The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-05
SEEING OF A BIG STATE.
HOW CALIFORNIA WAS TAKEN
FROM THE ENGLISH

| Which he Played n Leading Part.
From me PhtiadeIpha Inquirer.
Conspicuous among tho group Of gentle
men sitting in the parlor OF the Girard
house yesterday afternoon was the vonor-
able form Of Rodman NJ. Price. eI governor
Of New Jersey, whose fiery enthusiasm and
youthful zaal procipitated tho seizure Of
California by the United States government
in 1916 and averted serious complication
with tho British powers Tho inner history
Of the remarkable ovont makes a chapter in
the annals Of the country Of thrilling and
absorbing interest.
or tho older generation Of historical char
ncters yet living there are few, ~ any, whose
lives possess moro romantic incidents than
the career Of Mr.. Price on tho Cali
fornia coast Immediately preceding the
conflict with Mexico. Before he sailed 70
the far west Mr.. Price enjoyed the init
mate acquaintance of President Van
| Buren. He was Furthermore tho confdant
of President Polk on important matters Of
state. remarkable circumstance of this
friendship was that it directly forced the
| occupancy Of California by this govern
ment few days in advance of the arrival
OF the English squadron which had an
chored in the harbor Of Monterey for the
| pun puso Oh IaisihR the bIltlsn nag over the
| same territory.
! Mr. Price seldom refers to the incident.
He has couiided the details Co only a few
! intimate friends. Though well advanced in
| years he is still in the enjoyment OF robust
health a we'll rounded figure of above the
average hight, n face distinguished with
delicate intellectual outlines and an eN-
preston of ponsivo refinement, and n quick,
elastic stop are tho chief characteristics of
his person.
RACE FOR CALIFORNIA
Anticipating war with Mexico, Presi-
| dent Polk desired that n squadron should be
| held on tho Pacific coast In readiness 90 oc-
cupy California mt the first outbreak and
hold 1t during hostilites IL was no secret
that the English government entertained
| the same policy in relation TO the acuuisi-
ton of tho territory. Tho two squadrons
mot Mt Mazatlan Mexico, and upon "A report
| of n conflict with the MexicanS at Palo Alto
the United States vessels Levant, Warren
aud Cyane are hurriodly dispatched in ad-
vance OF the British war ships to Monterey
| then the capital city of the coveted land,
and instructed to prepare 10 occupy the
| country. Commodore Sloat followed in a
few days in the United States flagship Sa-
vaunah.
Tho arrival Of Sir George Seymour. COM
| mandng the English forces in the eighty
gun ship Collngwood, was expected hourly,
| creating intense excitement among the
United States officers When Commodore
Sloat arrived at Monterey it was con-
| hdently expected that he would at once
hoist the American flag and declare mill
tary occupation. He resisted, however, the
entreaties Of the officers OF tho squadron TO
act quickly and take possession. Instead he
exchanged friendly salutes with the
MeNicans then in charge Of the port.
THE COMMODORE WAS FIRM
The dismay of the United States officials
Mt this proceeding was very great The
danger OF the Englishmen stealing march
and raising the British flag in advance was
imminent, but Commodore Sloat was firm
IN his determination to await further de-
velopmentS before making an aggressive
move. Two days after Commodore Sloat
cast anchor in tho harbor of Monterey. a
launch from the United States steamship
Portsmouth, stationed at Yerbe Bueua,
now San Francisco, steamed up TO the
Savannah with the news that Mai John c.
Fremont, commanding an exploring party,
had been attacked by MexIcaus. They bore
communication addressed to Commodore
Sloat from Capt Montgomery of the Ports
mouth, requesting authority TO give aid to
Fremont and supply him with military
stores
The receipt Of the information startled all
the officers Of the squadron, and 1t was be
heved that Commodore Sloat would no
longer imperil tho rights Of his government
by deferring the occupancy OF Monterey
The rumorS Of the approach OF the British
vessels, which were known 10 have sailed
for Monterey, increased the exigencies of
the situation aud intensified the alarm Of
the American officers. Great was their
CONSERVATION, therefore, when Commodore
Sloat declined with aggravatiug coolneSS to
accede 10 Captain Montgomery's request to
he allowed 70 help Fremont
RKFUSEp AID To FREMONT.
The excitement ran high, animated con-
verSauonS were held and repeated visits TO
Commodore Sloat. Still he was immov-
able lie became fretful and impatient and
gave ter>e answers that discouraged and
dlSmayed his colleagues. lie simply re-
plled that under the instructions be had re
ceived from the navy department
the Circumstances would not war
rant SO aggressive an action.
Finally he dismissed the whole sub
lect and wrote a polite, digRifed, but brief
note 70 Capt Montgomery, saying that the
treaty stpulations with Mexico must be
Observed according 10 all established forms.
- indignant was Sloat at the lerSiSteuca
with which the matter was pressed that he
lost his temIer ami refused at first to alloN
the crew ~ the launch who were thoroughly
exhausted by nearly three DAYS exposure in
an open boat. without any Of the comforts
~ life, - come on his ship
First Lieut., Livingston, whose heart was
moved by the pltahle condition and suffer
inS II the men, appesled with success to the
feelings II the naughty commodore. and st
evening they were finally permitted - 80
seNard the Savannah for = nights rest, BE-
fore returning 20 Capt Montgomery with
the nose denying his request As night
came On the excitement Continued to in-
crease, and canSteynstlon and alarm par-
Nsdei the squadron. Among the Officers Of
the levAat Warren and Cvane the opinion
was unanimous that every moment Of DELAY
was a reckless waste q the advantages 81
the position ~ the squadron. snd that If
persisted IN the policy would he fatal % the
interests II TINS government II was not
known what hoQr her majesty 5 forces would
proclaim the NNcUNstloa ~ the land If the
delay was YCotractAi further.
Al night a fiaal CONSULTATION was held.
Il WAS decided - make smother appeal -
the >>CnmNSora Like previous efforts. il
svSliei nothing. TIE Obi gentleman WAS
moro Grabbed and Santeatsous than ever
VIA sn lnperlogS gesture be waved them
away, with the remark thst coAlneSs And
deAoscst2on achieved greater results in
CRISIS ike tia; thSn haste The feeling
sSaloS; him grew into resentment lie Was,
however, IN Command. and nothing could
he done without bis sanction.
PCSSEs PRlCK TO tbs RESCUE