The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-12-02
EARLY CALIFORNIA LIFE.
a PERIOD OF ROMANCE ON THE
PACIFIC SHORE

lOHS " more remote period, we snOulu
be inclined to consider them traditionary.
The truth of these peculiar episodes is,
however, attested by living witnesses, and
confirmed by incidental proofs that are
not questioned. The annals of the con-
quest of OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES treated
by Hubert Howe Bancroft, the Pacific
coast historian, may rot be inaptly termed
a period of romance. Prominent among
the noteworthy incidents of the time was
THE BEAR FLAG REVOLT,
which occurred ON June II, 1916. A squad
of soldiers under the leadership of VIM.
B. Ide, but acting under the orders of
Fremont, captured Sonoma, the Califor-
mans, under Gen. Vallejo, offering little
or no resistance. The insurgents. having
no authority to unfurl the stars and
stripes, still, recognized the necessity of
substituting some kind of flag for the
Mexican banner, hence the origin of the
Bear flag. OF the making, Mr.. Bancroft
says; The appropriateness of lone
star could not fail to suggest itself to
men familiar with the history of Texas,
and the similarity of condition between
that country and what they hoped to
make of California. A simple copy would
not, however, suffice, and an additional
emblem was required. Somebody s1g
gested the grizzly bear, an animal then
In those regions, and whose rep
utatlon for strength and unyielding re-
sistance could be attested by everyone of
those resolute hunters by actual expert
ence. For materials they took what they
could find, that is, a common
cotton cloth, the MARTA
of the Mexicans, somewhat less
than yard in width a five feet long.
and some strips of red flannel about four
inches wide. The flannel, the strips of the
flag, made the requisite length by piecing,
was sown to the bottom of the cotton. In
the upper left hand corner of the white
field was outlined with ink and filled in
with red paint an irregular five-pointed
star fifteen inches in its greatest diameter
Just to the right of the star and facing it,
was painted in like manner what
was intended for bear, statant, though
It has been pronounced more like a hog
oy experts. who cared little for the feeling
If the last named animal. Under the two
smblems was radely lettered in black ink.
California Republic. Such was the famous
pear flag, which has given a name TO the
evolution, and which caused the insur-
rents to be known to the natives as
)sos."
In succeeding chapter we have an in
eresting account of
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER.
Robert Semple and Walter Cotton were
he editors, publishers and proprietors
The type and press were found in the gov
rnment building at Monterey, The pa
Der used was of the kind employed to en-
-elope the tobacco of the cigar smoked |
y the natives. Semple is humorOusly de- |
cribed By his partner as an emigrant !
rom kentucky in buckskin dress, fox,
kin cap, true with the rifle, ready with
is pen and quick at the type case" The
Irst issue of the Californian made its ap-
oearance at Monterey, the place OF publ |
'atlon, on August 10, 1916, producing |
ute little sensation.
Closely following this event, and scarce
second in importance, was the intro
uction of steam navigation.
THE FIRST STEAMBOAT,
ne Sitka, was built in Alaska,b by an Amer
ian, for the officers of Rus
ian company, to serve them
S pleasure boat. The dimensions
ere: length 81 feet, breadth of beam 8
set, depth of hold 80 feet, drawing IS
aches of water and having sidewheels
loved by miniature engine. She was
urchased by Leidesdorff, Californian,
nd brought down to San Francisco in
october. On November 10, she made her
rial trip, later she ventured to Santa
lara, then to Sonoma. Finally, on the
Sth of November, she started on the
reat voyage of her career to Sacramento.
arrylng ten or dozen souls, including
lrs. GreysOn and baby-the latter serv-
lg a useful purpose in trimming" the
tile craft. The trip was made in six
avs and seven hours, one passenger saw
~ the odd hours by leaving the steamer
nd walking. Returning to Yerba Buena,
ow San Francisco, she was wrecked at
er anchorage in a gale: but was raised.
auled inland by oxen, and transformed
alto schooner. As the Rainbow she ran
n the Sacramento river after the dis
Overy Of gold.
A week, or two later, occurred the sud
en- and singular disappearance of
THE wARREN's LAUNCH,
18th twelve men on the Sacramento
ver. Early in December the boat was
ispatched from San Francisco to SUIT.
'r's Fort, the officers having some busl- I
ess to transact with Captain Kern, of the
tier place, and carrying about 5000,
18th which to pay off the garrison. They
ever arrived at Suffers, and although r
iligent search was made along the Sac
lmento and San Joaquina rivers. no {
ace of either boat or men was found. :
hat became of them has afforded a most t
uitful theme for speculation, no sat1s- {
lctory light having since been thrown on '
lie dark mystery. :
The next occurrence of note was the +
BATTLE OF SAN PAsENAL, :
hich was fought near San Diego, on the a
orning of December 6, 1916, between a
Ie American rihemen under General I
carney, and the California lancers, un. I
Or General Pico. The conflict, though
lief, was terrible. Kearney's men de- L
we'd but slight advantage from their fire. I
ms, either because the rain of the pre- r
GUS night had rendered them use t
IS, or because most of them had been b
at long range upon the tiyinp |