The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, July 5, 1896, Page 18

18 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1896. The Man Who Raised the Flag | He Was Midshipman on the Savannah Under Gommodore Sloat Strangely enough, it was the experience of Wiliam P. Toler, now of Oakland but in early days a midshipman in the United States navy, to see the American flag run up at Monterey as a token of taking pos- session of California, on two separate occa- sions, he personally raising it the second time. The first occasion was on October 19, 1842, when the flag was ruised by order of Commodore Thomas Ap Catesby Jones. The sec- ond was on July 7, 1846, when the American flag was put up to stay by com- mand of Commodore Sloat. 8o far as can be ascertained Mr. Toler is the only sur- vivor of those who were officially present on both of these interesting occasions. Mr. Toler has related interestingly to a representative of THE CALn what he per- sonally observed and did at that period. “When the American forces were landed at Monterey to hoist the flag and to take possession of the country on July 7, 1846,”" said he, “I was charged with the duty of having the flag raised on the staff near the custom-house, which building still re- mains. I was not directed personally to raise the flag, ot course, but to see that it was done at the proper time after the proclamation bad been read. I was a young midshipman on board of the Sa- vannah and was Commodore Sloat’s aid. I was not 21 years oid and I think that the importance of that occasion may not have been as fully impressed upon me as it since has been. “The flag to be raised was carried asnore by a quartermaster, who had it under his arm. I do not recollect his name, but I know that he must have been a superior seaman or he could not have been quar- termaster. Soon after breakfast, some time between 9 and 10 o’clock, I think, the sailors and marines, under command of Captain Mervine of the Savannah, numbering about 250 in all, went ashore. Commodore Sloat was on board of the Savannah at that time and dia not go ashore until after the prociamation had been read and the flag was flying. “It was a clear day, with little wind. The boats proceeded in order, meeting with no opposition or demonstration, to the beach. There was near the custom- house a small pier, or seawall, made of rough stones, taken, I suppose, from the bluffs near by, projecting out far enough to furnish a smooth space for a boat land- ing. This had been constructed for the | ‘use of merchant vessels, to give easy land- ing when the breakers were running in; but it was used for man-of-war boats also, and'it was for this place that we were headed. The people on shore—the native Californians and other nationalities hav- ing representatives at Monterey—all knew, of course, what an expedition of this sort, moving inshore with glisten- ing guns and swords, meant. General Castro was not there. In fact there was no Mexican force. The Mexican captain, ‘who had been there in the five days elaps- ing between the date of the arrival of the | | also knew that a Spanish Savannah in port and the appearance of this armed force, undoubtedly nad suffi- cient timeto decide what he would do. His détermination evidently was not to engage in a conflict. Neither he mnor his soldiers made themselves manifest. “Looking back through so many years and, as I say, being less impressed then with the significance of the day’s work | than I have since been, I am not able to say just what vessels were in port from my personal recollection, but I recollect that it was a pretty sight. Point Pinos was then heavily wooded. The country was undeveloped largely, but picturesque, and pleased the eye. In front of us was the white beach, beyond the rocky bluffs, and farther on was the small adobe town, in which the officers of first rank in the country had made their homes. Back of us were the American warvessels. Yes, it was altogether a very pretty picture, including the broad sweep of blue water and the Santa Cruz Mountains across the bay. ““When the boats reached the shore most of the population was near. Ladies and children and the native California men, spurs on heel, who were at home in the saddle, lookéd on with curiosity as we de- barked within a stone’s throw of the custom-house. In the gathering wasrep- resented the best society in this part of the country. the sailors and marines ashore, and they were at once formed and marched up to surround two sides of the custom-house— the side toward the Santa Cruz shore and It did not take long to get ! | Spanish fluently. the west. The forces were arranged in double ranks, forming two sides nearly of a hollow square. Facing the cunstom-house at the north were a group of staff officers, among whom was Rodman M. Price, who -had been in- suructed to read Commodore Bloat’s proclamation taking possession in behalf of the United States. I stood near the flagstaff at the north end of the custom- house, and near me was the quarter- master, who fastened the flag to the halyards and held himself in readiness to hoist the colors when the proper time should arrive. “You can see from this that if every- thing had gone smoothly I would not versonally have raised the flag, but there happened to be a hitch. I was given the proper signal or order, I forget which, and at once commanded the quartermaster: * ‘Hoist away! “The quartermaster pulled on the rope, but the flag did not go up. The halyaras were stuck some way. Ilooked up to see what could be the matter, but being near the flagstaff could not make out what the trouble was. Some officer shouted: “**The halyards are stuck, Toler; I'll go -up and fix it.” “This was Midshipman Edward Higgins, who was young like myself. He ran for- ward, and, throwing off his hat, climbed the staff, ana in a minute later shouted ‘hoist away; it's clear now.’ “In the first instance, after the quarters master had failed I took hold myself, being young, impatient and impetuous, and believing that the quartarmaster was at fanlt. I did not let gountil I haa hoisted the flag and haa fastened the hal- liards to the cleat. The Americans had now formally taken possession of the land, and the next to do was to provide for keep- ing a force ashore. “With very little delay the barracks formerly occapied by the Mexican soidiers were occupied. The barracks consisted of a long two-story adobe building, which was not torn down until a few years ago. Here was posted a naval force until the army officers came and the navy gradually with- drew from shore duty. The breastworks on the bluff above the custom-house was found to have three long brass cannons init, which the Mexicans had left there. 1t was thought best to build a block house, which was located just above the Mexican breastwork. This was a naval fort, being built by the navy. Icommanded that fort for a time, until I was succeeded by Mid- shipman Baldwin, since Admiral Baldwin, who outranked.me by seniority. The block house was known as Fort Mervine. It was armed with three 42-pound carron- ades, which are no longer made, but were in general use then in the navy.” Mr. Toler explained the coincidence of his being presentat the two American flag- raisings at Monterey. He spoke and wrote ‘When he was first ap- pointed a midshipman, Commodore Jones, who knew Mr. Toler's father well and who interpreter would be indispensable to him on the Pa cific Coast, at once asked the Secretary of the Navy to assign Midshipman Toler to bis ship, and this request was granted. As soon as Mr. Toler reported for duty he was made aid to Commodore Jones, ana he was constantly attached to that officer in bis movements. When the tlag was first raised by order of Commodore Jones the ceremonies, as they are recalled by | Mr. Toler, were substantially the same as those arranged four years later by Com- modore Sloat. In neither instance did the commodore go ashore. In the episode of 1842 Captain Armstrong commanded the landing force. The flag was raised at the same place in 1842 and 1846. What happened to Commodore Jones is 'a matter of historv. He had acted prematurely and the Government felt constrained to put him under censure and to give official disavowal to his work at Monterey, and he was accordingly re- tired for four years, which he passed at his bome by the Potomac River. Midshipman Toler had several odd ex- periences, Some time after he was re- lieved of the command of Fort Mervine he was attached to Captain Mattox of the marines, on shore duty, largely by reason of his ability to talk with'the Californians He Lad been promised by Commodore Stockton, who had succeeded Commodore Sloat, that he should have shore duty as Iong as that officer remained in com- mand of the squadron. Mr. Toler enjoyed shore life and had already made his plans WILLIAM P. TOLER, Now of Oakland, Who Raised the Flag at Monterey on duly 7, 1846. ITRUNCG, Ster <D — THE UNITED SJATES FRIGATE SAVANNAH, FLAGSHIP OF GOMMODORE JOHN D. SLOAT. This picture is drawn from an old sketch, and represents the Savannah just after she dropped anchor in Monterey Bay on the afternoon of July 2, 1846. was five days later when Commodore Sloat gave the order to have tho Stars and Stripes raised on shore. It to remain in California permanently. In | fact, he had written to his father and sister to come to California, and had ten- dered his resignation to Commodore Stockton, but had withdrawn the resigna- tion upon the promise of shore duty and with the understanding that if he should be ordered to sea he would renew his resignation. The navy regulations on shore do not appear to have been strictly lived up to at that time. One regulation of the de- partment provided that the hair should be worn short. Midshipman Toler let his hair grow, and out of this came an odd enough episode. One day Commodore Biddle sailed into port, and soon afterward, being in com- mand of thesquadron, went ashore to look about. He soon acquainted himself with all there was to see. When first his eyes lighted upon Midshipman Toler's long hair he gave a start and frowned. “Who is that officer with long hair?"’ he demended of Captain Mattox. The next question was, “Do you need him very much?”’ At the close of this short catechism Commodore Biddle turned to his secretary and said, “Mr. Clark, as soon as you go on board ship make out an order for Midship- man Toler to report at once for sea duty.” Mr. Toler at once filed a second resig- nation, which was promptly pigeonholed by Commodore Biddle. He protested very vigorously to Commodore Biddle, and said that he had made all his plans to remain in California; that he had long contemplated leaving the navy, but had re- mained while there was any war pro- gressing in California, and wound up by saying that the order to send him to sea was shameful. How he escaped a penalty for such talk, Mr. Toler says frankly, he does not know. The commodore was inexorable, and in a short time Toler was sailing for the East via Cape Horn. Com- modore Biddle added fuel to the fire by telling the young and ardent midshipman that the Toler family would thank him for sending the young man home. So it was that Mr. Toler had to resign three times to get out of the navy. The first resignation was offered to Commo- dore Stockton, the second to Commodore Biddle and the third to the Secretary of the Navy at Washington. The Secretary was willing to accept the third resigna- tion, but suggested that Mr. Toler should return to California on the frigate St. Mary’s, which was about to sail for the Pacific Coast, and on pay. This proposi- tion was accepted with thanks, but Mr. Toler provided apparel in New York in which to promptly appear as a civilian upon his arrival at Yerba Buena. He wmade the passage in an official capacity to San Francisco or Yerba Buena. The Bi. Mary’s bad hardly dropped anchor when Mr. Toler went below. Very soon thereafter the seamen, marines and officers witnessed an apparition that caused their eyes to dilate with genuine astonishment. There was Toler walking the deck with a fashionable street costume of broadcloth, wearing also on his head the highest of all bigh tile hats procura - ble. More than this, he affected aston- ishment conspicuously, like a regular landsman, at the aquatic scene and mari- time surroundings about him. He walked the deck until he came near the captain of the ship and strode ostentatiously back and forth in his neighborhood in all the pomp and circumstance of civilian attire. The Secretary of the Navy had made his resignation effective immediately upon the arrival of the ship at Yerba Buena, and he was now at one leap from the ranks of seafarers—a civilian. The captain of the ship looked at Toler in silence for awhile. Then the ears of thelatter were assailed by loud Jaughter. There stood the captain too much amused to remain quiet longer. Toler then left the navy and since then he has been a resi- One of the Savannah’'s Crew. | | to know whether it was justice that a man Charles Byrnes and Unpopular Gommander Charles Byrnes, one of the few surviving members of that famous party that landed | from the United States vessels and by raising the stars and stripes over the little adobe Custom-house of Monterey secured this glorious State to the American Na- tion, is a resident of San Francisco, having made his home here for a number of years past. Though more than seventy summers have whitenea his hair, Byrnes does not appear to be over 55 or 60, and his step and heart are still light and his memory of the events of those stirring days re- markable. He was & sailmaker aboard the frigate Savannah, the flagship of the American squadron, and, being a man of intelligence and considerable education, saw and remembered much that wonld have escaped tbe ordinary sailor. His narrative of the stirring events that pre- ceded and followed the raising of the flag is remarkable from the fact that many of the incidents he relates with the minute- ness of detail that is proof of their authen- ticity have never been given to the world, and are now published for the firt time. Though many years have passed since Byrnes followed his vocation as a sail- maker afloat he has lost none of his sea- faring instincts, and every day of the year, rain or shine, sees him on the water front in stores where sea-captains buy their supplies, or in other places where mari- ners congregate. Having a pension from the United States Government for his services during the Mexican war and some means of his own Byrnes is a man of leisure and spends the larger portion of his time discussing matters nautical with a few friends among the veterans of the sea, It was while in a reminiscent mood a few days ago that he told ot the raising of the flag and of the narrow margin by which the United States fleev prevented the Englizh from taking possession. “We had a merry chase with the English fleet all the way from Callao,” he said, ‘‘and while they never came within hailing dis- tance of us we had hardly completed the work of raising the flag and taking pos- session before they hove in sight off the harbor coming under full sail, but the day after the fair. “‘We learned afterward that they were from two to three days behind us at each of their stopping places, San Blas, Mazatlan, etc, only remaining long enough in each harbor to gain what infor- mation tbey could of our movements. It transpired afterward that Admiral Sey- mour, the English commander, had orders to seize the territory, to be held until certain large sums owing England by Mexico were paid. The American fleet consisted of the Savannah ana Congress, two as fine frig- ates as ever spread a sail, and the sloops Levant and Cyone. ‘Commodore Sloat was in command, \with Commodore Stockton next in rank. The Savannah had hardly dropped her anchor in_the blue waters of Monterey Bay on July 2, 1846, when a boat from shore brought the information that war had been declared. Tne declaration was read on the frigate’s deck, after the crew bad been mustered, and then the landing party was told off to goashore. Kive days later this party took formal possession by raising Old Glory, “I remember as piainly as though it was yesterday the line of smart boats pulling for.the shore in man-of-war style—single dent of California. Mr. Toler was born in Venezuela. His father, who was a native of Virginis, was at the time of his son’s birth a merchant in Venezuela. Mrs. Toler died, and the family returned to the United Btates, where Mr. Toler Sr. received an ap- pointment as Consul to Porto Rico, which position he occupied many years. W. P. Toler first filled the position of clerk to Attorney-General Crittenden. He was appointed a midshipman through the kind offices of Henry Clay, who, find- ing that Virginia had its full quota of ap- pointments to the navy filled, caused the young man to be named as coming from the Btate of Kentucky. The appointment :was dated in 1841, which was before the Naval Academy at Annapolis was insti- tuted. Mr. Toler had one sister, who mar- ried Judge L. W. Hastings of California, ——s Over 10,000 Irish people settle in Eng- Iand every year. file. Once ashore, the party was met by the alcalde, who was an American named Thomas O. Larkin. He had come out to this coast as the second mate of a ‘whaler, but the captain died and Larkin married his widow and settled ashore. Without loss of time the party, of which I was a member, marched to the custom-house, and one of our quartermasters, named Gil- lespre, raised the flag. “*A couple of days later the English fleet hov_e in lxx}xt. The stars and stripes were plainly visible from the harbor, ana Admiral Seymour must have seen the flag long before he came toa place where he <could anchor. ‘“The officers of the American vessels were watching the English closely, and rather expecting mischief, so that they were not greatly surprisea when tne Col- lingwood, Admiral Seymour’s flagship, hauled in between the Savannah and Cone gress,they being about three hundred yards apart. The Collingwooa was one of those immense 74-gun line-of-battle ships that His Memories of the the English in those days were fond o | calling the ‘wooden walls of England.’ She was a formidable vessel, and her tak- | ing the position she did, where she coud | use every gun on the most efficient ships of the American fleet, was looked upon as a belligerent act that immediately caused intense excitement aboard the Savannah and Congress. “Almost before she was thoroughly | moored in her position orders were given on the Savannah and Congress to clear decks for action. Train tackles were cast off and overhauled, the tompions were taken from the guns, and withina few moments we were in a good condition | where we could have given the Collingwood | & broadside in very short order. Assoon as the big English ship was in the position they wanted her, a boat was lowered and | Admiral Seymour came aboard of the | Savannah, He was a tall, fine-looking man, with a savage-looking scar across his forehea and cheek, where he had received a sabe=- cut in some action. “He saw our men at quarters as he came up the side and glanced keenly fore and aft, but never a word he uttered, but went | into the cabin with Sloat, where they re- mained for a considerable time. What was said at that conference we did not know, but at any rate the English did not offer any opportunity to test their mettle. The officers in command of our fleet did not let this ull them into a state of false security, however, but went on witn their warlike preparations. Several 24-pounders were landed and a blockhouse for their accommodation built on the heights com- manding the bay. I remember well the tremendous task we had hauling those ponderous ‘barkers’ up the hillside. The lines got so hot sometimes that we had to pour water on them to keep them from burning. ‘At another place a strong house sur- rounded by a picket stockade was built, with quarters for a good number of men. A brass fieldpiece formed part of the armament of the house. ‘“‘Sloat was & very unpopular man with the ship's crew, principally because he was a tyrant among the men. The cat-0’- nine-tails was his favorite sentence to offenders and usually he failed to investi- gate the offense before ordering the urn- fortunate triced up for punishment. “I remember one incident that wenta long way to make Sloat unpopular on the ship, and as I firmly believe led, through the instrumentality of Commodore Stock- ton, to the abolition of flogging in the American navy. It wasa rule then, as I suppose it is to-day, that orders must be obeyed promptly and 10 some extent blindly by the sailors of the ships. One day we were firing a salute to some officer or dignitary who had been atoard and was leaving in a boat. James McLaughlin, an old gunner 65 years old, who had been through the Tripolitan war, was at the port gun that was being used in the salute. “The first lieutenant was under the after ant a tongue-lashing that made the officer wince, and, showing the scars he had re- ceived in the war with Tripoli demanded vho had served his country faithfully and | well should be tied up and beaten like an animal. *'Sloat was determined that he should apologize, however, though the lieuten- ant would have been willing to let the matter pass. So the next two days Mc- | Laughlin was brought on deck for punish- ment and on his refusal to ask the officer’s pardon was flogged. After the third day the murmurs of the crew became so deep that it was thought best to desist and after being kept a few days longer in the brig McLaughlin was released. “The ship’s crew did not forget Sloat, however, and their opportunity to revenge McLaughlin’s scars came shortly after- wa:d, when Sloat started for home around the Horn in one of the sloops-of-war—I think it was ti:e Levant. ‘“‘As was usual when so important a per- sonage was leaving, preparations were made to show him all the bonors belong- ing to his rank. ‘‘The men were ordered to put on the suits that were reserved for state occa- sions—sailors had two distinct uniforms in those days—and as Sloat’s boat was pulled away toward the ship that would take him home, the order was given to the men, who had previously been sent aloft | to man the rigging from the main truck to the monkey rail, for three cheers. “Then happened the strangest thing that ever took place aboard a man-of-war. Instead of three cheers the 600 and odd men who made up the crew gave three tremendous groans that could be heard a mile. ‘Only one man cheered and that was an old cook, George Boyle by name, who had been a favorite of Sloat’s. His feeble voice was drowned In those of the crew. Sloat was standing up in his boat when the men went into the rigging, but when the soi- emn groans floated across the water he sat down abruptly and did not look toward the Savannah again while on the way to the Levant. *‘His departureleft Commodore Stockton in command and the fleet heaved a sigh of relief as the Levant disappeared in the offing. Stockton was a totally different kind of man from Sioat and was very pop- ular in the fleet, principally because he realized that sailors were human beings after all and should be treated as such. He was a manly man and his qualifications were respected by all under him. dent that happened at San Diego will illustrate to vou how he treated Lis men. “He was riding along on horseback when An inci- | one of the men from the Savantah, who had been drinking and who imagined be had a grievance against Stockton, seized his mount by the bridle and announced that he could and would thrash the com- modore. In those daysa man could be hanged for striking an officer. Instead of ordering the man on board in irons, as Sloat would have done, Stockton tried to pacify the man, explaining to him the folly of picking fights and nt!empting‘ to pass the affair off pleasantly. The sailor would not be denied, however, and Su_:-cp ton led the way to a convenieni place for a pugilistic encounter, where he gave the sailor such a beating as to linger on his memory and visage for many days, and then sent him aboard the !.hip. It was supposed, of course, that punishment was in order for the next day, but the hands were never ums:eredkt for that urpose again as long as Stockton was in tpha pfinvnngnnh, and the worst that befell the sailor—who was terror-stricken when he sobered up and realized the position he was in—was a quiet admonition to be more careful in the future. “Stockton became a Senator from New Jersey after retiting from the ser- vice and fathered the bill that finally abolished flogging on board of United States vessels. “When the flag was raised at Monterey it was deemed desirable to let the Ameri- cans at San Francisco, then Yerba Buena, and particularly the commander of the United States sloop-of-war Portsmouth, then lying in the bay, know of the affair as s0on as possible. “To this end a cutter from the Bavan- nah in charge of a lieutenant was dis- patched on the errand, it being thought advisable not to send away any of the warships at that time on account of the presence of the Collingwood and her three consorts. “The Mexicans were equally desirous of getting the news to the bay early and the moment the flag was flying two horsemen started overland as hard as they could go to carry the news. “The Savannah went to San Pedro shortly after the affair at Monterey, and in 1848 went home. She was nearly lost in the passage around Cave Horn, all hands being at work for a day before she was safe. “The last I heard of them there were three members of the Savannah’s crew be- sides myself surviving on this coast. Josephus Munson of Santa Cruz, William Quail of Slate Range and & man named Walker, a boatswain of the ship who lived at Vallejo.” GOLTON'S HALL AT MONTEREY A historic monument 1s Colton’s Hall in Monterey. It was in that hall that ‘Walter Colton, the first American Alcalde of Monterey, dispensed justice 1n the early days of the protectorate. It was in that hall that the first American school of the city was taught, and it was in that hall that the first constitutional convention of the State of California assembled. The last Legislaiure voted an appropriation to be used in the acquirement of that hall by the State, but the Governor’s veto delayed a consummation which is certainly to be wished. Walter Colton was a navy chap- lain, and was appointed Alcalde by Com- modore Stockton in July, 1846, a short time after the occupation of Monterey. The new Alcalde’s jurisdiction extended over an immense territory and over a most heterogeneous population. All the immi- grants, Colton deciared, “have come here with the expectation of finding little work and less law.” Through a discordant mass he was compelled to maintain order, punish crime and redress grievances. The city jail was a very weak concern, and con- finement therein was as much of a joke as it was a punishment. Colton introduced dignity into the Alcalde’s office, and he determined to bring about a system of law and order, and have a governmental head- quarters 1nto the bargain. He decreed that prisoners confined under his orders in Monterey would have to do physical labor for the benetit of the town that fed them. It was then he decided to buiid a public hall, and in carrying out that decision he gained the enmity of the gambling element. The story of how that hall was built is best told by John E, | Richards in his early reminiscenses of the California bench and bar. “Colton,” says Mr. Richards, “concluded that the town of Monterey needed a public hall, and took this novel way of raising the revenue to build it. Whenever he would be informed of a faro game of any size in progress, he would take his staff of justice ana repairto the scene of the game, ‘When he thought the pile of gold on the table large enough to sunit, he would lay his vara de justicia across the pile and then gather itin. Out of the proceeds of this novel form of judicial tribute, Colton Hall, which still stands in Monterey, was built; but Alcade Colton lost caste with the gamblers of Monterey, and with a Iustiness worthy of our modern day they clamored for a change.”” GHARLES BYRNES of This Gity, Who Was Sailmaker ‘on the Savannah Under Gommodore Sloat. deck, as was customary, and called out, *Are you ready? McLaughlin sang out, ‘No,’ for he had not taken the tompion out of his gun, but the lieutenant did not hear him, and gave the order, ‘Port fire!’ There was. nothing for McLaughlin to do but obey and he pulled the lanyard. “The result was that the tompion was sent with nearly the force of a shot and very narrowly missed killing the officer who was being saiuted as his boat pulled away. “McLaughlin was called up and Sloat de- manded to know why he had fired the gun with the tompion in. “He explained that he had signified that he was not ready, but the licutenant con- tradicted him, and though there were dozens of McLaughlin’s shipmates who would have testified that the gunner said he was not ready to fire the gun Sloat would hear no more, and ordered all hands piped on deck to witness punish- ment. - “McLaughlin was given his choice be- tween apologizing to the lieutenant for having disputed his word, or taking a dozen lashes, and chose the latter. “He was stripped to the waist, triced up in the rigging and given a dozen on his bare back that brought the biood at every swing of the cat. Then he was cut down and put in the brig, though before he could be ironed there he gave the lieuten-