The Old Franciscan Missions Of CaliforniaJames, George Wharton
Religion
The Old Franciscan Missions Of California
James, George Wharton
Franciscans -- California; Spanish mission buildings -- California
In the meantime letters were sent for aid to Rivera at Monterey, and
Anza, the latter known to be approaching from the Colorado River region;
and in suspense until they arrived, the little garrison and the
remaining priests passed the rest of the year. The two commanders met at
San Gabriel, and together marched to San Diego, where they arrived
January 11, 1776. It was not long before they quarreled. Anza was for
quick, decisive action; Rivera was for delay; so, when news arrived from
San Gabriel that the food supply was running short, Anza left in order
to carry out his original orders, which involved the founding of San
Francisco. Not long after his departure Carlos, the neophyte who had
been concerned in the insurrection, returned to San Diego, and,
doubtless acting under the suggestion of the padres, took refuge in the
temporary church at the presidio.
An unseemly squabble now ensued between Rivera and Padre Lasuen, the
former violating the sanctuary of the church to arrest the Indian.
Lasuen, on the next feast day, refused to say mass until Rivera and his
violating officers had retired.
All this interfered with resumption of work on the church; so Serra
himself went to San Diego, and, finding the ship "San Antonio" in the
harbor, made an arrangement with Captain Choquet to supply sailors to
do the building under his own direction. Rivera was then written to for
a guard, and he sent six soldiers. On August 22, 1777, the three padres,
Choquet with his mate and boatswain and twenty sailors, a company of
neophytes, and the six soldiers went to the old site and began work in
earnest, digging the foundations, making adobes, and collecting stones.
The plan was to build a wall for defense, and then erect the church and
other buildings inside. For fifteen days all went well. Then an Indian
went to Rivera with a story that hostile Indians were preparing arrows
for a new attack, and this so scared the gallant officer that he
withdrew his six men. Choquet had to leave with his men, as he dared not
take the responsibility of being away with so many men without the
consent of Rivera; and, to the padre's great sorrow, the work had
to cease.
In March of 1778 Captain Carrillo was sent to chastise hostile Indians
at Pamó who had sent insolent messages to Captain Ortega. Carrillo
surprised the foe, killed two, burned others who took refuge in a hut,
while the others surrendered and were publicly flogged. The four chiefs,
Aachel, Aalcuirin, Aaran, and Taguagui, were captured, taken to San
Diego, and there shot, though the officer had no legal right to condemn
even an Indian to death without the approval of the governor. Ortega's
sentence reads: "Deeming it useful to the service of God, the King, and
the public weal, I sentence them to a violent death by two musket-shots
on the 11th at 9 A.M., the troops to be present at the execution under
arms also all the Christian rancherías subject to the San Diego Mission,
that they may be warned to act righteously."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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