nor is it possible to determine whether the charges made at this time were well founded. Both Ramirez and Mercado were detained for some time at San Antonio, it being Alvarado's intention to send them both out of the country.[1] Perhaps Don Angel escaped to the Tulares and spent some months in the rancherías of gentile tribes. He returned, however, to live again for a time at the missions, and died early in the next year at San Luis Obispo. He had suffered long from a terrible disease, and died at last without receiving the rites of the church. His had been a strange eventful career as friar, soldier, customs officer, and conspirator. He was known in California as an able and brilliant man, but without a redeeming trait in respect of honor and morality. There is nothing in the record to show that his most unenviable reputation was undeserved.[2]
- ↑ April 3, 1839, Cosme Peña at Sta Bárbara to Alvarado. Reports a plot brewing to rouse the Indians of S. Antonio and other missions. Also plots to prevent the attendance of southern members elected to the junta. Vallejo, Doc., MS., vi. 359. April 11th, Alvarado to Vallejo. Sends Peña's communication. Ramirez is to remain at S. Antonio until he can be shipped away in the California. Has his eyes on the friars. Ex-gov. Carrillo has not yet sent the papers he promised. Id., vi. 404. April 29th, A. to V. The padre (Mercado?) detained at S. Antonio, and will be sent away as the general desires. Id., vi. 497. Pinto, Apunt., MS., 75-80, says he was sent to arrest Ramirez at S. Luis Obispo, but he escaped, through a warning from Administrator Moreno, to the Tulares. Inocente García, Hechos, MS., 68-70, was administrator of S. Miguel. He says that Victor Arroyo was arrested by him and sent in irons to Monterey for complicity in this plot. Tiburcio Alvarez had also been concerned in it.
- ↑ All the Californians agree that Angel Ramirez had been a friar of the Merced order, and later a captain in the insurgent army. Ábrego, Cartas, MS., gives a few details learned from his uncle in Mexico. It seems that Ramirez had left his convent in 1820 and fought under Gen. Anaya. He allowed the escape of some royalist intrusted to his charge, and this saved his life later when himself captured by the Spanish forces. He was several times under arrest before coming to California. The government desired, says Osio, Hist. Cal., MS., 302-3, 316-17, 380-1, to remove him as far as possible from Mexico, where his intrigues caused constant trouble. Janssens saw him serving in command of Vice-president Gomez Farías' body-guard. Vallejo, Hist. Cal., MS., iii. 71-4, 187-8, 298-9, tells us he was a protégé of Gen. Ugarte y Loyola of New Galicia. 'Had he been president he would have conspired against himself.' Says Alvarado, Hist. Cal., MS., ii. 224, 'El capitan fraile tenia mas mañas que un burro de agnador.' In 1833 he was made administrator of the Monterey custom-house, and arrived in the spring of 1831 overland, bringing a mistress with him. He was very free with his money and that of the government, giving many expensive dinners and balls, which, with his social qualities, gave him much popularity. He knew everybody, and was skilled in all the arts of a demagogue. He was
