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SAN DIEGO PLAN — ALVARADO AND CARRILLO.

go Aguilar, director of the printing-office. Ramirez and Surgeon Alva were absent from the town, exerting their influence among the rancheros, and at San José and San Juan. Cosme Peña was in town, but worked secretly, afterwards pretending that he had been forced into a passive compliance in the plot. Captain Villavicencio had just started with most of his men to join Castro in the south, and Jesus Pico, left in command, was absent from his post, when at 5 P. M. on July 1st, the Mexicans, perhaps thirty or forty in number, under Figueroa, seized the fort and arms without resistance, holding possession until the 3d.^[1] Villavicencio was hastily recalled; Pico raised a few men in the interior; Graham volunteered with a part of his riflemen; the Mexican garrison was in its turn besieged, and a message was despatched to Vallejo.^[2] Figueroa's men, frightened by the warlike preparations, and disappointed in not getting reënforcements from the country, offered to surrender if Vallejo would come to protect them, claiming that their revolt had been solely with a view to protect their lives, which had been threatened by Pico and others. Vallejo replied favorably, knowing that there was really much bitter feeling against the Mexicans, and promised protection to all, with punishment to but few, if their statement should prove true; but before this reply arrived, Figueroa surrendered, all his men

↑ Florencio Serrano, Apuntes, MS., 41-50, is the only participator in this movement on the Mexican side who has told the story, and he fails to throw much light on it. He says they found at the fort 4 or 5 men playing cards, but at the presidio nobody at all, Pico having run away at the first alarm. There were 50 Mexicans in all, and Alva returning from the country reported a failure to get reënforcements. Spence, Estrada, and Munrás had frequent interviews with Figueroa and Peña. Mrs Ávila, Cosas de Cal., MS., 14-16, states that during the Mexican occupation, the Indian servants, at the instigation of the Mexicans, plundered the houses of their masters.
↑ July 3d, Villavicencio to Vallejo, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 266, announcing both the capture and recapture; but there had been a previous despatch, for on the same day, July 3d, V. announced from Sonoma his own departure for Mont., and later in the day he wrote from Petaluma on his way. July 3d, V. to com. of S. Francisco and alcalde of Monterey. Id., iv. 264-5. V. was at S. Rafael on July 6th, when he heard that Mont. had been retaken. Id., iv. 272.

[1] Florencio Serrano, Apuntes, MS., 41-50, is the only participator in this movement on the Mexican side who has told the story, and he fails to throw much light on it. He says they found at the fort 4 or 5 men playing cards, but at the presidio nobody at all, Pico having run away at the first alarm. There were 50 Mexicans in all, and Alva returning from the country reported a failure to get reënforcements. Spence, Estrada, and Munrás had frequent interviews with Figueroa and Peña. Mrs Ávila, Cosas de Cal., MS., 14-16, states that during the Mexican occupation, the Indian servants, at the instigation of the Mexicans, plundered the houses of their masters.

[2] July 3d, Villavicencio to Vallejo, in Vallejo, Doc., MS., iv. 266, announcing both the capture and recapture; but there had been a previous despatch, for on the same day, July 3d, V. announced from Sonoma his own departure for Mont., and later in the day he wrote from Petaluma on his way. July 3d, V. to com. of S. Francisco and alcalde of Monterey. Id., iv. 264-5. V. was at S. Rafael on July 6th, when he heard that Mont. had been retaken. Id., iv. 272.

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