Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • Page 49

1 If ATTQJ DO. 5 VOL CL OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, MAY 29, 1949 NO. i 149 fEGISLATIVjS leaders, restive over the con- dition of the jle after 12 post-recess weeks, are about ready to turn on the of his country. For 15 years he was commander at the Pueblo of San Jose. He married Loreto Alviso, by whom he became the father of 1U had broken loose, for everything had been so quiet.

We slept little that night; with a heavy frost and icy blasts from snow-covered moun- clasped in silent communion with the Almighty, he remained throughout the day, bagging God to save this, the dream of his life, his California well 'is the owner of priceless antiques which she collected from all over the world. In the collection are Frerich clocks, rare missions. Darkness finally crept across the skies and it seemed that the day was but. But then, as the sun sent its last long rys iover the water, there appeared, as if in miraculous to that prayer, a ship, its white sil like a ghost upon the horizon Supplies 1 Thus by the prayers of Padre Serra was Spain's, foot- hold in the new world maintained The adpbe shelters which served as missions wee built at first by skilled laborers brought by the padres for this purpose. Soldiers! were sent into the hills to round up the Indians who did.

not come of their own volition for, conversion at the missions, and soon the adobe structures were enlarged to accommodate these Indian neophytes who became interested Sn the ways and beliefs of the white man. In thje course of inculcating into the heathen the Christian faith. Father Serra learned thi languages of the different Indian tribes wherever he went and in turn taught them their prayers ii Spanish. In many ways he endeared himsell to the natives and gained their confidence. Ini teaching them religion, he increased their interest by having the mysteries of the faith acted out in the chapels.

With the Indians themselves playing the roles of the virgin, St. Joseph, the onncilcc nil tVi Hnrtrinp: nf t.Kp heTipf he desired to teach them were enacted, i Many were the "props" brought from Spain rtv 1U1 these dramas, some of which may still be seen in the old missions. Once they had become baptized and converted to the Spaniards' method of living, they were taught at the missions all the advances in civilization which their protectors claimed ahead of them. Padres taught them to till the soil, to plant food, srjin, to weave and to sew. They were also taught to play musical instruments and to lift up their voices in song for the glory of God.

Landmark Is Sold i An old California home and estate the story of which is linked with many notable names and events of the past, changed hands recently when Mrs. Beda Sperry-Bodwell, jwidoiv of Charles Augustus Bodwell sold it to a' San Franciscan. From a story in thefPetaluma Argus-Courier the Knave quotes somg informative paragraphs: "The spacious home, a landmark, was built in pioneer days by fthe father of C. A. Bodwell Jr.

The Lakeville jpostoffice was for years on the property, and was discon- mued some time ago. The building! was sold lecently and was moved to a neighboring ranch Bodwell senior was the postmaster of jthe country office. When Mr. and Mrs. 'Gus Bodwell took possession of the estate which occupies 260 acres, they remodeled the old (dwelling, converting it into one of the most Attractive country homes, with a wide porch, ati asset qf beauty, and the gorgeous gardens, aj glory of color lending added charm, with rolling hills in the distance creating a natural background.

it was in mis nome wnere xvir. ana ivirsi rsoaweii entertained their friends with genuiie hospi- tality. In years that have past, they jpresided as hosts at many brilliant social events with many notables included as their giests. A daughter of the late Austin 'Sperrv, wsho came here in 1849 by way of Cape Horn, Irs. Bodwell was reared in wealth.

Her father! was the founder and owner of the Sperry Fldur Mills in Stockton. She was educated in an Exclusive girls' school and a pianist of great abiitv. Her mother, and the late Mrs. Bodwell came here together from the New England states. Through their lives they were the closest of friends.

Mrs. Beda Bodwell first visited the -i Bodwell home at Lakeville as a child-some 80 years ago. She is now making her nome in Berkeley. Bodwell Landing "Her marriage to the only son of the Ebdwells took place in San Francisco. Later the couple lemoved to Lakeville, where Bodwell ied recently.

The original 10-room home, buil in the; early days, is probably one of the oldest in the Lakeville section, and within its walls many of the pioneers of early days were feted, Ind enjoyed the hospitality of the late Mr. arid Mrs. Bodwell, who were parents of the late Mrs. Ross Morgan and C. A.

Bodwell Jr. The Bodwell Landing where boats were moored in early days, is located on the property The boats, including the steamer Gold, hauled the; silver glassware andfurniture that was owned byher grandfather. 'With the sale of the prop erty it is the first time in many decades that the Bodwell home has een owned by others than members of the family." i Johannesburg In the first week of May, John W. Winkley was on the Mojave with 'wme friends, collecting minerals and observing, the wild-flowers. He tells' me, "We left Barstow late one afternoon, driving to Johannesburg to spend the night.

In the Randsburg Quadrangle we found four old communities verging cn ghost-town status. After a dark and lonely ride across 25 desert miles we reached Atolia, once a busy town where in World: War I tungsten was mined for the Allies. When an later years the price of tungsten slumped, Atolia was largely deserted. A few miles further the town of Red Mountain (so-called from the peak of that name nearby) came into view. We were warned by a service station man down the highway not to stay there because of the roughs that congregate in the place.

Red Mountain's honky-tonks, saloons, gather in visitors from surrounding communities. It was on Red Mountain in 1919 dur- snowstorm that Hamp Williams, a pros- pecxor. siumoiea umu aumc num that led him to the discovery of the famous Big Kelly Mine, later known as the Rand Silver Mine; This was said' to be the richest silver minefever found in California. In Johannesburg we stopped at the ancient Hotel St. George, the only public house remaining in the village.

The rooms of the quaint old hotel are built around an open court and a large, divided room off one corner, provided the only toilet and shower facilities. with its neighbor, both named for the large Transvaal cities of South Africa, were once thriving mining towns. They lie on opposite sides of Rand Mountain, 'where numerous gold and silver mines were? operated. Gold was discovered in this region in 1893. and a rush was soon under way to the Rand.

The richest mine of the area was the Yellow Aster Gold Mine on the mountainside-at Randsburg. It is said to have produced about 16 million dollars of gold up to the time it was shut down in 1942 during the second World War. In the washroom of old St. George Hotel, we talked with some men from Los Angeles, who were prospecting in the vicinity, hopeful of some new' strikes. Johannesburg is well-nigh forsaken, yet a peaceful and pic turesque old mining town.

seemed larger and livelier and some mining seems to be going on. Its buildings are scattered about the mountainside as though dumped from a sack. Both old towns live in confident expectation that mining will boom again and the communities regain their former prosperity." Grisly Scenes Regretfully, it must be said that grisly scenes often marred the early mining life ofv Nevada Count So writes Edmund G. Kinyon the Union of Grass Valley and Nevada City. But a chronicler as scrupulous as Kinyon must take the grisly with the good, knowing all the time that the former Were not peculiar to any one era.

Writes Kinyon: "The shocking whip ping post was invoked on slight pretext and probably at times scant evidence of guilt Branding was practiced. Both informal ana legal executions for minor offenses, such as theft and claim trespass, appear to have had too frequent exemplification. Forty years ago Charles McElvey, old-timer at Nevada City, gave The Union reporter this account of a seamy episode at the young county seat. As paraphrased, the tale runs this wise: John Barrett, native of Ireland, was formally hanged on June 16, 1852, on a flat three-quarters of a mile east of town. His crime career had started with the theft of a Colt pistol.

He was caught, but let off upon return of the weapon. Soon thereafter he was charged with robbing miners at Newtown. For that he was severely whipped and for good measure branded 'T' on the forehead. Moreover, he was ordered to leave the county. At Rough and Ready, the culprit employed a young doctor to so scarify the brand as to iiake the theft mark illegible.

But Barrett, whose'capacity for punishment seems returned to Nevada City where he was charged with unspecified grand larceny. For essional capacity. The audience numbered 600. The proceedings were hasty and little delayed by formalities. the judgment of the court, was read.

Barrett died without a struggle. He had, blamed his plight on intemperance -THEEKATO tians, we were very cold in our thin clothing, The cold was uncomfortable, to sav nothing of the wolves. Independence Rock June 19 After crossing the Red Buttes, which was red sand in jagged elevations of all kinds, scantily covered with sage and buffalo grass, we came to a mineral spring and lake. We crossed a small stream of alkali water which was very destructive to animals that drank of it. The incrustations appeared like flour all over the ground in this section.

Bones of oxen lay scattered everywhere. Our stock was nearly famished for water; neither could we find any grass for them to eat. The bottoms of all the streams were strongly impregnated with alkali a thick crust on surface of some creeks. June 20 Started early in morning to hunt for grass. Came to Sweetwater River about middle of day; grazed our stock and rested then.

Sweetwater is a beautiful stream of pure water which heads near the South Pass of the Rocky; Mountains. On this stream we found a giant boulder, a rock of gray granite about 70 feet high, christened ''Independence Rock" by Colonel Fremont. The southern side of it was literally covered with names, dates, and addresses where a smooth enough surface afforded itself. Some carved their names, some painted them, some were high, some were low. June 21 This day we reached the canyon.

Devil's Gate, where the stream breaks through a spur of mountain about 400 feet deep, cutting solid rock with perpendicular sides. Just before coming to this we passed between a narrow defile of rocks sandy and bad traveling. We stopped for the view from the side of the mountains, their tall peaks pointing heaven-ward and glittering like so many crystals in the noondav sun. We made camp in the canyon. When the moon came out the walls of the canyon looked so solitary, so still, but were a beautiful flame color from the reflection of the setting sun.

It's queer how much farther away the stars looked from the bottom of the canyon than elsewhere. Saw a mountain goat on a crag he stood looking at me, never moving a muscle; perhaps he never saw a man before. June 22 After leaving this rocky canyon we came upon a fertile meadow covered with beautiful grass. In sight of snow clads all day. Game was abundant here antelopes, mountain sheep, deer, and buffalo.

We passed through several tribes of Indians during the last few days Caws, Pottawatomies, Pawnees, Sioux, Crows. Day's travel 28 miles. Mission Miracles As the day approaches for the publication of Patricia Soito's booklet, Hundred Tears of Pleasanton," the Knave is privileged to offer another excerpt. Advance orders for the book, at $1 each, the Knave understands, are coming in. The author may be reached at Star Route No.

6, Box 39. Pleasanton. The chapter: Stones of the early California mission settlements are fraught with miracle tales. When you: consider how a handful of Spanish padres, arriving in a land entirely unknown to them, were able to completely revolutionize the lives of the inhabitants whom they had found living 5000 years behind them in civilization and culture, you contemplate a feat which in itself seems little short of miraculous. There were times of course when the Spaniards feared they had undertaken the impossible.

Wild beiasts and hostile savages, not to mention the ominous perils of the, at that time, unknown seas, all these the inspired padres had faced with in- domitable courage for the sake of souls for their God. They had come devout and. sincere, fired only with the desire to spread the light of Christianity to the unfortunate heathen who lived in darkness. But the land was strange to them, and, unacquainted with its potential fertility, they nearly starved while Ferdinand, in far off Spain, neglected to send the needed foodstuffs and other essential items of living. Discouraged, the men had packed their bags and turned their backs upon the promise that lay at their feet, bent upon abandoning it to the naked Indians and returning to the comforts of Mexico whence they had journeyed.

At San Diego the little band of explorers and priests had gathered, preparing to leave California forever, and all but one had become convinced that colonization was futile. It was too far from their source of supplies. One Held Hope But one man held hope. Staunch in his zealous desire to rescue from Satan the souls of the savage Indians, Junipero Serra begged Caspar de Portola to allow just one more day; Delay in the new land now but brought theim that much closer to starvation. Yet, moved by faith of the fervent padre, Portola relented.

The day was granted. Just one day. It was then that the good priest went up to the hill overlooking the blue bay and prayed. Alone there, his, hands children, Cresanter Ygnacio, Domingo, Antonio and Vicente; daughters, Teodora, Trinidad, Josefa, Quadaleepe and Maria. In consideration of meritorious services rendered his country, the Spanish government, by Pablo de Esola, August 23, 1820, made Don Luis Peralta the most magnificent grant ever made in California lands.

It extended from the "Deep creek of San Leandro, to a hill adjoining the sea beach" the northwestern extremity of Alameda County. This grant was afterwards confirmed by the Mexican government, and Don Luis Peralta became the absolute owner of this princely estate of five leagues of land. The Peralta -family manion was first located near the foothills, now Fruitvale, two miles north of San Leandro. Don Luis Peralta never resided on the Rancho San Antonio, as this grant was called, but acquired another grant in Santa Clara County and had his residence in San Jose. For years the whole domain between the San Leandro Creek and Contra Costa line was uninhabited by a single white man save the members of the Peralta- family and their retainers.

The old soldier's surroundings and mode of living was truly patriarchal. Ignacio Peralta Cattle grazed among oak trees, where now are busy marts of trade, and homes of wealth and refinement. A son, Ignacio Pe-alta, took the southeasterly portion, but continued to reside in the family adobe; being eldest, he was regarded the most valuable by his father. Domingo, near the Contra Costa line; Vicente, north of Temescal; Antonio Maria, in Fruitvale. Occasionally the booming of a cannon at the Presidio announced the arrival of a trading vessel.

Few neighbors and no strangers were in the valley. In 1846 premonitions of the coming change were observed. A few United States troops were on California soil and the American flag was flying in California waters. In 1850, the greater portion of the lands of Domingo and Vidente were sold. In 1851, at San Jose, Don Luis Peralta at the age of 93 died.

He had lived long enough to see that he had been the recipient of a very valuable gift. In person he was tall and muscular, and his manners were those of the chivalrous men of his time and His body was placed upon the same hearse that was used for his fellow men, the Indians; after the requiem mass he was buried in Santa Clara. Ignacio Peralta was also a Spanish soldier as well as two other brothers. John B. Peralta's sons, living now in San Leandro, also served the state, John B.

Per? Ita during the Spanish-American War, and Luis Vicente Peralta III, the World War. Ignacio Peralta built a house of stone in San Leandro, which at present is the Alta Mira Club much remodeled. Californians were fond of chocolate and corn meal, the grain being ground by the Indian servants on a metal grindstone. The senoritas of Don Peralta's day were friendly and overflowing with good humor, dressing in hoop skirts and pretty mantillas. The men took great delight in the entertaining.

Fiestas in those days were enjoyed in music, dancing and horse racing. Bets were made in cattle and horses. Large numbers of animals were lost and won on these occasions. Many had no money to wager but plenty of cattle. Crossing the Platte Those who are traveling with Ezra Bourne, across the plains in 1850, will remember the party had passed through Fort Laramie and, with the temperature 98 degrees, was camped on a knoll awaiting the morning of June 15.

On that day the Bourne diary took up: Crossed Horseshoe Creek 14 miles from Cottonwood still dense forests. Traversed Black Hills this day one of the peaks was lofty and covered with snow. The country was very uneven, cut up by streams; making it hard going. Buffalo were numerous as they migrated across some thousand miles to go back later. We were not in the herds during this month; got some meat occasionally and always liked it.

Crossed several mountain streams and caught some fine trout in one; camped on upper crossing of North Platte; day's travel 32 milejs. June 16 Went 25 miles; roads very hilly, covered with stone and dust; crossed many creeks. No wood where we camped; used buffalo chips for cooking and campfire as itwas cold. Hard going; we were gradually ascending the Rocky Mountains all this week. June 17 Crossed North Platte by ferry at a desolate barren spot with no vegetation except sage brush and grease-wood; started toward Red Buttes; day's travel 28 miles.

Camped at Willow Springs without grass Or wood; had to take horses three miles to a little valley among the mountains to find grass; used buffalo chips again fuel. Stayed here one day and night. With two others I stood guard this night. The circumstance will never be effaced from my. memory.

Wolves formed a cordon around us, yelping and howling, and barking all night It seemed as if pandemonium heat, thej KnaVe is told, but whether they will produce action or merely speed adjournment is still problematical. Thus far, the 1949 session his been marked, as one observer put it, by inaction, unproductivity or compromise at best on major issues. The condi- tion was becoming so obvious that by mid-week Governor Warren was handed figures showing the session was lagging; approximately 200 bills behind 1947 progress, and he was moved to observe that to flate only bills procedural in nature or of minor importance had reached his desk. The situation seemed to be that the 1949 session was bent upon establishing policy by negation. The record of the session, if present trends continue, be marked not by the rais- ing of any legislative milestones but by sug- gested steps whiph the legislators refused to take.

Stalemates "have become so general, the Knave hears, the veteran reporters have run out of terms to describe the various types of deep freeze into which committees have plunged key issues. Some parts of the prevailing impasse may be broken after the budget is out of the way, but realistic observers aren't too hopeful, Filibuster Budget Considering the junior grade filibusters being carried on against the budget by Administration foes in the Assembly, no one was willing to hazard a guess, as this was written, as to when the fiscal document would win a final legislative OK. Democrats were well organized and everybody had their cue sheets but any timetable they had in mind stood a good chance of being upset by the zeal of a small coterie of Republicans who appear almost frantic in their desire to knife Governor Warren and his Administration. In several instances where Democrats were not particularly concerned about raising en issue, we are told, the little anti-Warrenite GOP faction has jumped in to pick up the cudgels. In fact, one of the Governors bitterest enemies is said to have shown signs of wanting to drag out debate on each of the more than 700 pending budget amendments.

Even the Democrats, eyeing the 1950 elections, hadn't considered going so far overboard. The diminutive has been used to describe the GOP group trying to provide the Democrats with additional election ammunition, but its! potency cannot be denied because of the fact fthat the budget requires 54 votes for passage in the Assembly. The Democrats alone have-sufficient numerical strength to block approval of the budget, and with the backing of the small band of Republican die-hards they are able to offset defections from their own ranks by Bourbons who finally tire of playing" straight, unadulterated politics. Some of the minority already have shown signs of an inclination to judge issues on their merit rather than on political expediency. Leaders Ready to Step In Of course if the budget hassel drags out too long in the lower house, leaders there may step in and taKe over, or me senaie migm aeciae to push its own budget bill.

One top-ranking Assembly general is said tb have already prepared a resolution calling fdr adopting last years budget over again; for 194-50 with a straight across the board 5 per cent; increase. There is a constitutional provision that limits increases to 5 per cent in trie event a budget is not enacted, and such a resolution might be expected to serve as a kinghsized needle for legislators now busily engaged in hamstringing budget action but who are aware; that the document contains some of their pet items. Incidentally, the demonstration of 130 or so university and college students against the Tenney Loyalty bills early in the week couldn't have been better timed to make the University, of California's budget fight tougher. Not' all the students were from the state university, but the conduct of some, regardless of their school, caused some legislators to express doubt as to the wisdom of expending state funds' for higher education. At a time when the university needs a few more friends in the legislative halls, the student delegation seemed bent on alienating affections.

That wasn't the only point on which the demonstration misfired, either. Several legislators told our operatives that the appearance and attitudes of the students was (all that was needed to clinch their determination to vote for controversial Tennfy bills, Don Luis Peralta! Some eight ago Leslie J. Freeman interviewed Miss Jpvita Peralta, great-granddaughter of Don Luis Peralta. From this talk Freeman received most of! the material for his article on Don Lluis and his times. The interview: More than a century ago, 1776, Don Luis Maria Peralta, a najtive of Cadiz, Spain, settled in Sonora Tubac, hjecoming a Mexican citizen.

He came with a pariy of adventurous emigrants, moving again! to the Presidio of San'francisco. He was an army officer by profession and 40 years of hi life wis spent in military servict I 1 Hiuuu uie tuLim in Lasevuie ajm thflt he tried and convicted in the Court cinity to San Francisco. One of the largest: of Sessions at Marysville and sentenced to be patrons was a pioneer named Bihlert who hanged. The assertion that he was either a klep-owned a ranch of 8900 acres, and who slipped tomanfec or a lunatic did not impress the jury, horses and other livestock, produce, win from sentence was ced out with Sheriff En-the Bihler winery, poultry, eggs, butter and dicott 'of Nevada and Sheriff Gray of Yuba other farm produce. The late Andrew ijardin! prcsent Dr.

Cleveland was present in a pro- ra I a 1 was anuuier large snipper on xne Doaix ine Bodwell wharf near the big warehouse was another shipping point where the old Svind-j? mmers also loaded produce for the San Francisco markets. The Bihler ranch later was bought by the late Senator James Fail and afterward by the late A. W. Foster. Bod- i 4 1 1 i I.