The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-08-09
THE REIGN OF THE PADRES.
The Century in Which California Was
Missionized.
Especial Correspondence

| Especial Correspondence.l
SANTA Rosa, Cal, July 22.-The period
of the beginning of settlement of Califor-
not without interest TO those who would
like to know how little occurred in the pre-
historic period. The era that marks the
beginning Of that period dates back to
July /, 1869. when the mission Of San
Diego was founded by missionaries from
Lower California. On the 25th OF October,
the same year, the Bay Of San Francisco
was discovered by Don Gsspar Portala,
and in June, 1775, the rudely built schooner,
San Carlos, first sailed into the bay, bear
ing flag and establishing a claim to the
land of alta California"
From that period to the beginning Of the
Mexican war in 1886 Alta California was
the arena of the missionary padres, VINO
explored this vast territory and built rude
missions among the wild Digger Indians.
The latter lived on roots (hence the name.
and acorns ground into meal in stone NOR
tars, As thousands OF relics yet 20 be seen
prove, and such game as they could bring
down with their bows and arrows.
The process OF ChristianiZing the Indians
was not always ort thodox moral suasiou
not unfrequentiy il was begun by phys
ical force vigorously applied. 20 induce the
skeptical savages % engage in work Deces-
sary to construct buildings for the mis-
siOns. Usually they were built Of sdebe-
or sods and elabOrately constructed, with
barracks sufficient 10 accommodate quite
an army Of the aborigiues, who first
chewed free beef and then received lessons
in religion, rather than eschew the beef
and gain the dispieasure Of the padres.
The taste for the former made the latter
palatable, and they sojourned at the mis-
sions and were enrolled as converted Dig
gers.
Ia turn, the believers were sent out 20
capture and bring IN the wild unbe.ievers,
by force, that they might be instructed IN
moral principic eat the beef Of the padres
and live in the barracks Of the mission
For thrse-quarters Of CENTURY this
policy was pursued Of ChristiauiEing tie
Indians. Governors, with the favor Of the
padres, could view their uupeopied terri
tory and feel themselves the proud mon
arch Of all they surveyed. f" from the Siefras
10 the sea.
The only commercial standing the ooUn-
trv had was al occasional visit made 0y er-
low and horns, for which alone the vast
herds OF cattle were slaughtered % supply
these articles OF primitive com nsrcs.
This munIbcielt garden OF nature, ex-
tending from TIE semItropical peninsula q
Lower California 10 miles north. with
width of 30 miles. en- bractnR every vsri-
ETY. Of climate between ths eeaator aad the
arctic ci,cle, was .av.sbly supplied with
err
America roaming 20 large numbeTa. Only
slightly disturbed b. The trips o. nc ia
disas from mission 20 MISSION. The pic
tures4us and beautfai IN tbis Wild Edsa
was everywsers abuzaan. The valleys
and fores-s were uuraTsked By TIE han1A
of husb4udry-ths ns5iliuse1ts Of nature
made bezusifai a. tas land
The Erss; plains % California. rstsd as
desert .a1d. ar found 70 contain vsT.sty
ot r5cauess beyoad ssttnz.e, and vhsE
81. ttes 5y tbe 7rand q E1sbssdry brouzat
forth tLs produces Of sll the tr83sf1I world
in n.1l,3plied p-oysr-io1s- Yes groKTsss
stood s-..i aa1 rear after rear th- i1dolsut,
s=rT.le Indians 80, slep- AID rslae.A1tiy
herded ne czttls AID kc-sas e TIE I11Hzsenz
TIE old wsitswzszsc Z ss4oas. fcF-s 40
barns co-l5-asa do.te4 tae country
from saa D.ego . the mg1ata.ns q tie
E1--h
j. q rhz11e tra91zr - Explorer czEse o.
ta4s vzs- domain &c Vas lzv.tssi % Iszys,
aaf every e.sars uase - hurry E.Ea AVA
Fremont aaa rzazy ssb--s were trvats6 70
Lks Hospitality Anssr51zus wers ssps-
cis.Iy rEws.11Ess, bat ge-rlaac.ses u ssay- .
INK @ -etzrGtaz. u1-r .ts-a=alzx - sn- .
mlfv cf tEs goss-aOrs s5d t1s.r tc.sHsrs
Had c1e &szlaza s4r Eos ea1sd tA-s frsFo
loES Tegszas. ta5s saass tArsftiass ruls EnizaE
leax EATs Es.s EE-s fzlE lsz1 Bgt t1s vkr