Imperial County CA Archives History - Books .....Northern District Of Lower California 1918
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Book Title: History Of Imperial County California

CHAPTER XXIX
THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF LOWER CALIFORNIA 

BY HECTOR GONZALEZ

   ONE can say that there have been two northern districts of Lower
California—the old and the new. I call old the one centering about En-senada
along about 1890, and new the one whose center is Mexicali— that is, the present
district. The period in which the old district reached its culmination coincided
with the discovery and exploration of placer gold at El Alamo, or Santa Clara;
and as this rich mineral reached the market through Ensenada, this place was the
one that realized the greatest benefit from the gold which the earth so
abundantly furnished.

   Then Ensenada enjoyed its most brilliant epoch, and today it is still a
beautiful town, surrounded by fine plantations of corn and beans. With the
falling off of the exportation of gold came naturally the decadence of Ensenada,
and. this at the time when Mexicali and its surroundings, or the Mexican portion
of Imperial Valley, began to show its first signs of prosperity.

   The political events of the year 1914, which put Colonel Esteban Cantu at the
head of the government, coincided with the downfall of Ensenada and the evident
manifestation of the development of the Mexicali region. Perhaps the realization
of this fact was what determined Colonel Cantu to establish the capital of the
district at Mexicali. This was a wise move, because under his constant and
intelligent watchfulness this section has been able to develop itself to as
great a degree as might be expected—so much so that Mexicali is the storehouse
(caja fuerte) of the district; the open strong-box that contains the means by
which other regions, at present less productive or less wealthy, are able to
weather their financial crises.

   A mining country needs less of the initiative of human talent than an
agricultural region. Ensenada was the capital of a mining region; Mexicali is
the head of an agricultural community. In the development of Mexicali more than
at Ensenada has intervened the human element with its initiative and its genius.
This element has been directed and encouraged by Colonel Cantu, the man to whom
this section of Lower California owes most.

   From the first the Colonel's policy of government has proceeded toward the
development of the northern district of Lower California, and, as this district
was almost nothing when he began to govern it, he is in reality its principal
promoter.

   This accomplishment may be divided into several parts; namely, (i) The
development of the different regions of the district, principally of Mexicali;
(2) Communication between the various regions; (3) Communication by all of these
regions with the continental part of Mexico by an all-Mexican route. As can be
seen at first glance, some points in this program are intimately related to others.

   It would be impossible in a few paragraphs to give a complete resume of the
political labors of Colonel Cantu, but in general terms we shall refer to his
many activities.

   Since, due to the general situation of the republic and to that produced by
the diverse mining laws, mining must remain paralyzed, Colonel Cantu has given
his attention to agriculture, providing every facility for opening new lands to
cultivation. These facilities have served to the extent that cultivated lands
that before 1914 were confined to those farms adjacent to the irrigation canals
from the Colorado River now extend many miles from these canals.

   The southern portion of the district at present open to irrigation includes
the plain which Sr. Rene Grivel opened to cultivation by building new canals to
meet its needs. In addition to giving every aid to the farmers already
established, Colonel Cantu took steps to bring in new laborers and colonists to
cultivate the virgin soil. He has given preference to Mexican colonists, many
thousands of whom have arrived in the Mexican portion of Imperial Valley. The
same assistance which has been given to the region about Mexicali has also been
afforded Tia Juana, Ensenada and Tecate, but with lesser results than in the
first case. Due perhaps to the rosy prospects which the cultivation of cotton
offers capital, enterprise and enthusiasm have gathered with more vigor around
Mexicali than around any other place. As a result Mexicali has been peopled with
more daring and enterprising men than the remainder of the district, but
nevertheless all of the district has been benefited.

   The Mexican government has also entered into the agricultural industry in its
so-called "cavalry replenishing farms" (haciendas de remonta), of which there
are many in the district, principally at Tecate, Ensenada and Tia Juana. These
farms are now two years old, and have nearly paid back to the government the
cost of their establishment. The farmers are furnished with modern implements of
agriculture. The principal object of the government is the establishment of
model farms, where market vegetables can be cultivated, and where horses and
mules for the army can be raised. These farms promise to be a great success, and
in time it is hoped will be copied in all parts of Mexico. The prices of all
products are subject to governmental control.

   To the growth of the cities of the district Colonel Cantu has contributed an
infinite amount of work. Among his labors we may mention the following: In
Mexicali have been provided a condenser, a large school building costing
$80,000, a park, a telegraph office, infantry barracks, cavalry barracks, a
municipal hospital, a customhouse, a bridge over New River, street paving,
besides numerous works of lesser importance; in Ensenada, troop headquarters, a
wharf and asphalt pavements; in Tia Juana, infantry and cavalry barracks and
water works. To facilitate the growth of the different regions of the district,
Colonel Cantu has established four municipalities—Ensenada, Mexicali, Tecate and
Tia Juana. Formerly there was only one—that of Ensenada. Colonel Cantu has
established his official headquarters at Mexicali, where he spends the greater
part of the year, and at intervals makes official visits to the other
municipalities.

   Communication between the various populated districts is made by means of the
"Camino Nacional," which unites Mexicali, Tecate, Tia Juana and Ensenada. Part
of this road from Ensenada north, connecting with Tia Juana and Tecate, had
already been constructed, but was found in bad condition and at places for long
stretches had been abandoned for new routes. From Tecate to Mexicali all of the
road is the work of Colonel Cantu's government. It lacks completion only for a
distance of about a mile, where it was necessary to tunnel through solid rock,
and dynamite for the operation could not be secured from the United States.

   Mexicali, Tia Juana, Tecate and Ensenada have been joined by telephone and
telegraph lines, which at this date have been in good working order for several
months. At the present time there are to be completed telegraphic and telephone
connections with the port of San Felipe, all to be in place probably in May of
this year (191-8)1. The communication from the district to the continental
portion of Mexico by an all-Mexican route will be by way of the port of San
Felipe, to which place there will be opened soon a railroad or automobile road,
as the circumstances of the moment require. As has been already mentioned, the
stretch from San Felipe on is about to be bridged by telephone and telegraph lines.

   Since San Felipe is at the upper head of the Gulf of California, it will be
possible to arrange an easy route to the ports of Sonora and Sinaloa and to the
center of the republic without need of passing through the United States.

   These results are in a large way the outcome of the government of Colonel
Cantu. They are works of great importance for Lower California, and redound much
to the honor of a young man who, without former experience of government, at the
most trying times for the Mexican republic, was able to undertake them.

LIFE OF COLONEL ESTEBAN CANTU

   COLONEL CANTU was born in Linares, State of Nuevo Leon, on the 27th day of
November, 1880, his parents being Don Juan Antones Cantu and Dona Francisca
Jimenez de Cantu. He studied first in the government primary schools at Linares
and by himself, bookkeeping and other subjects not being given there. He
afterwards moved to Morelia, Michoacan, where he entered private classes that
prepared students to enter the military college at Chapultepec. He remained in
Morelia until December, 1897.

   In January, 1898, he satisfactorily passed the examination for entrance to
the military school whose courses he followed during 1898 and 1899 and 1900,
preparing himself in army tactics. At the end of this period he entered the army
as lieutenant of the 12th regiment of cavalry at Monterey. He served in this
organization during 1901, and at its close was commissioned as instructor of
army reserves at Guadalupe and Calvo, Chihuahua, where he remained permanently
until the end of 1902. From there he was removed to Huejincar, Jalisco, where
the same duties were assigned him and at the end of 1903 he discontinued
definitely field work as instructor of reserves. He was removed to Sonora at the
end of 1903, to take part in the campaigns against the Yaquis, and he remained
there until the end of 1906.

ARRIVAL AT MEXICALI; DIFFICULTIES

   After acting in Sonora, Captain Cantu was located at various places in the
Republic, serving in different military capacities, and was raised to the rank
of major in 1911, when F. L. de la Barra was president and Francisco I. Madero,
principal adviser of the government. At the end of May, 1911, by order of the
secretary of war, he took command of a portion of the 17th regiment of infantry
which, at that time, was commanded by Colonel Renaldo Diaz. The commander of the
17th regiment received orders to send two companies to Mexicali to occupy the
northern district of Lower California, where it was feared a secession movement
would break out. These companies came to Lower California under command of
Lieut. Colonel Fidencio Gonzales and Major Cantu, crossing American territory,
and they entered Lower California at Mexicali the 26th day of June, 1911. The
same day Lieut. Col. Gonzales left for Tia Juana and left Major Cantu as chief
of the garrison of the town in command of 100 men.

   Thereupon he encountered a difficult situation which required the aid of the
elements on which he was counting and which was won only by his resolution and
coolness. The principal land companies who had concessions from the central
government organized a body of volunteers for the defense of their interests.
This body was commanded by Rodolfo F. Gallegas and was composed of 300 effective
soldiers, even though it appears to have less than 200. As soon as
Lieutenant-Colonel Gonzales left for Tia Juana, Major Cantu took notice that the
body of volunteers did not accept willingly the arrival of the troops and he
thought that they intended to rise up against him on the night of the 21 st,
kill him and incite a secession movement as soon as this occurred. Major Cantu
called Gallegas and had a conversation with him in which Gallegas assured him
that he was a friend of the government and that the people would not be hostile
toward Cantu and he placed himself at Cantu's orders.

   Major Cantu then ordered him to concentrate the volunteers at his military
headquarters which was in front of the Inter-California station at the south
side and that there he would see them.

   At the hour indicated, Major Cantu went to the headquarters, leaving his
people prepared in their places under command of Captain Gabriel Rivera. On
arriving there he found that the volunteers had not received orders to
reassemble. He then ordered them to be called and they commenced to arrive, some
armed and others without arms, for they had them hidden in different places in
the small town. He spoke to the revolutionists a little while and he saw that
there lived in them the spirit of rebellion, showing itself upon seeing
themselves reunited; that the majority were not Mexicans but people of the
frontier who have no fixed nationality.

   He ordered them to lay down their arms and commanded his own men to be
called, twenty of whom came under command of Captain Rivera himself. When the
volunteers realized what was happening the troops were upon them and they did
not make a movement. The major placed sentinels, manned a guard, and proceeded
immediately to dismiss the volunteers save only a few more than twenty whom he
incorporated with his people.

THE SPIRIT OF REBELLION CONTINUES

   Those volunteers whom he incorporated into his troops of the 17th, carried to
his ranks the idea of rebellion and began from then on to make in the barracks
seditious propaganda.

   Captain Gabriel Rivera, Manuel Campos and Sergeant Salvador Raminez were
under Major Cantu. Then there was an Indian from Ixtlan who served as assistant
to him and was called Jacinto Mora Nova. He was aware of the criminal intents of
a great part of the troops. Whenever he went to the barracks he was received by
hostile looks from the soldiers and the information which the assistant gave him
was valuable.

   The situation was difficult since he was isolated completely from Mexico and
without hopes of receiving help from any part, for he was ignorant of the fact
that men from the 8th and 25th infantry were coming to his aid. The information
which the assistant gave him was that the troops wished to rebel and kill him
and that the leaders were in accord with the people of the American side, who
were the ones that instigated them and were trying to incite a movement toward
separation. At last one day he said to him that the plot had matured to such a
point that during the night there would be an uprising and they would
assassinate him. The signal would be given in Calexico by the discharging of a
pistol. Finally he told him exactly the names of a sergeant, a corporal and 20
soldiers who were the ones who would strike. This was taking place on the 8th of
September, 1911.

   Major Cantu took a list of all his men and marked on it the names of the
conspirators, sending it to Captain Rivera with orders that he should direct all
in formation and under arms to the command of the sergeant. The moment had
arrived for great resolution. He decided to play all for all, to lose his life
or save the situation.

   Captain Rivera was astounded with the order which seemed to him unreasonable,
but nevertheless he was a man of discipline and did what was told him. Very soon
the conspirators arrived at the lodging of the major which was the waiting room
of the Inter-California railway, and at that time the only habitable place in
Mexicali.

   He placed them in formation and spoke to them in the plain and eloquent
simplicity of a true captain. He confronted them with the treason which they
were about to commit against him and their country which had sent them to that
desert, isolated from all communication, that they should commit a crime.

   "Here you have me alone, unarmed," he said to them.

   "Kill me. Here is your leader, assassinate him."

   The troops remained stationary.

   "You wish to betray your country. Very well, kill me and betray it if you are
bad Mexicans."

   Behind Major Cantu was a small, tricolor flag, a sacred symbol which seemed
to tremble under emotion upon hearing that vibrating call. The faces began to
blanch. Finally one of the conspirators spoke and said that he repented of his
intentions.

   Things now were in his favor, the better thought prevails, the plot was crushed.

   Colonel Cantu had been awake since 2 o'clock in the morning. The heat of the
season, the watchfulness and the difficult situation had tried him. He said to
the repentant conspirators:

   "Now, I'm going to sleep and you are going to watch over me. You are going to
care for your chief. If you still care to kill me you can do it while I am
sleeping."

   He manned the guard. He told one of the men that he should fix him a bed and
then he retired. Upon waking the troops were watching. The hour indicated by the
conspirators w7ho were on foreign soil had passed. These had given the signal
agreed upon but all had been useless upon the hearts, which he knew had spoken
to them of honor, duty and patriotism. The young commander who had shown that in
truth he was such, called the guard and took his leave as usual and sent the
soldiers to their barracks. Those who went out enemies returned enthusiastic
friends of that real gentleman whose reputation began to grow. It spread from
the barracks and flowed in all directions, forming an aura of sympathy and
popular appreciation which later must make of him a governor.

FORCES ARRIVE FROM MEXICO

   On the following day, that is, the 19th day of September, 1911, in which
Major Cantu had saved the difficult situation which has just been related and
without his foreknowledge or expectation, two hundred and fifty men arrived from
Mexico from the 25th regiment of infantry under Colonel Francisco Vasquez.

   The 25th regiment, which had furnished such good service to Colonel Cantu and
which is now the state troops of the northern district, was at the beginning of
1911 on garrison duty in the territory of Quintaui Roo. When the trouble broke
out in Lower California the central government called the regiment to the
capital of the republic and after a brief rest sent it to Lower California. It
set sail from the port of Manzanilla for Ensenada on December 25th, and made the
trip over the mountains to Mexicali. At that time Colonel Vasquez was still
commander of the 25th and the captain of the 2nd was the present
Lieutenant-Colonel Hipolito Barranco, now commander-in-chief.

   Almost at the same time that the 25th arrived in Mexicali came forces from
the 8th regiment to Algodones, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Juan Vasquez,
brother of Colonel Francisco Vasquez. Upon the arrival of the 25th, Colonel
Vasquez was chief of the garrison at Mexicali, and as he left in October, Major
Cantu again assumed the command. At that time there was organized a troop of
cavalry under command of Major Cantu which, by order of the government, took the
name of its leader and has ever since been called "Esteban Cantu." Also this
organization still serves in the northern district of Lower California.

   At the end of 1912 Major Cantu received permission to make a trip to Monterey
to visit his family; but he did not make it, because he was called to Ensenada
by the military commander, General Cordillo Escu-dero, who advised him to pursue
Tirso de la Tora, who was operating very close to Tecate. De la Tora had an
encounter with the government troops near the ranch "To Topo," where his
followers were scattered, he going into the United States.

   From the end of 1912 until the middle of 1913 Major Cantu remained in Tecate
as chief of the garrison and later was sent to Mexicali. While
Lieutenant-Colonel Augustin Laguno was in command, Colonel Juan Lojero followed
him in command.

COLONEL CANTU MILITARY COMMANDER

   We now come to the month of August, 1914, the month that will be famous in
the history of Mexico because in that month the routine of the old political
life of the nation was changed definite, and it will be famous also for Lower
California, because at the rebounding here of the sensational happenings of the
capital of the republic, the life of the peninsula also suffered a radical
change which coincided with the accession of Colonel Cantu to a prominent place
in public affairs.

   Being chief of the plaza of Mexicali, the said Colonel Lojero and Colonel
Cantu, his subordinate officer, Lieutenant Jose Cantu, brother of the Colonel,
came to Calexico. Lieutenant-Colonel Cantu brought to his brother the news that
the revolution had triumphed completely, that Carbajal had gone from Mexico and
that the federal regiment was to be disbanded in the city of Puebla, things that
so far were not known. At a moment of noble frankness and comradeship, Colonel
Cantu repeated to Lojero the conversation he had had with his brother, which was
enough to frighten Lojero and without considering that Colonel Cantu was a
perfect gentleman, believed him capable of deceiving him. Lojero was so
frightened that he suggested to Vasquez the shooting of Colonel Cantu. This
shooting did not take place because the persons charged with fulfilling the
order refused, knowing the unimpeachable honor of the colonel.

   Things were thus when Lieutenant-Colonel Fortunato Tenonio denounced General
Francisco Vasquez at Ensenada. The imprisonment of this man and his brother,
Juan, and the election of Municipal President David Tarate to be chief
administrator by the town of Ensenada also took place.

   Lojero passed from fear to terror and fled from Mexicali, leaving the
garrison without a commander. There then followed a series of negotiations
between some officials of the garrison at Mexicali and Colonel Cantu, who had
succeeded in obtaining his retirement from the army, disgusted with the
imprudence of Lojero.

   Colonel Cantu was in Calexico and the officials called him to Mexicali. The
Colonel refused to come because he did not wish to be an active factor in the
local disturbances, but when his fellow soldiers explained to him the difficult
situation of the city and its garrison and explained that he was the only one
who, by his prestige with the troops and the people was able to save the day, he
resolved to put himself at the front of the troops as he did on the 29th of
August, 1914.

   With the imprisonment of Vasquez and the flight of Lojero the army officer of
the highest rank remaining in the district was Colonel Cantu; the garrison
recognized him at once as their commander, the colonel having, by virtue of the
facts stated, arrived to be in military command and later the political
situation wras so established that tranquillity reigned.

   But the former prestige of the colonel and the excellent way in which he
exercised command of the town which gave him fame in the district made him stand
out as a brilliant figure, as Zarata never did, so that little by little he came
to be in fact governor of the entire region. When the convention of
Aguascalientas was organized it was believed there that from it would emanate
the government of the unified nation and a representative was sent who was to
see things in close quarters, to study the situation nationally from the center
of the republic and to cement this district with the nation, for it was never
Colonel Cantu's intention to raise a local flag.

   This representative, instead of carrying out his commission in the manner
indicated, conferred with Jose Maria Maytorema, who was governor of Sonora, and
in accord with him and brought with him as civil governor, one Baltazar Aviles.

THE ARRIVAL OF AVILES

   Aviles established himself in Ensenada in September, 1914, while Colonel
Cantu remained stationed in Mexicali, as military commander since the convention
Jhad not touched upon the matter of this appointment. Aviles began a series of
abuses and persecutions which provoked a general discontent among the people and
the troops of the gar-risen. The people as well as the soldiers and a great part
of the officials looked upon Colonel Cantu as the only man capable of saving
that disastrous situation.

   Aviles and Lieutenant-Colonel Arnulfo Cervantes, then commander of the 25th
regiment, worked in perfect accord with Aviles. They separated themselves little
by little from the colonel, making silent war as well on those who sympathized
with him, parties who were then in Ensenada: Barranco (then major) captain and
later major, and Doctor Hipolito Jauregin had great influence among the soldiers
of the 25th. The conspirators plotted to rid themselves of the 25th battalion in
order to deprive Colonel Cantu of elements of order to the extent that they
resolved to send it to Guaymas. They embarked the troops on board the steamer
Herrerias, on November 28, 1914. Commander Miranda was in charge of the ship and
Cervantes embarked with the battalion. This was done without the knowledge of
Colonel Cantu, who was the military commander. The Herrerias sailed to the south
and upon crossing Magdalena Bay met up with an American merchant boat which
stopped and signaled the Herrerias, that it should stop also. When the boats
were alongside the American commander informed Miranda that the day before the
gunboat Guerrero, headed northwest, had sailed from Mazatlan and that there it
was said that the gunboat was going to take the Herrerias in tow and imprison
all the troops. Cervantes, who was at that time merely a pirate and the victim
of the designs of Aviles, said nothing, and Miranda, without consulting anyone,
turned the ship about and returned to Ensenada, where it arrived at night on the
30th day of November.

END OF GOVERNMENT OF AVILES

   When the Herrerias arrived at Ensenada its passengers learned the news that
Miguel Santa Cruz was chief of the town at the head of an armed mob. Aviles,
seeing that the situation was beyond his scope, had fled to Tia Juana, getting
together all the money he could. Lieutenant-Colonel Cervantes left the ship and
got into communication with Aviles. He sent an order to the ship that the
battalion should be released and had Major Barranco arrested as well as Captain
Escudero and Doctor Jauregin. Aviles also ordered the detention of Cervantes and
again tried to escape from Ensenada to Tia Juana, being threatened by Santa
Cruz, who asked him for money with which to pay off the troops.

   Santa Cruz took the prisoners and with them followed the steps of Aviles and
pretended that he intended to shoot them in Ensenada, Sauzal, Vallecitos. Cerro
Colorado and Tia Juana, in the latter place at the international line in a place
where still remains the stables of the Hippodrome and where his jurisdiction
ceased because when they arrived at the city of Tia Juana, they found that
Colonel Justina Mendiota had not entered into the plans of Aviles and had
remained faithful to Colonel Cantu. It seems that Santa Cruz never intended to
shoot the prisoners but to hold them as hostages to sever the good will of
Colonel Cantu.

   In the meantime in Ensenada, there being no leader to put himself at the head
of the garrison, Lieutenant-Colonel Arnulfo San Germain, Judge Advocate, took
"accidental" command, and at once took the side of Colonel Cantu.

   Colonel Cantu then left with troops to put down the uprisings of Santa Cruz
and Aviles. When he arrived at Tia Juana it was not necessary to fire a single
shot because the majority of the revolutionists fled, or abandoned their arms
and declared themselves for the party of order.

   With the flight of Aviles and Santa Cruz terminated the misfortunes and
misgovernment of the northern district of Lower California, for Colonel Cantu
was invested by the people and soldiers with the office of civil leader and
military commander which he held until the time he was made governor.

   With the foregoing words ends the recital of the culminating deeds of the
military career of Colonel Cantu and explains his entrance into political life.
If the deeds of the valiant soldier, worshipper of duty and patriotism are
admirable, very admirable are also the deeds less strenuous but equally
important of the statesman, organizer, lover of public weal, and enthusiast for
throwing himself into every progressive enterprise.

   The contents of this biography of Colonel Cantu deals with the lesser and
earlier activities of this young military and political leader and explains with
sufficient details the campaign of the colonel in Lower California and how, at
first, he began to have an influence in the life of this region; how later he
came to be the leader of its remarkable economic development.

   At the same time nothing is said here of the administrative activities of
Colonel Cantu, of those to which he fully dedicated himself as soon as peace was
established and his government consolidated.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

THE HISTORY
OF
IMPERIAL COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
EDITED BY
F. C. FARR

IN ONE VOLUME
ILLUSTRATED
Published by ELMS AND FRANKS
BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA 1918


Printed by Taylor & Taylor, San Francisco


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