Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-08-13
Papers on the Early History OF
California.
PAPER NO. 7.

reli, having died, matters were
somewhat delayed as to the devel-
opment of the CALIFORNIA;. How
ever, new departmental COM
mand was created composed of the
Western provinces, California being
included, and the command given to
the Chevalier de CrOix, who found
ed, in 1880 and 1881, the Preside
and Mission Of the Canal of Santa
Barbara; founded also the Pueblos
Of San Jose, of Guadalupe, and of
Porciuncula,: and established the
regulations which were to control
the new Missions and Presidios.
About this time occurred the mas.
sacre of the settlers, soldiers and
four priests by Indians at Fort Yu-
ma. This bloody tragedy closed
the road between Sonora and Cali
fornia for q time until the religious
Order of st. Dominique of Mexico
again took charge of settling the
country instead of the Jesuits, who
had been expelled.
The third expedition to explore
the northern of coast Of California
sailed from San Bias on the 11th of
February, 1779. 1t was composed
of the frigates Princesa, construct
ed in San Bias, and the Favorita,
purchased In Peru. The expedi-
tion was under the command of
Don Ygnacio Arteaga and of Don
Juan de la Bodega y Cuarra, both
Lieutepants of the Royal Navy.
On the 2Sth day of May they ar
rived at the archipelago called Bu-
careli, $50 IL north, landing here.
The port was called Santa Cruz.
They remained here till the 18th of
June to rest the crew and to recon-
noitre the bays, islands, ports and
| canals adjacent. The expedition
then proceeded north az far as the
61st degree, and at go 49, took pos
session Of the port OF Santiago, in
the island Of Magdalena. from
where they deserted, at about ten
leagues of, the great bay which
the Englieh Captain Cook discov.
| cred In 1778 and called Prince Will
liam's Bay. Under the guidance
of Jose Carriza and Juan Pantoja
the island was thoroughly ex-
| plored, but they failed to find q
passage to the north, which ap.
peared in the charts made by the
Russians. They then returned to
the 59th degree and anchored at
the bay which they called Nuestra
Sefiora de la Regle, taking formal
| possession OF the same. Scuryy
having made Its appearance among
the crews, both vessels returned to
San Bias, the Princesa arriving on
the 25th Of November and the Fa-
| vorita on the 2lst of the same
month. By royal decree of the
10th of May, 17S0, orders were given
to discontinue the expedition
north, and both commanders of the
last expedition were transferred to
the Department of Havana.
During the regimes of the Vice.
roy Don Martin de Mayorga and
the Count de Calves, from 1881 to
1855, very good financial and eco-
nomical measures were taken with
regard to the CallfornIas, looking
to their development.
1t having been ascertained
through Count de Ia Psirouse, COM
manding the French frigates Bruju-
la and Astralavio,t that the Russians
had made four extensive settle.
ments to the north of California,
the King issued the DEGREES of the
25th of January and 2lst of July,
1887, ordering that two vessels
with the best sailors should
be sent to the scene of action. Don
Esteban jose Martinez took the
command Of the frigate Princesa,
and Don Gonzales Gabriel de Lo-
pez de Haro of the packet boat San
Carlos, both vessels sailing on the
9Th of March, 1888 The expedi-
ton reached the 6lst degree and
on the 10th day of May reached
Prince Williams Bay; then touched
at the island of Trinidad and final
ly Onalaska. They remained. at
the last place until the 18th of Au.
gust. The advanced state of the
season did not allow them to recon-
noitre the port Of Nootka. Both
vessels returned TO San Blas-the
packet boat on the 22d of Septem7
ber and the frigate on the 5th of
December, 1888. 1t was ascertained
that the Russians really had settled
on the northern coast, but not to
the extent stated by Count Pei
rouse. The Russians had been
twenty years on this part of North
America, having Onalaska rs the
capital and center of government
from where they controlled all
their establishments on the main
land and the islands adjacent.
They had about six establishments
and population Of five hundred
Russians, spreading from the 490
3G, where Nootka is, to the 6Ist
degree, where Prince Williams
Bay is, Including the islands
Snicof Potasfosnichi, who was the
Russian commanding officer at
Onalasks, assured the Spaniards
that Captain Cook had not recon,
noitered with any accuracy the
river that bore his name (Cook) J,
aud that since the expedition in
1741 of the Russian Behring and
TsohirikOnor to the 55Lh degree, nc
English subject had passed east OF
Cape st. ELIAS. The Russian COM
mander also told the Spaniards
that he expected two frigates from
Kamtskatska bringing settlers &c
as to people Nootka to pre-.
vent the settlement and commerce
of the English who claimed the
country there by virture of its hav-
|. ing been discovered first by Cap
tain Cook. On this expedition tht
Spaniards also took possession o
the island called Montagu, and e
the entrance of Prince William'i
. Bay of roadstead which they
L e IL u. Il