was sent from Mexico to
relieve General jose Maria Echan-
dla, who was then acting as Co.
mandante of the CALIFORNIA;.
In the year 1881, owing to the
arbitrary rule of Victoria, a few
citizens In San Diego, viz: Don
Juan Bandini, Don Pho Plco, Don
jose Antonio Carrillo, Abel Stearns
and seven others, matured plan
to overthrow Victoria's govern
ment, and for that purpose held
several meetings. At their Assem-.
blage on the 29th of November,
1881, at the house of Bandini, they
armed themselves, and in the eve-
ming surprised the guard at the
Presidio (Fort) of San Diego and
took possession thereof, with all
arms, ammunition and these old
cannons, and made all of the sol.
diers prisoners. Don Jose Anto-
nIo Carrillo, with five men, was
left In charge OF the Presidio, and
Bandini, Pico, Stearns and the four
others went to the residences of the
Officers under Victoria, took them
prisoners and brought them to the
house OF Don Pablo de la PortelIa,
who was then Comandante of the
Presidio under Victoria, aud he too
was made a prisoner. All being
together, the plan was read to
them, and on their promising on
their honor not to oppose the Ban
dini party, they were allowed to go
to their respective houses. On the
1st Of December, 1881, Geleral
Echandia was asked to take the
head of the little party against Vic
toria, which he accepted, and spoke
at some length, explaining the
Injustice of Victoria. A salute w az
fred from the Presidio, which was
responded to by all of the A American
shipping In the bay.
On the I'd of Decena Der, 1881, Don
Pablo de la Portilla and all of the
other officers Joined the little party,
and on that very day Don Pablo
was sent with twenty-five men,
we'll armed and equipped, to take
possession of the Pueblo de Los An
geles. On the 5th the rest of the
party-Bandini, Plco, Stearns,
Echandis, soldiers and citizens
left San Diego to join Don Pablo,
and on the following day, the 9th,
q courier met them with a letter
from Don Pablo stating that he had
taken possession of the Pueblo de
Los Angeles, put the AlcaIde Wi.
cente Sanches In double irons, lib.
Grated all Of the prisoners, and tn at
Victoria was at San Fernando with
forty men. On the 9Th Don Pablo
de la Portilla met Victoria near the
pueblo; and when In hearing dist.
ance Victoria ordered Don Pablo to
come to him, to which Don Pablo
responded by ordering Victoria to
halt. Victoria, enraged, said. "a
mi no Sc naando hocer alto.n 1 am
not the man ordered to halt, and
gave orders to his men to charge
and fire. Noticing some reluctance
on the part of his men he said that
he was not accustomed to fight
with men that wore petticoats.
Whereupon the brave Captain Don
Romuaid0 Pacheco answered that
he did not wear such appendages,
and drawing his sword called to hi 8
men to follow him. Jose Maria
Abila then sailed forth from the
San Diego side and, with a small
derringer, shot and killed Captain
R0muAldo Pacheco, and with his
lance wounded General Victoria,
throwing him off his horse.
One OF Victoria's eoldiers shot
Abila, bringing him down, when |
another of Vlctoria's men advanced
to finish Abila, but before he got to
him Abila drew another derringer
and shot him bringing him down.
Gen. Victoria then finished Abila |
with his sword.
At this stage of the battle the |
San Diego forces retreated back to
Los Angeles and on arriving there
with the exception of
few who remained with Don Jose
Antonio Carrillo at the "Cuartap
soldiers quarters. Later in the
evening Victoria arrived and halt
ed on the upper portion of the |
Pueblo. AS soon as Don Jose An
tonic Carrillo knew of the arrival
Of Victoria he in person commen-
ced to beat the drum as if calling |
the soldiers together. On hearing J
the beat Of the drum Victoria de.