The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-16
SALT LAkER GETS
OLD PAINTING
John Mcguire Discovers VaIua-
BILE Picture in Dining Room
of Nevada Hotel.
TR0USSETT'S "FIRST MASS"
PRESENTS TREASURE TO JOHN
A. MURRAY OF MONTEREY.

John Mcguire, the veteran actor Of
salt Lake. secured famous painting
III Golconda recently. Mr.. Mcguire is
now I'm the Sagebrush state securing
uaIa Tor series OF reminiscent stories
on Nevada for The Herald He dropped
INTO hotel at Golconda recently, and
IN glancingr over the pictures hanging
OH the drawing room walls noticed a
large picture representing a mass being
celebrated under a large tree Mr. Ma
guire learned that the painting was
Iroussetts 1.-THE First Mass" showing
a celebration of this service being con-
Quoted by the historical Catholic ex-
piorer, Father Junipero, after landing
on the shores Of California. Louis Du-
tertre. proprietor of the Golconda hotel.
was offered a handsome price for this
picture. and the painting became the
property of Mr.. Mcguire. who shipped
~ with others to John A. Murray, a
Montana millionaire. Mr.. Murray re-
sides at Monterey, Cal, and has taken
a great interest I'm all that pertains TO
the works of Father Junipero and the
early padres. Mr.. McGuire's descrip-
tion of the painting follows:
Securely packed in a case measuring
nearly eight feet long and six feet high,
Trousett's painting, The Landing of Ju-
nlpero Sierra and the celebration of
The First Mass under the live oak
tree at Monterey, arrived here by ex-
press from Golconda for me yesterday.
Depicts Early Scene.
The canvas is nearly seven feet wide
by five and a half feet high, and IS
mounted in heavy walnut frame. The
subject is the celebration of the first
mass on the spot ever since marked by
cross under the branches Of the live
Dak, where a temporary altar was erect
ed for the ceremony. over the altar
and secured by common ship rope fast
enings to the branches of the tree is a
canopy Of ships canvas. In the center
OF the altor is the well known crucifx
now in the Mission church at Monte
rey, and which Father Junipero always
held in his hand when preaching to the
Indians.
ION a stout arm of the tree are sus-
pended two of the mission bells. The
picture is taken at the Supremacy i'm
pressive moment during the elevation
of the chalice. which is uplifted by
Father JuniperO, while the little congre-
cation are on their knees bowling in
alteration Of the holy sacrifice. The
father is being assisted in the celebra-
ton by the two padres who arrived
with him on that memorable Sd of June,
177O.
Indian Boy Serves Mass.
There are more than sixty figures
In the picture. Facing the altar. but at
a respectable distance. are three rows
Of Spanish soldiers i'm their leather
jackets and military accoutrements:
Immediately backing them i'm their
picturesque garb are the sailors of the
frigate which is seen at anchor close
TO the shore. While at either side Of
the altar are the superior officers, mill
tary and naval. of the expedition.
"A central figure is the Indian boy
mentioned by Father Junipero in his
diary. who is serving mass. while on
one side is a group of converted In
dams who accompanied the expedition
On the opposite are some Monterey In
dams curiously peering between the
rocks at the strange ceremony.
There is a magnificent view of that
portion of Monterey harbor sweeping
around the old townsite and the hazy
brown view of the further shore"