The Dawson journal., 1884-01-03
"A Romance of Los Angeles.

% ion she City OF sthe Angels" in
the Century Magazine, contains
the following romance: aOf All
Don Antonio's graphic narratives
OF the olden times, none is9mors r.
interesting than those which de-
scribe his adventures during the
days OF this contest. On one Of
the first approaches made by tba
Americans to Los Angeles. he
went out with his little haphazard
company Of men and bows to meet
them. He had but one cannon q
small one, tied by ropes on a cart
axle. He had but one small keg
OF powder which was good for 2
anything; all the rest. was had
wonld merely go off 'pouf, pouf. !
the sonora said, and the ball would
pop down near the mouth Of the
cannon. With this bad powder
he fired his first shots. The
Americans laughed; this is child's
play, they said, and pushed on
closer, Then "came good shot.
with the good powder, tearing into
their ranks and knocking them
right and left; another and anoth-
er. Then the Americans began to
think, these are no pouf balls: and
when few more were killed thew
ran away and left their flag behind
them. And if they had only
known it, the Californians had on
ly one more charge left of the
good powder, and the next minute
1t would have been the CaIifornians
that would have had to run away
themselves, merrily laughed the
sonora as she told the tale.
This captured flag, with impor-
tant papers, was intrusted to Don
Antonio to carry to the Mexican
headquarters at Sonora. He set
OH with an escort of soldiers. his
horse decked with silver trap
pings, his sword, pistols-all of
the finest; proud beginning of a
Journey destined to end in diff
ferept fashion. It was in winter
tune; cold rains were falling; by
night he was drenched to the skin.
and stopped at friendly Indian S
tent to change his clothes. Hard
ly had he got them off when the
sound of horses hoofs were heard.
The Indian flung himself down, put
his ear to the ground, and exclaim-
ed: "Americanos! Americanosr'
Almost in the same second thew
were at the tents door. AS
they halted, Don Antonio, clad on
ly IN his drawers and stockings.
crawled out of the back of the tent
and creeping on all fours reached
a tree up which he climbed, and
sat safe hidden in the darkness
among its branches listening,
while his pursuers cross question
ed the Indian, and at last rode
away with his horse. Luckily, he
had carried into the tent the pre-
cious papers and the captured
flag;sthese he. .intrusted to an Indi-
an to take to Sonora, it being evi-
dently of no use for him to try to
cross the country thus closely pur-
sued by his enemies.
All night he lay hidden; the
next day he walked twelve miles
across the mountains to an Indian
village where he hoped to get a
horse. 1t was dark when he reach
ed it. Cautiously he opened the
door of the hut of one whom he
knew well. The Indian was pre-
pairing poisoned arrows; fixing one
on the string and aiming at the
door, he called out angrily; "Who
is there?"
at is [, Antonio"
''Don't make sound" whisper
ed the Indian, throwing down his
arrow, springing to the door, COM
ing out and closing it softly. He
then proceeded to tell him that
the Americans had offered q re-
ward for his head, and that some
Of the Indians in the rancheria
were ready to betray or kill him.
While they were yet talking, again
came the sound OF the Americans
horses hoofs galloping in the dis
tance. This time there seemed
no mistake. Suddenly Don Anto-
Mo, throwing himself on his stom-
ach, wriggled into a cactus patch
near by Only one who has seen
California cactus thickets can rea-
lize the desperateness of this act
But it succeeded. The Indian
threw over the cactus plants an old
blanket and some refuse stalks
and reeds; and there, once more,
within hearing Of al. his bafied
pursuers soid, the hunted man lay,
9fe, thanks e. Indian friendship.
The crafty Indian assented to all
The Americans proposed, said that
Don Antonio would be sure to be
caught in a few days, advised them
t. search in a certain rancheria
which he described, few miles
off, and in an opposite direction
from the way in which he intend
ed to guide Don Antonio. As
soon as the Americans had gone,
he bound up Antonios feet in
strips of raw-hide, gave him