Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-12
GRANDSON OF PATHFINDER
Is HON0RED AT SAT! JUAN
LIEUT.. FREMONT UNFURLS FLAG
OF HEROIC ANCESTOR
San senito County Village Does Honor
to Descendant of Man Who Be-
gan American Occupation
of California

SAN JUAN, March 11.-After sixty
two years, San Juan has again, become
the scene of an historic event, and the
old mission of San Juan Bautista,
around which centers so much of the
romantic in Californias history, has
again reflected the freight from the
plaza faced by the beautiful corridor
which once resounded to the military
tread of the men of two armies
When Gen. John G. Fremont, the
Pathfinder of the early forties of the
last century, defied Mexicos armed
force by raising the United States flag
on the peak of the mountain overlook
ing the little town he began the history
of American occupation, and when his
grandson, Lieut.. John G. Fremont, jr.,
of the United States navy commemo-
rated that occasion by again unfurl-
ing Old Glory to the breeze on the same
spot on the morning of March l of this
year another chapter was added to the
romance.
That the people of San Juan and of
San Benito county are duly apprecia-
tive of the event was evidenced on the
evening of Tuesday, March 8, when the
grandson of the Pathfinder was hon
ored at a banquet and a ball attended
by representative citizens from all
parts of the country. with their ladies.
W. r. Flint, toastmaster. was in a
happy frame of mind, and his intro
ductions were apt and humorous. He
called first upon Lieut.. Fremont to re-
spond to a toast to his grandfather's S
memory. The other toasts were: Our
Navy" responded to by DIR. Stalnaker
of the cruiser West Virginia; Fire
mont, the Botanist," responded to by
Professor w. L. Jepson of the Uni
versity of California; Our State" re-
sponded TO by DR.. Clarence S. Edwords
of the California promotion committees;
San Juan as Fremont Saw It." re-
sponded to by George II. Moore; THE
Ramona Society" responded to by H.
Welch.
To the Ramona society credit is due
for one of the most elegant banquets
ever eiven in San Juan, and all of the
guests spoke in highest praises of the
menu and it's service. The ladies not
only furnished the banquet, bIt served
it. and their dainty dresses, combined
with the floral decorat ton, made a most
effective setting for the scene.
Plaza Hall Decorated
The old Plaza hall, which has
resounded to strains of music for
several general tions, as those who are
now old danced while they were young,
was profusely decorated by the Native
Daughters for the ball which closed
the fOuuu Oh entertainment. ABDUL IVV
couples were present and dancing con-
tinued until after o'clock in the
morning. Supper was served in the old
convent dining room from II to l. and
where once was heard the prisons of
the nuns. jest and laughter and song
made the old adobe walls resound to
more cheerful sounds.
Lieut.. Fremont and other guests were
loud in their praise of the admirable
manner in which the affair was con-
Quoted, and all went away much i'm
pressed not only with the romantic
history of the place, but with the pres
ent beauty and manifest opportunities
and possibilities for development.
With the same determination that
achieved SO much i'm AZ, a large party
! ascended the Gabilan mountains on
March 1 with the purpose of again rails
ing the American flag where 1t first
Saluted the breeze in California, sixty
two years ago. Similarly. as in early
days, the expedition was accompanied
by Fremont This time Lieut. John
Charles Fremont jr U. S. N, a grand
son of the Pathfinder. pulled the cord
which floated the stars and stripes to
the breeze.
Trip Up the Peak
The ride from San Juan Bautista to
| the top of the mountain is fourteen
miles, and half the distance was trav-
eed during IA heavy rainstorm, which
! finally cleared when the party reached
! the peak. The clear weather did not
last, however, and while the party
was still cheering the flag of their
country on the mountain top hail
storm quickly transformed the green
| hills TO fields of white. This storm