The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-10

has disappeared and there is not tree on
the place, but the storms of a century have
passed over the mission walls and have
left them intact, though uncertain in
places.
The mission prospered and when at its
height, in 1920, there were between 1000
ana 5000 Indians working and worshiping
at San Miguel. The wall that once in
closed the court where the Indians dwelt
Is now IN ruins The married Indians
lived In little raDcheIias outside the mis-
sion walls. but these smaller buildings
long ago suceumbed in the unequal contest.
The Church of st. Michael stands in the
upper Salinas Valley, between the Santa
Lucia and the Mount Diablo ranges, noar
the boundary line between San Luis
Obispo and Monterey counties. 1t is six
miles from FL PasO de Robes. The Salinas
River flows about half mile from the
mission in winter. In summer it exists
only in the Imagination. The Salinas fur
nished the water for mixing the adobe and
for iTTigstion. Ii was not suitable for
drinking purposes, and the neophytes
built an adobe reservoir from the spring of
Santa Ysahel. This ditch was twelve
miles in length, and has long been broken
and impaired. Some clsterDs still remain
intact, and the mission records tell that 1t
consumed twenty years in the building.
Three thousand Indians labOTed as
builders
Ii was to protect the converts from the
unchriStianiZed Indian that the mission
walls we're built so high and strong. To
provide against water famine a tunnel
was dug almost through to the Salinas
River, so that it could be opened liz few
hours. Stores of wheat and corn were
kept n this tunnel and the mouth was
carefully hidden. The secret of its loca-
ton was known only TO a few trusted H.
dams and some of the padres. Five years
ago an Indian died at the Mission. he
nri nj
neOphytes. He was one of the few that
knew the secret OF the opening of the tun-
mel.
When the seculariZati0n of the missions
took place there were many vessels of
solid gold and silver and many Spanish
archives at San Miguel. The mission was
too far from the ocean to escape by water
and the padres fled inland, leaving behind
the cumbrous vessels and the dusty parch-
ment rolls. 1t Is known that nothing of
value was found at San Miguel, and there
is reason to suppose that these valuables
were snugly tucked away in this tunnel,
which existed at no other mission. No
doubt the padres counted on returning
some day and resculng them. but they
never did. The valuables are still hidden.
For many years the Mission remained
unoccupied and deserted. save for very
few Indians, who fingered about the place
of their baptism. There were 10 services
in the church and the altar was strangely
deserted and silent. Saint Michael must
have forgotten to watch over this print
tive little church of his, being occupied
with statelier chapels elsewhere. For
more than twenty years the mission was
as silent as the mountains. Soledad, with
its lonely name, was more melancholy
than this deserted sanctuary. sixty miles
to the south. During this time the history
of San Miguel is blank. No one knows
| what happened there. The rain came
cd in
pools on the stone pavement The vine
yards went to ruin and the industry of
| years was lost.
But the mission property still belonged
| to the church, and the church always re-
| deems her own. There is a small Catholic
| population at the town of San Miguel, a
mile north of the mission. a few years
| ago the Rev. Charles Franchi was sent cut
| TO minister TO the spiritual needs of the
people and the temporal wants of the
| church. When Father Franchi is not min
istering TO his flock he takes care of his
| interesting old church. He is a good car
penter, and also mason, and he has re-
| stored the church, not rebuilt it. He has
retiled the roof and the corridor, repaired
arches and throughout has kept the har-
mony of the structure.
1t is this energetic and faithful priest
| who Is determined to unearth the mystery
| of the l0ng-lost treasure and even more
precious documents. The fathers were
rich. but they escaped with only their
simple garb. and Father Franch is deter
mined to explore the long-lost corridor.
| Certainly 1t would be worth finding, even
il there is nothing of value in il. 10 itself
il would be curious and wonderful place
to visit. 1t is believed that the dying
Indian communicated to Father Franchi
the secret of the tunnel. II is known that
the father spends much time in the court,
with heavy iron bar and divining-rod'
He pounds the ground and listens intently.