expedition is that of Ewing Young, the Tennesseean, or Joaquin Jóven as he was often called, who entered the territory later in the same year from New Mexico with a company of beaver-hunters of various nationalities. Warner says this party came by Jedediah Smith's old trail, and found Ogden's Hudson Bay trappers on the Sacramento.[1] After trapping for a short time in the Tulares, Young moved north and met the Indian alcalde of San José mission out on a hunt for runaway neophytes by order of the padre. The fugitives allied with the gentiles showed fight, but eleven of the trappers aided the alcalde to defeat the foe. Taking advantage of this service rendered, Young, with three of his men, came to the mission July 11th, showed his passports, explained his need of horses, and departed after promising to return in a week with furs to sell or to exchange for supplies.[2]
There is no record that the hunters returned to San José, though they may have done so; but at the end of July three Frenchmen came to Monterey, announcing their intention to return to New Mexico, having left the company.[3] In October the hunters were in the vicinity of Los Angeles, where the leader had great difficulty in controlling them, and where one man was killed.[4] It had been the intention to return from the Colorado in December to sell furs and buy
- ↑ Warner's Reminis., MS., 37-9. In Dept. St. Pap., ii. 84, 113, is Young's passport of 1829 signed by Henry Clay.
- ↑ July 15, 1830, report of José Berreyesa. Dept. St. Pap., MS., ii. 135-9. One of Young's passports was viséd at Washington, March 20, 1828, by the Mex. minister. It permitted the bearer to go into the interior.
- ↑ These men were François Turcote, Jean Vaillant, and Anastase Curier. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Cust.-H., MS., ii. 4-5. In a letter to Capt. Cooper of Oct. 10th, Young says that the Frenchmen, who owed him money, had mutinied, and determined to stay in the country; but they had been forced to return with the party. He also speaks of the fight with Indians, but indicates that it was to recover stolen horses rather than to aid the neophytes. Vallejo, Doc., MS., xxx. 135. Dec. 23d, Echcandía to alcalde of S. José. Speaks of 4 Americans who had come to the rancho of S. Pablo and must depart at once. There may be an error in this date. Dept. Rec., MS., viii. 134.
- ↑ Warner says that James Higgins killed an Irishman known as Big Jim. José Antonio Pico reports the killing on Oct. 7th. He had orders to detain Young, but his force was too small. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Pref. y Juzg., MS., i. 97. Juan Higgins, probably the same, remained in Cal. for 5 or 6 years at least. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 156, 159.
