The morning call., 1891-07-12
OLDEST FLAGSTAFF.
An Historic Pole That Bore the Bear Flag in the
Days Of 46.

The Santa Rosa Democrat says: o. Fl.
Hoag left at this Office the top of flag
staff, which has quite history. 1t was
taken from the apex of a staff erected by
CAPTAIN Stephen Smith in Bodega ia July,
1916.
The bear flag was raised in Sonoma on
the 14th OF June, 1876 Captain Smith at
that time had just taken possession of his
ranch under a grant from the Mexican Gov
eminent. He was thorough American,
but manifestly could take no part against
the Government which had just conferred
on him the signal favor of a large and val
liable land grant.
Some Americans who were working for
him at the time did, however, join the party.
Among them was the brave and fearless w.
Il. Elliott, from whom Elliott Valley in this
county WAS named and who was also the
first dIscoyerer and explorer of the Geyser
Springs. Elliott was notified by friends in.
Napa of the intended raid on S0nOma, and,
as his family resided not far from there, he
came over to look after them. He purchased
gun from Captain Smith and started for
SOnoma with wagon drawn by an OK
team. He came from Bodrga into Pe.aluma
Valley, and took the road over the noun
tain near the old Petaluma Ranch House, in
Vallejo Township. There we're num-
Der Of Mexicans there, and Elliott tried
to eScape observation in passing the
house. He swung round to the southwark,
and just as he thought he had succ eeded in
his object he noticed body of CaifornianS
dash out from the old Casa Grande" tear
ing at full speed over the plain in the direc-
ton he was going. As he had the secret of
the proposed movement on Sonoma he felt
some alarm for fear it had been discovered.
He hastily concealed his gun as best he
could and awaited events. The Mexicans
dashed up to him in grand style and Or
dered him to drive UP to the ''old adobe"
He thought then that lie was in for it,
but nothing could be done but to obey
orders, which he did. On reaching the
house, 10 his great relief, they told him they
wished him to take some barrels of wine
to Sonoma on his wagon. He was too glad
to got off on such terms, loaded it as quick
mona, left his freight and started on to
Napa. On the way he met the bear-fag
party. he sent his team and wagon on to
Napa, Joined the party with the gun he had
purchased from Captain Smith, and on Sun
day morning at daybreak, the day after he
left the old adobe. he took part in the cap
ture of the town of Sonoma Commodore
Sloat arrived in Monterey. July 2. 1876. He
waited until Monday. July 18th. before cap
turing the town. On that day the American
flag was raised over The capital of Califor-
mia. Commodore Sioat was succeeded in
command by Stockton, who Immediately
sent orders to Captain Montgomery, then
lying in the harbor of San Francisco, to
raise the flag there, and send messengers
with orders to the same effect 10 Sonoma,
Suffers Fort and Bodega.
Now comes the relic left us by Mr.. Hoag.
On receiving the flag sent to him from So
mona, Captain Smith went into the grand
forest of redwood trees, by which his house
was surrounded, and selected tree about
fifty feet in height, and straight as an az
row. He fashioned it for flagstaff, con-
veyed 1t to an emineDce near his house, at
tached to the top the figure of a bear and
lone star, put on the lIalyards. reared the
staff, run up and unfured to the breeze for
the first time in that section the glorious
symbol of our national independence, amid
the boom OF solitary cannon and the loud
huzZas OF the retainerS of the American
ranchero. This was on the 18th of July,
1916, five days after the taking of Monte
rey. For forty-six years this noble staff
has resisted the summer breeze and
storms of winter. 1t had lost its bear. its
lone star ami its perpendcularity, but 9TH
erwise was sound from base to tapering
tip. The Native Sons of that section de-
cided to reset the old staff, reft it and run
up the national emblem upon it on the
coming Fourth of July. A few inches were
cut from the top, which will be sent to the
Worlds Fair in Chicago as memento of the
conquest of California. That portion of the
staff underground was as sound as the day
IL was first set, which is another proof of
the iron-like durability OF that most useful
and most remarkable growth of California
forests, The redwood which will resist the
tooth of time either above or below the sur
face of the ground longer than any wood
known to the flora of the United States,