Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-19
SAVED 5000 SOULS
Work of Father Sierra in Early
Days of California.
STARTED MANY MISSIONS
Moved Up and Down the Coast for
Fifteen Years.
BUILDINGS STILL STANDING
San Diego First Seen by Friar
Marcos, Who Went Across
Desert in 1889.
BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald

BY WILLIAM r. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
SAN DIEGO. MAY IL, 1911
The first white man who ever saw this
place was Friar Marcos a Franciscan
monk. who. with few compa Mons found
his way across the desert in 1889. and
returned to the City OF Mexico fun OF
enthusiasm and faith. In 1912 a Portu-
guese adventurer named Cabrillo. in the
employ of the Spanish government,
cruised along this coast with two small
caravals and spent six days in the beau
tiful harbor which he christened in hon
or of St. Michael. the archangel. on
whose anniversary he arrived. In 1902
another Portuguese named Viscaino. a
servant of Phillip III, King of Spain.
made a survey of this coast and gave
the name you now see on the maps to
harbors, capes and other landmarks.
He spent some time in san Diego bay.
repairing his ships and obtaining supplies
of food from the Indians. But the Span
iards never actually took possession of
the country until July 1s. 1859, when
Jose de >GalveZ, a soldier of ability and
conscience. landed near the site OF the
present city and founded what is now
called the Old Town. His orders were to
occupy and fortify San Diego and Mont
Grey for God and the King of Spain.
Galvez was accompanied by Padre Juni-
pero Sierra. Francis an monk. and fif-
teen other members of that order, under
instructions to civilize and Christia niZe
the natives. Thirty or forty families of
colonists came with horses. cattle. sheep.
seed and agricultural implements, and
twenty-five soldiers under command of
Lieut. FACES to build and occupy mill
tary posts. Thus California was settled.
Monterey Is Founded.
After locating camp. which is now
known as Old San Diego Gov. Portola.
accompanied by Padre Sierra, proceeded
northward, and. June 3, ITO. founded
Monterey, where they erected a cross
under an old oak tree upon the beach and
took possession of the country in the
name of God and the King Of Spain.
Calling the natives around him Padre
Sierra preached with great fervor ey-
horted them to profess Christ and be
saved, and sprinkled them with holy
water in order to protect them from the
wiles of the evil one.
Junipero Miguel Jose Sierra very
remarkable man. He was born on the
Island of Majorca. in the Mediterranean.
in i713. His parents were of the middle
class with considerable means and of
good position. The boy was educated
for a priest at the Cathedral of Palma,
capital of the island. and in lf29. when he
was only seventeen years old, became
Franciscan. He took the name of Juni-
pero out of love for the jovial and pure
hearted companion of st Francis. OF
whom that saint once said: 20. that
had a forest of such jumpers.
After taking his final vows, lie was sent
to another college to study philosophy and
theology. where the degree Of doctor of
divinity was bestowed upon him, and he
Joined a band of missionaries for Mexico.
sailing from Cadiz in lI49. They had
terrible voyage of ninety-nine days. in
which they were reduced to great
straits for want of water, but landed at
Vera cruz on the last day of the year
174a. and reached the City of Mexico
few days later.
Landed in 1859.
After remaining in the college of San
Fernando for several years Sierra was
selected to take charge of missionary
party for work in Alta, Cal, and, as
I have already told you, landed on this
beautiful shore July 16. 1863. A tenn
porary altar was erected in the shade of
tree, where Father Sierra celebrated
high mass blessed the waters of the bay
and christened it in honor of st. James of
AlcaIa. The old bell he brought with
him, which has ever since called the wor-
shippers to the altar, still hangs outside
the walls of the church that was built
under his supervision.
Father Sierra established not less than
fifteen missions. He caused the Indians
of California to be called Mission Indians.
He introduced irrigation and was the
first farmer in California. He brought
full supply of seeds of grains. vegetables,
fruits vines and flowers, with an abun-
dance of tools and implements, and taught
the Indians how to use them. placing
agricultural colonies around every mis-
sion, and planting the fruits and grapes
and grain which have brought so much
wealth to this state. These colonies were
the first civilized settlements in Califor
MIA.
During his fifteen years OF labor on this
coast Father Sierra converted the sayages
to the Christian faith. and made them
peaceful industrious and prosperous peo-
pie. The records of the fifteen missions,
which are all preserved, show that he
verts, not including those that were hap
tized by other priests. The records show
that at the time the missions were
abolished in 1884 by the Mexican re-
public 1858 Indians had embraced Chris
tianity.
Father Sierra died at San Carlos. Mon
terey. August IS. 1854, and was buried in
the mission he loved SO well in the beau
tiful CarmeIo valley. Mrs. Leland Stan
ford eretced monument in his honor at
standing in boat about to land at that
point. and on the pedestal is tablet
with an inscription that recounts his
heroism, devotion and achievements.
Diary Is Preserved.
Father Serra's diary, kept in his own
handwriting, is now in the possession of
Edward f.. Aver of Chicago. l DO not
know of any missionary in any part Of
the earth. Catholic or Protestant. Aho ac-
complished more practical good for his
fellow creatures. was a nobler exam
pie of piety, self sacrifice. heroism and
usefulness.
After establishing the mission at Mont
Grey Father Sierra moved constantly up
and down the coast, founding missions at
convenient points along trail which
commenced in Guatemala and ended at
San Francisco. 1t was called the Canine
Real, which means 1.-The kings high
way" 1t was a natural road and fol-
lowed the easiest grades. Ii was a
crooked road. avoiding obstacles, and
took the short cuts When a tree fell or
heavy rain made the old trail impas-
sable 1t branched off to right or left. but
never departed from its general direction
1t always has connected the missions