The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-09-11

with all forts, posts, stations, arms, mu
nitions Of war and public property to the
American forces. Nine days later Admi
raj Seymour, commander of England's Pa.
ciilc fleet, arrived in the port Of Monterey,
and on meeting the Yankee commodore
exclaimed without premeditation, "Sloat, |
II your flag was not flying on shore, !
should hoist mine"
The United States WINS then at war with
Mexico and not in a position to enter
contest with her old enemy for the posses
sion of tract of wilderness. Had Seymour
planted the British stakes first, Califor-
mia treasure might have played different
part in the history of the American CONT
nent. Commodore Sloat had ample war
rant for his bold and timely seizure of the
land of hidden gold beds, but he appears
to have acted only when he was dragged
into it by the deeds of others. Captain
John C. Fremont, at the head of hand
full of explorers, was the pioneer conqueror
of the great Eldorado.
In March, 1916, Fremont obtained from
the Mexican authorities permission to
continue his scientific explorations across
their territory to the Pacific, and while
resting quietly in camp in the Sacrament
to valley to refit his band n staff officer of
the Mexican general rode up and delivered
n peremptory notice to the Americans to
leave the country at once, or force would
be used to help them over the border.
Aside from the hardship involved in
journey to the far settlements Of Oregon
or the east with his exhausted men and
horses, Fremont had other reasons for re-
senting the brutal ultimatum. He was on
government business of a scientific nature
and had been induced to march 30 far
/ anntb l,xst lao EinIIx. nell
| given to his enterprise. He sent word to
the Mexican chief that he considered the
order an insult to the flag he served, NOV
ed his equipage to defensible mountain
| peak, hosted the American flag over n rude
| log fort hastily built and stood at bay. The
! Mexican troopers circled around the little
fortress for three days, but didn't attempt
| to carry out the order of ejectment, and
| Fremont started leisurely for the Oregon
| line, hating at Suffers Fort, which was
on Mexican soil to recruit his animals for
the long Journey ahead. For weeks the
little cavalcade marched through the lands
of the fierce Modocs and Tlamaths, with
whom they had fought on the southwark
trip the year before. One night Fremont
was standing alone by his campfire in the
Oregon mountains, thinking over the dis
appointment of his purposes on account Of
tne MeAlCdH Dosllllty 10 MS capturing tOuT.
Ne had left Washington filled with bes
lief that the government had an eye upon
tho acquisition of California by purchase
or other peaceful means, and his research
es were expected to further that aim. But
it was all over, and his face was set toward
less inviting fields of exploration. Sud
denly the sound of horses hoofs coming
up from the south reached his ear, and
while watching and listening two horse
men rode into the circle of freight. They
were recognized as men from Suffers Fort
and proved TO be the advance couriers of q
United States naval officer, who, with a
slender bodyguard was following that haZ-
ardous trail of COO miles to overtake Ere
mont, with orders from Washington that
would recall him to California. The mes
sengers rode into Fremont's bivouac on
May s, and on the 9th the officers party
was found on Klamath lake surrounded by
hostiles and in danger of their lives. He
was Lieutenant Archibald Gillespie, bearer
of dispatches from Washington to apprise
Fremont of the prospect of war with Mex
leo, to absolve him from his duty as an
explorer and impress him with knowl-
edge of his duty as United States officer
in the event of war. Gillespie had left
Washington in October, 1915, Travelled
through Mexico with his orders and dis
patches committed to memory and after a
tedious and perilous trip turned up as the
hand of fate working to bring California
into the Union. On the same days as the
news Of Gillespie and Gillespie himself
came up with Fremont, the Sth and 9th of