Los Angeles herald., 1905-06-11
AMID THE HISTORIC
RUINS OF OLD SAN JUAN
What the Knights of Columbus Perhaps Never
Knew Concerning the PICTURESQUE Mission
of CapisfranO and It's EnvironS
Written for The Herald by COL Joseph D. Lynch
of CapiSfranO and IFS EnYIrOnS

after a runaway team like a flash Of
lightning, always capturing the mad
dened animals and rescuing owners
and bystanders from imminent peril.
Not only were the horsemen Of
Southern California marvels of skill,
but the horses themselves were often
of uncommon merit. Much has been
written as to the greatly abused bron-
co, but his depreciators have often
done this in ignorance both of his
merits and of his pedigree. 1t should
be borne in mind that that the de-
spised bronco Is of genuine Barb stock,
introduced into the country originally
by the Spanlards, and that he still re-
talns the speed and endurance that
have made his breed famous through
out the world. As to his endurance,
stories are told that seem incredible.
When a deputy sheriff, Alfredo Ca
rillo started out on his favorite bronco
at sunrise one morning to deliver sum-
nonses. He returned at sundown, af-
ter having ridden 125 miles, as was
proved by the Endorsement on his pa
pers. Alfredo at that time weighed
225 pounds. He assured me that when
he turned the animal out In the corral
he kicked up his heels as If he had
only returned from an every day trip.
California Horsemanship
In the interest of encouraging the old
famous standard of horsemanship Of
Southern California, which had de-
lghtful If not even useful accompa-
ton. Thirty years ago, when Senator
John P. Jones had completed the San
ia Monica branch Of his projected Los
Angeles & independence railway, the
energetic Col. Joseph U. Crawford,
the superintendent of that road, hit
upon the idea of holding tournaments
on Sundays at the beach. The plan
took amazingly and the people crowded
down to see those contests by the tens
oe thousands. A list was erected in
front of the hotel, and all of the young
fellows proud of, their horses and
hcrsemanship eagerly competed, lance
in hand, for the championship The
railway thus made plenty of money,
and local chivalry was encouraged.
An incident which at one time
shocked the whole of California was
connected with a gentleman who was
we'll and Ifavorably known hereabouts.
and who was one of the most skillful
knights at these tournaments. He
was a young Virginian named Reed,
and was a conductor on the Southern
Pacific railway when the frightful dis
aster at the Tehachapi happened in
which Mrs. John G. Downey and many
others were burned alive-the most
horrible accident which ever hap
pened on that road. Although few
who knew Reed believed him to
have had anything to do do with
the wreck, it finished his career with
the Southern Pacific and he drifted
away from Los Angeles, and has hied
himself no one knows whittier.
While in this reminiscent mood I am
led to think what remarkable changes
have taken place in Los Angeles and
Southern California during the past
thirty years, and particularly in the
native Californian portion of the popu-
lation. Now Of that element there are
few whose names are potent to con-
jure with Thirty years ago it was
vastly different. There were Pho Pico
and his brother, Gen. Andres Pico, to
begin with. There surely never was
a greater contrast between two broth
ers. The latter was a courtly and
knightly gentleman, who had borne
himself bravely in the war with Mex
leo, yielding up his sword only in the
last recourse. His death was due to
the progressive spirit of the new Los
Angeles. When they were digging the
Main street sewer they neglected to
light it perfectly, and one night Gen.