Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-06-04
OH. JOY!
Rejoice With Them Who Rejoice.

We truly rejoice with the few
faithful Olympians who are about to
realize the long deferred hope of see
ing capitol building rise in splen-
dor on the slightly eminence of Capt.
tol Heights, from which, no more
magnificent outlook can be imagined,
with its evergreen hills rejecting
their ever-present beauty of shadow
in the smooth waters of Olympia
Bay, the panoramic view of the city
and the grand stretch Of water and
mountain scenery. There is but one
Puget Sound, one Olympic Range.
and one Mt Rainier, in this big
country and they help to make the
view from Olympia superb.
The pioneers of San Diego have
been waiting and hoping too. In
1912 the Spanish ships San Salvador
and the Victoria. on their way from
Mexico entered the Silver Gate, lead
ing from the Pacific to our beautiful
natural bay. They dropped anchors
in the smooth waters of San Diego
Bay (St. James, under the shelter of
Point Iona. VIM. f.. Smythc. au-
thor of the History of San Diego,
gives very interesting account Of
the rise and progress of the pioneer
settlement on the Pacific coast. Ca
brillO, a Portuguese navigator, in
the service of Spain, discovered the
bay of San Diego in 1872, and his de
scription of it gives evidence that he
knew good harbOr when he saw it.
1t was not until 1869 that Spain woke
up to the idea of making use of her
possessions, by right of discovery on
the Pacific coast. Smythe says: 1t
is not the name Of king or statesman
which survives in the popular imagi
nation when the early settlement of
San Diego and the coast line which
stretches north of it is recalled, but
| the name of an immortal missionary,
Father Sierra. The royal edict from
Carlos Ill. King of Spain. came for
the occupancy of San Diego and
Monterey ports, by recruits from
Mexico, in 1869. The early part of
this year found plans well developed
for the beginning of the movement
1t was the work of Galvez to get the
ships ready and direct the military
parties who were to 60 by land and
sea, and that of Father Sierra to Sc
lect the priests who were to go, some
by water and some on foot. The
Sword and the Cross hand in hand
the same strenuOsity principle still
in evidence-try to lace the people"
but be ready to Kill them, if neceS-
sity requires May not this princi-
pie, upon which all nations seem to
be governed, be the great obstacle
under the great cog of the great
wheel of true Progress
Sierra made the journey by land.
In personal letter toa friend he
wrote: "The road has been in many
places good, but the greater part
bad. About half way the valleys and
banks of rivulets began to be de
lightful We found vines of a large
size and in some cases quite loaded
with grapes; we also found abund-
ance of roses, which appeared to be
the same as those in Spain. In fine,
it is a good country. We have seer
Indians in immense numbers, and
those along the coast cOntrive tC
make good subsistence, on various
seeds and by fishing. They are very
civil. All the males go naked; the
women were decently covered from
the breasts downward "
July 10, 1869, the dedication of the
first mission on the soil of Californi;
took place. Rude earthwOrks ha(
been thrown up as the nucleus of ;
preside, or tort. Houses little NOR,
than huts were hastily constructed
and the largest one set apart as tn,
mission building. The cross wa:
raised. the Spanish flag thrown t.
the breeze, incense sent up from ;
temporary altar; and from tn
, branches of convenient tree th
mission bell rang out upon the still
ness of the valley called Mis-
sion Valley-a very fertile and pro
ductive portion of San Diego
Smythe says Of the Indians VIII
} swarmed about the new settlemtn
in such numbers as to be a nuisance
They had their homes in rude huts
: went naked, ate rats, grOund-owl
and snakes, and regarded large ia
locust roasted on stick, as a partiC
6 ular delicacy." Humbolt casse
= them with the inhabitants of Va
Dieman's Land. who of all human b,
ings, seemed nearest the brute. \
S one ever called the Indians of Sa
Diego Noble red men.