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The rehabilitation was
keenly felt throughout the Spanish colonies, particularly in Mexico
and the Californias, all of which were ably administered by Jose
Galvez, the great agent of the Spanish crown in America, whose
zeal and enthusiasm in carrying out his sovereign's policy of
expansion are matters of historical comment.
For a century and a half, Spanish statesmen had been
intending to colonize the Californias. Their plans included
possession of Monterey Bay, formerly discovered by the Spanish
navigator Vizcaino. They considered this harbor the finest on the
Pacific Coast, and desired it for the use of their ships engaged in
the Philippine trade.
With this purpose in view, Charles III hastily
dispatched a number of veteran Spanish regiments to America with
instructions to Jose Galvez to commence an active campaign. When
they landed at Vera Cruz, Galvez assigned them to posts of duty
along the frontier. One of these, a dragoon regiment bearing the
name of "Espana," contained a company under a captain who was
destined to play an important part in the fulfillment of the Spanish
monarch's plan for the settlement of the Californias, including that
portion of the mainland which has since become San Mateo County.
This officer's name was Gaspar de Portola, who later
became the first. governor of California, and led the expedition in
search of Montery Bay which terminated in the unwitting discovery of
San Francisco Bay in 1769. Gaspar de Portola, although not a
brilliant historical character, was nevertheless an able and
faithful officer whose career has become of great interest to all
Californians.
For a time after his arrival at Vera Cruz, Gaspar de Portola served
on the frontier of the viceroyalty of New Spain, in the provinces of
Sonora and Sinaloa, where a minor war was being waged against the
Indians. About this time King Charles, following the example of
France and Portugal who were waging a general war on the Jesuits,
decided to expel this order from his kingdom, as they had become
very powerful and he feared the influence they exerted.
It fell to the veteran captain, Gaspar de Portola,
acting under orders from Jose Galvez, to expel the Jesuit fathers
from Mexico. With Portola's commission for this work came also his
appointment as the first governor of Lower California, in which he
was given entire charge of the civil and military administration of
that peninsula. He superintended the arrests of the Jesuits and the
inventorying of all the property of their missions, to the
satisfaction of Galvez and the Crown.
While Gaspar de Portola was performing these duties
which included the establishment of Franciscan fathers under Father
Palou, in missions left vacant by the Jesuit fathers, other events
in Europe were leading up to his greatest achievement.
Word came to the court of Spain from the Spanish
ambassador at Petrograd, reporting Russian colonial activity in
Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, aiming at territorial
aggrandizement. This disquieting news influenced the Spanish Crown
to immediately carry out the long deferred project of taking
possession of Monterey harbor and connecting it with Mexico by a
chain of missions, settlements and forts.
Galvez. in Mexico, entered into the movement for the
occupation of Upper California with all the impetuous energy which
always characterized his every effort in the service of his master,
the King of Spain. For this purpose, two expeditions were
immediately outfitted; one to go by land and the other by sea-and
these were simultaneously dispatched to Upper California. The
objective of both expeditions had been described by the Spanish
navigator, Sebastian Vizcaino, as a magnificent harbor, when he
sailed by that port on his exploring expedition in 1602-03.
Strange as it may seem, both expeditions failed to
reach the desired goal. The sea expedition which consisted of two
schooners, the San Jose and the Principe, both laden with provisions
and supplies, set sail under auspicious circumstances. After,
heading up to the latitude of Monterey they were forced to turn back
to Santa Barbara channel for want of water; and finally they
returned 'to San Diego, just in time to avert starvation for the
colony established there.
The land party was placed under the command of Gaspar
de Portola. The trip up the peninsula to San Diego was safely made
and a mission was established at this port. Using San Diego as a
base. of operations, on July 14th, the party again proceeded on
their journey. From this point the route was along the coast between
the mountains and the sea. At the place where Los Angeles grew up
they swerved inland, and did not reach the seashore again until in
the region of Ventura. At San Luis Obispo the coast route became so
difficult that they were obliged to turn inland again and scale the
Santa Lucia Mountains, whence they passed into the Salinas Valley
and from there by a gentle descent arrived at modern Castroville.
Although at this point they recognized Point Pinos and
other distinguishing features of the Monterey region, they did not
realize that the bay they sought lay before them. On October 5,
after calling a council, they decided to look for Monterey Bay
further north. The next day the party continued wearily, with scant
provisions, and on October 8th passed over a river which they named
"Pajaro," in token of an immense bird which they found stuffed with
straw. This had apparently been abandoned at their approach by the
natives who were preparing it for some ceremony. The bird measured
seven feet and four inches between outstretched wing tips. On the
17th they arrived at the present site of the City of Santa Cruz and
gave the San Lorenzo River its name. On the 20th, camp was pitched
near the entrance to the canon of Waddel Creek, about three miles
from Point Ano Nuevo which they recognized from a description of
Cabrero Bueno.
Sickness and shortage of rations, which were now reduced to five
tortillas of bran and flour per day, delayed the Argonauts here
until the 23rd, when they again set forth. They made two leagues
that day and by nightfall had reached the vicinity of Gazos Creek
where there was a large Indian rancheria. The next day they traveled
twice this distance and made camp on San Gregorio Creek. Illness
delayed them here until the 27th when they again pressed forward.
The next day's march was over one of the roughest
sections of country that they had yet covered, being interspersed
with deep gulches or arroyos, over three of which they were obliged
to construct rough-and-ready bridges upon which they carried their
sick and led the pack animals. They rested on the banks of Purissima
Creek that night beside an old abandoned Indian rancheria. The
soldiers took possession of the huts, but almost immediately came
running forth with cries of, "las pulgas! las pulgas!" (the fleas!
the fleas!). Although piously-inclined Crespi, their spiritual
leader, named the place San Ibon, the grosser name has persisted,
and survives in the appellation of "Las Pulgas Rancho," which became
one of the largest Spanish land grants in the country.
The 28th of the month found the wanderers' camp pitched
on the future site of Halfmoon Bay or Spanishtown, upon the banks of
Pilarcitos Creek. Almost every man in the little force was ill,
including the commander; and it was not until Oct. 30th that the
column moved on again, passing Halfmoon Bay and Pillar. Point, both
of which were observed and noted in the records of the expedition.
At a point about a mile north of where the Montara fog
signal is now located, the party found a "rincon" or corner which
offered a pleasant shelter against the north wind. A little stream
furnished water, and on the beach was an abundance of mussels and
other shell fish.
Here. the main party stopped, and Sergeant Ortega with
a few companions went on a reconnaissance over the hills to the
northeast. In four days he returned to headquarters with the news of
the Golden Gate effectually blocking passage further north, with
Point Reyes beyond, and the porte (the southern arm of San Francisco
Bay) stretching to the southward. The main party then, with Portola
at their head, ascended the hills and confirmed Ortega's report.
Looking from the summit of Montara Mountain, an
inspiring panorama unfolded. Far to the north, just visible through
the October haze were the white cliffs of Point Reyes with Mt.
Tamalpais in the foreground ; while on the northwest the Farallones
were faintly outlined. Before them stretching to the southward, lay
the porte, around which it was their intention to advance northward.
The whole expedition then marched down the eastern
slopes of the San Morenas and camped somewhere between Searsville
and Redwood City. By this time sickness had again broken out in the
party, and provisions were almost exhausted. In addition to this the
Indians were daily becoming more hostile. The leaders held council
and it was decided to immediately retrace their steps, and seek the
porte of Monterey at a later period.
The return trip was made along the route followed
north. After many hardships they reached San Diego on January 24,
1770, just in time to relieve that station from starvation. A second
expedition led by Gaspar de Portola was more fortunate and succeeded
in locating Monterey Bay.
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