The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-13
ENGLISH DESIGNS FRUSTRATED.
Commodore SIoats Undertaking Ad-
herence TO His instructions
Mould Have Given the Golden
West" to Great Britain, But for
the Earnest "Reminiscences of
Purser Price-Result of Mid
night Interview.

= Ing his name, ana ulau6 truly Specially
fortunate season for great enterprises. At
all events the first seven days Of the mid
summer month have ever been fortunate
ones for the United States.
Rarely. if ever, has a defeat or reverse to
the American arms fallen on one of these
days, while besides the great event cele-
DRAFTED on the 4th, many military and diplo-
matte triumphs have taken place in this
charmed week. Not the least of these was
the capture of the vast territory called
California by Commodore Sloat July Z,
1876 No man alive at the present time,
perhaps. knows more of the exciting scenes
on the Pacific Coast at that time than eX-
Governor Rodman N. Price Of New Jersey.
OF the elder generation Of historical char
acters yet living, says the New York Mail
and Express, there are few, If any, whose
lives possess more romantic incident than
the career of Nj. Price on the California
Coast, Immediately preceding the conflict
with Mexico. Before lie sailed to the far
v est, Mr. Price enjoyed the intimate ac-
quaiutance Of President Van Buren,. He
was, Furthermore, the confdant of Presi-
dent Polk on important matters of state.
A remarkable Circumstance OF this friend
ship was that it directly forced the occu-
Iancy of California by this Government a
lew days in advance of the arrival of the
English squadron, which had anchored in
the harb0r Of Monterey for the purpose of
raising the British flag over the same terri
tory.
Mr.. Price seldom refers to the incident.
He has conhded the details to only few
intimate friends. Though well advanced in
Years he is still in the enjoyment of robust
health. a Well-TOunded figure Of above tie
average height, a face distinguished with
delicate intellectual outlines and an eX-
preston Of pensive refinement, and quick,
elastic step are the chief characteristics OF
his person.
RACE FOR GOLDEN PRIZE.
Anticipating a war with Mexico, Presi-
dent Polk desired that 4 squadron should
be held on the Pacific Coast in readiness 10
occupy California at the first outbreak and
hold 1t during hOstllties. II was no secret
that the English Government entertained
the same policy in relation to the acquisi-
. ton II the territory. The two squadrons
met at MaZatlau, Mexico, and upon report
OF ID conflict with the MexiCans at Palo Alto
the United States vessels Levant, Warren
and Gyane We're huTriedly dispatched in ad .
vance OF the British Rarships 10 Monterey
then the cal ital city of the coveted land
and instructed to prepare to occupy the
country. Commodore Sloat followed in q
few days in the United States flagship Say
auuah.
Tie arrival OF Sir George Seymour, COM
handing the English forces IN the eighty
gun ship CollugwOUd was expected hourly,
creating intense excitement among the
United States officers. When Commodore
SlOat arrived at Monterey il was confidently
expected that he would at once hoist the
American flag and declare military Oecupa-
ton. lie resisted, however, the entreaties
OF the officers OF the squadron to act quickly
and take possession. instead he exchanged
friendly salutes with the MeXleans, then in
charge of the port.
sLoAT WAS VERY SLOW
The dismay Of the United States officials
al this proceeding was very great. The
danger of the Engllshmen stealing march
and raising the British flag in advance was
imminent but Commodore Sloat was firm
in his determination 10 await further de-
yelOpmentS before making an aggressive
move. Two days after Commodore Sloat
cast anchor in the harbOr of Monterey, a
launch from the United States ship Ports
mouth, statiODed at \ erba Buena, now San
Francisco, steamed up to the Savannah
with the news that Major John c. FIRE.
mont, commanding an exploring party, had
been attacked by Mexicans. They bore a
communication addressed to Commodore
Stoat from Captain Montgomery Of the
Portsmouth, requesting authority to give
aid 10 Fremont and supply him with mill
tary stores.
The RECEIPT Of the information startled all
& e officers Of The squadron, and 1t was be-
ieyed that Commodore Sloat would no
longer imperil the rights Of his Government
BY defeuing the occupancy Of Monterey
The rum0rS CT the approach Of the British
vessels, which were known to have sailed
for Monterey, increased the exigencies oil
the situation and intensified the alarm of
the American officers. Great was their con-
sternatiou therefore when Commodore Sloat
declined with aggravating GOODNESS to &C
eede to Captain Montgomery request 10 be
allow ed TO help Fremont.
UNNECEssA AIRY SEVERITY.
The eXcitem ent ran high, animated con-
situations we're held and repeated visits
made to Commodore Sloat. Still he was
immOYable He became fretful aud i'm
patient and gave teTse answers that dis
couraged and dismayed his colleagues.
He simply replied that under the in
structions he had received from the
Navy Department the circumstances would
not warrant so aggressive an action
Finally he dismissed the whole subject and
wrote polite aud dignified but brief note
to Captain Montgomery, saying that the
treaty stipuations with Mexico must be OBJ
served according TO all established forms.
So indignant was Sloat at the persistence
with which the matter was pressed that he
lost his temper and refused at first to allow
the crew Of the launch, who were thor
oughly exhausted by nearly three days eX-
posure in an open boat, without any Of the
comforts of life, to come on his ship.
First Lieutenant Livingston. whose heart
was moved by the pitiable condition and
suffering of the men, appealed with sue
cess to the feelings of the naughty Commo-
,dore, and at evening they were finally
permitted to go aboard the Savannah
for a nights rest before returning to Cap
tain Montgomery with the note denying
his request. As night came on tile excite
ment continued to increase, and consteTna-
tion and alarm peryaded the squadron
Among the officers of the I4evant, Warren
and Cyane the opinion was unanimous that
every moment Of delay was 4 reckless
waste OF the advantages of the position OF
the squadron, and lat if persisted in the
policy would be fatal to the interests of this
Government. 1t was not known what hour
her Majesty'5 forces would proclaim the
occupation OF the land il the delay was
yr0lracted further.
LAST EFFORT.
At night a final consultation was held. 1t
was decided to make another appeal to the
Commodore. Like previous efforts it
awaited nothing. Tie old gentleman was
more Grabbed and sententious than ever.
With an imperOus gesture he waved them
away, with the remark that GOODNESS aud
elaboration achieved greater results i'll ii
crisis like that than haste. The feeling
against him grew into resentment. lie
was, however, in command, aud nothing
could be done without his sanction.
One VI tue iuOSl BHLllu5IdStIC advocates u
immediate action was Captain Mervine OF
the Cyane. He returned to his ship at
night worn out, dismayed, discouraged and
disguised. The purser of the Cyane was
Rodnan NJ. Price, who. though a young
man, had the benefit of wide experience
among public men. The Cyane was the last
vessel to join the Pacific Squadron from the
Eastern Coast. Two days before sine sailed
Price had left the White House, where he
had for several days been the guest of Pres
ident Polk. The Mexican situation had
been discussed by the President with him
in all its delails-not. however, In an official
sense. MT. Price was therefore intimately
familiar with tile Presidents private views
He knew that Polk favored the immediate
occupancy Of California upon the first we'll
grounded preteXt.
PRESIDENT PoLK's FRIEND.
1t was known that the old Commodore
was aware of the intimate relations exist
ing between the President and young Price,
who. by the way, was acting as purser OF
Tie vessel for the benefit his health would
derive from sea voyage, and that he would
siye him a respectful hearing. Further