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BATTLE NEAR LOS ANGELES.

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latter — who had been in the pueblo jail, had personal grievance against Victoria, and were ashamed of their companions' cowardice — made a dash against the foe before retreating. José María Ávila was at the head of this party, and he first met Pacheco, whom he shot in the back with a pistol as the two horses were carried past each other by their impetus, after mutually parried thrusts of sword and lance by the respective riders. Pacheco fell dead with a bullet in his heart.^[1] Ávila now rushed upon Victoria; Tomás Talamantes was close behind him, and on the other side at least two soldiers defended the governor. Of the ensuing struggle, which probably did not last three minutes, it is not strange that there are many popular versions; but Victoria received several lance-wounds. A soldier was shot in the foot. Ávila after a desperate resistance was unhorsed and killed, shot perhaps by one of the soldiers,^[2] and Talamantes, the only one of the pronunciados except Ávila who came into contact with the foe, escaped unhurt. Victoria's men attempted no pursuit, but bore the wounded governor to San Gabriel. Had it not been for his wounds, Victoria would have re-

↑ For a biographical sketch of Romualdo Pacheco, see local annals of Sta Bárbara later in this volume.
↑ José María Ávila vas a native of Sinaloa, who came when a boy with his parents, Cornelio Ávila and Isabel Urquides, to Los Angeles. He was a wild and reckless fellow in his youth, but dashing and popular, noted for his skill in horsemanship. He amassed considerable property, and in 1825 was elected alcalde of Los Angeles, though suspended for a despotic exercise of power. On one occasion a citizen complained to Gov. Argüello that he had been arbitrarily imprisoned by the alcalde, who was called upon to explain, as he did in the following language: 'My motive for putting this person in jail was that I thought proper to do so; and because, besides that motive, I had other grounds, in the stating of which a good deal of time would be consumed; and since the man's complaint is only intended to take up your worship's time and mine, I close by stating that this is all I have to say, repeating myself obedient to your superior orders.' Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 17-20. Ávila's late imprisonment by Sanchez at Victoria's order was the cause of his special wrath against the latter. Doña Inocencia Pico de Ávila, Cosas de Cal., MS, 28-30, says that José María had a fight vith one Nieto, and was condemned in consequence to a long imprisonment. He came to Monterey, staying at narrator's house, to induce Victoria to change the penalty to a fine; but the gov. refused, and Ávila went back very angry, vowing vengeance. As there is in the archives some reference to the troubles of Ávila and Nieto, this story may be accurate, though it is not clear how the former could have left the jail to visit Monterey on such business.

[1] For a biographical sketch of Romualdo Pacheco, see local annals of Sta Bárbara later in this volume.

[2] José María Ávila vas a native of Sinaloa, who came when a boy with his parents, Cornelio Ávila and Isabel Urquides, to Los Angeles. He was a wild and reckless fellow in his youth, but dashing and popular, noted for his skill in horsemanship. He amassed considerable property, and in 1825 was elected alcalde of Los Angeles, though suspended for a despotic exercise of power. On one occasion a citizen complained to Gov. Argüello that he had been arbitrarily imprisoned by the alcalde, who was called upon to explain, as he did in the following language: 'My motive for putting this person in jail was that I thought proper to do so; and because, besides that motive, I had other grounds, in the stating of which a good deal of time would be consumed; and since the man's complaint is only intended to take up your worship's time and mine, I close by stating that this is all I have to say, repeating myself obedient to your superior orders.' Carrillo (J.), Doc., MS., 17-20. Ávila's late imprisonment by Sanchez at Victoria's order was the cause of his special wrath against the latter. Doña Inocencia Pico de Ávila, Cosas de Cal., MS, 28-30, says that José María had a fight vith one Nieto, and was condemned in consequence to a long imprisonment. He came to Monterey, staying at narrator's house, to induce Victoria to change the penalty to a fine; but the gov. refused, and Ávila went back very angry, vowing vengeance. As there is in the archives some reference to the troubles of Ávila and Nieto, this story may be accurate, though it is not clear how the former could have left the jail to visit Monterey on such business.

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