When next heard of in May, Smith had moved northward and was encamped in the country of the Moquelumnes and Cosumnes. Padre Duran, of Mission San José, accused the Americans of having enticed his neophytes to desert, but Comandante Martinez pronounced the charge groundless.[1] New communications and orders to investigate passed between the authorities; and a letter came to Padre Duran from Smith himself, bearing date of May 19th. It was a frank statement of his identity and situation, of his failures to cross the mountains, and of the necessity of waiting for the snow to melt. He was far from home, destitute of clothing and all the necessaries of life, save only game for food. He was particularly in need of horses; in fact, he was very disagreeably situated, but yet, "though a foreigner unknown to you, Reverend Father, your true friend and Christian brother, J. S. Smith."[2]
The next day after writing this letter Smith started
- ↑ May 16, 1827, Duran to com. of S. Francisco. 400 neophytes have been induced to run away. Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt i. 27. May 18th, gov. orders Martinez not to rely wholly on reports of the Indians, but to send out scouts to learn who are the strangers and what their business; also to demand their passports and detain them until further orders. Dept. Rec., MS., v. 45. On same date Rocha is ordered to institute proceedings against John Wilson, and take deposition of Daniel Ferguson, with a view to find out the aims of the strangers. Id. May 21st, Martinez from S. José to gov. The Americans had nothing to do with the flight of the neophytes. Sergt Soto has been ordered to investigate, find out what gente it is, not allow them to approach the missions, treat them courteously, etc. A letter has been received from Smith to Duran, which the latter would not receive, but which Martinez had had translated and sent to Monterey for Hartnell to retranslate. The Indians say that there are 12 of the strangers, the same who were at S. Gabriel, and they had killed 5 Moquelumnes in a fight. John Wilson, a prisoner at Monterey, has apparently not been missed, and he says something of the party having come from Boston in 18 months to make surveys and buy lands of the natives (?). Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt i. 28-33.
- ↑ May 19, 1827, Spanish translation of Smith's letter, in Dept. St. Pap., MS., ii. 18-19. English version, in Randolph's Oration, 313-14; and other works. French version, in Frignet, La Cal., 58-60.
references to replies and other communications, in Dept. St. Pap., MS., ii. 33-7. Mention of Galbraith (Gil Brest) and the 'sick man' in Dept. Rec., MS., v. 89, 115, also of Galbraith in Dept. St. Pap., MS., xix. 16-17. Bowman is mentioned as one of Smith's men in Los Angeles, Hist., 19, by Mr Warner, and there may be some mistake. The sick man may possibly have been John Wilson, who was in custody in May as one of Smith's men. Dept. Rec., MS., v. 45; Arch. Arzob., MS., v. pt i. 29, 33. Cronise calls Galbraith's companion Turner.
