Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-08-28

The Centennial Anniversary OF His
Death-The History OF His Career
-Hardships and Siokness-Walk
from Vera Cruz tc San Bias
Nearly Starved Went TO the City
OF Mexico for supplies for the
Indians. His Death in 1774-Por-
tala Performing the Mass-Fa Father
Junipero Singing His Own Re-
QUEEN.
A great sentiment, one more elevated
than that Of honoring the virtue which
even on this fragile earthly mantle can
not be shaken off, is that Of remember.
ing the dead, Of placing flower where
lie those who have passed into eternity.
That sentiment moves me to-day 2Sth Of
August, 1884, at the hundredth year OF
the death OF Rev. Father Junipero, q
man who by his services and sacrifices,
gave days Of glory to his country, honor
to religion, and to his descendants a
rich inheritance. At the present time,
when illustration is producing such ad-
vantageous and healthy fruits, leaving
aside all prejudice that originates pas
sions, one can duly qualify properly the
merits of those worthy of praise and ac-
acknowledgement The voices from all
the.towns of this State should be raised
to-day to repeat the praises Of the first
founder Of morality and civilization.
But this being pro per occasion, shall
relate some of them, which by their ma
ture possess an estimable worth.
He was born one Of those beings en-
dowed with intelligence. His earliest
desire was 10 become o priest. At the
age Of sixteen he entered the Franciscan
Order, and before he was eighteen he
had taken the final vows. In this voca-
tion his most ardent desires were to la
! bor among the Indians of the western
| shores of the New World, but to his
| disappointment these desires were not
realized, until nineteen years after hav.
ing become priest, whea he was sent
to Mexico. There he was kept at work
founding Missions, preaching, taking
care OF the sick in the jails and hospi.
| tails, exposing his own life. This coun-
try being threatened by the English and
Russians.
THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT
Sent an expedition to secure their just
rights. Father Junipero Sierra joined it
as President of all tho California Mis-
sions, which important position he per-
formed with ability and great patience.
The voyage from the port of Vera Cruz
to the City Of Mexico, aud from there to
the port OF San Bias, he made on. foot.
The same he did from La Paz Lower
California; to San Diego Upper Califor.
nia). These voyages caused an ulcer to
form on his leg, from which he suffered
all the rest Of his life. Those who know
how rough and unhealthy these places
are, can imagine what he must have en-.
dured At the founding Of the first Mis-
sion, which they called San Diego, the
arduous fatigues. the scarcity of provis.
ions, and exposure, caused . pestileni
disease through all that colony, tho ma.
| jority of them dying, and those who sur
vived were left SO weak that they could
not even make the graves for their un
fortunate friends. Father Junipero and
the engineer, although sick, had to per
form this operation with their Owr
hands, besides taking care Of the sich
and feeding them seeds and herbs,
which they obtained from the Indians.
| In this critical situation, the few re
manning who had not caught The disease
and the cohvalescent ones, afraid oi
yielding to this crisis, urged Governor
Portala to abandon such q rash under
taking and put them on safer laad. Por
tala not being able to refuse such JUS
complaints and taking into consideration
his own life, fixed the 10th of March
ITO, for their departure.
Father Junipero, on learning of thii
determination, looked low-spirited, fol
he considered that all the efforts and ex
pense would be buried forever, and abov,
all California would be lost to Spain
The 10Th was St. Joseph's Day. On the
morning Of it, Father Junipero, who hai
been praying night and day for weeks
celebrated to st. Joseph High Mass
with special invocations for relief. Be
fcre noon sail was seen on the hori
zon. There were some who scoffcd a
. it as mere apparition, but Portala be
lieved and waited, and four days later,
, in came the ship San Antonio, bringing
bountiful stores OF all that was needed
No time was lost in organizing expedi
tions to go in search of Monterey, and
possession was taken OF the place, ant
the peaceful and perfect occupation o
the new country was accomplished
which had been Of 30 much expense
to the court OF Spain and the grea
conquerer Cortez.
Portala and his people, ashamed o
their weakness, had to pay greater HON
age to that heroic man.
i 1t is seen that through that effort
, this garden of gardens was won BY
Spain, or now we would not be enjoy,
J ing its great advantages nor our insti
J tutions. In l772, when perplexitie
, seemed inextricably thickened, and sup
J plies had fallen so short that starvation
threatened the Missions. Father Juni
pcro, not wishing to trust any one wit
such an important affair, took ship t
! San Bias, with no other companion excep
an Indian boy. He toiled on foot from
+ SAN BIAS TO cuADALAJARA,
Two hundred and forty miles. Here the,
J both fell III Of fever, and sank so 10,
that they we're supposed to be dying
? aud the Holy Viaticum was admins
. tered to them. But they recovered, an
while partly convalescent pushed O.
again, reaching the City Of Mexico i
February, 1878. The yiceroy Of Mexic
at first manifested some difficulty, bu
who could refuse the prayers Of an age
!, man who had given such proofs as thi
!, Of his earnestne and devotion, Th
n difficulties were cleared up, money an
supplies obtained, and Father Juniper
> returned to his post with joyful hear
. Before leaving he kissed the feet of tn
h Friars in the College, and asked thei
II blessing, saying that they would ney.
Il behold him more. Father Junipero
d Unsuitable passion was baptizing Indians
e thus saving souls from DEATH, flling hii
II with unspeakabie Joy. The trnnsporl
n into which Father Junipero was throw
q by the beginning Of new missile
p are graphically written by tho ma
/ who went with him to establish tn
o mission, With his little train Of soldier
!. and mules. Laden with few weeks SUI
!, plies, he wandered off into the une,
plorcd wilderness. As soon as he woul
SEQ beautiful oak-shaded plain he o
dared a halt, would seize the bell, tie
to tree and ring on till the echo WI
}. heard by some Of the Indians, VIII
a moved BY curiosity, would appear at Il
! place. As soon as Father Junipero sa
:, them he would call them. They hl
q II -