The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

Charles Byrnes, one of the few surviving
members OF that famous party that landed
from the United States vessels and by
raising the stars and stripes over the little
adobe Custom-house of Monterey secured
this glorious State to the American Ma
ton, is resident of San Francisco, having
made his home here for number of years
past.
Though more than seventy summers
have whitened his hair, Byrnes does not
appear to be over 55 or 60, and his step
and heart are still light and his memory
OF the events of those stirring days re-
markable. He was a sailmaker aboard
the frigate Savannah, the flagship of the
American squadron, and, being a man of
intelligence and considerable education,
saw and remembered much that would
have escaped the ordinary sailor. His
narrative of the stirring events that pre-
ceded and followed the raising of the flag
is remarkable from the fact that many of
the incidents he relates with the minute
ness OF detail that is proof of their authen-
ITCHY have never been given to the world,
and are now published for the frt time.
Though many years have passed since
Byrnes followed his vocation as a sail
maker afloat he has lost none of his sea-
fariDg instincts. and every day of the year,
rain or shine, sees him on the water front
in stores where sea-captains buy their
supplies, or in other places where mari
ners eongregate. Having pension from
the United States Government for his
services during the Mexican war and
some means OF his own Byrnes is a man of
leisure and spends the larger portion of
his time discussing matters nautical with
few friends among the veterans of the
sea, 1t was while in reminiscent mood a
few days ago that he told OF the raising of
the flag and of the narrow margin by
which the United States feet prevented
the English from taking possession.
1--WE had merry chase with the English
feet all the way from Callao," he said, land
while they never came within hailing dis.
tance OF us we had hardly completed the
work of raising the flag and taking pos
session before they hove in sight off the
harbor coming under full sail, but the day
after the fair.
1--WE learned afterward that they were
from two to three days behind US at each
OF their stopping places, San Bias,
Mazatlan, etc., only remaining long
enough in each harbor to gain what infor-
nation they could of our movements. 1t
transpired afterward that Admiral Sey-
mour, the English commander, had orders
to seize the territory to be held until certain
large sums owing England by Mexico were
paid. The American fleet consisted of the
Savannah ana Congress. two as fine frig-
ates as ever spread a sail, and the sloops
Levant and Cyone.
Commodore Sloat was in command,
with Commodore Stockton next in rank.
The Savannah had hardly dropped her
anchor in the blue waters OF Monterey
Bay on July 2, 1916. when boat from
shore brought the information that wal
had been declared. The declaration was
read on the frigate's deck. after the crew
had been mustered, and then the landina
party was told off to go ashore. Five DAYS
later this party took formal possession by
raising Old Glory.
remember as plainly as though it was
yesterday the line of smart boats pulling
Ior the shore in man-of-war style-single
nle. Once ashore, the party was met by
the aicalde, who was an American named
Ihomas o. Lark;n. He had come out to
80 sAo cCCOIQ Audlc VI u WQalGr,
put the captain died and Larkin married
ms widow and settled ashore. Without
loss OF time the party, of which l was q
member, marched to the Gus TOM house,
ana one OF our quartermasters, named Gil.
iesple, raised the flag.
"A couple of days later the English fleet
move IN sight. The stars and stripes were
PLAINLY visible from the harbor, and
Admlral Seymour must have seen the f1ag
long before he came to place where be
could anchor.
The officers of the American vessels
were watching the English closely, and
rather expecting mischief, SO that they
were not greatly surprised when the Col
iingwood, Admiral Seymour's flagship,
nauled IN between the Savannah and Con.
gress, they being about three hundred wards
apart. The Collingwood was one of those
immense 74-gun line-of.battIe shins that