The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-19
DR.. James L. Ord.

the Mexicans to battalion which was
stationed at Monterey. 1t did not take
long to embark, and soon we were sailing
southwark on the old United States war
ship Lexington. Captain Bailey.
During the entire voyage around Cape
Horn We had very rough weather. and
many of the soldiers died from the intense
cold which We exoerienced on the Southern
Atlantic coast No other particular event
happened during The voyage, and on
January %, 1s47. after more than six
months on the water. we arrived at Mon
terey.
Captain G. @. Tompkins. who CON-
m nded our troops, at once took posses
son of the old blocKhouse. relieving the
marines under Baldwin. to whom the
Mexicans had surrendered. They imme-
diately boarded their vessel and sailed
southwark to guard other ports.
Monterey at that time was the metrop-
oils of the Pacific Coast and the capital of
Upper California. There were nearly a
thousand residents of the town and most
OF the houses were built of adobe. Pablo
de Laguena was Collector of the Port and
controlled the only custom-house as vet
instituted by the American Government on
this coast.
1--WE were received very kindly by the
natives, who treated us more like friends
than enemies. Even Juan Alyarado, the
dep0sed Mexican chief executive, extended
all the courtesies TO our officers which Law
in his power as civilian. So, you see, we
had no trouble whatever in establishing
our form Of government. and every thing
moved as smoothly as could possibly be
desired.
I'm the spring of 1s4s fleet of Ameri-
can men-of-war arrived In the harbor, as
it was understood that England intended
to dispute the northern boundary line.
There was q little difficulty at the time,
but IL was soon settled. and the vessels were
then ordered TO sail south " ard and block
ade number of Mexican ports along the
coast, among which were Mazatlan and
Guaymas. The boats comprising the fleet
were: The frigate Congress, Commodore
Stockton tho Savannah, Commodore
Soate I; the Columbus, Comm odore Biddel:
the race ship Independence. Commodore
Shubrck. and thesSloOps- of.war levant,
Warran and Dale.
Quiet being again restored the soldiers
and many Of the residents of Monterey
occupied their time in hunting wild game,
which, by the way, was found in great
abundance In the hills east of the city.
Settlers began arriving from the south
and many new villages sprang up in all
directions, and a few months later news
WAS brought to the effect that gold had
been discovered 10 the vicinity of Sacra-
mento, which was then only cluster of
houses with few inhabitants. Rich speci
mems were shewn to the newly appointed
Governor, Robert Mason, who at once
commissioned Lieutenant Losser to carry
the news to Was ington. He went by
way of Panama and in less than a year
the immigration to California was we'll
under way. people flooding the State from
all directions. San Francisco soon began
to flourish and from the vast expanse of
sand hills and rocky slopes, as 1t was when
first landed in the beautiful harbor, Won
can now see what industry and enterprise
have accomplished"
The doctor recalled many other incidents
Illustrating early life on this coast as well
as many daring adventures and sseapad as
OF our argonauts.