Estevan Tapis now became president of the Missions, and under
his direction was founded the nineteenth Mission, that of Santa
Inés, virgin and martyr. Tapis himself conducted the
ceremonies, preaching a sermon to a large congregation, including
Commandant Carrillo, on September 17, 1804.
With Lasuen, the Mission work of California reached its maximum
power. Under his immediate successors it began to decline.
Doubtless the fact that the original chain was completed was an
influence in the decrease of activity. For thirteen years there was
no extension. A few minor attempts were made to explore the
interior country, and many of the names now used for rivers and
locations in the San Joaquin Valley were given at this time.
Nothing further, however, was done, until in 1817, when such a
wide-spread mortality affected the Indians at the San Francisco
Mission, that Governor Sola suggested that the afflicted neophytes
be removed to a new and healthful location on the north shore of
the San Francisco Bay. A few were taken to what is now San Rafael,
and while some recovered, many died. These latter, not having
received the last rites of religion, were subjects of great
solicitude on the part of some of the priests, and, at last, Father
Taboada, who had formerly been the priest at La Purísima
Concepción, consented to take charge of this branch Mission.
The native name of the site was Nanaguani. On December 14,
Padre Sarría, assisted by several other priests, conducted
the ceremony of dedication to San Rafael Arcángel. It was
originally intended to be an asistencia of San Francisco,
but although there is no record that it was ever formally raised to
the dignity of an independent Mission, it is called and enumerated
as such from the year 1823 in all the reports of the Fathers.
To-day, not a brick of its walls remains; the only evidence of its
existence being the few old pear trees planted early in its
history.
There are those who contend that San Rafael was founded as a
direct check to the southward aggressions of the Russians, who in
1812 had established Fort Ross, but sixty-five miles north of San
Francisco. There seems, however, to be no recorded authority for
this belief, although it may easily be understood how anxious this
close proximity of the Russians made the Spanish authorities.
They had further causes of anxiety. The complications between
Mexico and Spain, which culminated in the independence of the
former, and then the establishment of the Empire, gave the leaders
enough to occupy their minds.
The final establishment took place in 1823, without any idea of
founding a new Mission. The change to San Rafael had been so
beneficial to the sick Indians that Canon Fernandez, Prefect
Payeras, and Governor Argüello decided to transfer bodily the
Mission of San Francisco from the peninsula to the mainland north
of the bay, and make San Rafael dependent upon it. An exploring
expedition was sent out which somewhat carefully examined the whole
neighborhood and finally reported in favor of the Sonoma Valley.
The report being accepted, on July 4, 1823, a cross was set up and
blessed on the site, which was named New San Francisco.
Padre Altimira, one of the explorers, now wrote to the new padre
presidente—Señan—explaining what he had done, and his
reasons for so doing; stating that San Francisco could no longer
exist, and that San Rafael was unable to subsist alone. Discussion
followed, and Sarría, the successor of Señan, who had
died, refused to authorize the change; expressing himself
astonished at the audacity of those who had dared to take so
important a step without consulting the supreme government. Then
Altimira, infuriated, wrote to the governor, who had been a party
to the proposed removal, concluding his tirade by saying:
“I came to convert gentiles and to establish new Missions, and
if I cannot do it here, which, as we all agree, is the best spot in
California for the purpose, I will leave the country.”
Governor Argüello assisted his priestly friend as far as he
was able, and apprised Sarría that he would sustain the new
establishment; although he would withdraw the order for the
suppression of San Rafael. A compromise was then effected by which
New San Francisco was to remain a Mission in regular standing, but
neither San Rafael nor old San Francisco were to be disturbed.
Is it not an inspiring subject for speculation? Where would the
modern city of San Francisco be, if the irate Father and plotting
politicians of those early days had been successful in their
schemes?
The new Mission, all controversy being settled, was formally
dedicated on Passion Sunday, April 4, 1824, by Altimira, to San
Francisco Solano, “the great apostle to the Indies.” There were now
two San Franciscos, de Asis and Solano, and because of the
inconvenience arising from this confusion, the popular names,
Dolores and Solano, and later, Sonoma, came into use.
From the point now reached, the history of the Missions is one
of distress, anxiety, and final disaster. Their great work was
practically ended.
