rival, Hartnell; yet he seems to have done this year and the next a larger business than any other trader.[1]
An interesting circumstance connected with the Brookline's visit was the raising of an American flag at San Diego, noticed in the newspapers on the authority of Captain James P. Arther.[2] He had visited California before in the Harbinger, was mate of the Brookline, and, like George W. Greene, one of his companions, was still living in Massachusetts in 1872. "Arthur and his little party were sent ashore at San Diego to cure hides. They had a barn-like structure of wood, provided by the ship's carpenter, which answered the purposes of storehouse, curing-shop, and residence. The life was lonesome enough. Upon the wide expanse of the Pacific they occasionally discerned a distant ship. Sometimes a vessel sailed near the lower offing. It was thus that the idea of preparing and raising a flag, for the purpose of attracting attention, occurred to them. The flag was manufactured from some shirts, and Captain Arthur writes, with the just accuracy of a historian, that Mr Greene's calico shirt furnished the blue, while he furnished the red and white. 'It was completed and
- ↑ Gale's letters, chiefly to Cooper, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxix. 325, 331, 336, 353, 354, 383, 400, 412, 434, 444. Feb. 22d, will begin to kill bullocks to-morrow. Wishes Cooper to see Holmes and learn the particulars of the Franklin affair. March 15th, comisario entrapped him into paying $800 tonnage. The governor's license to trade is 'opening the door just enough to catch my fingers and jamb them.' March 28th, wishes his intention to remain trading on the coast to be made public. May 8th, speaks of Hartnell's protested bills. May 10th, is doing a good business. The whalers by smuggling injure legitimate trade. S. Diego is the 'centre of hell for strangers;' suspects underhand work in his duties. Will bring no more American cottons to Cal. Is not allowed to touch at Sta Catalina, and is drinking Monterey water. Complains of Echeandía. July 19th, hopes Cooper will not lose his head in the revolution. Sept. 12th, trade dull. Oct. 6th, will despatch the Brookline sooner than he anticipated. Will pay $25 for large otter skins. Oct. 31st, can undersell Hartnell, even if he can pay duties in his own way. The Franklin business will do harm. Speaks of H.'s protested bills. Does not believe H. honorable enough to pay, or that justice can be got under the present imbecile government. His suspicions of underhand work in appraisement are confirmed. Has raised the anchor left by the Franklin, but had to give it up to prevent trouble. Hopes a new gov. will come soon.
- ↑ Capt. Arther in a note dated South Braintree, Mass., Sept. 24, 1872, in which he regrets his inability to write his recollections of the affair, encloses a clipping from the Boston Advertiser of Jan. 8th. See also mention in S. F. Call, July 8, 1877.
