A brief account of the founding of San Carlos at Monterey, June
3, 1770, was given in an earlier chapter. What joy the discovery of
the harbor and founding of the Mission caused in Mexico and Spain
can be understood when it is remembered that for two centuries this
thing had been desired. In the Mexican city the bells of the
Cathedral rang forth merry peals as on special festival days, and a
solemn mass of thanksgiving was held, at which all the city
officials and dignitaries were present. A full account of the event
was printed and distributed there and in Spain, so that, for a time
at least, California occupied a large share of public
attention.
The result of the news of the founding of San Carlos was that
all were enthused for further extension of the Missions. The
indefatigable Galvez at once determined that five new Missions
should be founded, and the Guardian of the Franciscan College was
asked for, and agreed to send, ten more missionaries for the new
establishments, as well as twenty for the old and new Missions on
the peninsula.
At the end of the year 1773 Serra made his report to Mexico, and
then it was found that there were more converts at San Carlos than
at any other Mission. Three Spanish soldiers had married native
women.
A little later, as the mud roofs were not successful in keeping
out the winter rains, a new church was built, partly of rough and
partly of worked lumber, and roofed with tules. The lumber used was
the pine and cypress for which the region is still noted.
There was little agriculture, only five fanegas of wheat being
harvested in 1772. Each Mission received eighteen head of horned
cattle at its founding, and San Carlos reported a healthy
increase.
In 1772 Serra left for Mexico, to lay matters from the
missionary standpoint before the new viceroy, Bucareli. He arrived
in the city of Mexico in February, 1773. With resistless energy and
eloquence he pleaded for the preservation of the shipyard of San
Blas, the removal of Fages, the correction of certain abuses that
had arisen as the result of Fages’s actions, and for further funds,
soldiers, etc., to prosecute the work of founding more Missions. In
all the main points his mission was successful. Captain Rivera y
Moncada, with whose march from the peninsula we are already
familiar, was appointed governor; and at the same time that he
received his instructions, August 17, 1773, Captain Juan Bautista
de Anza was authorized to attempt the overland journey from Sonora
to Monterey.
As we have already seen, this trip was successful and led to the
second, in which the colonists and soldiers for the new Mission of
San Francisco were brought.
In 1776 Serra’s heart was joyed with the thought that he was to
wear a martyr’s crown, for there was a rumor of an Indian uprising
at San Carlos; but the presence of troops sent over from Monterey
seemed to end the trouble.
In 1779 a maritime event of importance occurred. The padres at
San Carlos and the soldiers at Monterey saw a galleon come into the
bay, which proved to be the “San José,” from Manila. It
should have remained awhile, but contrary winds arose, and it
sailed away for San Lucas. But the king later issued orders that
all Manila galleons must call at Monterey, under a penalty of four
thousand dollars, unless prevented by stress of weather.
In 1784 Serra died and was buried at San Carlos.
For a short time after Serra’s death, the duties of padre
presidente fell upon Palou; but in February, 1785, the college of
San Fernando elected Lasuen to the office, and thereafter he
resided mainly at San Carlos.
September 14, 1786, the eminent French navigator, Jean
François Galaup de la Pérouse, with two vessels,
appeared at Monterey, and the Frenchman in the account of his trip
gives us a vivid picture of his reception at the Mission of San
Carlos.
A few years later Vancouver, the English navigator, also visited
San Francisco, Santa Clara, and San Carlos. He was hospitably
entertained by Lasuen, but when he came again, he was not received
so warmly, doubtless owing to the fearfulness of the Spaniards as
to England’s intentions.
When Pico issued his decrees in 1845, San Carlos was regarded as
a pueblo, or abandoned Mission, Padre Real residing at Monterey and
holding services only occasionally. The little property that
remained was to be sold at auction for the payment of debts and the
support of worship, but there is no record of property, debts, or
sale. The glory of San Carlos was departed.
For many years no one cared for the building, and it was left
entirely to the mercy of the vandal and relic hunter. In 1852 the
tile roof fell in, and all the tiles, save about a thousand, were
either then broken, or afterwards stolen. The rains and storms
beating in soon brought enough sand to form a lodgment for seeds,
and ere long a dense growth of grass and weeds covered the dust of
California’s great apostle.
In Glimpses of California by H.H., Mr. Sandham, the
artist, has a picture which well illustrates the original spring of
the roof and curve of the walls. There were three buttresses,
from which sprang the roof arches. The curves of the walls
were made by increasing the thickness at the top, as can be seen
from the window spaces on each side, which still remain in their
original condition. The building is about one hundred and fifty
feet long by thirty feet wide.
In 1868 Rev. Angelo D. Cassanova became the pastor of the parish
church at Monterey, and though Serra’s home Mission was then a
complete mass of ruins, he determined upon its preservation, at
least from further demolition. The first step was to clear away the
débris that had accumulated since its abandonment, and then
to locate the graves of the missionaries. On July 3, 1882, after
due notice in the San Francisco papers, over four hundred people
assembled at San Carlos, the stone slab was removed, and the bodies
duly identified.
The discovery of the bodies of Serra, Crespí, Lopez, and
Lasuen aroused some sentiment and interest in Father Cassanova’s
plan of restoration; and sufficient aid came to enable him properly
to restore and roof the building. On August 28, 1884, the
rededication took place, and the building was left as it is found
to-day.
The old pulpit still remains. It is reached by steps from the
sacristy through a doorway in the main side wall. It is a small and
unpretentious structure of wood, with wooden sounding-board above.
It rests upon a solid stone pedestal, cut into appropriate shaft
and mouldings. The door is of solid oak, substantially built.
In the sacristy is a double lavatory of solid sandstone, hewn
and arranged for flowing water. It consists of two basins, one
above the other, the latter one well recessed. The lower basin is
structurally curved in front, and the whole piece is of good and
artistic workmanship.
In the neighborhood of San Carlos there are enough residents to
make up a small congregation, and it is the desire of Father
Mestris, the present priest at Monterey, to establish a parish
there, have a resident minister, and thus restore the old Mission
to its original purpose.
