The San Francisco call., 1896-07-05

and sorrows, their feasts and their lam
ines. Herds of deer sped through the
tangled wilderness. Great bears crept
down from their mountain lairs and
feasted on the leviathans OF the deep
which were occasionally cast up by the
waves. The waters ebbed and flowed
under the moon and only the light canoe
glided across them.
In June, 1879 Captain Drake went sail
ing by in his tempest-tossed ship, the
Golden Hind, searching for new lands and
new treasures for good Queen Bess, but
he totally overlooked our bay.
In the fall OF 1903 another explorer, one
Sebastian Viscaino, was fitted out by the
Viceroy of Mexico. He had three ships,
with 200 men and three Carmelite friars
on board. One of these friars, Antonio de
rAscension, was faithful chronicler and
map-maker. The Viceroy, like his prede-
cessors, wished 10 gain fresh subjects for
Spain, fresh converts for the church, good
harbors for the Spanish galleons on their
way to and from the Indies, and last but
not least the much-sough Straits of
Anian were still to be found. Viscaino
sailed in the wake of poor Cabrillo, but
must needs change the names which he
had given to places. On the 14th of De-
cember they found and named beautiful
Carmel Bay, and on the 18th Viscaino's
feet rounded Point Pinos and dropped
anchor in the pine-fringed bay, which he
named Monterey in honor of the Viscount
de Monterey, Viceroy of Mexico. On the
next day the church tent, which was
always carried by these early missionaries,
was pitched under grand old oak at the
entrance of a ravine where were springs of
fresh water. The place Is we'll known
still, though the old oak perished long ago.
1t must forever be the California Plymouth
Rock.
Viscaino's little company were in sore
distress. Sixteen of the men had died on
the voyage and all the crews were suffer-
ing from scurYy. 1t was decided to send
back one of the ships with the sick men,
twenty-five of whom died before reaching
Acapulco. Five days later Viscaino with
the remaining ships proceeded on their
northern trip, but they stayed long
enough in Monterey Bay to note with en-
thusiasm its fine qualities as a harbor,
while an expedition on shore revealed to
them its fertile soil, abundant game, plen-
tiful wood and water and beautiful
scenery. Padre L L'Ascension was the first
appreciative chronicler of Monterey Bay
and to him Spain was also indebted for the
first map of the coast approaching accur-
acy. Viscaino sailed north amid great
hardships for many leagues and then re-
turned to Mexico. He carried personally
to Spain the story of his wonderful
voyage.
And now another long period of solitude
befelI our bay. Spain had many wars and
imbroglios always on hand and the first
enthusiasm for exploration had abated.
A hundred and sixty years went
by. Bears still held our mountain
passes and sea lions ruled the bay
and made havoc with smaller fry in
quite human fashion. Some aged Indian
might remember tale his grandfather
had told him of a visit from white sons of
the gods who came in winged ships and
having performed strange ceremonies
sailed away into the sunset, but doubtless
the new generation listened with in
credulity.
During this whole period the lower PEN
insula had been the scene of one heroic
effort after another made by Jesuit mis-
sionaries from Mexico to colonize the land
and christianize the natives. 1t is q re-
cord of sublime faith and heroism almost
unparalleled in history. These soldiers of
the cross gloried in tribulation and re-
joiced in martyrdom.
In Spain, however, the Jesuits had COM
bined political intriguing with religious
zeal, and King Carlos banished the order
from his kingdom. This edict included
Mexico, and the Jesuit missions in
Lower California were turned over to
the Franciscan monks, who had a
large college at San Fernando, Mex
leo, with Padre Junipero Sierra as presi-
dent. In 1853 King Carlos, who naturally
feared that England or Russia might for
get his prior claims on the whole western
coast of America, sent orders to the Mexi-
can Vicerov to again take possession of
the ola ports of San Diego and Monterey
and renew efforts for colonization. The
matter was put in the hands of Jose de
Galvez, trusted servant of the King. He
was a man of energy and ability and ad-
dressed himself to his task. He took
counsel with Father Sierra, who was as
eager as himself for the undertaking, and
together they organized large expedi-