Part 17 (1/2)
In October, 1852, events occurred in the Mexican State of Sonora, which the Californians could not but regard with much interest. Count de Raousset-Boulbon, a French adventurer, was the prime actor, in a brief but stirring drama, in that quarter. He had come to California in search of fortune. Being unsuccessful, he went to Mexico.
At the period of his arrival there the Province of Sonora was devastated by the Alpaca Indians, who committed all sorts of depredations with impunity. Count de Raousset-Boulbon presented himself to the Mexican Government, and offered to deliver Sonora from the red-skins with which it was infested. The Mexican Government was ready to fall upon the neck of M. de Raousset-Boulbon. ”I am a Frenchman. I know the country. I understand war. I will answer for every thing,” said the Count. ”Good,” said the government, ”we will place an army of ten thousand men at your disposal.” ”Thank you,” said M. de Raousset-Boulbon, ”keep your army; it would only get in my way.
Give me some muskets, and two hundred thousand francs, and leave the rest to me.” He received the required sum, returned to Sonora, organized a corps of Frenchmen, resolute men like himself, and proceeded to hunt down the Indians. The merchants of the country, delighted with the successes obtained by their defender against a set of rascals who had so long been masters of their provinces, sent subsidies to M. de Raousset-Boulbon, put themselves under his protection, and a.s.sured him that neither he nor his troops should ever want for any thing if he would only continue the war. The Count closed with the offer. But the popularity of the young general, and the success of his little army, alarmed the Mexican Government.
They issued an order requiring him to quit the country with his forces. Count de Raousset-Boulbon replied, that the merchants and land-owners of the country having placed Sonora under his immediate protection, he felt it due to his honor not to abandon them, and consequently he distinctly refused to obey the order. The Mexican Government then sent a frigate to blockade the princ.i.p.al port of Sonora. Count de Raousset-Boulbon took the frigate. The government sent Gen. Blanco, at the head of an army, against the French commander. A battle was fought, and after a short but fierce struggle, superior numbers triumphed, and the French were defeated. A treaty was then negotiated, by the terms of which, Count Boulbon agreed to quit Sonora, in consideration of receiving a large sum of money.
It is the prevailing opinion that this movement originated in a mere restless spirit of adventure. But there are some sagacious statesmen at Was.h.i.+ngton and some keen-eyed politicians in California, who regard it as having had the object of organizing a powerful French state, which might check the progress of the great North American confederacy. Senator Bell, of Tennessee, predicted that such a design would be entertained, and such a movement executed by the French. It is well that the people of California should be upon their guard. A republic can have no safe neighbors but republics. There are a large number of Frenchmen in California; but if the Americans are vigilant there is nothing to be feared from them.
On the 2d of November, 1852, the presidential election was held throughout the United States. The Democrats carried California for their electoral ticket, pledged to vote for Franklin Pierce, of New Hamps.h.i.+re, and William R. King, of Alabama. The state election occurred at the same time, and in this, also, the Democrats were completely successful.
About the same time, destructive fires occurred in various parts of California. The greater part of the city of Sacramento was laid in ashes by a conflagration, which occurred on the 2d of November. Of this terrible disaster, the San Francisco Herald of the 4th of November, gives the following account:--
At 11 o'clock on Tuesday evening, a fire broke out in the millinery shop of Madam Lanos, on J street, near the corner of Fourth. The inspectors were counting the votes, and a numerous crowd were awaiting the decision of the judges, so that no time was lost in delay. With astonis.h.i.+ng rapidity the fire spread from building to building--up, down and across the street, in five minutes. The Crescent City Hotel, on the opposite side of the street, was in flames, and being of inflammable materials and of large size, sent the fiery torrent in every direction. The hardware store of Pawoth, Eels & Co. communicated the flames to the brick block adjoining, which was speedily burned to the ground, and carried the fire up street on both sides, until it reached Eighth street, and on the south side of J street. On the corner side, from Brown, Kenny & Co.'s brick block, which caught from the Crescent City fire, there was nothing to stay its progress but the Overton Block, on the corner of Third and J streets, on the one side, and Scudder, Carroll & Co. on the other. For a time the superhuman exertions put forth seemed to check, and it was hoped would entirely subdue the fire, and the boom of the powder, like artillery, that was deposited in every building, by the hook and ladder boys, was deemed the signal for the arrest and staying of the fire on this line. In vain, however; the wind, heretofore blowing towards the levee, increased to a gale and changed to the north, thus turning the fire broadside on, and in five minutes it had spread to M. street.
[Ill.u.s.tration: CAFE RESTAURANT, SAN FRANCISCO--MADE OUT OF A s.h.i.+P GALLEY.]
From J and Third, the fire curled around Scudder & Carroll's, and extended to Dr. Morrell's drug store, on the south side of J street, which proved a barrier for a time. These buildings, of wood, were built in 1849, and as combustible as powder. The flames caught the wooden building opposite, and spread to the rear on I street. At this time, W. R. McCall & Co.'s building caught on the roof. The burning of their building sealed the fate of all to the levee, on both sides of the street, and bearing down the length of the city, the flames extended, soon wrapping the Orleans Hotel. The buildings all around were blown up with the rapidity of magic, carts standing ready with 25lb. kegs of powder. The Union office next fell, the proprietors saving two presses, type and paper sufficient for a few days' supply.
The Tahama block, containing Page, Bacon & Co.'s, Swift's and Grimes'
banking offices, saved, wind changing, blowing directly south from them. J. B. Starr's store also made a wall to prevent the further spread of the fire in that direction. At this moment the fire reached, from the levee, J and K street to Tenth, one sea of fire, crumbling every thing to ashes. The large brick store of J. A. Haines, the brick blocks on K--with the exception of that of the Lady Adams Co. on K, between First and K streets--are a pile of ruins. The L. A. Co.'s buildings stand prominent and erect this morning, a monument to the proprietor's sagacity and good sense. The families on the line below K street, were busy removing their valuables and furniture, when the flames crossed the brick barrier, and swept with remorseless fury down and across, licking with its forked tongue from street to alley, apparently shrivelling the wooden buildings with a single breath. The inmates of the hospital, seventy in number, were taken in season to the levee, and from thence to a suitable house, by Drs. Briarly and Williams. The City market, filled with hay, and the hospital, were the last on that line of the fire, where the citizens effectually stopped its further progress. On F street the brick building of Reynolds & Co.
made but a light barrier, the roof falling in almost immediately, with three of No. 3's engine men, who were burned to death. Every thing to Eighth street, on the north, and Ninth Street on the south side of J street to Twelfth street, on K down to N street on the southeast, through N and M to the levee--the El Dorado, supposed impregnable hitherto, as also Merritt's, Dr. Morrill's, Scudders', and Case & Co.'s are completely gutted.
Thus far the number of lives ascertained to be lost are six. Three of No. 3's Engine Company's men, who fell with the roof of Reynolds & Co.'s building, were swallowed up alive; the confusion of the morning, and the scattering of people, prevented a roll call to ascertain the names of the gallant but unfortunate firemen. A lady, next door to the place where the fire originated, is also reported burnt. The number scorched is enormous, all of whom, however, are carefully attended to by surgeons on board the Camanche. Every a.s.sistance possible was proffered by the captains and agents of the steamers, whose vessels were soon crowded with females. The levee was strewn with merchandise of every description, and the wind blowing from the northwest threw the sparks from the goods and saved them all. At 5 A.M., the fire had nearly ceased, the smouldering embers throwing huge clouds of smoke and lurid flashes, bringing desolation to the hearts of all who witnessed the sickening sight. The losses cannot be less than $5,000,000.
On the evening of the 9th of November, another great fire occurred at San Francisco. Of this the California Whig of Nov. 10, gives the following account:--
Last evening, at half past eight o'clock, our citizens were alarmed by the dreadful cry of fire, which proved to be too well founded, for in less than five minutes the whole city was illumed by the lurid glare of the flames.
There is much contradiction as to where the fire originated, but it is pretty generally conceded that it was in the upper story of the frame building on the corner of Merchant and Kearny streets, occupied by some lodgers.
In a very short time all the buildings on the corner of the street were in a blaze, and wholly beyond the power of human aid to save. The close proximity of the building to the Union, on the opposite corner, rendered the probability of its destruction almost certain. In a very few minutes the latter building caught. In the meantime the frame buildings on Merchant, and between that and Clay streets caught, and were in a blaze.
The whole force of the fire department were promptly on the spot, with their apparatus, and put into the most effective service. Never since they have been in organization have they displayed their unequalled energy and training as they did on this occasion.
Fortunately for the safety of the lower part of the city, there was but little air stirring, and a slight misty rain had fallen during the day and evening, which checked the tendency of the fire to spread towards the bay. Had it not been for this, the ma.s.s of sparks falling upon the roofs of the frame buildings on the east side of Montgomery street, must have extended it to the whole lower side of the city.
These buildings were covered with men provided with wet blankets, buckets of water, and every thing necessary to extinguish the flames, should they communicate to their roofs.
The fire burnt eastward to the buildings of Messrs. Austin & Lobdell, fronting on Clay street, and that of Mr. Naglee, fronting on Merchant street. On the north side of Merchant it took the Union Hotel, and all the buildings fronting on that street, down towards Montgomery, to Bolton and Barron's building. It did not cross over to Was.h.i.+ngton in any instance. This is the second time that the building of Messrs.
Austin & Lobdell has proved an effectual barrier to the progress of a fire, and without receiving the least injury itself, or damaging the goods within it.
Nothing but the determined and unparalleled efforts of the firemen prevented the fire from extending to the south side of Clay street; as it was, some $10,000 damage was done to goods and buildings upon that side.
The fire broke out, as we have said, at half past eight o'clock, and it was not until a quarter past ten that it was checked or its further spread prevented, and the engines worked for some time longer.
The records of the different courts in the old City Hall were removed, but thrown into the utmost confusion.
In the midst of the excitement, Mr. Masalski, a gentleman well known to the community as the former keeper of the Sacramento House, rushed to the scene of disaster, and shortly afterwards returned to his dwelling. He was immediately seized with the most alarming symptoms, and in a few moments breathed his last. Dr. Guatier, who attended him in his last moments, says that it is difficult to p.r.o.nounce upon the cause of his death, other than that it was brought about by congestion of the brain, but what was the immediate cause of this congestion he is unable to say at present.
It is of course impossible for us to give a correct estimate of the losses sustained, but we have heard it variously estimated as from $150,000 to $200,000.