The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-06-03
DRAKE AS A KING
Sir Francis Thought He Was the
Monarch of California.
CROWNED BY THE INDIANS.
me Redskins Had Decorated Him
WIN a War Bonnet of Feathers, but
10 look 1t For the Real Thing In
Crowns and Accepted the Title.

WIN War Bonnet Of Feathers, but
no Took It For the Real Thing In
S'owns and Accepted the Title.
Hidden in the diary Of Francis
Dieocner' sailor parson who acted as
en"piaih Tor the freebooters of Sir
rranels Drake. is the story of the first
noax ever engineered by Californians.
Inc joke was on Sir Francis. Un.
III Ills last day he believed the Indians
OF California had crowned him their
king-king of California. AS matter
OF tact all they did was to give him
feather war bonnet and perform
some native rites before him, hoping
thereby to get their hands In his gift
box again.
1t happened In June. 1859. Drake
was looking for the mythical north.
west passage after successful year
footing and plundering in the Spanish
colonies. His ship. the Golden Hind.
sprang leak. and Drake put into a
little bay. just north OF the present
San Francisco, for repairs.
An Indian padded out to the shin in
a canoe He scattered feathers on the
water and went through lot of pan.
tomime- Drake feared to land until he
round out the intent of the natives
The one Indian went back to shore.
linen. to quote from Chaplain Fletcher:
he shortly came againe the second
time In like manner and so the third
time. when he brought with him, as a
present from the rest. bunch Of feath.
ers. much like the feathers of a blacke
GROVE, very neatly and artihcially
gathered upon string and drawne to-
gether In a round bundle. being verie
cleane and finely cut With this also
he brought little basket made OF
PUSHES and filed with an herbe which
they called tobah, both being tyde to a
short rodde he caste into our boate."
Drake tried to give presents in re-
turn, but the Indian padded away
quickly. He took only an old cooked
hat which some sailor had thrown
overheard. The hat made quite an
impression on the tribe apparently, for
they all gathered around the possessor
on the beach.
In three days time Drake concluded
the Indians were friendly, so landed
his men and began to unload the ship
A fort was constructed as a matter OF
precaution.
While the crew prepared the Golden
Hind for sea Drake visited with the
Indians A tale, apocryphal perhaps,
, says he took an Indian chieftain's
, daughter to wife At any rate, he got
on famously with the savages. aided.
no doubt, by generous gifts.
. AS the time neared for his departure
and gifts grew fewer. the indians an
nounced that they intended to give a
: festival for Drake and his party.
J Drake came in full armor. and the In
dams danced and played games for his
. benefit
At the close of the ceremonies the
Indians signaled that Drake was to be
honored In some way. First an In
dian approached bearing what Fletcher
calls "a scepter." Drake accepted this
kingly accouterment Then a chain
was placed around his neck, and amid
great shouting crown OF feathers"
was placed on his head.
Drake saw no other meaning OF the
ceremony than that he had been chosen
king. What they really did was give
him a pipe, belt OF wampum and q
war bonnet Drake drew his men W
In line and. with a great flourish OF
trumpets and drums. accepted the king
ship of California. AS postscript he
added that he made no claims to being
an independent monarch He was still
: a vassal of Queen Elizabeth. he sci
up a monument to that effect:
"Our general caused to be set up 9
monument of our being there. as also
of her majesties and successors r1gh'
and title to that kingdom-namely.
Mate of brasse, fast nailed to create
and firme poste; wherein is engraVer
her grace's name. the day and year OF
} our arrival there, and of the free CIV
ing up of the province and kingdom
both by the king and people. unto hel
} maiesties' hands; together with ne
highness picture and arms, in plec'
of sixpence current English monte
shelving itselfe by hole made OF pur
pose through the plate; underneath
, was likewise engraven the name o.
our general"
r The hoax was successful After &C
cepting the kingship Drake sent for
: large assortment of gifts for his SUP
, iects.-Kansas City Times.