The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 23, 1898, Page 12

THE SAN FRANCISCO ¢© UNDAY, ., =k JANUARY 13U, Goat Island the harbor was one vast forest of ships’ masts. . They came from all parts of the world loaded with Most of the crews, catching the gold fever, deserted for the One ship, the Niantic, moo-ed on what is HIS panorama or sau Franciscd was taken by Mr. Shew, the pioneer photographer, in 1851, from the | top of Rincon Hill. city have so merchandi mines. STORY OF THEO adventurers and gold hunters. The vesse!s were thus compzlled to anchor for months. now the corner of Clay and Sansome streets, was compelled to remain there for two vears, and was used as a -yarehouse for the overstock of provisions that the merchantmen had flooded the market with. The watsr’s edge is what is now Montgomery street, and from that point out to many ships been anchored in the bay. Never before or since in the history So great was LDEST PIONEER IN CAL FORNIA BY HARRY J. BEE, A Pioneer of 1830. LUIsS OBISPO, a resi AN Harr California’s vears a within the mnoved to che h oupe Be: County, der of now past 9 ived a s Miners cial invi Conver River h the Straits first square r complish_this was reache and after di P again anchor was we and the set sail for , Cal. On the v down Harr: quarrel with discharg e watch- e brig aped to th 1830, and mate and as As it was 1 ed his opportur rived at Mont ¥ shore. This was in Octot from that time until the pres Bee has been a resident of ( Monterey at that time nothing but the Presic Mexican diers. After in the place Harry went t Valley, and until th was employed by Captain herding sheep. From Coope he returned to Monterey. In 1836 he j commanded by for the purpose tempt to libe ico. From marched to there they found eve Harry, receiving cons guar > company Graham the at- thing quiet, an offer to take charge of Thomas O. Lar s sto rema ed in Monterey the comr marched southw days erward there we f a gressive movement on the®part «¢ soldiers of the his company. and afte rendered, the HE WALKED TO CALIFORNIA »se Figueroa, having previously been captured by Harry Bee and an Amer- ican named Kinlock. 1n 1838 Harry married Clara Moreno : the pueblo of San Jos In 1840, with Car and r foreigner he was by the n Californians un- r Governor Juan Baptiste Alvarado 1 General Castro and taken to Mon- After twelve de confinement taken out and tried by a court- ial a traitor, but as no evidence could be adduced agai 4 restored to ever, was 1d his ¢ Alv ruz with his f mained until the ened to cut the throats of all the fo n the county > pla > afterward celebr: time the flag” od in California he joined Gene s command and was with oldiers in front of the Pl > when the news arrived that modore Sloat had captured Mon- v and that the American flag was ng from t presidio. Castro’s com- nd broke up, a few casting their lots with the Mexican commander, but the rity, among whom was Harry, making up their minds to join the Americans. Securing a hor he rode to Monterey and was heartily w comed by the Commodore, who was in need of a man who could tell him all about the country. Captain John C. remont, the “Pathfinder,” was then somew i onoma County. Com- of commu- ting with him, and he asked Harry to carry dispatches to Fremont and Iso deliver a verbal message that the Bear flag” must be pulled down and the American flac substituted Mounted on a fleet herse, young Bee took the trail, and in gocd time reach- ed Fremont’s encampment, on the North Fork of the American River. The delivery of the verbal message incens- ed Fremont, and he vented his ill-feel- ing on Bee, who used his own tongue in such a way that he was placed under arrest. When Fremont’s company reached Monterey Harry was released from stody by order of Commodore Sloat, 0 W indignant at the manner in which his messenger had been treated. After his discharge Harry returned sined the company of Lieutenant J. R. V mough in the of guide and interpreter. 1In ent with- Quartermaster, aft- erward General Ord, to buy mules for the Government. Afterward he held > office of Alguazil under Alcaldes John Burton, Charles E. White and J. W. Weeks. In 1848, when the gold fever broke out in earnest and everyhb the mines, Bee started He went to Dry Diggings, American River, months, clearing in that time $9000, and then returned to his ‘n San J HO! FOR CALIFORNIA Over on and remained three the about family THE GLOBE FOR GOLD.’ MONG the earliest arrivals, that is, vessels carrying more than cargo and supercargo, were the vessels that brought Stevenson’s regiment to San Francisco, the Thomas H. Perkins, Susan Drew and Loo Choo. They left New York on the 26th of September, 1846, and saile® FROM OLD MISSGURK around the Horn, reaching this port on March 7, 1847, in 163 days. It was months after the famous dis- ‘overy that the fact became known in e United States, on account of the slow methods of transmission of new It was not then, a it. is now, when an event occurring in San Francisco may be given to the -veople of the East inside of five minutes and to the world at large in- side of two hours, but in that long ago of slow communication the transmis- sion of news depended upon so; one g0 to the States by way of the trackless plains or upon the still more uncertain departure of some . vesse that would round the Horn and stop port on the not until 1 out by > new El Dorado, and ar- from 1849. ything that could into the service s, and the pione were that gr: at this time; > the harbor of the: with fine mode! modern ci the majority w what are known as “old tub managed to get here, v ng according to vind and sailing qual 3 days, in the year 1848 to 2 of the siz here in that fact that the fifty-se secutive ord tom-house of 216 tons The demand for pa gave the famous clipper ships, built for comfort and speed. While the av- erage pa 123 days, the trip fr s, notably the a of the Cus- cords showed an average nger vessels here in 51 in cighty-nine d time considered a most remarkable voyage. Then the next favorite route of trav- el was by way of the Isthmus of Dari- en, when passengers were carried from New York to Aspinwall, then occupy- ing five days and a half crossing the isthmus, and then taking the steamer at Panama; the Oregon, Panama and California, being pioneers on this side and the fare being $300 cabin and $175 in the steerage. The: were old side- wheelers builc expres: for the trade. Subsequently, in January, 1853, the time by this lne was shortened, for the isthmus railroad was opened, and of the hunters. hills. the boatmen charging $1o for each passenger. sels and raised on piles. gave the name to the hill. THE FIRST PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN OF SAN FRANCISCO IN 185l the crush of vesseis: that te incoming steamers could not force their way through and passengers had to be rowed in small boats to ths wharf In the for-ground of the picture is the famous hotel of those days, which was built from old ves- Despite its homely architecture, its prices were enormous, but were cheerfully paid in gold dust by the successful fortune The section of the city near the junction of what is now Sacramento and Mason streets was then considered in the suburbs. house put up there was built by a Mr. Sohyer, contrary to the advice of his friends, who laughed at him for building so far out among the sand- Where his hous= once s*cod, blocks away trom any other structures in those days, is now the heart of the cit A number of small shanties sp-ang up like mushrooms at the base or Telegraph Hill, and on the top was bui.t the telegraph station which There was one house on Goat Island, where passengers in rowboats and sailboats sought safety from storms while The first f=g=Reg=goR=geg=2=3 =1 How the Discovery of Gold and the Outcome of a Horserace Were Chron- icled in 1848. faR==gegegegege] A horse race came off at the Dolores Mission course (three miles from town) on Monday, March 6, between a horse of W. A. Leidsdorff, Esq., of this place, and one of Mr. Hedspath of The judges decided in fa .dspath’s, he being a lit- the othe the coming out place. We are not DOOVOVOVVVOBVOENN juainted with the language of the turf, and consequently can give only common Gold Mine Found. ly made raceway of the sawmill recently erected by Captain Sut- ter on the American Fork, gold has been found in able quantities. One person brought thirty dollars’ worth to New Hel- athered there in a short 1i no doubt, alth; great cientific i been found in Pex=] In the new- consid is CLOOCVOAL 0000000V OCAVO00VOVDOCRNVOW GOOOVOVVOVOO0D o o fe¥etalatututatalatantntoiagatateioiateiedcy Then came in 1858 the establishment of the overland line of stages known as the terfield line, through California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Ar- kansas, which left twice a week, and while the time of the trip was no shorter than by steamer, the advantage gained was that mail was received twice a month, instead of once a month by water. While it w admitted that the over- land route was a decided improvement over the other routes in the carrying of mail matter, for in addition to the Pacific Mail route or Panama route, there was the opposition or Tehuante- pec route; there was a demand for less time between the east and the wes and that led in the latter part of 1859 to the organization of the Pony ex- press. This was between Sacramento and St. Joseph, the then most westerly ached by railroad, and it was calculated that by a rel of riders and horses the distance of 1900 miles could be covered in ten days. The route was From an Old Caricature in Punch. 1869, and the early trips were made in nine days, and since then the time has been reduced to what it is now—four and one-half days by the Central Pa- cifie. EGGS A DOLLAR EACH What IT COST TO LIVE THEN. EiT HAT'S a pretty steep price,” said a prospective Klon- diker, as he was negotiating for an outfit in a local store tc go to the frozen North. “My dear s said the store- keeper, “I'm giving you the lowest SCENE IN the trains traverseu iu € and one- half hours the territory that under the previous system occupied five and one- half days in crossing. On this line were carried the mails, and the people on this side were happy when they received a letter or a paper from home in about five or six days less than they had been in the habit of receiving them. Twenty-five or six days from New York was looked upon as rapid transit. And every one look- ed for the arrival of the steamer with news from the East with an anxiety that probably has never had a parallel in any community. When a mail steamer was sighted the fact was made known by a signal, understood by ev- ery one, displayed frcm the staff on Sweeny & Baugh's observatory, on top of Telegraph Hill, and then all was ex- citement. If a customer entered a store to order a bill of goods, he was told: “The steamer’s coming in; come round in the morning, and we'll tend to your businses over the Sierras by way of Salt Lake, and the tariff on letters was $5 per half ounce. The service was started from Sacramento and St. Joseph on the 3d of April, 1860, and the courier with the mail from St. Joseph reached Sacra- mento April 13, and the next morning the mail reached this city. The letters wereallon tissue paper. Richard H. Has- lam, known as “Pony Bob,” rode 380 miles on one stretch, and William F. Cody, “‘Buffalo Bill,” on another occa- sion 384 miles with the mail. In March, 1861, the Pony express brought Lin- coln’s message in 7 days and 17 hours, the fastest time made by the ponies. The breaking out of the War of the Rebellion closed the Butterfield route overland, and then the overland route on the line followed by the Pony ex- bress was established, and the time was about two days less than by the southern route. This was kept up un- til the new era of travel to the Golden State was inaugurated. That was t+~ 7ailroad which was opened ‘u June, — prices for just such goods as you will need in that country; of course we have a finer grade of goods, but these will answer the purpose just as well, and they are just as serviceable, but not 80 showy.” “Now go over that list again,” said the intending purchaser. “Certainly,” said the accommodating clerk. “We have here heavy under- wear, $2 50 a suit; shirt of gray or blue flannel or wool, $2 50; a mackintosh or wool lined coat, $10; a rubber wool lined overccat. 34; blankets, $6 a pair; rubber boots, $8; gloves, 50 cents a pair; wool- en mitts, 75 cents a pair; blanket lined overalls, $1 50; snowshces, $2 50, and overccat that will keep you as warm as a hot stove, $25. Yes, here’s a fur- lined cap with flaps to protect your ears, $4. That, altogether, makes $70 25. Now, you will need sume duplicates. I'll tell you what T'll do. I'll fit you up in_all the clothing that you need for, “Gee * exciaimed the man vho FRONT OF POSTOFFICE, SAN FRANCISCO, ON wanted to get ready for the Yukon country, “but that knocks spots out of five twenties.” “Look here, my young friend,” said a grizzled-bearded old man who was standing by and overheard the conver- sation, “‘why, you ain’'t got the grit we used to have in the early days of Cali- fornia. Of course, we didn’t need all these heavy garments that this young man has mentioned, but it used to cost us as much for a pair of rubber boots, a couple of shirts, some underclothing and a hat as he’s charging you for the whole outfit. The prices of real estate went up among the stars; $8000 for a fifty-vara lot that had be $20. n bought in 1848 for Yet for all that, everybody made v, although a man might at the squalor of his I s h that he might part with his at any pri to some other appetite From an Oid Print Roast pork, with apple sauc: Baked mutton, caperisauc Corned beef and cabbage Ham Curr ausa s . Lamb and green peas Venison. wine sauce . 3 Stewed kidney, champagne sauce Fresh eggs, each . °t potatc h potatoe d pudding Mince pie . Brandy peaches Rum omelette Jelly omelett: Cheese omelette Prun . FE o - T He the menu that wa i} El Dorado Hotel at Hangtow Beef, with one pot. Beef up along ked be New potat, 5} peeled ... “STEAMER DAY," 184950 man. It was some such man as this who preserved the following bill of fare of the Ward House for the dinner there on October 27, 1849: Oxtail soup . 100 100 Roast lamb, stuffed. Roast mutton, stuffed. acka Jackas 3 che n advan s ¢n end of bar— mentioned cost $30, * and forks not less the coarse kniv 325 a pair. 62660000 0006006000068 MY EACITING LIF CHILD BORN N 8Y MRS. @ < & EING the first white child born in California, perhaps I take a deeper interest than others. I was born at Sutter's Fort on September 3, 1846. My father, John Gregson, and mother had come to Cali- fornia the year before from Illinois. in her welfare They arrived at Johnston’s ranch, on Bear Creek, on October 20, 1846, and a couple of weeks later they moved to Sutter’'s Fort, where father obtained employment at his trade of blacksmithing. Here my birth occurred the following fall. The fort at that time consisted of about one hundred men and a few women. But the discovery of gold soon made the place a bustling headquarters for mining men. Shortly after my birth father joined a company that was or- ganized to go to General Fremont at Monterey. They took down a drove of horses. When General Vallejo was a prisoner of the Bear Flag party at the fort father was one of the guards in charge of the distinguished personage. My birth, according to my parents’ QOO0 OVOVOOPOPVVVOROOOOOOGOOSISSES Ao @ R. M. REID % @ 4 ®® % version, created great excitement at the little fort. When the Indians heard of me, they, too, must see the little paleface. The were amused, but skeptical; and in- sisted on pinching me to make me cry before they were satisfied I was alive. The squaws hung around the place and watched me for hours at a time. Captain John Sutter was so pleased over the event that he wanted my par- ents to call me John Sutter Gregson. and said he would give me a league of land if they would do so. But they hardly thought John Sutter a prop r name for a girl, and I was called Ar Gregson, and his wish went filled. In February, 1848, father went to Coloma to assist Marshall in buildir = the millrace in which gold was di-- covered. He was with Marshall at th time he found the gold. The pick which was used on the ditch and wh ‘was really instrumental in the gold L ing discovered, was made by my fath.: at Sutter’s Fort. It was the first pic\ made in California. ' The news of the existence of gold California soon spread, 5 unful-