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DON JUAN BAUTISTA AND DON CÁRLOS.

Bárbara, and he sent Castro with twenty-five men in great haste southward. At any rate, it gave the officers and men a chance to display the new uniforms lately received by the California. The pastorela was being performed at Bandini's house, Don Juan himself not being present apparently, and all prominent Dieguinos were assisting in the festivities of Christmas, when Castro and his force surrounded the house after midnight. The two Carrillos and the two Picos, with Joaquin Ortega, were taken prisoners. Alcalde Estudillo was wanted also, but hid in a loft, and was declared by his wife and son to be absent from home. Next day Castro started northward with his captives. Ortega was soon set at liberty.^[1]

↑ Dec. 22, 1838, Alvarado to Vallejo. Carrillo plotting to upset the govt, enlisting men on the frontier and in Sonora. A letter of (or to) Ignacio del Valle had been seen revealing the plots. Vallejo, Doc., MS., v. 278. This is the only contemporary document on the subject; but there are later proofs of the prisoners being at Sta Bárbara. It seems that there was a project formed to rescue them at S. Luis Rey; and that Estudillo did go to that place or near it. J. M. Estudillo, Datos, MS., 24-6, says his father returned because the prisoners disagreed and decided that no attack should be made. Another version from the Estudillos, in Hayes' Emig. Notes, 343-4; Id., Miscellany, 41, is that Castro and his men were to be made drunk at a banquet at San Luis and then attacked; but Estudillo turned back because his heart failed him at the thought of shedding blood. Pio Pico, Hist. Cal., MS., 71-6, says the prisoners were armed and the majordomos were ready to help; but Estudillo, after coming within a mile, disappointed their hopes by going back. Rafael Pinto, Apuntaciones, MS., 39-43, who was with Castro, tells us the plan was arranged by Andrés Pico, who was allowed to go home for a while under Pinto's care before starting from S. Diego. The plan was for each of the captives to stab one of the captors to the heart at the supper-table at the moment of Estudillo's attack! Mention of the affair also in Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 115-16; Machado, Tiempos Pasados, MS., 34-5; Ezquer, Memorias, MS., 13-14; Janssens, Vida, MS., 142; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 113-16.

[1] Dec. 22, 1838, Alvarado to Vallejo. Carrillo plotting to upset the govt, enlisting men on the frontier and in Sonora. A letter of (or to) Ignacio del Valle had been seen revealing the plots. Vallejo, Doc., MS., v. 278. This is the only contemporary document on the subject; but there are later proofs of the prisoners being at Sta Bárbara. It seems that there was a project formed to rescue them at S. Luis Rey; and that Estudillo did go to that place or near it. J. M. Estudillo, Datos, MS., 24-6, says his father returned because the prisoners disagreed and decided that no attack should be made. Another version from the Estudillos, in Hayes' Emig. Notes, 343-4; Id., Miscellany, 41, is that Castro and his men were to be made drunk at a banquet at San Luis and then attacked; but Estudillo turned back because his heart failed him at the thought of shedding blood. Pio Pico, Hist. Cal., MS., 71-6, says the prisoners were armed and the majordomos were ready to help; but Estudillo, after coming within a mile, disappointed their hopes by going back. Rafael Pinto, Apuntaciones, MS., 39-43, who was with Castro, tells us the plan was arranged by Andrés Pico, who was allowed to go home for a while under Pinto's care before starting from S. Diego. The plan was for each of the captives to stab one of the captors to the heart at the supper-table at the moment of Estudillo's attack! Mention of the affair also in Ord, Ocurrencias, MS., 115-16; Machado, Tiempos Pasados, MS., 34-5; Ezquer, Memorias, MS., 13-14; Janssens, Vida, MS., 142; Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., iv. 113-16.

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