Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1893-08-12

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tied In their gums.
Before going to Mexico Estenegs re-
mained for some weeks at his ranches in
the north overlooking the slsughtering
Of his cattle, an important yearly event,
for the trade In hides and tallow with
foreign shippers was the chief source Of
the Californian's income. He slso was
associated with the Russians at Fort
Ross and BodegA In the fur trade. But
he was far from being satisfied with
these desultory gains. They sufficed his
private wants, but with the great
schemes he had In his mind he needed
gold by the bushel How TO obtain II
was problem which sat on the throne
Of his mind sids by side with Chonita
Iturbi Moncada. He had reason to be-
heve that gold lay under California. but
where2
He determined that upon his return
from Mexico he would take measures to
discover, although he disliked the meth
ods which alone could be employed
But, like all born rulers of men, he had
an impatient scorn for means with .
great end in view. There was no inter
mediate way of making the money. II
would bs Q hundred years before the
country would be populous enough to
give his vast ranches o reasonable value,
and. although he had twenty thousand
head Of cattle, the market for their dis
posal was limited and barter was the
principle Of trade rather than coin.
Toward the end Of the month he hur-
ried to Monterey to catch q bark about
to sail for Mexico. He embarked with
out writing TO Chonits-
The voyage lasted o month, tedious
and monotonous, more trying than his
inaction on land, for there at least he
could recover some serenity by violent
exercise. He divided his time between
pacing the deck when the weather per
mitted and writing to Chonits. At San
Bias he posted his letters and welcomed
thorough journey overland 70 the capi-
tai, but under q calm exterior he was
possessed of the spirit Of disquiet As 30
often happens. however, his fears proved
to have been vagaries Of . morbid state
of mind and of that habit Of thought
which would associate with every cause
an effect of similar magnitude. Santa
Anna welcomed him with friendly en-
thusiasm and was ready to listen 70 his
plans.
That willy and sstute politician. who
was always abreast Of progress and never
in its lead, recognized in Estenega the
coming man, and knowing that the
seizure Of the CALIFORNIA; by the United
States was only question Of time was
keenly willing to make an ally Of the
man who he foresaw would control them
Is long as he chose, both at home and In
Washington. For the matter Of that,
he recognized the impotence Of Mexico
to interfere beyond bluster with plans
any resolute Californian might choose to
pursue. But it was important to Es-
tenega's purpose that the governorship
should be assured to him by the central
government and the eyes of the Mexican
congress directed elsewhere. He knew
the value of the moral effect which their
apparent sanction would have upon re-
bellious southerners.
~ am at your service" said Santa
Anna. land the governorship ID yours
But take heed that no rumor Of your
ultimate intentions reach the ears Of
congress until you are firmly established.
II they opposed you relentlessly, and
they keep their teeth on California like
Q dog on q bone bigger than himself. ]
should have to yield; have too much
at stake myself. will look out that any
communications from enemies. includ-
ing Iturbi y Moncada. are opened hrst
by me-"
Estenega wrote to Chonita again by
the ship that left during his brief stay In
the capital. and II was his intention to
20 directly to Santa Barbara upon ar