The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-10-17

1t was an imposing structure. gray
walled. with a roof OF red tiles and
with guns bristling from the embra-
sures. and the Spaniards were very
proud of it. Yet in spite OF his for
midable appearance San Joaquin was
a harmless saint, for his cannon were
of small caliber. hardly capable OF
sending a ball clear across the entrance
to the port and they were badly served
by the little garrisons of q corporal and
six artillerymen. who half the time
lacked sufficient powder even to fire
a salute. 1t was no doubt partly for
this reason that gun practice was sell
dom INDUCED in; the guns were never
attended TO, and soon from the ravages
of time and weather their carriages
fell to pieces and the cannon them
selves became caked and honeycombed,
with rust and decay.
Although the fort probably fulfilled
its purpose of striking terror to the
hearts of the simple minded Indians,
it was rather regarded as a joke by
the vessels of different nationalities
which at various times came into the
bay When the explorer KotZebue en-
tered the harbor in the Russian man
of-war Rurick. he reported that as
they approached the fortress of San
Joaquin they seemed to be causing a
good deal of alarm there. They saw
from a distance the little figures OF
the Spanish soldiers on foot and on
horseback hurrying to and fro and
loading the cannon, and when they
drew near a large speaking trumpet
was thrust out of one of the en-
brasures, and a Stentorian voice asked
them to what nation they belonged. AS
the Russians could easily see that a
few well directed shots from the guns
of their vessel would tumble the fort
1-l7 u n
not show as much fright at these war
like demonstrations as the Spaniards
probably expected. At the Preside
their greeting was somewhat different,
for there the visitors were cordially
received by the commandant, and en-
tertained with Spanish hospitality. 1t
may be of interest to mention in pass
ing, that one of the naturalists &C
companying Kotzebue on this expedi-
ton was Doctor Eschscholtz, in whose
honor the golden poppy of California
was named.
other foreign vessels entering the
harbor reported similar receptions. and
also notified their governments that
in case of war or an attempted in
vasion there was little to be feared
from the warlike San Joaquin at the
Golden gate.
The Spanish soldiers of the Preside
at this time were for the most part,
companies of cavalry in leather armor.
This armor consisted of long buck
skin coat, impervious to arrows, COM
ing down almost to the feet, a helmet
with two visors covering the head,
and leathern buckler on the left
arm which served to ward off arrows
or lances in hand to hand fighting. The
horses were also covered with an ar
NOR of leather, the whole equipment
being intended as a protection in en-
counters with Indians, rather than in
the remote possibility of war with any
civilized nation. These Spanish SOL
diers with their long leather cloaks
and their leather covered horses must
have presented a singular appearance,
riding about the grounds of the Pre-
sidio, and If their ghosts were ever
permitted to revisit and become visible
in their old haunts they would present
a curious contrast to the trim, blue
uniformed boys of Uncle Sam who are
their military successors at the post
Constant patching was necessary to
keep the structure at Fort Point from
falling altogether into ruin; for years
the report was sent In regularly that
San Joaquin was in need OF repairs,
and finally, in 1916, the Spanish gov
srament decided that the best and