Page 23 - lareina1929

LA REINA LOS ANGELES IN THREE CENTURIES 19

Facsimile of first survey of C ity made in 1849 b y General E. 0 C Ord
'The Coming Likewise the Going, of Jedediah Smith

T WAS a case of touch and go with Jedediah Smith, a young New Englander
I and first overlander. He left at the insistent invitation of Governor Echeandia.
He led an outfit of trappers over the Rocky Mountains and across the untrodden
sands of the great American desert; a tremendous pioneering undertaking. The
Californians believed that region an impassible barrier to invasion; consequently they
felt that Smith's successful effort marked the beginning of the end of the fortress
which had protected them. Smith's persistence disturbed them. Notwithstanding he
had been ordered out of the country he was back the next year. Considering the
extent to which Echeandia' s feelings were outraged, the Governor's reaction was mild
indeed; he required the sea captains at Monterey to give bond that Smith should
depart once more and permanently However, when Indians killed him, at the age
of 33 he was again on his way West.
But the Californians had cut out for themselves a strenuous and never-ending
task, if they were to keep the Gringo out. Shortly after Smith's second visit, six
Kentucky trappers, under the leadership of Sylvester and James Pattie, father and
son, came armed with passports. The exasperated Governor tore up the papers and
jailed the eight offenders in San Diego. The elder Pattie died in prison, but the
others eventually were liberated, partly in appreciation of the fact that the younger
Pattie stamped out a smallpox epidemic by vaccination.
Like Joseph Chapman before them, three of Pattie's men filtered into the life
of Los Angeles and prospered. The Sepulveda family took one in as a son-in-law.
This man, Pryor, developed a large orchard and vineyard stretching from First to
Commercial Streets and from Alameda Street to the river. Early American socia 1
life centered about his hacienda, and he was elected a rigidor or councilman.
Another named Laughlin, planted a vineyard adjoining, and Furguson, the third,
carpenter by trade, opened a store near the Plaza.