The port of San Pedro, though a large quantity of country produce was shipped there, and few trading vessels failed to visit it, had as yet neither local authorities nor other residents. There was, however, a sub-alcalde at the Dominguez rancho a few miles inland. In 1831-2 there were some slight attempts at ship-building. From 1833 Antonio M. Osio as receptor at Los Angeles had charge of the port trade as well as of the inland commerce with New Mexico. A part of the colony landed here in 1834. Osio states that 5,000 hides from the mission cattle were shipped here in that year, while Mofras writes of an annual shipment about that time of 100,000 hides, 2,500 centals of tallow, and several cargoes of soap. Abel Stearns had a warehouse, and in 1835 and other years was accused of doing a profitable contraband trade. The fugitive governor, Chico, is said to have touched at San Pedro in his flight, in 1836, to take on board a quantity of stolen tallow. Dana's experience of several weeks in loading hides here is described in his famous narrative; and Belcher gives a slight description of the place as it appeared in 1839.[1]
At San Gabriel in 1831-2 the names of padres Jesus María Martinez, Francisco Gonzalez de Ibarra, Vicente Pascual Oliva, and the Dominicans Francisco Cucullu and Mariano Sosa appear occasionally on the mission registers; but the regular ministers were fathers Boscana and Sanchez, until their deaths which occurred respectively in July 1831 and January 1833.[2]
- ↑ See this vol. pp. 267-9, 288, 349, 363, 366, 369, 375, 384, 393, 442; vol. iv. 80, 95, 146; Mofras, Explor., i. 362; Dana's Two Years, 107 et seq.; Belcher's Voy., i. 322; Douglas' Jour., MS., 87-8. And on Osio's appointment as receptor, Dept. St. Pap., MS., iii. 109; Id., Cust.-H., ii. 10-25; vii. 12-13; Id., Ang., xi. 8; Id., Pref. y Juzg., ii. 156.
- ↑ Gerónimo Boscana was born on May 23, 1776, at Llumayor, island of Mallorca, and took the Franciscan habit in the convent of Jesus extra muros at Palma on Aug. 4, 1792. After acting for nearly four years as professor of belles lettres, he started for America June 5, 1803; arrived at Mexico Oct. 24th; started for Cal. Feb. 17, 1806, and landed at Monterey June 6th. His missionary service was at Soledad in 1806; at Purísima in 1806-11, at San
Pap., P. y J., MS., vi. 77. Expenses of office in Oct. $52; in Nov. $6. Id., iii. 52, 56.
