The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1893-09-23
A SAN DIEGO BRIGAND

Mexico There isa pretty little Mex
ican town on the line between Mexico
and California called Tia Juana-
pronounced TIE Wanna In the CEN
ter of one Of the streets stands a
great gray stone monument, set there
by the government TO mark the line
between the United States and
Mex co.
To the south, severa! hundred
miles distant, stretches the long Sea
of CorteZ. as the conquerOrs OF ancient
Mexico once called the Gulf OF Cali
fornia. Beyond the sea OF Cortez Is
the long and rock bound reach OF the
west coast OF Mexico.
Then come Guatemala and group
OF little Central American Republics
then Colombia, Peru, and so on. till
at last Patagonia points away like
huge giants finger straight toward
the South Pole.
But must bear in mind that | set
out in this story TO tell you about
"The Brigand OF San Diego" and the
South Pole is long way from the sub
ject in hand.
Il nave NDDhCu VI 'Ddi lpiOEO a. phV
of the great new cities, and great 1T
Is, but altogether new IL certainly Is
not. for IL was founded by IL Spanish
missionary, known as Father Juni-
peio, more than one hundred years
ago.
These old Spanish missionaries
were great men in their day; brave,
patient, and very self-sacriticink In
their attempts to settle the wild
countries and civllizc the Indians.
This Father Junipero walked all
the way from the City Of Mexico To
San Diego, although he was more
than fifty years old; and finally, after
he had spent nearly "A quarter Of IA
century in founding missions up and
down the coast OF California, he
walked all the way back TO the city
OF Mexico, where he died
When il is added that he was Il
lame man, that he was more than
threescore and ten years OF age, and
that he travelled all the distance on
this last journey on foot and alone,
with neither arms nor provisions,
trusting himself entirelyl to Provi-
dence, one can hardly failito remem'
ber his name, and speak 1t with
respect
This new city, with its most salu-
brious cline, Is set all over and about
with golden oranges red pomegran-
ates, great heavy punches OF green
and golden bananas and silver-laden
olive orchards. Tho leaf OF the olive
is OF the same soft gray as the breast
of the dove, as If the dove and the
olive branch had in some sort kept
companionship ever since the days OF
the Deluge.
San Diego is near ten miles broad,
with its base resting against the
warm, still waters OF the Pacific
Ocean. The most populous part OF
the city is TO the south, toward Mex
leo, where seven or eight railroa Is
run together
Then comes the middle part of San
Diego City. This is called "the old
town" and here it was that Father
Junipero planted some palm-trees that
stand TO this day-so tall that ttcy
almost seem to be dusting the stars
WIFI uHclT Splcuulu DlIultS
Here also you see great many old
adobe houses in ruins, old forts,
churches fortrcsses, barracks, built
by the Mexicans nearly century ago.
when Spain possessed California, and
her gaudy flag tioated from Oregon TO
the Isthmus OF Darien.
The first old mission is little far.
ther on up the coast, and the new
college, known rs the San Diego Col.
lege OF Letters, Is still further on up
the warm and salubrlous sea-bank.
San Francisco lies several hundred
miles on up the coast beyond Los
Angeles. Then comes Oregon, then
Washington, one OF the newest
States, and then Canada, then Alas.
ka, and at last the North Pole, which
is almost as far as the South Pole
from my subject, the Brigand of San
Diego.
He was little Aztec Indian,
brown as a berry, slim and slender
very silent, very polite, and not at
all strong.
1t was said that he had Spanish
blood in his veins, but il did not
show through his tawny skin. 1t is
to be conceded, however that he had
all the politeness and serene dignity
of the prouiest Spanish Don in the
land.
He was a student at the San Diego
College OF Letters, where there were
several hundred other boys OF all
grades and ages, from almost all parts
OF the earth.
a good many boys came here from
Boston and other Eastern cities TO
escape the rigors OF winter j re-
member one hoy in particular from
Philadelphia. He was a small boy
with big nose, very bright and very
brave. He was not friend OF the
little Aztec Indian, the Brigand OF
San Diego.
The name of this boy from Phila-
delphia was Peterson; the Rostou
boys called him Bill Peterson His
name, perhaps, was William u. Peter