The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-17

H.
| his own language: sit was late at night
| when [ reached the flagship. The lights
were out, and the officer of the deck
said it was doubtful whether the CON-
modore would permit himself to be dis
| turbed. But he did so. Coming out of his
room be listened kindly to my arguments.
| and for more than two hours we sat there
discuss the various points Of the ques-
! tiOn l impressed upon him that on his
decision rested the loss or gain of Caifor-
mia to the United States, the policy ana
| purpose of Great Britain being clear, and
the British feet there to enforce it, |
referred to the hostilties ALREADY existing
with Mexico, and that under the cir
cumstances there was only one course for
him to pursue IN order to meet the eXpec-
tations OF his countTymen. Suddenly. and
with much emphasis, pauslng in his walk
up and down the cabin. be turned to me
ard exclaimed: Mr.. Price, it shall be
done. The flag shall be hOisted over
Monterey in the morning. l will at once
prepare the proclamation of occupatiou,
furnish the required supplies to Fremont,
and order the flag to be raised at
San Francisco 1t was o'clock in
the morning before he had the
paper in shape, and when I left
the Savannah and returned TO nv own
ship il was to bear orders to Captain Mer-
vine OF the Cyane to go ashore at daylight
and notify the Mexican authorities that
the commodore would land force at 10
O'Clock that day and take possession of
the country in the name CT the United
States Government. At that hour force
of sailors and marines was landed from
the several ships, and il was my privi-
lege to read the proclamation of oc-
cupaIiOn in Spanish and English before
the assembled citizens of the place from
the porch of the Custom-house. The Eng
lsh admiral arrived few DAYS afterward.
and the first thing he said on meeting Com
dor Loaf
not flying on shore, l should have hoisted
mine there. L was at once appointed
Alcalde of Monterey. and therefore have
the honor to be the first American to exer-
else judicial functions on California soil"
In the course of events that followed,
Captain Price carried verbal dispatches
across the country TO General Scott in the
City of Mexico arranging for a Joint at
tack on Acapulco, but a treaty of peace
having been concluded meanwhile, the
General ordered him to proceed to Wash
lneton and report the condition Of military
and naval affairs to the President
While there, be was requested to pre-
pare formal statement to the Cabinet OF
the character and resources of California.
and the result was that he was at once in
trusted with the organization of a BODY of
agrlcultuTlsts and mechanics who, under
the direction of the Government, were to
begin the work Of developing the country.
Captain Price reached California on his
return IN March. 1919. with forty men, but
owing to the excitement incident to the
discovery of gold. they could not be re-
tanned under contract and speedily dis
persed, some of them snbst quently be-
coming men of large wealth. His own
fortunes. too, were changed. Land in San
Francisco, which he had purchased in 1916
and 1S47 at S15 and $40 a lot, was selling
at $4,000 and $4,000. When he communi-
Gated the news of the discovery TO Senator
nrlV Of . IN
is worthy of historical note. This is nm
fortunate. SIT; truly unfortunate. If the
discovery had been of lead or iron, sir. il
would have been we'll: but gold, sir. gold
Will demoralze the country and ruin the
people. Look at South America. for an
example. All history tells US what will be
the result. It will make our men gam blers
and our women spendtbrifts."
captain Price was elected r mem Der of |
the constitutional convention and made |
chairman of the committee that selected
the present seal of the State. During his
stay in California Captain Price filled
many important offices, municipal and
otherwise, and was engaged in the
construction of schools, hospitals and
charitable institutions and other
enterprises tending to promote the
welfare of the people 1t was an agree
able recollection with him that it was his
money that drove the first Spite that be-
gun the construction Of the first wharf in
San Francisco. where at that time $50 ves-
sells were lying in barbor without the ia
cilities for landing their cargoes.
Returning to the East Mr.. Price was
was elected member of the Thirtv-second
Congress from New Jersey, and during his
term of service vas chosen Governor of the
State. which Office he filed from 1854 to
1857. Since that time he has lived in COM
parative retirement, enjoying ease, the
pleasure of contact with some of the most
distinguished men of the country, whom
he counted among his closest friends, and
dispensing generous hospitality on the
beautiful estate among the Ramapo
hills. He was the companion of
Daniel Webster. Henry Clay lat
whose deathbed he was presenO, Cass.
Breckenridge. Winfield Scott, General
Philip Kearny, George Bancroft, Buchan-
an, Polk. Mason, Sherman, who was his
roommate in the early days of San Fran
cisco; Grant and host of others, and his
anecdoie of personal experiences Concern
ing them would alone fill a volume. He
passed away after a lingering illness, the
result of an incurab BILE stomachc trouble.
and his remains will be deposited in the
family tomb at Mahwah. few miles from
n IN