The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-10-17
An Excerpt From Father
CreSpi's Story of Discovery

AS has been said, Father Juan Crespi
was with Portola on this expedition.
Three days before the commander wrote
his report TO the viceroy, Crespi ad-
dressed one TO his superior in Mexico,
Fray Juan Andres. This letter, much
fuller OF interest than that of Portola
has never been made public. An ex-
cerpt, giving his version of the discov-
cry of San Francisco bay, is printed be-
low:
Hail Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
My Reverend Father Guardian Fray
Juan Andres.
My always very much Venerated
Father Guardian; i write to inform
Your Paternity that, having set out
with the Reverend Father Fray Fran-
cisco Gomez, through disposition of
the Reverend Father President, TO ac-
company the land expedition In search
of the Port of Monte Rey, whittier we
started on the 14th of July of the year
just passed of 90, we always kept close
TO the beach. In the month of our de-
Darture we entered the first Pueblo of
the Canal IOf Santa Barbara. We con-
uuued thus until we reached the Sierra
of Santa Lucia, which, being very rocky
up TO the Sea, did not afford us a pass
age, and il was necessary to cross it
after having completed a few leagues
journey through 1T.
a
very large cove (Encenada), whose Iafi-
tude we observed to be 80 degrees and
% minutes. And from where we had
camped we had I'm sight a Long Point
of Pines which extended far out into
the Sea, and we did not doubt that il
was the one which the Histories place
at the Port of Monte Rey, since from
the said Sierra of Santa Lucia to the
Point of Pines Ii IL the distance in
leagues which the histories give. They
went to explore il with all care. all he
UeviDg and being very well satisfied
that there must be the port of Monte
Rcy. But ~ a matter of fact, we were
all very much deceived, for we found
no signs OF such Port of Monte Rey
In view OF this, the Senior Command
ant of the Expedition, Don Gaspar de
Portola, as "A result of council which
he held with the rest of the officers.
decided that we should go forward until
we should lind said Port. We pursued
our Way, and on the vigil of ali Saint.
we arrived at a very large and note
worthy (famOso) Port, which has in its
mouth six or seven long FaraIIones
that extend for league. There are
three barrancas In the Port, and in ono
of them an estuary, while In sight there
is very long point of land which ex
tends out into the sea and forms what
resembles an island, although IL is Jn
fact terra hrma.
All these Marks are given for thi.
Port of san Francisco. eEpecfuIIv NV
Cabrera bueno, who specifies every
thing Just as 1 have stated. In view
OF what we saw had not the least
doubt that this place was the Port os
San Francisco. 1 took the North I.tt
tude of point about three Iearnes
farther on, and it turned out TO, he
81 degrees and 40 minutes-eIeyen min
utes less than 3S degrees.
Notwithstanding all this, the Senior
COmmandant ordered that it xhouId he
explored and passage beyond IL made
They explored seven days. and I'm that
time the explorers, who went in light
mHrching order, were not able to go
around the whole estuary, which enter.
at least ten leagues into the land. and
which might be called n great arm NJ
the Sea. IL is wholly surrounded NV
very high Sierras md amounts to "a
lake protected on all sides. At its
narrowest part this estuary must he
three leagues wide and IL has I'm n
three islands. From the point where
fits latitude was observed we went for
ward for three days march, during
which covered about leagues
stopping i'm plain Leagues in extent
which borders this Port and estuary.
and is covered with Robes and some
EnEinos. We pitched camp on the bank
of n good Arroyo of Water which runs
through this plain, about a league from
the estuary and about four or five be-
fore reaching the head of the estuary.
In this place we remained four DAYS.
which were the last ones in which they
went out TO explore.
This Port of San Francisco. accord