The herald., 1893-12-31
ABOUT THE SAN GORGON|O PASS
"reminiscences of an Old In.
habitant.
Incidents of the Days Before Boom.
ers and TOwnsites.
EARLY Settlers on the Borders of the
Dosert-An EARLY Mail Robbery
and the Resultant
Tragedy.

ORiiCAbCy Ouh lmOtCO-WAob IOCOllCC-
tions these old Spanish names bring up.
OF ranches, sefioritas, rodeos, vaqueros
and all pertaining to Spanish and Span
iah-American life. And in comparison
how tame sound the names of Banning.
Beaumont, Whitewater, Palm Springs
and Brookside.
But the change in nomenclature is in
keeping with the change in people and
occupations. From being vast stock
range to boom times and towns, with
consequent cutting up of the ranches
into small tracts is a long step, and it is
the object of this article to trace some of
the steps which led to its accomplish
ment.
In 1853 DIR. /. W. Smith with his fam
lily came to San Gorgonio pass, and
settled at what is now known as the
Highland home. At that time the pass
was mostly covered by Spanish land
grant, the San Gorgonio rancho. DR..
Smith bought third of it and engaged
in stock raising. The only other white
person between San Timoteo and the
desert was an odd character, Powline
Weaver, who lived with the Indians at
what is now called the Edgar place.
The Indians were then quite nnmer-
Gus and were source of some danger
especially those living on the desert.
When they could get strong drink-and
it was not 30 difficult then to do 60
they INDUCED in free fights among
themselves, and occasionally an Amer
ican was in it. Their chief was more
important parsonage than now, and
ruled them with considerable authority.
As an instance Of aboriginal justice, the
following Gaze is given:
Two young Indians had stolen two
cattle from a ranch, and the crime was
brought nome to them. The old chief
harangued them for time, gave good
advice, and said it was right to steal
from the whites, but they must not get
caught at it, for therein lay the deepest
disgrace. He sentenced them to pay
three-fold for the cattle as restitution,
and then, cutting off their ears, bade
them go and sin no more.
| have stated that their numbers
were considerable, and, in fact, the two
tribes, Chimehueva and Coahuilla,
could each muster several hundred war
riore. But, somewhere about 1850, the
smallpox got among them and deci.
mated their ranks, and later it broke
out again and almost exterminated
them.
The only occupation of the people
WAS stock raising, and the pass WAS a
favored locality. When feed was short
elsewhere, cattle, ETC., were driven in
from the San Bernardino and San Ga
briel valleys, and with those already
there, the pass presented lively ap-
pearance.
A few years after DR.. Smith came, R.
B. Moore moved into the pass from FL
Monte, and brought his stock with him.
He took up the present water supply
of Banning, and was one of the
prominent citizens oi our early history.
The Gilman place was settled by
Colonel Williams, and changed hands
several times, finally passing into the
present owners hands from Newt
Mobiles, about 1869. DIR. Edgar and
brother obtained possession of the Edgar
place in the COS, and for time lived
there.
OF the lie OF these early times much
has been written, and much more might
be. The occupation of stock raising led
to free, wild, outdoor life, and the vac
queros, as they were called, CORE
sponded to the Texas COW boys. They
were race of hardy, bold bronco riders,
with chivalrous instincts and kind
hearts, but, perhaps. rough exterior.
Social life had not the veneer that civil
ization gives, and difficulties were set
tied with fist or pistol. In the spring
all the stock was driven together, and
each man picked out and branded the
calves and colts belonging to him. Such
a gathering was called rodeo.
n mi Ia tho ru1lo Of rsek
American life was followed, and horse
manship and such outdoor athletics pre-.
vailed, and society was satisfied with the
fandango, as dance was called.
Local sportsmen may be interested
in the fact that where now are the
grain fields and fruit orchards, herds
of antelope once roamed and deer were
numerous, while more than an occa-
sionai bear was to be seen.
The only regular means of travel to
towns, etc., was q stage line between
Los Angeles and Fort Yuma. Some of
the drivers were noted characters, OF
whom Hank Brown, now OF Highlend
1s best remembered.
DIR. Smith kept station at the High
land home-which station was after.
wards moved to ]. M. Gilman's place.
The next station WAS at Cabezon, kept
by Frank Van Deventer: and at White
water Frank Smith kept another.
Later the one at Cabezon was moved to
Palm Springs. The stage carried the
mail and did considerable passenger
business.
A robbery of the mail led to bloody
tragedy soon after the line was started.
Several packages of money were in tran
sit. and, when about to start in the
morning from the Smith station, the
money was missed. Suspicion fell upon
the hostler, Gordon by name, who was
seen about the mail pouches while the
passengers were at supper, and he MAS
locked up. A wrapper OF one of the
packages was found near his belongings.
and he was urged to confess, but with.
out avail.
Finally the two men who had the mail
contract resorted to extreme tactics. He
was conducted into canon, since called
Dead Mans cailop, and at the side OF an
omen grave under q tree, to which O rope
was attached, he was urged to reveal the
hiding place Of the money or say his
PRAYERS. Just then one OF the men
heard the stage drive up to the station,
and went TO get another man. As they
were returning two pistol shots rang
out, and man was seen running across
the caiion. One OF them gave chase,
and, grasping the prisoner, for such
it was, received several stabs with a
knife for his paine, while the murderer
escaued