The herald., 1894-09-30
Fly, MENCANS, IN ALL HASTE.
The WOndrOus Call to Arms OF
Governor Pho Pico.
Most Extraordinary Public Docu-
meDt Issued in California.
Summoned the Mexican. Citizens t.
Arise In Their Might to Anni-
hilate the Famous Bear
Flag Expedition


the speech Of that conrtly old grandee,
Don Pho Pico, last of the Mexican COVER
nors of Alta California. Don Pho OUT
lived his time. He belonged not to the
last generation, but to generation long
past. In 1880 and 1910 this courteous.
hospitable lord OF broad acres was q
great man in California.
In 1890 his presence was less known
than his past reputation. and the story
writer who mentioned that he WAS dead
was much less culpable than General
Barnes. who spoke, in his address at
Sacramento opposing the nomination Of
M. III. Estee, of General John Bidwell ~
that good man, long eince gone to his
reward"
In public life Don Pho Pico has been
dead for 40 years, yet not until q few
life spark. Only @ few weeks ago,
though 94 years CT age, the swart Don
was driving about Los Angeles in his
rickety old buggy, greeting old friends
with his accustomed suavity. That
antique buggy was type Of the man
who rode in it. A 1t WAS vehicle OF the
past, and how4he parts held together
was not given to man to discover. The
Don was once rich-so rich that a cabal-
lero might ride and ride and atill not
leave his domain. He owned the greater
part of the San Fernando valley and the
vast Santa Margarita rancho at San
Juan Capistrano. In his munlfcent
hospitality he was the man of his lace.
He lived at his place at San Gabriel,
which he called Ranchita, un.n he lost
it by litigation, and then moved to Los
Angeles, where he was cared for by
Marco and Jusnone Foster. his nephews.
His estates left him one by one the
fields and the pastures went to those
from whom he had borrowed money.
The deed to the Pico house property in
Los Angeles followed a mortgage. Don
Pho Pico, the lord OF acres, became desti-
tute, and in the shadow end OF life the
friends who had enjoyed his hospitality
in earlier and better times so cared for
him that the pantry in the little house
in which he lived was never empty.
The famous battle of Oahueuga made
Don Pho Pico the last governor of Cali
fornis under Mexican rule. When Cas-
tro and Alvsrado revolted against Cover
nor Micheltorena the departmental
Jnnta sided with them, and of the Junta
sefior ''vocal" became Provisional gov
ernor when Micheltorena refused to
acknowledge the Junta or to recognize
the commissioners it sent to him. From
the north came Micheltorena with his
Mexicans and his Indians. with General
Sutter in command OF his Helvetians,
and John Bidwell as his aid.
From Los Angeles to meet them
marched Castro and Alvarado and also
Don Pho Pico. With Micheltorena were
three cannon from Suffers Fort, and
with Castro and Alvarado and Pico were
two cannon.
On the banks of the Los Angeles river
the two armies approached each other.
At long range for cannon they halted
and the fierce fire of the FIVE cannon
began. After two days OF this horrid
warfare one horse and one mule had
been killed and General Sutter and Gem
eral Bidwell had been taken prisoners
and sent with every show of courtesy to
the hacienda OF Don Abel Stearns.
Micheltorena rsised the white flag.
The battle was ever. The mule and the
horse lay weltering in their gore. Then
was drafted the treaty of Campo de San
Fernando, by which Pico. as sef1or
vocal" OF the Junta, was recognized as
governor, and Jose Castro WAS recognized
as Commandante General.
Michsltorena returned 20 Mexico and
read paper. which, according to that
veraciouB historian, Carlos Maria Busta.
mante, put all the hearers to sleep.
Early in 1S45 the Mexican governments
recognized the legality of Pico's acts ss
governor. and early in Septe mber Presi-
dent Herrera sent Pico his commission
as Constitutional governor.
PIoo was Constitutional governor
when Fremont received the surrender of
Mexicsns, and the treaty was made at
the same place where was fought the
great battle that made Pico governor
Cahuenga.
Sadly did Pico bow to the smart and
ehrewd men OF the northern republic.
The rumor was that Pico preferred
Engliah domination to United States
conquest, If Mexico had to yield its light
hold on California. In time he accepted
the thing that was and became 8 good
United States citizen, though never
taking part in politics, and never learn
ing to speak the English tongue.
The procla amations o! Don Pho Pico were
noted for their tropes and fantasies.
Carlos Maria Bustamsnte mover could
have slept under Pic Pico's vauiting
SMILES and metaphors.
The most extraordinary public docu--
ment of this governor was the procla-
nation iseued when the Bear Flag re-
volt occurred in Sonoma county, the
event that was and is the pride of the
pioneers. This 10 the TRANSLATION OF that
proclaim alton:
The Constitutional Governor OF the
Department OF California addresses to
Its inhabitants the following procIama-
tion
The national honor being gravely
wounded and compromised in the high
est degree at the present time, | have
the glory OF raising my voice to you in
The tirm persuasion tnat you are Mexi-
cans; that there burns in your veins the
blood OF those venerable martyrs OF the
country, and that you will not fail tc
shed is in deienss OF her liberty and IN
dependence. A. this moment vour De-
psrtment Governor has received the un-
fortunate news, officially communicated
by the political authorities OF Monterey,
and dated ionr days ago. that gang OF
North Ame cll advsntu e's, with the
blackebt trsaeon that the spirit OF evil
could invent, have invaded the town uf
Sonoma. raising their flag and carving
off as prisoners four NJ sx can ctzsns.
Yes, fellow ctizens; aud who Of you
On hearing OF such fatal pertdy will not
quit the domestic hearth and hv. gun liz
hand r. the field OF honor to ave-.-e the
coui try's honor? Will you be in snsi-
Al -.