SUTTER'S FORT
Sutter's Fort was situated at the edge of the live-oak park. We found it
to resemble a real fort, with high walls, bastions, and a single gate at
each end through which one entered to a large enclosed square, perhaps a
hundred and fifty yards long by fifty wide. The walls were not pierced
for guns; and the defence seemed to depend entirely on the jutting
bastions. The walls were double, and about twenty-five feet apart. Thus
by roofing over this space, and dividing it with partitions, Sutter had
made up his barracks, blacksmith shop, bakery, and the like. Later in
our investigations we even ran across a woollen factory, a distillery, a
billiard room, and a bowling alley! At the southern end of this long
space stood a two-story house. Directly opposite the two-story house and
at the other end of the enclosure was an adobe corral.
The place was crowded with people. A hundred or so miners rushed here
and there on apparently very important business, or loafed contentedly
against the posts or the sun-warmth of adobe walls. In this latter
occupation they were aided and abetted by a number of the native
Californians. Perhaps a hundred Indians were leading horses, carrying
burdens or engaged in some other heavy toil. They were the first we had
seen, and we examined them with considerable curiosity. A good many of
them were nearly naked; but some had on portions of battered civilized
apparel. Very few could make up a full suit of clothes; but contented
themselves with either a coat, or a shirt, or a pair of pantaloons, or
even with only a hat, as the case might be. They were very swarthy,
squat, villainous-looking savages, with big heads, low foreheads, coarse
hair, and beady little eyes.
We stopped for some time near the sentry box at the entrance,
accustoming ourselves to the whirl and movement. Then we set out to find
McClellan. He was almost immediately pointed out to us, a short, square,
businesslike man, with a hard gray face, dealing competently with the
pressure. A score of men surrounded him, each eager for his attention.
While we hovered, awaiting our chance, two men walked in through the
gate. They were accorded the compliment of almost a complete silence on
the part of those who caught sight of them.
The first was a Californian about thirty-five or forty years of age, a
man of a lofty, stern bearing, swarthy skin, glossy side whiskers, and
bright supercilious eyes. He wore a light blue short jacket trimmed with
scarlet and with silver buttons, a striped silk sash, breeches of
crimson velvet met below by long embroidered deerskin boots. A black
kerchief was bound crosswise on his head entirely concealing the hair;
and a flat-crowned, wide, gray hat heavily ornamented with silver
completed this gorgeous costume. He moved with the assured air of the
aristocrat. The splendour of his apparel, the beauty of his face and
figure, and the grace of his movements attracted the first glance from
all eyes. Then immediately he was passed over in favour of his
companion.
The latter was a shorter, heavier man, of more mature years. In fact his
side whiskers were beginning to turn gray. His costume was plain, but
exquisitely neat, and a strange blend of the civil and the military. The
jacket for example, had been cut in the trim military fashion, but was
worn open to exhibit the snowy cascade of the linen beneath. But nobody
paid much attention to the man's dress. The dignity and assured calm of
his face and eye at once impressed one with conviction of unusual
quality.
Johnny stared for a moment, his brows knit. Then with an exclamation, he
sprang forward.
"Captain Sutter!" he cried.
Sutter turned slowly, to look Johnny squarely in the face, his attitude
one of cold but courteous inquiry. Johnny was approaching, hat in hand.
I confess he astonished me. We had known him intimately for some months,
and always as the harum-scarum, impulsive, hail fellow, bubbling,
irresponsible. Now a new Johnny stepped forward, quiet, high-bred,
courteous, self-contained. Before he had spoken a word, Captain Sutter's
aloof expression had relaxed.
"I beg your pardon for addressing you so abruptly," Johnny was saying.
"The surprise of the moment must excuse me. Ten years ago, sir, I had
the pleasure of meeting you at the time you visited my father in
Virginia."
"My dear boy!" cried Sutter. "You are, of course the son of Colonel
Fairfax. But ten years ago--you were a very young man!"
"A small boy, rather," laughed Johnny.
They chatted for a few moments, exchanging news, I suppose, though they
had drawn beyond our ear-shot. In a few moments we were summoned, and
presented; first to Captain Sutter, then to Don Gaspar Martinez. The
latter talked English well. Yank and I, both somewhat silent and
embarrassed before all this splendour of manner, trailed the triumphal
progress like two small boys. We were glad to trail, however. Captain
Sutter took us about, showing us in turn all the many industries of the
place.
"The old peaceful life is gone," said he. "The fort has become a trading
post for miners. It is difficult now to get labour for my crops, and I
have nearly abandoned cultivation. My Indians I have sent out to mine
for me."
He showed us a row of long troughs outside the walls to which his Indian
workmen had come twice a day for their rations of wheat porridge. "They
scooped it out with their hands," he told us, "like animals." Also he
pointed out the council circle beneath the trees where he used to meet
the Indians. He had great influence with the surrounding tribes; and had
always managed to live peacefully with them.
"But that is passing," said he. "The American miners, quite naturally,
treat them as men; and they are really children. It makes
misunderstanding, and bloodshed, and reprisals. The era of good feeling
is about over. They still trust me, however, and will work for me."
Don Gaspar here excused himself on the ground of business, promising to
rejoin us later.
"That trouble will come upon us next," said Captain Sutter, nodding
after the Spaniard's retreating form. "It is already beginning. The
Californians hold vast quantities of land with which they do almost
nothing. A numerous and energetic race is coming; and it will require
room. There is conflict there. And their titles are mixed; very mixed.
It will behoove a man to hold a very clear title when the time comes."
"Your own titles are doubtless clear and strong," suggested Johnny.
"None better. My grant here came directly from the Mexican government
itself." The Captain paused to chuckle, "I suspect that the reason it
was given me so freely was political--there existed at that time a
desire to break up the power of the Missions; and the establishment of
rival colonies on a large scale would help to do that. The government
evidently thought me competent to undertake the opening of this new
country."
"Your grant is a large one?" surmised Johnny.
"Sixty miles by about twelve," said Captain Sutter.
We had by now finished our inspection, and stood by the southern gate.
"I am sorry," said Captain Sutter, "that I am not in a position to offer
you hospitality. My own residence is at a farm on the Feather River.
This fort, as no doubt you are aware, I have sold to the traders. In the
changed conditions it is no longer necessary to me."
"Do you not regret the changed conditions?" asked Johnny after a moment.
"I can imagine the interest in building a new community--all these
industries, the training of the Indians to work, the growing of crops,
the raising of cattle."
"One may regret changed conditions; but one cannot prevent their
changing," said Captain Sutter in his even, placid manner. "The old
condition was a very pleasant dream; this is a reality."
We walked back through the enclosure. Our companion was greeted on all
sides with the greatest respect and affection. To all he responded with
benign but unapproachable dignity. From the vociferating group he called
the trader, McClellan, to whom he introduced us, all three, with urbane
formality.
"These young men," he told McClellan, who listened to him intently, his
brows knit, "are more than acquaintances, they are very especial old
friends of mine. I wish to bespeak your good offices for what they may
require. They are on their way to the mines. And now, gentlemen, I
repeat, I am delighted to have had this opportunity; I wish you the best
of luck; and I sincerely hope you may be able to visit me at Feather
River, where you are always sure of a hearty welcome. Treat them well,
McClellan."
"You know, Cap'n, friends of your'n are friends of mine," said McClellan
briefly.
At the end of half an hour we found ourselves in possession of two
pack-horses and saddles, and a load of provisions.
"Look out for hoss thieves," advised McClellan. "These yere Greasers
will follow you for days waitin' for a chance to git your stock. Don't
picket with rawhide rope or the coyotes are likely to knaw yore animiles
loose. Better buy a couple of ha'r ropes from the nearest Mex. Take care
of yoreselves. Good-bye." He was immediately immersed in his flood of
business.
We were in no hurry to return, so we put in an hour or so talking with
the idlers. From them we heard much praise for Sutter. He had sent out
such and such expeditions to rescue snow-bound immigrants in the
mountains; he had received hospitably the travel-worn transcontinentals;
he had given freely to the indigent; and so on without end. I am very
glad that even at second hand I had the chance to know this
great-hearted old soldier of Charles X while in the glory of his
possessions and the esteem of men. Acre by acre his lands were filched
from him; and he died in Washington vainly petitioning Congress for
restitution.