Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1881-12-02
How Los Angeles Came Into Being

While we have no desire to In
wade the copyright of Major Belps
"Reminiscences of Ranger" but
rather seek to stimulate the sale Of
his very readable book, we cannot
refrain from making the following
extracts from IL, which embody
the veritable story of how the City
of the Angels came into being:
From my historical bonanza
other matters were extracted, the
most important of which was the
fact of holy inspiration being the
cause that induced the founding of
the beautiful city, subject matter
of the following story, the truth of
which is beyond the power of con-
tradiction:
Two months and q hundred years
ago three Spanish Dragons, fol-
lowed by an Indian leading a
sumpter mule, assembled the high
est hill or bluff overlooking the
present site of Los Angeles, and
the Rio Perciunchla, now called Los
Angeles river. Having attained
the rugged summit, the three
soldiers dismouDted, and ut the Or
der of Sergeant Navarro, the elder,
unsaddied and picketed their
horses, placed their lances cen pa
vellon," over which they threw
their blankets and thus formed a
sort of tent. The sumpter mule
having been relieved of its burden,
and a ''bota" of vino Catalan hav-
Ing been taken therefrom, the
Sergeant drew from the pocket of
his doublet a small silver cup,
filled 1t, and qusffing the delicious
fluid of Catalonia. passed the beta
and cup to Corporal Quintero who,
In like manner, passed the canteen
and cup to the koldier, Bannegas,
who having followed the example
of his superiors, the three seated
themselves on their "armss de
pelo," cigarritos were produced
and the Sergeant with his mocha
struck light, and in silence they
smoked. The beauty of the seem
cry that surrounded them was be-
yOnd the power of description.
Their faces were turned toward the
dark and craggy mountains that
overhung the San Gabriel mission,
whose white walls and red roofs
could be seen In The midst of the
sea of sylvan green that surround
led it. The plains and rolling bills
had discarded their mantle of
green and donned their sere robes
Of summer. Gazing towards the
sun, which had now marked the
first segment In the circle of its
journey, plains, hills, forests. lakes,
rivers, valleys, and towering
mountains in splendid panorama
met their wondering vision. To
the rear of where the three warriors
sat aud intermediate to the line
that marked the verge Of the UNI
known sea in crescent shape lay ia
silent beauty the shin meripg
waters of beautiful lake sheltered
from the rude blasts of the ocean
by u rampant of kind and protect.
Ing hills. To the left for leagues
could be traced the serpentine
winnings of the river, as it swept
through the valley toward the
western horizon. Obliquely TO
their rear aud looking southwark
to the sea the waters OF the Porci-
uncula swept by like. a silver stripe
in ribbon of green, sh AIDED by the
outrageous white harmed syca-
more and the more verdant cotton
wood, under whose protecting
oh "a a M fru M hnIo d oo, q l.ea l,,,lc :,
deer and antelope, while etill be.
You'd are to be seen rocky islands
IN the ocean, posted like knights In
ermOr guarding the portals of Para
disc.
Having In silence taken in this
vision Of beauty, Corporal Quin-
tero was the fret to speak. "Ser.
geant," said he, Tiny old and tried
frient, at first I greatly msrveled
at your leading us to this fatiguiIg
summit, but now thank you for
it. You have been here before,
and We having shared with you
the hard knocks of many CAM
paigns, you wished to share with
us the pleasures of this foresight of
Paradise. When did you first dis
cover this magnificent view? I'll
exceeds in beauty anything I ever
beheld, even in our beautiful
Spain.o
"My friend" answered the Ser.
gesnt, sit is strange tale, but
true. In dream, or vision, be-
held this terrestrial Paradise.
Thirty years ago, when yet boy,
before had buckled on the armor
of Spain, approaching my native
city of Granada, stopped to rest
on the famous summit called. The
Moor's Last Sigh,' and while
drinking in the msgniiicence of
Granada, the beauty of the Vega
and the silver sheen of the Guadal-
culver in Its serpentine windings, l
fell into a sound slumber, and in
my dreams was transported to this
very spot, and instead of my armed
comrades, as now, our Blessed
Lady, the Angel Queen, stood be-
side me in halo of glory, and,
after pointing out the surrounding
loneliness of Nature, she indicated
the spot below us whereon L should
found O city that in time should
rival and eclipse in msgnificence
and beauty our famed Granada.
That the valley before US would in
wealth and productiveness exceed
the Vega, and the river that sweeps
the valley at our feet would be-
come the theme of song and story,
even as the sweet Guadalquiver.
"'Feund thou here. a city, said
the Queen, and in radiance of
glory she assembled from the earth
and left me alone. awoke and
found it to be u dream-no! q
Vision Such vision as that of
St. John. The vision as we now
behold IL, cave tine presence OF the
Queen, has ever been before me.
While tossed on the waves of the
ocean, 1 could see it. II was before
ME on the battlefield, In camp, at
theguard post, on the march, ever
present, asleep or awake; and now,