The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-05-25
DRAKE AS A KING
Sir Francis Thought He Was the
Monarch of California.
CROWNED BY THE INDIANS.

With War Bonnet of Feathers, but
He Took It For the Real Thing In
Crowns and Accepted the Title.
Hidden in the diary of Francis
Fletcher. a sailor parson who acted as
chaplain for the freebooters Of Sir
Francis Drake, is the story Of the first
hoax ever engineered by Californians.
The joke was on Sir Francis. I'm
til his last day he believed the Indians
of California had crowned him their
king-king Of California. AS matter
of fact, all they did was to give him
a feather war bonnet And perform
some native rites before him, hoping
thereby to get their hands in his gift
box again.
It happened in June, 1859. Drake
was looking for the mythical north
west passage after successful year
looting and plundering in the Spanish
colonies. His ship. the Golden Hind,
sprang a leak. and Drake put into a
little bay. just north Of the present
San Francisco, for repairs.
An Indian padded out to the ship in
a canoe. He scattered feathers on the
water and went through lot Of PAN
tomime. Drake feared to land until he
found out the intent Of the natives.
The one Indian went back to shore.
Then, 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 blacke
GROVE, very neatly and artifcially
gathered upon a string and drawne to-
gether in round bundle, being verie
cleane and finely cut. With this also
he brought a little basket made Of
rushes 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, apocryphaI 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.
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 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 pipe, a belt Of wampum and a
war bonnet. Drake drew his men up
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 yassal of Queen Elizabeth. He set
up monument to that effect:
"Our general caused to be set up a
monument of our being there, as also
of her majesties and successors right
anu IlL1S 10 LudI hAASoOAA -
plate of brasse, fast nailed to create
and frme poste; whereon is engraVen
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 her
majesties' hands; together with her
L:o.l,,, ,oee rint11ra nn6 arms in piece
Of sixpence current English NOME
shelving itselfe by hole made of pur-
pose through the plate; underneath
was likewise engrayen the name OF
our general"
The hoax was successful. After ac-
cepting the kingship Drake sent for a
large assortment Of gifts for his sub
iects.-Kansas City Times.