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THE FORTY-NINERS
A CHRONICLE OF THE CALIFORNIA TRAIL AND EL DORADO
BY STEWART EDWARD WHITE
1918
CONTENTS
I. SPANISH DAYS II. THE AMERICAN OCCUPATION III. LAW—MILITARY AND CIVIL IV. GOLD V. ACROSS THE PLAINS VI. THE MORMONS VII. THE WAY BY PANAMA VIII. THE DIGGINGS IX. THE URBAN FORTY-NINER X. ORDEAL BY FIRE XI. THE VIGILANTES OF '51 XII. SAN FRANCISCO IN TRANSITION XIII. THE STORM GATHERS XIV. THE STORM BREAKS XV. THE VIGILANTES OF '56 XVI. THE TRIUMPH OF THE VIGILANTES BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE INDEX
THE FORTY-NINERS
CHAPTER I
SPANISH DAYS
The dominant people of California have been successively aborigines,conquistadores, monks, the dreamy, romantic, unenergetic peoples ofSpain, the roaring mélange of Forty-nine, and finally the moderncitizens, who are so distinctive that they bid fair to become asubspecies of their own. This modern society has, in its evolution,something unique. To be sure, other countries also have passed throughthese same phases. But while the processes have consumed a leisurelyfive hundred years or so elsewhere, here they have been subjected toforced growth.
The tourist traveler is inclined to look upon the crumbling yetbeautiful remains of the old missions, those venerable relics in abustling modern land, as he looks upon the enduring remains of oldRome. Yet there are today many unconsidered New England farmhouses olderthan the oldest western mission, and there are men now living whowitnessed the passing of Spanish California.
Though the existence of California had been known for centuries, and thedates of her first visitors are many hundreds of years old, neverthelessSpain attempted no actual occupation until she was forced to it bypolitical necessity. Until that time she had little use for the country.After early investigations had exploded her dream of more treasurecities similar to those looted by Cortés and Pizarro, her interestpromptly died.
But in the latter part of the eighteenth century Spain began to awake tothe importance of action. Fortunately ready to her hand was a tried andtempered weapon. Just as the modern statesmen turn to commercialpenetration, so Spain turned, as always, to religious occupation. Shemade use of the missionary spirit and she sent forth her expeditionsostensibly for the purpose of converting the heathen. The result was theso-called Sacred Expedition under the leadership of Junipero Serra andPortolá. In the face of incredible hardships and discouragements, thesedevoted, if narrow and simple, men succeeded in establishing a stringof missions from San Diego to Sonoma. The energy, self-sacrifice, andpersistence of the members of this expedition furnish inspiring readingtoday and show clearly of what the Spanish character at its best iscapable.
For the next thirty years after the founding of the first mission in1769, the grasp of Spain on California was assured. Men who could do,suffer, and endure occupied the land. They made their mistakes injudgment and in methods, but the strong fiber of the pioneer was there.The original padres were almost without exception zealous, devoted topoverty, uplifted by a fanatic desire to further their cause. Theoriginal Spanish temporal leaders were in general able, energetic,courageous, and not afraid of work or fearful of disaster.
At the end