The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1884-12-13

AZ the visitor TO this port, by steamer
or by sailing vessel, enters the famous |
Golden Cate and realizes the extent and |
beauty of San Francisco, the most
prominent object which meets his gaze
Is the island OF Alcatraz, that seems 10
stand as q lonely sentinel, thoroughly
armed with batteries and redoubts, pre-
pared TO dispute his passage unless
properly certified. This natural forth
fication impresses the latest conner with
as much force 10 this respect as It did
the first of the Spanish navigators, who
saw id it All advantageous point from
which TO float the Gag Of his sovereign
and compel alien nations to render
proper homage. IL is n striking fact
that the very points now occuRls& ~
the various Notifications "a !, 'sUncle
Samuel If not actually used by the
Spanish authorities before the conquest,
yet they were reserved from tho grants
SO, freely granted in those primitive
| days, and in one scase-the Presidio-
was actually used as . military post rs
early as 1885, Before this times: con-
| munication had been addressed. 10. the
military Governor Of Sonora, whose
| Jurisdiction extended over this State.
I BY General Mariana G.. Vallejo, his
! deputy, who gave sketch Of the harl
Dor and of the facilities for defense
against invasion BY armed vessels. This
| report made special mention OF "Alca-
trazes,'e or Pelican Island, which
was recommended to the care of
the home government for the purpose
i'of a military reservation. Besides the
| Preside. the bluffs, opposite the en-.
| trance to the lharb0r were noted, and
last Of all the whole of Angel Island was
/ marked out by General Vallejo as well
| adapted for military garrisons The Is
land of Alcatraz, thus early selected by q
competent soldier,vwas always regarded
with Jealous care by the mother coun-
I try, and among all the grants Of land
recorded in favor Of its loyal subjects its
name never appears. The only attempt
made to include IL was In the second
fraudulent paper presented by the ia
NOUS or Infamous jose 7. Limantour,
dated February 81. .184S, which claimed
two square leagues west of Verbs
:, Buena, and included in this grant were
Alcatraz and Goat Islands. The last
named island also came within the
boundary of grant to Juan Castro
dated 1888, but It was rejected on gooC
grounds. In 1888 A. NJ Oslo laid claim
to the whole of Angel Island, but as h
never occupied it the United State
Land Commission rejected it. Tht
grounds at present included in the Pre-
sidioss Reservation were claimed BY
Benito Diaz and Prudenziog SaRtillhp
jihder grants epphed Tor. ibs 1sfH bh
1 these met the same fate with the other
, at the Land Commission. With tn
capture of California by the U1ite'
States IT'S ARMY and Navy Department
followed in the footsteps Of the Mexican
J Government, and, these natural point
for fertilization were carefully NJ
: fected, and as soon as possible step
} taken to fit them for emergencies. a
! early as 1852 Alcatraz was occupied b
. company of. soldiers, and under tn
charge of experienced officers OF til
) Engineer Department work was com
8 menced to- taake this.ramRart impreg
' nable. From that date work has nc
i ceased. until; now che whole appear
a ance Of the swosk- Is SO changed tbs
!. those who were fortunate enough to Sc
] it in its original shape cannot recogniz
/, it. But the island is more than for
q ress. It. is o., prison, where many
8 criminal has, on entering: its lionel
= walls, literally lei Hope behindA ]
i this place were brought, during tn
9 civil war, s-uncompromising al
herents of the lost cause. and pirates
the Chapman schoon6r, captured on u
+ eve of sailing on their free lance yo,
k age. Here, also, came the remnant
r the Modocs to end their days, and b
g day there are many oaptives wearir
10 out their lives in servitude not niue
removed from the gdano workers
!, the lonely islands of the South Pacifi
r San Francisco tALtG.