The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-19
CowED THE BOwERY BOYS.
TEE REGIMENT cor. sTEIEXsox TOOK
AROUND THE HORN.


bat Ms Was Ross and oueued Iseipiert
Mstiay VITA n Master Hs-d--He cswe IN
with the Gsntury snd Diea the Othsr DHy.
ssN FRANcIsco. Fen 18.-There died In this
city few days ago man who played prom
inent part in the Wrestling Of California from
Mexican domination and who was the leader
OF the most picturesque party OF Argonauts
who came around the Horn TO the Golden Gate.
This man was Col Jonathan ID. Stevenson. who
has died In his ninety fourth year Every one
familiar with the early history Of California
knows OF stevenson's regiment, which he re-
cruitcd on the Bowery. in New York and
brought around Cape Horn in three vessels In
order to have tho IN zen ready for the war that
WAS expected over the possession OF California.
That this regiment never had any service more
stirring than guard duty was no fault VI theirs,
for they were young fellows who would have
given n good account OF themselves In any
hostile meeting with the Spanish -Californians.
whom they despised MS Rreasera When they
reached here. however. the Mexican war was
over. aud soon after they took part in the great
gold rush to Suffers mill.
Stevenson was born in New York. on the
first day Of this century. After Polk became
President Stevenson failed. through the en-
nifty Of Robert J. Walker. to get the appoint
ment Of Naval OfIlccr at New York. which the
President had promised him as q return for
his services during the hot campaign.
Tho President offered him foreign consult
alto, but as the air was full OF war talk about
the Canadian boundary Stevenson said that II
n regiment was formed to 20 out to Oregon
he would like to have to have command OF 1t.
Polk promised this, and when the Mexican
war came lie rem m ered his promise. When
the project OF sending a regiment By sea to
California was decided on he gave Stevenson
the command.
Stevenson had been a Colonel OF militia in
New York for twenty-five years. and was noted
as a good disciplinarian. He simply stipu-
lated that he should have two regular army
officers who understood the throwing MP OF
earthworks or any other engineering WORK
that might be required.
In talking OF the organizing OF this regiment
ono day recently Col Stevenson give the fol-
lowing entertaining account OF his plans and
arrangements:
You sec." he said. we knew mighty little
| about California In those days No ono had
| any idea OF the value OF the coast. for even
and VpS Washington until he was told how vital Il
| was to the country to keen these Ierritories
d TeIrtopy Of california was rough and that amy
nfan who went out there should be PREPARED 70
his living and :" be IroanIr.
| men for the colonization Of an unknown land.
Ny rss idea was - Ess y1SoEh lad sorDsd
! a trade. For rouGhing Il wanted boys VIII,
had been brought mn in the city stEee,'' an and
went down into the BoweIy and sEread the r Re,
| mort OF recruits wanted for California Tho
outline same gang that ran with tho volun-
| teer fire companies and were Always ready Tor
a. 'e sea-. but they we're lighters. and lighters
| were what | wanted. So: any who could get
recommendations from their d o .oen Ma tba
full quota Fully $50 were under u years
OF age. aud their chest development and their
| muscle would have done credit TO modern
As I expected and ns many warned me. the
iawIess spirits among the regiment We were
making slow progress down the south Am-ri-
day day from one Of The vessels under charge q
one OF my Lieutenants that u sergeant had
mem nssn , and the latte, e had applaSd"d
Why in - didn't you knock him down
s,%ls i ss him him pEE f he '
well try to knock down an OK
dnd fer sed sWor ,eI wished he hal stared
New York to make afternoon calls en-, on the b H.
ass Thsn to m
@ ss1G - sss ; Oh sSG
| Adventures. SO went over to the ship. calle'!
up tho sergeant, hit him on The , law S Snd
him tod up by the thumbs before his mates
recovered from their surprise Then retired
"""WWssi @ N broke loose. after I left. Word
was sent to my ship, and Lieut. Folsom n,
YOU Know. he said, that there will be 4
tho worst men in the regiment are there and
they viii stop at nothing? .,hor. will h. M
muSs f" to%a him s'i into my 9'sS @ anS
fsys Iss s sa sa% II. sask &
! tho ships powder magazine. and before viii
submit to mn.ing under my r con I1nH ,1 by
rsscals clean out OF the waiorr
Folsom turned Chastly , Gn!s Tor, Tor he knew ,;w
telling the news appeared, and singing out
81 sss %icn anG whipped
him souniy: After that no one ever pssDed
A When the regiment reached California; n! the
conquest was completed. but II DID gnod ser
vice In garrison d iS rs II held ons ana
threatened trouble. The regiment yps mus
out at The close o. The % n5 nost % 1ns
| fact that those who took up land or got hold
o. old Mexican land grams ,hoss sS m SI ho oss,
inseh to rush OH after gold became. rich. while
tho gold hunters though many made fortunes
ff Il was Stevenson's boast that OF all this tough
SSS ever sent to State prison in California
Most Of the men made smirSes ,Snt. To-
they were good mechanics. hhu their 'oOis
| ana were able to GO to work at once.
| Steven son for thirty years has been con,
spicuous figure in San Francisco. lie filled
many pnhlic offices. aud In the intervals q
public service hs carried on large law busi
| nesa He was always thirty.
The old Colonel was n picturesque figure
Tall. thin. with military ereetness Of figure
| and with an eagle like face. that reminded one
| Of WelllnGton's picture. he always seemed e
| he the youngest In spirits OF the crowd 81 hii
| juniors who were babes In swaddling clothes
, | when he was a man in his prime. Every veal
| for more than decade he has given reeep
ton at Pioneer Hall to his friends.