overawing the Angelinos to such an extent that they "pointed out their deceivers, that justice might pursue them." Some arrests were made and arms were seized in the city and adjoining ranchos before and after Chico's arrival.[1]
Why Chico went to the south at all is not clear; neither is it possible to give any connected narrative of what he did there, except to make himself very unpopular. He reached Los Angeles about the middle of June, having a few days before presided at the swearing of the bases at Santa Bárbara, as he did at the city on the 19th. He granted some kind of an amnesty to those concerned in the tumult of April, excepting four men from the amnesty, by an order of June 20th; and next day he issued a bando requiring the delivery of all arms that were yet in private possession, under severe penalties.[2] Osio says that after storming for a while, and terrifying the timid Angelinos with his threats of hanging and shooting, Chico calmed down and astonished the prisoners by dismissing them with pardon, after a mild reprimand. This writer says, however, that he subsequently lost his temper again, and caused several arrests; but the prisoners were released after he left the country. Several Californians tell us that Prudon and Araujo were banished, and that the latter never returned; but I think that no one received any greater punishment than a brief arrest.
The governor, being called to Monterey by 'important affairs,' left San Gabriel for the north on
- ↑ May 4, 1836, Chico's order to Gutierrez, and to alcalde to give him aid. Dept. St. Pap., MS., iv. 108. May 18th, Prudon and Arzaga arrested. Sepúlveda and Juan Ávila not yet. Guerra, Doc., MS., vi. 155. May 28th, arms seized from 24 persons, 13 of whom were foreigners. Los Angeles, Arch., MS., i. 98-101. June 3d, Gutierrez to Chico. Is gathering in all the arms, and will go to S. Diego, leaving Ibarra in command. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Mil., MS., lxxxi. 37. June 8th-18th, collection of arms by alcaldes at the ranchos. Id., Angeles, ii. 50-2. Nov. 20th, arms collected at S. Gabriel, perhaps in connection with some other matter. Id., ii. 65-6.
- ↑ The 4 men not included in the amnesty were José Perez, Vicente Sanchez, José Sepúlveda, and Juan Ramirez, said to have headed a second meeting of citizens. Dept. St. Pap., Ben. Pref. y Juzg., MS., vi. 7. They may have been the 4 'discolos maliciosos' of Chico's Discurso.
