The Old Franciscan Missions of California | Page 9

the old," when a similar apparition startled their ancestors.
That other white-winged creature had come long generations ago, and
had gone away, never to be seen again. Was this not to do likewise? Ah,
no! in this vessel was contained the beginning of the end of the
primitive man. The solitude of the centuries was now to be disturbed
and its peace invaded; aboriginal life destroyed forever. The advent of
this vessel was the death knell of the Indian tribes.
Little, however, did either the company on board the "San Antonio" or
the Indians themselves conceive such thoughts as these on that
memorable April day.
But where was the "San Carlos," which sailed almost a month earlier
than the "San Antonio"? She was struggling with difficulties,--leaking
water-casks, bad water, scurvy, cold weather. Therefore it was not until
April 29 that she appeared. In vain the captain of the "San Antonio"
waited for the "San Carlos" to launch a boat and to send him word as to
the cause of the late arrival of the flagship; so he visited her to discover
for himself the cause. He found a sorry state of affairs. All on board
were ill from scurvy. Hastily erecting canvas houses on the beach, the

men of his own crew went to the relief of their suffering comrades of
the other vessel. Then the crew of the relieving ship took the sickness,
and soon there were so few well men left that they could scarcely
attend the sick and bury the dead. Those first two weeks in the new
land, in the month of May, 1769, were never to be forgotten. Of about
ninety sailors, soldiers, and mechanics, less than thirty survived; over
sixty were buried by the wash of the waves of the Bay of Saint James.
Then came Rivera and Crespí, with Lieutenant Fages and twenty-five
soldiers.
Immediately a permanent camp was sought and found at what is now
known as Old San Diego, where the two old palms still remain, with
the ruins of the presidio on the hill behind. Six weeks were busily
occupied in caring for the sick and in unloading the "San Antonio."
Then the fourth and last party of the explorers arrived,--Governor
Portolá on June 29, and Serra on July 1. What a journey that had been
for Serra! He had walked all the way, and, after two days out, a badly
ulcerated leg began to trouble him. Portolá wished to send him back,
but Serra would not consent. He called to one of the muleteers and
asked him to make just such a salve for his wound as he would put
upon the saddle galls of one of his animals. It was done, and in a single
night the ointment and the Father's prayers worked the miracle of
healing.
After a general thanksgiving, in which exploding gunpowder was used
to give effect, a consultation was held, at which it was decided to send
back the "San Antonio" to San Blas for supplies, and for new crews for
herself and the "San Carlos." A land expedition under Portolá was to go
to Monterey, while Serra and others remained at San Diego to found
the Mission. The vessel sailed, Portolá and his band started north, and
on July 16, 1769, Serra raised the cross, blessed it, said mass, preached,
and formally established the Mission of San Diego de Alcalá.
It mattered not that the Indians held aloof; that only the people who
came on the expedition were present to hear. From the hills beyond,
doubtless, peered and peeped the curious natives. All was mysterious to
them. Later, however, they became troublesome, stealing from the sick

and pillaging from the "San Carlos." At last, they made a determined
raid for plunder, which the Spanish soldiers resisted. A flight of arrows
was the result. A boy was killed and three of the new-comers wounded.
A volley of musket-balls killed three Indians, wounded several more,
and cleared the settlement. After such an introduction, there is no
wonder that conversions were slow. Not a neophyte gladdened the
Father's heart for more than a year.

CHAPTER III
THE MISSIONS FOUNDED BY PADRE JUNIPERO SERRA
San Diego Mission founded, Serra was impatient to have work begun
elsewhere. Urging the governor to go north immediately, he rejoiced
when Portolá, Crespí, Rivera, and Pages started, with a band of soldiers
and natives. They set out gaily, gladly. They were sure of a speedy
journey to the Bay of Monterey, discovered by Cabrillo, and seen again
and charted by Vizcaino, where they were to establish the second
Mission.
[Illustration: EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE, 1913, UNDER SERRA
CROSS, MT. RUBIDOUX, RIVERSIDE, CALIF.]
[Illustration: MEMORIAL TABLET AND GRAVES OF PADRES
SERRA, CRESPI, AND LASUEN, IN MISSION SAN CARLOS
BORROMEO, CARMEL VALLEY, MONTEREY.]
Strange to say,