The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

fore or since in Monterey. A time of
anarchy set in. Each new Governor sent
from Mexico was more distracted than his
predecessor. The missions fell into ruins;
the neophytes went back into savagery.
But immigrants now came from new
directions; hunters and trappers from the
northwest. Renegade sailors, retired
soldiers and sea captains who had spied
out tie fatness of the land took possession
of ranches to which by hook or by crook
they obtained title, married Spanish or
Indian bellies and became bona-fde settlers.
Some of Monterey's best citizens arrived
in these days of misrule and confusion be-
tween 1920 and 1840 Among these were
David Spence, canny Scotchman; James
Stokes and James Watson, both English
men, as was also w. P. Hartnell.
Thomas Larkin, long and well-known
as United States Consul in Mon
terey, was an energetic Yankee arri-
val of this period. He brought to Cali
fornia the first Yankee wife, and their
home in Monterey was Ia center of culture
and kindness and fine hospitality for
quarter of century.
About 1926 David Douglass, botanist,
agent of the British Geographical Society,
visited Monterey and made careful notes
of Its fora. His name is linked with many
of our plants as their discoverer.
A new native California party grew up
and added to the political complications
which We shall not try to follow. The
Mexican flag always aoated over Monterey,
but sometimes one faction held sway,
sometimes another. The ordinary citizen
when he took his daily siesta could never
have been much surprised to find new
Governor in power when he awoke, and
new and more grandicose pronunciamento
plastered on the adobe walls of the pueblo.
In 1910 a certain Governor Alvarado
thought he discovered deep plot for in
surrection among the foreign residents,
and so had them all put in irons and
shipped to San Bias. Perhaps he thought
seasickness an antidote for treasonl The
Mexican Government, however, had no
desire to fight England, France and
America all at once, and sent them
promptly home. During this twenty-five
years OF Mexican and native Californian
rule this bay must have heard much
strong language, but it is pleasant to re-
cord there was no bloooshed.
In 1912 there we're Is, 900 people in Cali
fornia, 1000 OF whom were Americans and
saw that some day the United States would
claim California, but there were many
English and Scotch settlers. who hoped to
see the British flag overhead. Meanwhile
all bided their time and joined more or
less heartily in the gay life OF the country.
Everywhere there was plenty. Fleet
horses and tat cattle roamed the hills, and
though ranchers claimed and branded
their own the horsethief felt that
his rights were as strong as
any mans, especially if he were
on the horse. The cowboy reigned
supreme. Ranches extended illim-
itably. The owner, Don this or Senior
that, lived IN long, adobe house and was
a native prince. He ate beef, tortillas,
tomales and beans, made savory with
peppers and garlic and olive oil. He gall
loped all day on his feet bronco and
danced all night in the merry fandango,
while every Sunday and saints day there
was bullfght, or a bear batting, or a
horserace, most delightful to see. 1t was
California's age of romance. The missions
fell into rum, but the priest maintained
gentle sway, married the young folks,
christened the babies, comforted the dying,
buried the dead.
In 1S42 an American warship, the Cyane,
ShAleu IlIO Iuo DdyI COnIndHueu Dy COm-
modore Jones. He knew that the United
States was on the brink of war with Mex
leo and he also knew that an English ship
of war lay at Callao, Peru, and might any
hour approach California to take possess
sion. He thought he could not be too
prompt, so he sent boat ashore demand
ing the surrender of the country to the
United States Government. Alvarado
thought there was no way but to submit,
so up went the stars and stripes, but only
for a few hours. Thomas o. Larkin, the
leading American citizen, acted as media
tor and counseled delay, so Commodore
Jones took down the flag with apologies.
1t would be delightful to tell the story
of that 7th of July, 1896 when Commo-
dore Sloat of the United States frigate Sa-
vannah lying in our bay. at last decided
that the hour had come for taking posses
sion, and once more the starry flag went
up over California; but will it not be told
and retold at the coming celebration of the
fiftieth anniversary of that glorious day3
MARY H. FIELD.