KNAVE - VOL CXXV - OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1941

KNAVE - VOL CXXV - OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1941

[Current, 1941 political discussion omitted. - MF]

Our Redwood Story

A request from a reader of the Knave for information concerning the days when redwoods were cut on our hills and sent to the mills has brought me a number of interesting interviews, Dr. John S. Engs tells me he received the following information from a Mr. Closson, who then lived with his wife in a house on the crest of the ridge at the base of Redwood Peak. "He was the owner of a rather large tract of land adjoining. On this tract grew many second-growth redwood trees. Back of his house was a fruit orchard which had been planted in a deep depression of the hilltop. He told me that in early days the area covered by his orchard had been a mill pond. The water had been impounded by a dam at the lower end. Many years ago the dam broke, releasing the water. He said, "I have many fine second-growth trees on my place, and some day they will be worth money." At that time his place was a popular Sunday rendezvous for hikers and horseback riders throughout the year. For the small sum of 25 cents Mrs. Closson served a bountiful luncheon of bread and butter, ham and eggs and coffee. For those bringing their own food she would furnish hot tea or coffee. I used to ride to their place nearly every Sunday morning for several years following the earthquake,

["Closson" is the "J. T. Classen" mentioned in this article: DIMOND THE BEAUTIFUL - The San Francisco Call, 13 Apr 1896, Mon Page 5, and confirmed by his daughter Clara, AKA Mrs. Fred Barker in this article: The Knave - Oakland Tribune - 19 Oct 1941, Sun - Page 17, look for "More on Our Redwoods". See Clara Classen & Fred Barker's names on Redwood Peak. - MF]

Old Logging Road

"A few years later I heard that a group composed of his regular Sunday visitors, with Judge Snook at the head, organized an outing club and purchased the property, including the house, I think their intention was to develop the place as a sort of clubhouse. Unfortunately, fire destroyed the house soon after. In those days there still remained portions of an old road which joined the Joaquin-Miller road just back of Dimond Scout Camp. I was told it was part of an old logging road leading to Redwood Peak. On it logs were carted down and dumped into the creek at the head of Dimond Canyon from there in the rainy season they were floated down to mill. I understood Mr. Closson to say that there had been a sawmill just below his place before the dam broke, emptying the water from the mill pond; after that, of course, there remained no power to operate the sawmill."

Early Sawmills

Going on with the story, Albert E. Norton, who has been digging into the records, just as Harry Noyes Pratt once did for The Tribune, offers this: "Our history tells us that just beyond the Skyline Boulevard, after you have passed down the old Redwood Road about 4 miles, you turn left into a ravine which had sometime been given the name of Sawmill Creek. There you will find these large stumps which the early pioneer lumberman left after cutting a beautiful grove of redwood trees, In 1854, Thomas Eager entered the San Antonio redwoods, where he engaged in partnerships with a Mr. Brown, and started a steam sawmill. Others had preceded him there - T. B. and William Prince, Spicer, Thorn and Plummer. Altogether, they produced about 12,000 feet of lumber per day, which was hauled to LaRue's Wharf at the foot of Commerce Street (14th Avenue), in East Oakland. This lumber was sold from $25 to $35 per thousand, most of it being taken to San Francisco to erect her earliest buildings, most of which were soon destroyed by fire that ravaged the city several times within a few years. These trees were as large as 13.9 feet in diameter. The grove was about one and one-half miles long and three-quarters qf a mile wide. These trees were all cut by 1858, In 1849, a Frenchman started a sawmill, but later abandoned it. It passed into the hands of Harry Meiggs. He in turn sold it to Volney D. Moody, and in 1853 it was again sold to D. A. Plummer. In 1852, William and Thomas Prince and a man by the name of Brown erected two mills in the redwoods. Subsequently, Tupper and Hamilton put another one up, as did a man named Spicer, which was the farthest one up the canyon. Even our legislators took note of these redwoods, for in 1853, when they created Alameda County and set up the survey of same, their description read in part as follows: "Thence westwardly along the middle of said ridge crossing the gulch one-half mile below Princess Mill, thence to and running upon the dividing ridge between the redwoods known as San Antonio and Princess Woods.”

Days of the Adobes

Indeed, some of the timbers used in the construction of early adobes came from the redwoods on the hills back of Oakland. Anna Tennent Burns, descendant of a pioneer of '48, can tell us something about it: "My father, Dr. Samuel J. Tennent (the pioneer of '48), was called from his home in the Pinole Valley to attend an outbreak of cholera at the sawmill in the redwoods. The lumber from these trees was used in the construction of the adobe houses that were built in the surrounding country. Most likely the timbers were hauled by oxen, which were used in those days. A number of my relatives had their houses built in Contra Costa County. The Victor Castro adobe, now called Rancho San Pablo, is one of the many. That of my great-grandfather, Don Ygnacio Martinez, was built much earlier.”

Sonoma in 1848

On April 1, 1848, the California Star, a weekly journal published by Samuel Brannan and edited by Edward C. Kemble, saw fit "to republish from our notes of travel north of the bay, the annexed description of the town of Sonoma." Again, I thank L. M. Ver Mehr for showing me the old paper and for the chance to quote: "Sonoma we learn to have been named from an Indian chief of some one of the Tulare tribes and of considerable notoriety, Intelligent and brave, there were probably none from the neighboring tribes more renowned or revered. Sonoma was founded in 1833 by General Mariano Vallejo, and held as a military post. With the superlative attractions of an advantageously and prettily located inland town, mild and delightful climate, it is justly commanding a liberal share of the attention of our countrymen, and bids fair to flourish henceforth in the excess of American enterprise, if not to outstrip many of the venerable seaports of our southern coast, Sonoma now contains probably not less than 40, principally adobe, houses, and has an estimated population of 260 souls, Here is the mission of Solano, once flourishing and grand, now time-worn and crumbling. A public house upon an extensive plan has been reared of late, and when finished will be one of the finest features of the place. In every direction can be traced ... the almost magic progression of enterprise in its might, new lands under cultivation, and continuous building on street and square. Only a few miles from Sonoma a serviceable sawmill is in constant operation.”

A Growing Town

Following this, Brannan and Kemble turned their attention to San Francisco and announced: "The present white population of the place exceeds 800 souls: Male (adult), 575; female adults, 177; children-of ages proper to attend school, 60. This is ascertained by the Board of School Trustees, in recently canvassing the town, is correct. Scarcely eight months since, the total number of whites was 375, There has been over 100 per cent increase within this time. The first school to be kept in the public school house of the town of San Francisco will commence on April 3 under the superintendence of Mr. Thomas Douglass, a graduate of Yale College, Connecticut. Mr. D. has had more than 10 years' experience in the instruction of academics and high schools in the State, and he has testimonials which speak of him as a skillful and successful teacher and well qualified for the business of his profession." The old newspaper goes on to say that "the undersigned trustees, therefore, cheerfully commend his school to the patronage of the citizens of the town and vicinity, confident he will do all in his power to import a thorough education to pupils committed to his care." Those who signed were: V. J. Forgeaud, C. L. Ross, John Townsend, John Shrine and William H. Davis.

Another Howitzer

Having a personal interest in a howitzer, J. K. Burnett of Orland has been reading with interest the stories of the gun Fremont hauled up Sierran slopes and abandoned when the job became too arduous. Says Burnett: "Here is a howitzer item from San Luis Obispo: I was born in San Luis Obispo County in 1862, lived in the city of San Luis Obispo from 1902 to 1917. While there I became very well acquainted with John A. Dunbar, the authority on all matters pertaining to the ancient history of that town and vicinity. He ran a second-hand store. One day I was in his store and saw, among other junk, what looked like a howitzer ball. I asked him what it was; he replied 'that is likely a howitzer ball, it was picked up in San Luis creek about 20 years back by Jose Castro and turned over to me; it was picked up on a direct line between Fort Fremont and the old mission, and was probably fired by Fremont's men at or over the mission. You can have
it if you want it.' So I took it. That has been about 35 years ago. Fort Fremont in San Luis Obispo is about a block northwest of the old Courthouse. I was there a few years ago when
a monument was dedicated there to the memory of Fremont. The breastworks thrown up by Fremont when he helped to win California for the United States were still in good condition. Tradition has it that Fremont had his howitzer with him at San Luis Obispo. And I believe that a shot was fired over the mission to scare the Mexicans who were gathered there to resist the Americano, who was fortified on the knoll called Fremont Heights, about a quarter of a mile away, and that this ball turned over to me by John A. Dunbar some 35 years ago was actually fired from Fremont's howitzer at San Luis Obispo. I have always intended to and still intend to turn it over to some historical society, as I believe it to be genuine.”

Story of Alcatraz

How old is Alcatraz, not as an island, but as a place of confinement? Nature planted the rock and men adapted it to their purposes. To many Americans, Alcatraz, “the grim fortress,” is associated with the moderns - Al Capone and other desperates confined in spot from which they cannot escape. The old rock has a lot of history, and no one knows it better than James A. Johnston, the warden. In “Prison World,” official publication of the American Prison Association, Johnston has pictured Alcatraz to his fellows in penology and to the country. Since the days of the Civil War, he says, the place has been used as a prison. It was established as a military reservation in 1859, and from that early date military offenders were there confined. Those early prisoners were on the lists of “occasional offenders” on a far coast. Gradually Alcatraz became a military prison, a disciplinary barracks, and a Federal prison. Says Warden Johnson: “The history of California records that during the heated political campaign of 1864, several participants were sequestered in Fort Alcatraz until released on bond to bear true allegiance to the United States Government.” In 1868 the War Department designated Alcatraz as a place of confinement for prisoners having long sentences. Post commanders began transferring those that would not be held in reservation guard houses. The first received under the order were 20 from Fort Point, and during the first year over 100 arrived. In the early ‘70’s the Government commenced the practice of sending troublesome Indians from the Territory of Arizona and from Alaska. Barncho and Sholuck, two of the Indians involved in the murder of General Canby in 1873, were sentenced to life in Alcatraz. Others committed were the Indian scouts who were in the mutiny of Cibicu Creek, Arizona Territory, August 30, 1881, in which Captain E. C. Hentig and six privates of the Sixth Cavalry were killed. Also, Indian scouts who mutinied at San Carlos, Arizona Territory, in June 1887. Several Indian chiefs were confined, the most noted of whom was Kae-te-na, aide and friend of the then troublesome Apache Chief Geronimo. He was tried by a jury of his own tribe for fomenting a disturbance on the San Carlos Reservation in 1884, sentenced to confinement for three years, and General Crook sent him to Alcatraz for greater security.

Once a Health Resort

“The Spanish-American War and its aftermath,” Warden Johnston continues, “produced more offenders. In 1900 a great many prisoners were sent from the Philippine Islands to Alcatraz. In February of that year one transport brought 126, and in April 270 arrived, and the prison part of the fort became crowded. Presidential pardons soon reduced the number to normal capacity. It is interesting to note that in 1900 Alcatraz was regarded and used as a health resort. Many soldiers returned from the Philippine Islands suffering from dysentery and diseases of the tropics. At first they were sent to the general hospital at the Presidio. While convalescing they were organized into companies, and convalescent company No. 2 was sent to Alcatraz. When the earthquake and fire were destroying San Francisco in 1906, the officials of that city moved 176 prisoners from the jail to Alcatraz. During all the years that Alcatraz was a fortification it was also a military prison. From time to time the Army methods were modified, and in 1907 Alcatraz was designated as Pacific branch of the United States Military Prison, but subsequently the named was changed to Disciplinary Barracks. It continued to confine, discipline and train those sentenced by court-martial for military offenses, such as desertion, mutiny, disobedience of orders, also for manslaughter, burglary, embezzlement and other felonies. In 1933 the War Department decided to abandon Alcatraz, having reached the conclusion it was no longer necessary as a military fortification.” The story since is in all of our memories.

Site of Gold Discovery

Of course, we have the Marshall monument, up at Coloma, and a beautiful little park on the top of the hill. But California does not own the actual site of the Sutter sawmill, where James Marshall discovered gold. Something is going to be done about the situation. It was in the trailrace of Marshall’s mill at Coloma, on the American River, that flecks of gold were discovered in January, 1848. The discovery started the flood of gold-seekers that reached its crest in 1849 and 1850. The State Park Commission has negotiated for years for the site, but resorted to condemnation proceedings two years ago when negotiations failed. Hearings in the suit are scheduled to begin soon at Placerville, the county seat of El Dorado County, in which Marshall’s mill was located. The move to acquire the site was started by Newton B. Drury, now director of the National Park Service, when he was connected with the State Park Commission. State acquisition will mean the site will be improved and tended by State park workers. An effort may be made to reconstruct the mill, itself. At the time the monument was constructed, parts of the mill were recovered, and more remain in the river bed, according to Deputy Attorney General Cunningham, who has been handling the case for the State. The site has a history somewhat parallel to that of its first owner. The land was so torn by goldseekers in the early days that it was considered worthless for many years, and at least once was sold for unpaid taxes. Marshall himself made no gain from his discovery. He never made another strike, and died penniless. However, modern mining methods recently have brought land into demand again. Until several months ago a dredging company also was seeking possession of the site to resift the once golden soil with hydraulic equipment. The site is owned by Perley Monroe, a janitor at the State Capitol in Sacramento, who bought it 10 years ago on speculation.

Alisal, the Sycamores

Mary Goodrich who lives at Pleasanton is one who finds pleasure in digging into her community's historic background as well as into the larger story of her whole State. I am privileged to pass along some of the facts she has unearthed along with some present appreciations. "Pleasanton was not always so called. Originally the name of the quiet center in Amador Valley was the Spanish word 'Alisal,' which means the Sycamores and, though few of the residents know it, the old historians give the fact a brief and unsatisfactory mention. For two reasons the spotlight has recently been directed exclusively on Pleasanton. First, the county fair to which it played host and, second, the naming of a new dahlia after Pleasanton, but giving it the old name Alisal. Charles Garrity, the dahlia king of San Leandro, perfected it and Ernest Schween suggested the picturesque name. Many years ago when Nature held a free hand in the area, there was a generous sprinkling of tall sycamores and even a road called that, Sycamore Road is one of the chief beauty spots. Other trees are at their perfection and nothing in that class has found discouragement in the climate. One often hears the proud claim that hay goes from there to every racing center in the United States. For more than 100 years horses have been brought to run on the Pleasanton flats. The track is on soil that is almost waterproof, an alluvial silt on cobblestones that was once an ancient river bed. There is now a new grandstand, a new mile track and a half mile one for harness racing. The history of the past is curlously interwoven with the present with names the original settlers appearing in roads, sectors, a lake and pass. Gravel deposits have called the attention of the defense board to the spot and the modern housing and construction we call modern is appearing rapidly, But changes have not encroached over much on the areas of old and beautiful trees, nor the spirit of the people. Pleasanton, nee Alisal, need not bow out. Certainly its claims are not disputed by delighted tourists."

Railroad of the Seventies

Up Freshwater way, in Humboldt County, the Pacific Lumber Company has finished removing traces of an old-time logging railway that played its important part in carrying logs from an area of virgin timber to Humboldt Bay. In Eureka there have been expressed some sentimental regrets at the disappearance of a land mark, and one that I pass along is this: "This railroad was built in the late seventies by the Excelsior Redwood Company, whose mill was on Gunther Island, just across the bay from the foot Street. The roadbed was built by Chinese laborers, there being a large colony of Orientals living here at the time. In 1885 the Chinese were driven out of Eureka and Humboldt County, and about the only thing they left were the old shacks at Fourth and E Streets and the roadbed of the Freshwater railroad. Now all that remains is the memory of those early days. The railroad recently removed was first built from McCreedy Creek to Freshwater Slough, about a mile from the Eureka Slough bridge that is now being replaced with a more modern structure. The logs from Freshwater were transported by the railroad to Freshwater Slough, where they were dumped into the water and then towed or rafted to the mill on Gunther's Island. The mill was operated for a number of years, and manufactured many millions of feet of lumber which were shipped to all quarters of the globe. The office of the company was in Eureka on F Street, near the waterfront, and was presided over by the late David Evans. The late Thomas Richmond, Henry Deering and others were employed there. On the railroad and in the woods were many early day Humbolders, most of them from New Brunskick [sic] and Nova Scotia, or the timberlands of the Middle West. Among those who were employed in early days on the railroad who still residing in Eureka were Reg. Young Ed Armstrong."

- THE KNAVE