The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

in double ranks, forming two sides
nearly of a hollow square. Facing
the custom house at the north were
a group OF staff officers, among whom was
Rodman M. Price, who had been in
structed to read Commodore Sloat's
proclamation taking possession in behalf
of the United States. 1 stood near the
flagstaff at the north end of the custom
house, and near me was the quarter
master, who fastened the flag to the
haIyards and held himself in readiness to
hoist the colors when the proper time
should arrive.
"You can see from this that if every
thing had gone smoothly l would not
personally have raised the flag, but there
happened to be hitch. I was given the
proper signal or order, forget which, and
at once commanded the quartermaster:
Hoist away!
"The quartermaster pulled on the rope.
but the flag did not go up. The halyards
were stuck some way. 1 looked up to see
what could be the matter, but being near
the flagstaff could not make out what the
trouble was. Some officer shouted:
1.-The halyards are stuck, Toler; I'll go
up and fix it,
This was Midshipman Edward Higgins,
who was young like myself. He ran for
ward, and. throwing off his hat, climbed
the staff, ana in a minute later shouted
hoist away; it, clear now.'
I'm the first instance, after the quarter.
master had failed 1 took hold myself,
being young, impatient and impetuous,
and believing that the quartarmaster was
at fault. l did not let go until 1 had
hoisted the flag and had fastened the hal
lizards to the cleat. The Americans had
now formally taken possession of the land,
and the next to do was to provide for keep
ing a force ashore.
with very little delay the barracks
formerly occupied by the Mexican soldiers
were occupied. The barracks consisted of
a long two-story adobe building, which was
not torn down until few years ago. Here
was posted naval force until the army
officers came and the navy gradually with
drew from shore duty. The breastworks
on the bluff above the custom-house was
found to have three long brass cannons
in it, which the Mexicans had left there.
1t was thought best to build block house,
which was located just above the Mexican
breastwork. This was a naval fort, being
built by the navy. I commanded that fort
for time. until l was succeeded by Mid
shipman Baldwin, since Admiral Baldwin,
who outranked me by seniority. The
block house was known as Fort Mervine.
1t was armed with three 42-pound carron-
AIDES, which are no longer made, but were
in general use then in the navy"
Mr.. Toler explained the coincidence of
his being present at the two American flag
raisings at Monterey. He spoke and wrote
Spanish fuently. When ne was first ap-
pointed midshipman, Commodore Jones,
who knew Mr.. Toler's father well and who
also knew that a Spanish interpreter
would be indispensable to him on the Pa
cific Coast, at once asked the Secretary of
the Navy to assign Midshipman Toler to
his ship, and this request was granted.
AS soon as Mr.. Toler reported for duty he
was made aid to Commodore Jones, and
he was constantly attached TO that officer
in his movements. When the flag was
first raised by order of Commodore Jones
the ceremonies, as they are recalled by
Mr.. Toler, were substantially the same as
those arranged four years later by Com
modore Sloat. In neither instance
did the commodore go ashore. In
the episode of 1912 Captain Armstrong
commanded the landing force. The flag
was raised at the same place in 1s42 and
1846. What happened to Commodore
Jones is a matter of history. He had
acted prematurely and the Government
felt constrained to put him under censure
and to give official disavowal to his work
at Monterey, and he was accordingly re-
tired for four years, which he passed at
his home by the Potomac River.
Midshipman Toler had several odd ex-
periences. Some time after he was re-
lieved of the command of Fort Mervine he
was attached to Captain Mattox of the
marines, on shore duty, largely by reason
of his ability to talk with the Californians.
He lad been promised by Commodore
Stockton, who had succeeded Commodore
Sloat, that he should have shore duty as
long as that officer remained in COM
mand of the squadron. Mr.. Toler enjoyed
shore life and had already made his plans