Santa Cruz County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter II History 1893
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Book Title: Memorial And Biographical History Of The Coast Counties Of Central California.

CHAPTER II.
HISTORY.

THE history of early voyages along the coast of Alta California has been given
elsewhere in this work. The description of Cabrillo's explorations in 1542-'43,
three and a half centuries ago, as given in the historical sketch of Monterey
county, will serve without repetition here, with slight variations, as a correct
account of that pioneer navigator's voyage along the coast of Santa Cruz, as
well as of San Mateo. The same maybe said of Vizcaino's voyage, sixty years
later. It is not to be supposed that Cabrillo, before his death, January 3,
1543, or Ferrelo, his successor in command, or Vizcaino, at those remote
periods, and in this remote part of the world, penetrated inland at any point to
any great distance as they sailed along these unknown shores.

  The true historical period of California commences with the founding of the
Franciscan missions, in the year 1769. This date marks an important epoch,
because it signalizes the introduction of European civilization into a  region,
where hitherto only ignorant savages and wild animals had lived. The missions
symbolize the coming and permanent settlement of a race of men capable of
making, as well as recording, history.

  Although the Indians of Central California were very numerous at the time of
the advent of the Franciscan fathers, their intelligence was of so low a grade,
that their annals, even if they had been preserved, would have possessed but
little interest for Europeans. Evidently they had made but little progress in
evolution, during the unknown ages of their occupation of this land, where the
climate was so mild, and Nature so kind, that they were enabled to live almost
without exertion. The Indian tribes, whose habitations were in the Rocky
mountains, or in the northern part of North America, were undoubtedly stimulated
by the rigors of a colder climate and by their environment to activity, both
physical and mental, that was unknown to the torpid aborigines of California.
Thus, the former had developed into spirited and war-like races, while the
latter had remained apparently, for ages, on a dead level, but little at all
above that of the wild animals, which disputed with them the mastery of the land
over which both roamed.

  The establishment of a mission on the San Lorenzo river was finally determined
on in 1789, although the fathers had known of the desirableness of the site for
several years. Rivera and Palou on their return from their exploring expedition
to San Francisco, in 1774, had examined and approved the location. Palou, in
speaking of this and several other sites, which they had examined during their
trip, makes this record in his diary: "God grant that in my day I may see them
occupied by missions, and in them assembled all the gentiles who inhabit their
vicinities, and that none of the latter die without holy baptism, to the end
that the number of the children of God and His holy church be increased, and
also of the vassals of our Catholic Monarch."

  After sundry delays, caused by correspondence with the viceroy, whose
authority it was necessary to obtain, President Lasuen proceeded to the work of
founding the mission of Santa Cruz. He thus describes the steps taken under date
of September 28, 1791, a little more than 100 years ago: u In view of the
superior order of His Excellency, I at once named the missionaries. I asked and
obtained from the comandante of this presidio, the necessary aid for exploring
anew the region of Soledad, and there was chosen a site having some advantages
over the two previously considered. I applied to the missions for vestments and
sacred vessels; and as soon as the commander of the Aranzazu furnished the
servants allowed for the new establishment, I proceeded to Santa Clara, in order
to examine anew, in person, the site of Santa Cruz. I crossed the Sierra by a
long and rough way, and found in the site the same excellent fitness that had
been reported to me. I found, besides, a stream, of water very near, copious and
important. On the day of St. Augustine, August 28, 1791, I said Mass, and a
cross was raised on the spot where the establishment is to be. Many gentiles
came, large and small, of both sexes, and showed that they would gladly enlist
under the sacred standard, thank God! I returned to Santa Clara by another way,
rougher, but shorter and more direct. I had the Indians improve the road and was
perfectly successful; because for this, as, for everything else, the comandante
of San Francisco, Don Hermenegildo Sal, has furnished with the greatest activity
and promptness all the aid I have asked for. I ordered some little huts made,
and I suppose that by this time the missionaries are there. I found here in
Monterey, the two corvettes of the Spanish expedition; and the commander's power
of pleasing obliged me to wait their departure. I endeavored to induce them to
transport the Santa Cruz supplies by water, but it could not be accomplished.
Day before yesterday, however, some were sent there by land, and with them a man
from the schooner, which came from Nootka, under Don J nan Carrasco. The plan is
to see if there is aiy shelter for a vessel on the coast near Santa Cruz, and
there to transport what is left. Tomorrow a report is expected. This means is
sought because we lack animals. To-day eleven Indians have departed from here
with tools to construct a shelter at Soledad for the padres and the supplies. I
and the other padres are making preparations, and my departure thither will be
by the favor of God, the day after, from San Francisco, October 8, at least."

  The foregoing is quoted at length as it affords the reader of to-day a glimpse
of the difficulties the good fathers labored under in carrying forward their
important undertaking of establishing a mission here, and it also represents a
picture of things as they were a century ago,-multitudes of wild Indians, but
few whites, and they compelled to travel beyond the immediate precincts of the
missions with a military escort; the country rough and without roads; everything
to be done, with scant means to do with. Thus may we gain some slight conception
of the difficulties under which European civilization was introduced into this
land, where we now have our homes, surrounded as they now are, by all the
appliances of modern civilization.

  On the 23d of September, Ensign Sal, with two friars of San Jose, arrived from
San Francisco presido, and some neophytes constructed a cabin to shelter the
priests, and when all was ready, on Sunday, the 25th day of September, 1791,
with religious ceremonies, conducted by the padres, and the firing of salutes,
the Mission of the Holy Cross, or Santa Cruz was duly founded.

  The contributions of the neighboring missions to the new establishment,
according to one account were: Santa Clara, 151 head of cattle, nineteen horses,
eighteen fanegas of grain; San Francisco, six yoke of oxen, 100 swine, twelve
mules and eight other animals.

  The Fathers seemed to have been successful in gathering the Indians into the
church, for within five years after they commenced their labors in this field
their converts numbered over 500, which indicates that Indians were very
plentiful hereabouts in those days. How many remained outside the fold, within
this jurisdiction, we are not informed, but probably a considerable number,
although the sight of even 500 nearly naked, wild Indians roaming about this
valley and among the adjacent hills, at the present time, would be likely to
produce something of a sensation.

  Up to and including the year 1800, according to the records kept by the
friars, about 950 Indians had been baptized at this mission; 270 couples had
been married, and about 475 persons had been buried. The increase of ganado
mayor (large animals or cattle) from the small number brought to the mission,
amounted to over 2,000, and that of ganado menor (small animals) had been at
about the same ratio.

  The production of grain the first season after the founding of the mission was
about 650 bushels; while for the year 1800 it amounted to over 4,000 bushels. A
mill for grinding grain was built in 1796.

  The corner-stone of the church was laid on the 27th of February, 1793, and the
building was sufficiently completed to be occupied the next year. It was built
of adobes, with stone foundation; its dimensions being 112x30, and twenty-five
feet high. Although timber was plenty near by, the fathers were without means to
utilize it, and consequently most of the permanent buildings of that and a long
subsequent period, throughout the Territory, were constructed of adobe or of stone.

  A paragraph in a letter written in 1798, clearly shows the contrast between
then and now. Fernandez writes: "one hundred and thirty-eight neophytes have
deserted, leaving only thirty or forty to work, while the land is overflowed and
the planting not half done. * * * The cattle are dying, and a dead whale on the
beach has attracted a multitude of wolves and bears."

  Engineer Cordoba reports, August 1, 1798, that Santa Cruz has 3,435,600 square
varas of irrigable lands, of which 1,120,000 are sin abrir, and pastures
one-and-a-half by eight or nine leagues, with seven permanent streams.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


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