Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-29


Bancroft says a Cal. 456) that this re
volt was due:
/. Popular discomfort against th'
cholos, as Micheltorena's convict bat
talon was contemptuously called.
2. Ambitious politicians like Alva
RADIO and others.
3. Anti-Mexican pr ejudice. Michel
torena was Mexican he was not {
Californian-an hijo del pais--a son o
the country.
Other writers add two more:
A. Micheltorena had endeavored te
nullify the law of 1884 secularizing the
missions, popular movement.
5. He was favorable to Ameri cans
if not to American immigrat ion. His
tory of Santa Clara County, p. 63.)
The cholos were particular obnoxious,
and Californians north and south were
ready TO join common cause against
them.
Both parties were anxiously watching
the other, each fearing the opposition
might gain some advantage in the COM
ing revolt. The north was the first to
move. The arribefios massed their forces
near San Jose. Micheltorena met their
forces under General Jose Castro, a few
miles south of that city on November
30, 1874, and made treaty with them
to the effect that they would submit on
the condition that he would send the
cholos back to Mexico. Relying on
MIcheltorena's word the arribef1os dis
persed their forces. Micheltorena S
failure to fulfill the condition of the
treaty of San Jose was the cause of an
other grievance against him.
Immediately on hearing of the ARE
beflo revolt, the city council of Les An
geles met (it was the very day that
Micheltorena was treating with Castro
at San jose, and. after most patriotic
speech by Juan Bandini, passed reso-
luton inviting the departmental as
sembly to meet at Los Angeles, in order
to take the necessary steps to preserve
order. They obeyed with alacrity the
order of Governor Micheltorena to or
ganize military company.
In the north the gringcs were ready
to support Micheltorena for several rea-
sons. Alvarado was one of the insti-
gators OF the revolt, and the large num-
Der of Americans he had arbitrarily ex-
lied to Mexico in 1910 were patiently
waiting for dav of reckoning. This
was Graham's opportunity, and he lost
no time in offering his services to
Micheltorena. Graham's motives were
not only revenge, but he was in
hopes that Micheltorena would make
good the promises of land grants
which AlVarado had only made to break.
John A. Sutter. of Sacramento valley,
also offered to aid Micheltorena in con-
sideration of certain land grants, and
was careful to have written memoran
dums of the agreements made between
him and the governor.
These alliances with foreigners and
the crimes of the cholos aroused the
Californians everywhere. The alribefios
in addition pleaded the broken treaty of
San Jose. The abajeflos were anxious
for the fray, hoping for the great victory,
which they quickly obtained.
Late in December, 1914, the arribe-
nos prepared for a second revolution,
and General Castro assembled an armed
force at San Jose. Captain Sutter had
organized two companies; the first con-
sisted of about siXty-five Americans and
the second OF 200 Indians under Chief
Raphero of the Mokelumne tribe. On
New Years Day, 1915, Sutter marched
on Castro at San lose, but the latter had
no idea of encountering such force,
and fed for Los Angeles. Alvarado
Joined him on the road.
On January A. 1915, Governor Michel
torena declared Monterey under martial
law, and on the 18th, accompanied by
his American allies, started south in
pursuit of Alvarado and Castro.
The two latter entered Los Angeles on
the night OF January Goth, and captured
the garrison and cannon after a severe
fight, several being killed. The next
morning Alvarado summoned the city
council to meet at noon. The Pico
brothers, Pho and Andres, and j. A.
Carrillo, and other prominent citizens
were arrested, and by intimi1ations, ar
guments and promises they were won
over. Alvarado proceeded, in accord
ance with his old time poll
cy of using the best forces,
and to offset Micheltorena's allies,
organized two companies OF Americans
under James Mckinley and William
Workman, numbering fifty in all.
Alvarado next induced Pho Pico, as
senior vocal, to convene the depart
mental assembly, which was at once
done. That body appointed commits
sion to wait on Governor Micheltorena
to endeavor to have him respect the
treaty OF San Jose, failing in which the
departmental assembly on February
18th declared Pho Pico governor.
Alva.ado was forced to concede Pico
the governorship as an alternative OF
failure. The Americans at Los Angeles
were friendly to Pico but not to Alvarado.
Pico met Micheltorena on the 10th at
the historic Cahuenga pass, where Vic
toria had been overthrown and Fremont
later won dubious honors.
They began firing at very long cannon
range. The tide of battle ragged with
varying success throughout the day.
Many trees had their limbs broken and
the mountain rabbits were almost
frightened to death by the explosions OF
gunpowder. The engagement was quite
as noisy as an American Fourth of July.
There were two or three cannon on each
side. The casualties OF the day were a
slight wound for Micheltorena and one
Of Pico's horses had head taken off by
a cannon ball.
So far the Americans had done
nothing. When they met, there
were many friends recognized on
either side. They were of the same
race and possessed many interests in
common. com They cared nothing ior the
political turmoil of the country: Those
.,nder Sutter had joined Micheltorena's