The San Francisco call., 1909-03-14

ers reached a pleasant spot on thu
beach OF the San Francisco peninsula.
which is now known as Point San
Pedro. where the hills barred the pas
sage along the shore. BY the soldiers
of the party the promontory was named
Punta de las Almajas. or Mussel point.
Camping at this spot, the entire party
on the next day climbed a nearby hill
and viewed the expanse OF waters be-
tween Point San Pedro and Point
Reyes. To many OF the party 10 was
plain that this was the port OF San
Francisco, as described by Cabrera
Buena, the navigator, whose book was
carried by the expedition, but there
was doubt in the minds Of some, and
II was decided to camp again and IN
vestigate. The doubters refused 10
believe that they had passed the port
OF Monterey and failed to recognize 1t.
The new camp was located IN the tiny
vale just north of Point San Pedro.
where two small streams united and
flowed into the ocean.
Sergeant Ortega and a company OF
soldiers were ordered to proceed north
ward and explore the region.
On Thursday, November 2, the date
OF the actual discovery of the bay. some
of the soldiers remaining in camp saw
a number Of deer and secured permis-
sion to hunt them They spent the en-
tire day hunting In the hills TO the
eastward Upon their return in the
evening they reported that they had
seen an immense arm Of the sea run
ming inland in a southeasterly direc-
tion as far as they could see. They
also said they had seen beautiful plains
well covered with groves, and that
numerous columns Of smoke indicated
that the country was thickly populated
with Indians. The account of this deer
Il. = -
Father Crespi, is believed to be the
first story Of the finding Of San Fran
cisco bay.
On the night of November 5 Ortega
and his party returned. discharging
their guns as they came. in token OF
startling news. The tidings were that
they had been told by the Indians that
a port and ship were TO be found at a
distance OF two days journey. Believ-
Ing that Monterey bay was indeed not
far distant and that in the port lay
the supply ship, of which they were
in great need. Governor Portola and his
followers mounted the San Bruno hills.
where the entire expedition gazed upon
the great bay, which was named the
Brazo de Mar. Crossing the hills the
party encamped on San Mateo creek.
Four days were spent at Searsville.
while Ortega and a party went in
search Of the reported harbor and ship.
On November 10 they returned with the
discouraging news that they had found
the country sterile and the Indians hos
tile The search for the vessel was
abandoned and the expedition returned
south, stopping for two weeks at their
old camp at the mouth OF the Salinas
river, where they again searched in
vain for Monterey bay. Meeting with
failure. Portola and his men resumed
the march to San Diego, which they
reached January "a. 1770
Portola headed another land expedi-
tion which left San Diego in April OF
that year and succeeded in identifying
the bay OF Monterey, with the aid OF
the ship San Antonio. which had made
the sea trip to that port. The mission
was subsequently established.
In 1772 Junipero Sierra induced Pedro
FACES to head second expedition to
San Francisco. to examine the country
and find a mission site. 1t was still
the belief that the port OF San Fran
cisco lay just south OF Point Reyes, and
that the inland bay seen by the expedi-
tion Of 1859 communicated directly with
IT. The object of the second tour was
to continue the searcn around the east
ern side OF the bay to Point Reyes and
the supposed port. On March "a. 1772.
FACES expedition reached the lower end
OF the bay and camped on a creek
few miles north OF what Is now Mil
pitas. Proceeding along the eastern
shore. the party saw many elk. bear
and deer and were much troubled by
mosquitoes. 1t was their intention to
go around the shore OF San Pablo bay
and reach the mountains seen to the
north OF II. which were believed to
form Point Reyes. They were named
the Mountains OF San Francisco. The
straits OF Carquinez prevented their
further progress. The party turned
eastward to a point on the hills north
OF Mount Diablo, where they secured
a view of the great interior valley
and the two rivers emptying into the
head Of the Suisun bay. The expedi-
tion, seeing the futi1ity OF reaching the
mysterious port without boats. or a
long detour. returned to Monterey.
At the request OF JunIpero. the
viceroy of the Spanish colonies later
sent out a party to establish at San
Francisco the long contemplated mis-
sion of st. Francis. They planted the
first Christian cross on the peninsula, a
modern substitute for which is now to
be seen on Lone mountain This act
led to the later foundation OF Mission
Dolores and the establishment OF q
presidio in San Francisco