The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-14

ofthat adventurous band of hunters and
trappers who crossed the continent with
Jedediah j. Smith in 1881 Colonel War
ner is eighty-six years of age, sixty-one
OF which he has spent in Southern Cali
fornia. He has filled many important
positions under the Government.
A view Of Los Angeles City in 1854
shows cluster of one-story adobes
around the cd PlaZa-all of the city that
there was then. A view in 1857 shows
little more adobe, but not much improve
ment in style of architecture. A view in
1881 spreads the city over large space
and shows some handsome structures.
A group of three city directories shows
growth OF population from 1000 In 1877
to 80, 900 in 1892. The first assessment roll
OF the county was made by Antonio
Coronel. It's written in Spanish and con-
talns about twenty-eight pages of matter,
made in 1850. The first book published
in California, California as 1t Is and as
1t May Be-A Guide to the Gold Re-
gions," written and published by Wash
ington Bartlett, Clay street. 1919. A
very rare though not so very old book as
compared with many others in the ex-
hibit.
Beaver-trap, used by Nathaniel Pryor in
trapping beaver on the ella and Colorado
in 1877 and 1923. Pryor belonged to the
Pattee party, the first party to reach Cali
fornia by the southern route. A cannon
ball from the battlefield of Dominguez
Rancho, and brass grapeshot from the
battlefield of Paso de Bartolo. A curious
old frearm is Spanish blunderbuss, a
veritable Rip Van Wrinkle gun, the stock
worm-eaten and discolored with age.
Its short, funnel-shaped barrel may have
scattered shot among the armed hosts of
Montezuma in the days of Cortez. Some
lrreverent owner has disfigured it by
substituting modern percussion lock
for the old flint or match lock that for
merly discharged the gun. A pair of
pistols, brought to California in 1852, lie
beside the old blunderbuss.
Another old firearm is rifle used in the
thirtieS in hunting the sea otter. 1t bears
the impress of the crown and George
Rex, but which of the King Georges it is
impossible to make out. a collection of
Indian baskets completes the contents of
rial used in making Indian baskets and
used by the Indians as dice board is one
of the rare curios. The dice are the half
shells of the mountain walnut, the cavity
filled with asphaltum and pieces of white
stone inserted in the asphaltum for
counters. These trays are very rare-this
is the only complete one on the coast.
The game played on it is called 'ha," and
is gambling game.
On the wall is group of oil paintings
from the Los Angeles Art School, repre-
senting historical subjects. From the
studio of Mrs. Farr, Pasadena, is paint
ing of an Indian woman with her infant
in an Indian cradle; the painting is exc
cuted on mat made by the Alaskan In
dams. On the wall also is a picture of the
first Courthouse, built in 1859; the first
Protestant church, built in 1859; photo
graphic views Of the old Missions; views
of the Citrus Fairs of 1891, also of 1892.
A map of the county shows the loca-
tons of the Missions OF San Gabriel, San
Fernando and San Juan Capistrano; also
the location where the first discovery of
gold was made in California. 1t is a fact
not generally known that gold was dis
covered near the present site of Newhall
in March, lS4l, by Francisco Lopez.
Placer mining was carried on here for
seven years before Marshalps discovery
at Coloma.
A relic that attracts the attention of
nearly every visitor is a pair of gold
fringed epaulettes. These belonged to the
Pathfinder, John C.. Fremont and were
carried with him in his Rocky Mountain
and Pacific Coast explorations, from 1872
to 1916. He wore them in his councils
with the Indians, and had them on at the
time of the Bear Flag revolt. At that
time he ranked as Captain in the Topo-
graphical Engineers.
Mounted on the platform are two old
cannon that have mixed history. AS
nearly as can be ascertained they were
brought to California about the year 1918,
the year the pirate Bouchard threatened
pillage and destruction to the coast towns
of California. They were used in the
battle of Cahuenga by Castro and Pico
against Governor Micheltoreno, and are
said to have done duty in the battles of
Pasa de Bartolo and the Mesa, against
Stockton and Kearney.
An old confessional from San Juan
Capistrano, made by the Indians in 1773,
eXciteS the curiosity of the visitor and
calls forth variety of comments. Two
old bells from the Mission OF San Fer
nando, cast in 1909, peal forth as clear as
when they called the neophytes to wor-
ship nearly century ago. Two clappers
from the same mission, made by fasten-
ing metal trunk handles to board and
inserting broad-headed rivet for the
handle to strike against. These were
used instead of bells during portions of
the service, and well illustrate the ex-
tremities the fathers were often put to
to supply the things necessary to their
modes of worship.
At the very center of the section, by
the flagpole, stands the first cannon ever
brought to California, a miniature gun
that fired a salute at the founding of the
Mission of San Diego in 1869. A wheel,
with twelve bells set in the rim, was used
in the celebration of the mass in the old
church of San Juan Capistrano, before
that structure was thrown down by an
earthquake. 1t is the work of the Mis-
sion Indians and dates back Into the close
of the last century.
A pillow, made out of forked stick tip
ped with piece of iron, shows how the
Old-time Angeleno titled the soil.
In the case next to the platform on the
LOT Of tieAu iGln in IAnr, AIT
extensive collection, is the first printing
press and font OF type brought to Califor-
MIA. 1t is all contained in box four by
eight inches. In the same case is "a scrap
book of old-fashioned Mexican songs. 1t
would be great delight to the audience
to hear some OF these sung.
A doctrinal book in this case contains
the autograph of Father Junipero Sierra.
written in l777. Here, too, is the colIec-
ton OF books used i'll the first school
taught in Los Angeles. This is colIec-
ton of rare old books-primers and read
ing books, books devotional and books
scientific, books that would delight the
antiquarian.
In the next case is a collection of
shawls worn by the dainty bellies OF
olden times; shawls that excite the envy
of the bellies of the present; shawls rich
in texture and beautiful in color.
Following down the aisle on the right,
the next case in order of Mr.. and Mrs.
CoronePs collection is a motley collection
of curios. A powder magazine brought
to California in 1869. 1t is huge copper
can, very like the modern tin fruit can.
A bear trap, with formidable jaws and
springs that would hold bruin in their
cruel grasp. a lance and musket of the
Mexican war period, said to have been
used in the battle of San Pasqual. where
Kearney was defeated by Pico i'll De-
cember, .lS46.
A macona, or Indian boomerang, SINH
lar to the Australian instrument. 1t was
used by the Indians to kill birds and rab-
bits. 1t proves that the boomerang was