The herald., 1897-06-20
Phone r1ain 54l

jury on patient Mother Earth, and in
creasing the size of the hole, they had
their labor for their pains. They are
now planning to explore other parts of
the old pile. The few others who knew
of the goings-on, came and looked fix
edly and interestedly at the black aper-
ture, went away, but soon returned and
gazed some more, with a cheerful
inane stare into the black vacancy yawp-
ing before them, as IL expecting it to
take tongue and speak it's secret.
A somewhat interesting history clings
to the decrepit ruin. Built when Los
Angeles was village its walls often
contained the aristocracy of the little
Spanish town, for q white face was
rarity. Only few venturesome spirits
had at that time penetrated to this dis
tant corner of the earth. 1t stood on the
apex of an unbroken sweep of ground
whose virgin green eloped gently to the
Los Angeles river.
At its very door passed the road to the
Mission San Gabriel then the only road
going east. 1t was ueed by Indians and
priests and those who had business from
the mission to the village. also by the
soldier mail-carriers attached to the mis-
sions. and later by the first mail stage
from the east by way of the southern
route
The land on which it stands Is part of
an immense tract that was ceded by the
Spanish government in the beginning
of this century to Rafael Gallardo. He
disposed of the property between San
Gabriel Mission road and the river by
verbal agreement. On this ground was
located Bors' mill, which was replaced
by distillery and later by winery.
Old Senor Jose Gallardo died, leaving
everything to his daughter, who married
Senor Garlic. About this time family
by the name of Valencia arrived. They
were friends Of the Gallardos and were
given by verbal deed the tract of lanG
that this historic adobe now rests upon
The Gallardos retained the tract south
of that, which Is now the south side of
Macy street. Here Senior Garlic erected
an adobe edifice for his family This
structure, though old, Is in excellent
condition, and etill inhabited by the old
gentleman.
The adobe that is the object Of gold
hunting attention was long known as
the De Sanchez mansion. 1t was erected
ny JOSc DueIdi, WHO dlSO llVeQ III IL,
marrying into the Valencia family, who
disposed of it to De Sanchez.
After various transfers it finally was
purchased by Leonard ]. Rose, and he III
turn decided it to Charles Stern of the
Stern winery
The Chinaman who Is at present in
charge of the adobe is an unusually
bright and pleasant Celestial He is
filled with comic disgust by the, to him,
foolish efforts of the treasure-seeking
Mexican. you sabe," he said, "he heap
damn fool. He go to bessie, tell bessie,
he sabe. he want room puttie potato,
bessie sabe, man gettie key; he come
here, he look see; he gettie shovel, he
look see more, ugh! Heap damn fool;
he look see here, he go dig, dig heap lot
dig hole. no sabe, he heap damn fool.
look see. big hole, he go way. takee
key, no come back. Other man come
look see hole. heap damn fool heap lot
come, all look see hole, all heap damn
fool ugh! no sabe!."
An old hermit is installed in the other
end Of the building. Here he lives in
contentment with his old dog Coming
to this country in the 30's, he has seen
much of its progress. Avery interesting
old man, when his chilly reserve Is
broken through. Having been IN many