CHAPTER XL The Death of the Rev. Father Fr. Luis Jayme, and Other Events in the Mission of San Diego. p [.rzsin the month of Noverber ofthe year 1775 and the work was - being carried forward with great rejoicing of heart in the Mission by * the R. Father Lector, Fr. Luis Jayme, Son of the Holy Province of Mal-“'* lorca and the Father Preacher, Fr. Vicente Fuster, of the Province of Arag6n, and with an abundance of spiritual fruit in souls which that Vineyard of the Lord, so carefully presented in intercessory prayer to God by the Prelate and commended to the Reverend Fathers, was pro- ducing daily. To such a degree did the work prosper that sixty pagans “4 had been baptized on the third of the preceding October (on the eve of ”. Our Father St. Francis), and these, added to the other numerous group of those who had been previously baptized, made quite a large following of the people. All these had moved the preceding year to the ravine of the river or valley which empties into the port, because the land there (about two leagues distant from the garrison) offered much greater advantages for the producing of crops and the harvesting of corn and wheat for the maintenance of the converts, and all were very happy in the new prospects. As the joy and the contentment of the friars and people continued to increase, the greater grew the fury of that great Enemy of souls who was ill content with the prospect that, in spite of his infernal fury, the people in the vicinity of the port were putting an end to their pagan customs and surrendering themselves to our true religion through the instru- mentality of the fervent zeal of those Missionaries, and, noting how they were planning to build another Mission half way between this point and San Gabriel, where they would achieve a like result with those gentiles over whom he had so long exercised his dominion, and which seemed likely to come to an end, he decided to stop the damage being done, not only by preventing the work being carried further in the founding of the new Mission, but by annihilating the Mission of San Diego, the first to be established, and so taking vengeance on the172 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF In order to carry out his diabolical intent, he made use of two of the converted men who had been previously baptized, but who, after the feast of Our Father St, Francis, had gone out among the villages of the sierra and there began to spread abroad among the gentiles of all those territories the devilish word that the Fathers were purposing to put an end to all the pagans by forcing them to become Christians, stating as proof of the same the fact that sixty had been baptized in one day. ‘Those who heard this were much disturbed, some of them believing the report and others doubting it. Some said that the Fathers forced no one, but that if so many had been baptized, it was because they wanted tobe. But the greater part of the people believed the news which the apostates were propagating, and as the Enemy of souls had predisposed their hearts by a certain passion of hatred against the Fathers, there re- sulted the desire to take their lives, and to kill the soldiers as well, and set fire to the Mission, and so put an end to everything. Scarce another matter was spoken of in all that region, and one and another were invited to participate in the act. But there were many villages which refused to agree to it, saying that the Fathers had done them no harm nor had they tried to make them Christians by force. Nothing of this was known in San Diego, nor was the slightest fear felt. The absence of the two apostate neophytes was noticed, as they had left without permission. The sergeant who went out to look for them could not find them, but heard that they had penetrated into the mountains in the direction of the Colorado River, and in none of the many villages which they went through did they see the least indication of a disturbance or warlike attitude, but this only goes to prove the secrecy with which the whole was planned. More than a thousand Indians were called together (not acquainted among themselves and perhaps had never seen one another, but had been invited by others) and it was agreed that they divide themselves into ‘two bands, the one to fall on the Mission and the other on the garrison, it being agreed that as soon as these latter saw the smoke of the burning Mission, that they were to set fire to the fort and to kill all the people in it, while those who attacked the Mission were to do the same. This being the agreement, and all being well armed with arrows and war- clubs, they descended upon the places to carry out their nefarious de- signs. They reached the valley of the San Diego River on the night of thePADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 173 4th of November and there they divided into two bands, the half of them going on to the garrison. They arrived at the Mission without being seen, coming first to the houses of the native Christians. Here a num- ber of the pagans stationed themselves in the doorway of each house, ordering the dwellers therein to remain inside and to keep silence, on pain of death. ‘The greater part of the band then attacked the Mission and the vestry, stealing the clothing, the ornaments and everything else they wanted. Others with firebrands which they found in the soldiers’ quarters (where there were only three men and a corporal, who, it seems, were fast asleep) began to set fire to the barracks and to all the other houses. All this was accompanied with the most dreadful yells on the part of the pagans, which of course awakened everyone. ‘The soldiers began to arm themselves after the arrows began to fly. ‘The Fathers were sleeping in other rooms. The Reverend Father Fr. Vicente came out, and when he saw the fire, he ran to where the soldiers were, as did also two little boys, the son and the nephew of the Lieu- tenant Commander of the garrison. In another room the carpenter and the blacksmith of the Mission were living and the blacksmith of the garrison who had come to the Mission on account of sickness. His name was Urselino and his name is worthy of being preserved on account of his heroic acts as a true Catholic, as we shall see. The Rev. Father Luis, who slept in another room, on hearing the alarm and the fire, came out, and noting the great crowd of Indians, drew near to them, saluting them with the accustomed salutation: “Love God, my children.” As soon as they recognized him they fell upon him like a wolf on a lamb, and he bore himself as such in that he opened nothismouth. They carried him to the thickets in the gully, where they stripped him of his habit. Then they began to hack his naked body with their wooden sabres and to shoot at him innumerable arrows, their fury not being satisfied with simply taking his life with such great cruelty but after he was dead they bruised his head, his face and the rest of his body to such a degree that from his feet to his head there was not a single part untouched except his consecrated hands, and it was in this condi- tion that he was found. God willed it that his hands should be preserved in order to show to all that he had not done evil, that his life should be taken away in such cruel fashion, but that he had labored in all purity to direct them to God and to save their souls. And we do not doubt — those of us who knew174 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF him and dealt with him in life— that he very gladly and joyfully gave up his life and shed his innocent blood that he might water with it that mystic Vineyard which, with so great pains, he had cultivated, and where he had increased the number of the Saved by those he had baptized, trusting that by the means of that watering more abundance of ripened fruit might be gathered, as indeed it came to pass, in that multitudes afterwards came to ask for baptism. Even whole villages with their large population and at a great distance from the Mission gathered there asking to be baptized, so greatly increasing the number of the native Christians. At the same time that the Indians were carrying away Father Luis with great outcry, to the place of his Martyrdom, others were on their way to the room occupied by the carpenters and blacksmith, who had been awakened by the noise. The blacksmith was on the point of com- ing out with a sword in his hand when an arrow struck him, which left him dead. When the carpenter saw this, he took up a loaded gun and shot it off, knocking down one of the Indians who was near the door. As the rest drew away frightened and astonished, he was able to make his way to where the soldiers were. The other carpenter, who was sick, was filled with arrows where he lay in his bed. When he felt he was wounded unto death he said: “Oh, Indian, you have killed me. May God forgive you.” The greater part of the band was engaged in the attack on the soldiers, who were gathered in a little house which had served them as a barracks, and in which the Father Fr. Vicente Fuster had taken refuge with the two boys just mentioned. Here came also the carpenter and there were there also the three soldiers with the corporal. To the pagan band gathered about was added the great mass of the other band which had started for the garrison, but which they had not dared attack, as, long before they arrived, they had seen the smoke and fire of the Mission, and supposing that it had been seen by those of the garrison and that they would be on the defensive and that they would send help to the Mission, they returned and joined those taking part in the attack. In this way the garrison was delivered, as all the people there were also asleep, for they did not see the fire which lighted up the aky nor did they hear the noise of the many shots which were fired, though it is easy to hear the morning salute of the garrison from the Mission. ‘As soon as those pagans who had gone to the attack of the garrisonPADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 175 came up to the Mission and heard that one of the Fathers had been killed, they asked which one it was. As soon as they heard that it was the one who said the prayers (for so they designated Fr. Luis) they were greatly pleased with the news and celebrated on the spot one of their war-dances, as is their barbarous custom. Then they joined the rest in the attempt to have done with the other Father and with the whole Mission. The little group of soldiers did their best to defend themselves against the tremendous number of the pagan horde, being animated by the great valor of the corporal, who did not cease to shout aloud, which added to the terror of the Indians, and to shoot off his weapon, killing some and wounding others. When the enemy saw how great was the resistance encountered, they had recourse to fire, setting fire to the barracks, which were of poles. In order not to die roasted in the fire, the soldiers left the building, with great valor moving into a little hut of adobes which had served asa kitchen. The whole little hut, however, was not more than three walls of adobe, scarce a yard high, with no roof but a few branches which the cook had put there to keep off the sun. Our people, sheltered in this little kitchen, continued to fire on the enemy, defending themselves against the multitude who naturally made the attack on the side where those inside were exposed for the lack of a wall. There they sent in their arrows and spears. Seeing the danger which this opening was causing them, they were bold enough to go back into the burning house and bring out some boxes and bundles in order to make a sort of parapet. In this task two of the soldiers were wounded and put out of action, and there remained for the defense only the corporal with one soldier and the carpenter. The corporal, who was of great valor and a good shot, told the soldier and the carpenter to do nothing else but to load and prime the guns while he did all the shooting. In this way he succeeded in killing as many as came near. ‘When the pagans saw that their arrows were of no avail on account of the defense of the adobes which our men had, they set fire to the branches which served as a roof, but as these were but a few their burn- ing did not oblige the men to retire from the place, but they were in great danger of their powder being set on fire. This surely would have happened if the Reverend Father Vicente had not seen it in time, and covered up the bag with the skirt of his habit, without paying any attention to the danger therein involved. When they saw that firing176 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF the roof was not going to drive them out, the Indians tried to throw in burning brands and also pieces of adobe, one of which wounded the Father, but for the time he was not aware of it. He afterwards fully recovered. So the fighting continued until daybreak, when the beauti- ful light of day put to flight the pagan horde, as they feared the people from the fort would come. So they made off, carrying their dead and wounded, in order that it might not be known how many they were. But it was afterwards learned that the number was considerable. As soon as the day broke on the sth of November, when the multi- tude of the Indians had disappeared, the native Christians came out of their houses and went at once to look for the Father, whom they found in the kitchen fort with the corporal and the three soldiers, all of the latter wounded, and the corporal as well, although he did not want to admit it for fear the others would have lost heart. The native Christians with tears told the Father how the pagans had held them prisoners in their houses, nor would they even let them raise a cry, threatening them with death if they moved. He asked them about Father Luis, concern- ing whom he had been deeply alarmed all night long as he knew nothing of him, though the soldiers had comforted him by saying that he prob- ably had hidden among the willows. He therefore sent the Indians to look for him and healso sent Lomer, a Californian Indian, to the garrison to carry the news. The rest he set to work putting out the fire in the granary so as to save the provisions. ‘The Indians found their revered Father, Fr. Luis, in the gully, dead and so disfigured that they could scarcely recognize him. They lifted him up and brought the body in, with great lamentation, to where Father Vicente was, who as soon as he heard the crying of the Indians felt in his heart what must have happened to his companion. The Father immediately started to meet them and they laid down their burden at his feet. It was indeed as he feared. His companion was dead and so disfigured that, as he wrote to the Father President, his body was so full of wounds that there was no part whole except his consecrated hands. All the rest was bruised and filled with arrows and the head crushed in with the blows of the macanas, or war sabres of wood, or possibly with stones, and, of course, all bloody from head to foot. They recognized it as his body only by the whiteness of the skin which was only in a few places free from blood-stains, and these were the onlyPADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 177 garments which covered his body. On sight of this spectacle, Father Vicente was almost beside himself with grief, till the weeping of the native converts, who greatly loved the dead Father, caused him too to burst into weeping. ‘As soon as his grief permitted the Father to deliberate a little he ordered them to make a litter in order to carry the dead body of Father Luis as well as that of the blacksmith, Joseph Romero. Litters were also made to carry the wounded men, who were the corporal and the three soldiers and the carpenter, Urselino. As soon as word was re- ceived at the garrison, the soldiers started for the Mission, and with their help all were transferred, the dead being carried in procession to the fort, leaving in the Mission some of the native Christians, who were putting out the fire in the granary. On arrival at the garrison the dead were buried in the Chapel and the wounded were cared for. All re- covered, except the carpenter Urselino, who died on the fifth day. He was thereby given time to prepare himself for death and to dispose of his affairs. He had saved up his salary which he had received for some years from the royal treasury, and as he had no legitimate heir, he made a will and named as his heirs the very same Indians who had taken his life, an action which was heroic and also worthy of a true disciple of Jesus Christ. Having received all the Holy Sacraments he gave up his soul to his Creator. The corporal who was in command of the garrison sent word to the Lieutenant, who was at the time at the founding of the Mission of San Juan Capistrano, and the latter, as soon as he had the word, started for San Diego. After him shortly came the Fathers. As soon as these latter arrived at the fort, they performed the funeral honors for the dead Father, and decided to remain at the fort until they could have further orders from the Father President, to whom they immediately wrote telling all the story as here narrated and which I have taken from these very letters. At the same time, under the suggestion of the Commander of the garrison, the native Christians moved back into the vicinity of the garrison so as to avoid any further outbreak which might occur on the part of the pagan Indians. They also transferred the rest of the corn and wheat which they managed to save from the fire. All the rest of the things of the Mission were either destroyed or carried off by the Indians. ‘The Commander of the garrison, by sending out parties of soldiers178 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF to the villages, took the necessary steps to discover if there were any signs of another uprising, as well as to find out who they were who had had a part in this one. Quite a number were brought in as prisoners in order to make investigations, and when it was found that there was no likelihood of an attack on the garrison, he sent a courier to Monterey.PADRE FRAY JUNIPERO SERRA 175 came up to the Mission and heard that one of the Fathers had been killed, they asked which one it was. As soon as they heard that it was the one who said the prayers (for so they designated Fr. Luis) they were greatly pleased with the news and celebrated on the spot one of their war-dances, as is their barbarous custom. Then they joined the rest in the attempt to have done with the other Father and with the whole Mission. The little group of soldiers did their best to defend themselves against the tremendous number of the pagan horde, being animated by the great valor of the corporal, who did not cease to shout aloud, which added to the terror of the Indians, and to shoot off his weapon, killing some and wounding others. When the enemy saw how great was the resistance encountered, they had recourse to fire, setting fire to the barracks, which were of poles. In order not to die roasted in the fire, the soldiers left the building, with great valor moving into a little but of adobes which had served asa kitchen. The whole little hut, however, was not more than three walls of adobe, scarce a yard high, with no roof but a few branches which the cook had put there to keep off the sun, Our people, sheltered in this little kitchen, continued to fire on the enemy, defending themselves against the multitude who naturally made the attack on the side where those inside were exposed for the lack of a wall. There they sent in their arrows and spears. Seeing the danger which this opening was causing them, they were bold enough to go back into the burning house and bring out some boxes and bundles in order to make a sort of parapet. In this task two of the soldiers were wounded and put out of action, and there remained for the defense only the corporal with one soldier and the carpenter. The corporal, who was of great valor and a good shot, told the soldier and the carpenter to do nothing else but to load and prime the guns while he did all the shooting. In this way he succeeded in killing as many as came near. ‘When the pagans saw that their arrows were of no avail on account of the defense of the adobes which our men had, they set fire to the branches which served as a roof, but as these were but a few their burn- ing did not oblige the men to retire from the place, but they were in great danger of their powder being set on fire. This surely would have happened if the Reverend Father Vicente had not seen it in time, and covered up the bag with the skirt of his habit, without paying any attention to the danger therein involved. When they saw that firing176 FRANCISCO PALOU'S LIFE OF the roof was not going to drive them out, the Indians tried to throw in burning brands and also pieces of adobe, one of which wounded the Father, but for the time he was not aware of it. He afterwards fully recovered. So the fighting continued until daybreak, when the beauti- ful light of day put to flight the pagan horde, as they feared the people from the fort would come. So they made off, carrying their dead and wounded, in order that it might not be known how many they were. But it was afterwards learned that the number was considerable. ‘As soon as the day broke on the sth of November, when the multi- tude of the Indians had disappeared, the native Christians came out of their houses and went at once to look for the Father, whom they found in the kitchen fort with the corporal and the three soldiers, all of the latter wounded, and the corporal as well, although he did not want to admit it for fear the others would have lost heart. ‘The native Christians with tears told the Father how the pagans had held them prisoners in their houses, nor would they even let them raise a cry, threatening them with death if they moved. He asked them about Father Luis, concern- ing whom he had been deeply alarmed all night long as he knew nothing of him, though the soldiers had comforted him by saying that he prob- ably had hidden among the willows. He therefore sent the Indians to look for him and healso sent Lomer, a Californian Indian, to the garrison to carry the news. The rest he set to work putting out the fire in the granary so as to save the provisions. ‘The Indians found their revered Father, Fr. Luis, in the gully, dead and so disfigured that they could scarcely recognize him. They lifted him up and brought the body in, with great lamentation, to where Father Vicente was, who as soon as he heard the crying of the Indians felt in his heart what must have happened to his companion. The Father immediately started to meet them and they laid down their burden at his feet. It was indeed as he feared. His companion was dead and so disfigured that, as he wrote to the Father President, his body was so full of wounds that there was no part whole except his consecrated hands. All the rest was bruised and filled with arrows and the head crushed in with the blows of the macanas, or war sabres of wood, or possibly with stones, and, of course, all bloody from head to foot. ‘They recognized it as his body only by the whiteness of the skin which was only in a few places free from blood-stains, and these were the only