A Port at the Edge of the World IV

John Sutter & the Land of Squatters (1836 - 1841): As new waves of settlers trickle into the west, California is propelled to the brink of chaos. Amid horse raids, propaganda, and ambition, the narratives of Texas' revolt and California's vulnerability collide. John Sutter, a Swiss immigrant, dares to carve out an empire in the volatile Sacramento Valley, while tensions between Native tribes and Mexican authorities ignite. As whispers of rebellion echo through the land, deception and dreams entwine in a battle for California's future. Who will emerge victorious in this high-stakes game of power and survival?

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   You were about to listen to episode four. I have a six possibly seven part series. On the history of San Francisco and California leading up to the gold rush.  If you haven't listened to previous three episodes. I recommend you do so I'll be referencing quite a few things from those episodes in the current episode.  But you may have your reasons for pushing ahead early. And so I'm not going to stop you if that's the case.  If you've made it this far and you think I am deserving.  Please consider following reading or viewing the podcast.  Really helps with the algorithms and getting the word out there for better or worse. These are all algorithmically driven.  That's a mouthful. 

Stay tuned for the end of the podcast for a few special announcements. 

 Now without further ado.  Episode four of the Savage west.    Beneath  the surface. 

Beyond  the wild lie 

the untold  stories.  America's 

savage beginnings. 

These are those stories. This.  This  is the Savage West.  

 



 If you've been following modern politics. 

There's a good chance. You've heard the phrase.  The big lie.  Commonly associated with January 6th. 

My guess is that. Most listeners. Don't know where that phrase. Originated. 

 It comes from. One of the more famous books in our history.  

And I'm going to read to you the section from that book.  Where the phrase, the big lie was actually coined.  

 Quote. 

In the big lie. There was always a certain force of credibility. Because the broad masses of a nation. Are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata. of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily.  And thus 

in the primitive simplicity of their minds, they more readily fall victim. to the big lie than the small lie. Since they themselves often tell small lies. In little matters.

But would be a shame to resort to large scale falsehoods.  

It would never come to their minds  to fabricate. colossal untruths.  And they would not believe the others could have the impotence to distort the truth. So infamously. 

Even though the facts which prove this to be so maybe brought clearly to their minds.  From time immemorial, however, 

they will still doubt and waiver. And we'll continue to think that there may be some other explanation.   

 In court.   

 This is from Adolf Hitler's mine comp. 

 Interestingly Donald Trump's ex wife. in her divorce testimony to her lawyer. Said she thought it odd. Donald kept at his bedside.  A copy of Hitler's essays. 

In truth. This kind of big lie has been happening throughout history. We're a single personality. With a large enough voice. Uh, large enough why. I  can change the thinking of an entire party.  Culture.  Nation.  Or even the world.  

This big lie theory.

Was used by Hitler's chief propagandist, a man named Joseph Google's. 

He's attributed to the quote that is, if you repeat a lie. Long enough. People will eventually come to believe it. 

He adds to this thinking. Writing quote.  The big lie can be maintained only for such time. As the state can shield the people from the political economic or military consequences of the law.  It thus becomes vitally important for the state to use all of its powers to repress descent.  For the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie. And thus by extension. The truth is the greatest enemy. Of the state.  End quote.  

 

This is truly 1984 stuff. 

Maintain a lie, never admit a lie. 

Y big and boldly. 

Because people won't believe someone will go that far. Well, why that big. To seems inconceivable.  But if you never met to that, why. And a lie is spread through all the publications.

People soon. See it. As the truth.     The irony with the big lies that. These Germans would point to other countries using that same philosophy. 

It's not us using the big lie. It's them. Which makes this ID even more confusing.  The quarter I read earlier by Hitler and his mind comp.  He wasn't describing how he himself uses the big lie.  He's describing how the Jewish population uses the big lie to manipulate the world.  



I in truth, this is what Hitler is doing. Not the Jewish people.   He's accusing them of using the big, why to defend what he's about to go to do to them. 

 This was also a staple. Of the German propaganda machine. 

They would routinely accuse others of using this big lie  . In fact, Google's has this to say about the English quote. The English follow the principle that when one lies, once you lie big and stick to it. They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking ridiculous. Into quote.  

  This is a part of the big lie theory. 

You get caught in a lie and then you point to someone else and say, no, they are the wires. I'm not the wire. They're the liars.   It just throws even more confusion. Into the mindset of all of these different people.  You begin to doubt the truth that you see. So clearly.  

And you begin to doubt  even your own. Ability.  To interpret.  The truth.   If this episode is about anything.  It is about.  These big lies  being spread. Throughout 

the mid 1830s to early 1840s.  And how these lies. Will affect the perception. 

Of all these different nations vying for California. 

  

When we left off.  

The year was 1838.   

Your Balbuena had just been established. Has this new town. On the edge of the world, this poured at the edge of the world with now a town.  You're  Being the future of San Francisco. And I'll use those two terms interchangeably here,

   then you have these small pass.  Beginning to creep into California by these trappers. And horse thieves. 

The start of migration.  

Just a trickle at this time.  Just to drip. 



Before we jump in to continue our story.  Let's pull back 



 To  understand what's happening with the human population. In the mid to late 1830s.  And let's begin at the beginning.  

Humans have been on this earth. For roughly 300,000 years. Years. 

 During that time or population. Fluctuated, almost like a wave. Never surpassing 1 million.  

Around 12,000 years ago.  

We surpass 1 million in population for the very first time. 

That level rising. The same time the ice ages are ending. 

We develop agriculture around this time, which has to do with the population rise.   

From that point,  To the beginning of episode four. Human population. We'll rise, precipitously.  1804. We reach 1 billion.  For the very first time.   From the beginning of humanity to reach our first billion. It takes us. Roughly 299,000 years  

by the early 19 hundreds, we will reach our second billion.  Takes us a little over a hundred years to go from 1 billion to 2 billion.    Each. Consecutive billion. Would take a less and less years.    We wilL reach. 7 billion By 2022. . In 2024, we are nearing 8 billion  

that's two years. 

 The population is rising at this point in our history faster than it's ever grown before.    



When population builds. So two does a certain type of pressure.    The easiest thing I can relate it to is. These beach wave videos that have been watching.

  Picture your typical beach.  Just behind it. As a water source.  Maybe a river or Creek. No entry into the ocean for miles down.  

What happens with these beach waves?  Is that these water sources.  Have built in pressure.  Could've been a hurricane swell.  Could have been accessories.  For whatever reason. There's enormous pressure on this water  to escape. Higher than it's ever been before. 

The opening. Miles away. Isn't releasing the water fast enough.  It's flooding the area  what happens on these beach breaks? Is he surfers or ecologists will come in.  

And dig a small trench.   From this water source. To the ocean. Through the beach sand.  Just the width of a hand. 

If the pressure is high enough.   A small trickle of water will begin to spill out through this trench. And connect with the ocean.    As time goes on.  That trickle starts to build.  More water fills the trench.   Eroding the sand around it. The trench expands.   Within a few hours. That small trench with a trickle of water.  Has turned into a enormous. Gap in the beach, dangerous to cross. Two dozen yards wide.  With a torrent water going through it. Creating these massive waves. That's what the surfers would jump in and surf on.  

When I think of the population. And the late 1830s. I think of these beach waves.  

Because all around the globe. You have these trickles turning to torrents of human migration.   The age of discovery episode, episode one now was the first time. Humans are crossing oceans. Because of this population pressure building in Europe.  Human population is exploding. If you have all this population coming in, there's more competition. Just they're trying to escape that pressure.  Crossing these oceans.  

 That's what pushes people to migrate from Africa throughout the European continent. Throughout Asia. That's what pushes these native Americans to cross into the United States to begin with.   In terms of the United States. Because this continent was settled much later than Europe.  Our population rise has been  a slower trickle.  And 1750, we reach our first million. And what is today? The United States. By 1830,  13 million.  Most of that population is on the east coast. California still. Roughly 3000 Europeans     native. American population is. in the range of  a hundred thousand. I have no idea of an accurate count there.  Somewhere in that range.    As the population. Pressure builds in the east.  We're migrating west.  And we have this buffer. And the great Plains. That's preventing us from pushing further west.  Because of these native Americans or  difficult travel.    But there are these small trenches being built. By these trappers.  Only a few people are taking them at this time. Still a very small trickle. Started by men like Jebidiah Smith.  .   To understand the American mindset at this time, it's important to look. Where we originated.     We are, we're a county to England.  Subservient to a mother country. Uh,   most of the people coming to America were coming to escape. This population pressure from Europe.  

If you lived in Europe at the time. 

And you weren't a part of the Gentry.  

You didn't have much of a chance to acquire land. Or to raise your status. Economically or socially   then the settlers come to the United States.

Begins with these colonies. And the English.  Then we have the revolution.  The colonies are being oppressed. These high taxes.  

And we break away.  

Americans when that revolutiOn.  



 Then we have all this land for the first time.   

As the population builds, people want more land.   America becomes a nation of squatters.   Unlike with water.  What are just moves indiscriminately. 

Uh,

Humans historically. have needed to attach some idea of rightness. 

Of morality.  To the taking of land.   Why this is it's more of a philosophical debate.  In general it's because we have this desire. We want to defend this desire. So we'll look for a means of attaching rightness to a, whether or not it is morally right or wrong.   In the case of the Americans,   we do this with a PR campaign.

Geared at. 

Fighting against the oppressors. Just as we had done. With the revolution.   

The difference being. That in the revolution, we were actually the oppressed. Fighting against the clue, oppressors and England.  

And the case of westward expansion. More often than not. It seems  the Americans are the oppressors.

Fighting the oppressed.  Yet all this propaganda we create.  

Suggest the opposite. 

Some might argue.  Perpetuating a big lie.  

  There  are so many examples of this. throughout our history. 

A few that come to mind in 1821. There's the black Hawk wars. In Illinois..    There was this dividing line was a river. Dividing where the SU in the Fox territory was versus the American territory. You do not cross this line.  settlers  coming into Illinois.  Realized that just across the river, there's all this fertile land.  Squatters begin to cross into PSU and Fox territory. 

I'm assuming the Fox.

They come into this land. Wanting to remove these settlers. It ignites this war  called the black Hawk war.  Abraham Lincoln was actually a part of this war. Well, he doesn't see much action.

Because it wasn't really a war to begin with.   

And assuming the Fox. They don't go in and aggressively try to fight these. settlers that have built out their farms and homesteads on their land.

They sort of wander through. And try to harvest crops. They'd planted the previous season.  

The settlers freak out.  Whip these native Americans walking through their property lines.

Shoot those that are stealing their food. 



  The end result is that. The Sioux and the Fox land is taken. By the Americans. Is treaties are rescinded.

And we push the SU in the Fox. Further west.  

Another example is the Indian removal act. Bye Andrew Jackson. Own first harsh treatment of the native Americans.  

This involves a number of different tribes. The most recognizable being the Cherokee.  

By 1831, they had. Become possibly the most civilized of all the tribes who we'd interact with,  they're trying to integrate with the American culture  they had adopted forming. They were wearing. The same type of clothes as Americans, their children were sent off to boarding schools. They're doing their best to integrate with our culture. 

In Georgia.  On their land. Gold is discovered.   

We are a land of squatters at this point.   We force. The Cherokee on the infamous trail of tears. Send them to Oklahoma. Many of them die along this trip. That's why it's called the trail of tears.  Uh, Cherokee land is auctioned off to white families. 

  

 The most relevant example.  To the story that will unfold in this episode in California.  Is that of Texas' independence. In 1835.  

 What exactly in folds in Texas is still difficult to say.  

There had been frustrations growing on the side of Mexico.  To  the amount of American settlers coming in.  And the way they reacted towards Mexicans laws.    On the American side, there's frustration on the Mexicans. Uh, not allowing them to essentially do as they please living in this Mexican territory.   For example.   And Mexico slavery is illegal.   A lot of these foreigners going into Texas.  

R from the Southern slave states.  



In Texas, you have all this land. That's fertile for cotton farming. 

 What are these slave holders are looking on that land as potential opportunity to expand the cotton trade and expand slavery.  If Texas comes into the union. And becomes new state    slave holding states will have the upper hand. And Congress and in politics. And in decisions.  Because at that time, there was an even split. Between free and slave states. 

  These Americans can't just go in and take Texas.  It's not like dealing with these native Americans where  interaction with each tribe was largely an isolated incident.    Mexico  is involved in foreign relations. They have their allies.  Their treaties. They have their own armies. 

If. These Americans were to go in and just steal their land by squatting on it, what they're doing to all these native Americans. There would be this huge international conflict and potential war with not only Mexico. But all of these other foreign countries that. Have relationships with Mexico and, or want to limit. American expansion.   

So what happens?  



We begin to paint the Mexicans. As the oppressors.  Acquainting them with the English. We fought this glorious war against  It's not so different. To what the Spanish had done with the missions and Alta California.  Penny, the natives as the savages. 

The Americans are pinning the Mexicans as evil   they're an inferior race they're taking away our freedoms, their barbarous.  We need to go in and take Texas from them. Because they won't let us survive if we don't.

It's this perpetual assault on our freedoms. On what makes us Americans? They are the oppressors. We are the oppressed.  What do we stand for as Americans? What did our forefathers stand for in our revolution against England?  Defending ourselves from the oppressors.   All these PR campaigns from America towards these Mexicans.   It's always going to be this portrayal of the Americans as being the oppressed.  And the Mexicans as being the oppressors.    One Texas newspaper put it, I think most succinctly when it wrote quote. 

The Mexicans give Liberty to our slaves. And make sleeves of ourselves. In quote,  

 Those that aren't slave hoarders, they'll begin to believe. That the Mexican government  is oppressing them in some ways with their laws and they are in some instances,  

But they are. Hyperbolizing it. To suit their own intentions.   

So the Texans revolt.  When this revolt happens . And Texas claims independence.  The American government. Wanted to keep their hands clean and not go to an all out war with Mexico.  We'll acknowledge Texas' independence. But won't enter the war itself.    

  Mexico does a terrible job. Of cooling tensions. After this conflict begins.  They're putting a tight spot because.  Think of our immigration problem in America today.    There's a lot of conflict and confusion. Some sides want to act brutally towards these immigrants. Some sides want to act with more empathy.  It's this huge dilemma.  At the time in Texas.

This immigration problem was. Far more threatening than what we're dealing with today.   The immigrants coming into the United States. Trying to escape poverty, maybe food scarcity, trying to find a better life for themselves. Most of them. Aren't violent though. There certainly are exceptions.    Imagine if they were. Revolutionary. Well-armed. Talking openly over vault disobeying all the rules we had in place. And they far out numbered. All the communities of this land, they were coming into. 

We'd have a political catastrophe. It makes our current immigration problem. Look, petty.   I think most of our country, it would be saying we need to forcefully remove them.  And that might seem rational.   

That's what's happening in Mexico.  

 Santa Ana sees all of these settlers coming into his Northern territories, outnumbering, a lot of the Mexican settlers in those areas.  Disobeying all the rules, all the laws, and they're talking openly of revolt.  

He reacts. With violence.   

One of the more famous battles. Of the Texas revolution. It was a battle known as Goliad. In which 340 American squatters, revolutionaries, whatever you want to call them.  Are captured. My one of CNA and as officers.  The officer agrees to not harm them.  When Santa Ana comes.  He lines up all 340 of them.

And executes them.   

This is ripe fodder for the American press. And seems to align with this idea. That these American settlers are being oppressed.   On top of that. You have the battle of the Alamo.  

It comes after Goliaths.  In 1836.   

I'm sure everyone's heard of the Alamo and Davy Crockett.  There's been movies about it.  Books about it. Disney had a whole series about Davy Crockett, the king of the wild frontier and his coonskin hat and all that.  He was a rough frontiersman.

I had been a Congressman and Tennessee .   He loses a reelection bid.  And his famous accord is saying is something like. The hell with you guys, I'm going to Texas.   

He participates in this revolution. Inspired to go to Texas by  press that's coming in.   A lot of these frontiers men are flooding into Texas. At this point 

 and him and a group of men take over this abandoned Fort. And the Alamo. I'm just an old mission.   

Santa Ana comes and surrounds them.    They don't give up the Fort. All. of them died  

davy Crockett  becomes a cult hero after the Alamo. When these newspapers. Claim that he had been so defined. This grizzly bear wrestler. Him and all his comrades. I fought to the last, almost like,  the Spartan 300. 

Won't give up this past, won't give up the Alamo. You'll have to kill us and we'll die. A glorious battle. Fighting the oppressors.   That's the idea that's being perpetuated and these newspapers.  

The truth  is no one really knows what happened to Davy Crockett.   

There are conflicting reports. Even in the American press.  

 One account reads  quote.  Colonel James Bowie and David Crockett are among the slain. The first was murdered in his bed to which he'd been confined by illness. The ladder fell fighting. Uh, like a tiger in quote.    That same publication. Goes on to contradict its own account writing. Quote. We regret to say the Colonel David Crockett and his companion, Mr. Benton, also  the galleon Colonel Behnam. Of South Carolina. We're of the number who cried for quarter. But we're told there was no mercy for them.  They then continued fighting until the whole war. Butchered.  In quote, 

So you have one account of Crockett fighting like a tiger. Refusing to give up. Fighting to the last  and then another account saying he was crying. To surrender St. Anna wouldn't let him surrender. Then killed all of them.    Other accounts from Mexican soldiers. Say that? Davy Crockett was actually taken prisoner. 







 Really, we don't know what happened to Davy Crockett.  , this is all a PR campaign.   I equated to modern. accounts. Of pat Tillman..

If you remember pat Tillman, the pro bowl safety of the Cardinals who notoriously goes and joined the green Baret. And is killed in. I believe it's Afghanistan.  

 The reports that come out. R that he died, defending his comrades in battle.

To drum up support. For this war. That has waning support.  It was this PR campaign developed by the United States government.  

 If one looks closer, As we have done with power Tillman.  And truth. He was killed by friendly fire.  Because of miscommunication. Among the troops. And questionable judgment by leaders.   

Davy Crockett. Is the pat Tillman. Of the Texas revolution.  

  His death will inspire thousands of frontiersmen to flood in to Texas and join this revolutionary cause.  To try to avenge the death of the men at the Alamo and the man at goalie ad.  

Fight off the oppressors, just like our ancestors had done with England.  

 The Americans will get their chance for revenge.   Months later.. And the battle of San     where they'll kill.  

14. Hundred Mexicans. And a matter of minutes.    Led by Sam Houston first, governor of Texas.  It was a complete surprise. Only seven Americans are said to have died.

Many degradations committed by the American troops.  Stories of Mexican surrendering.  And these soldiers executing them on the spot.   This victory at San Jacinto will really establish Texas as an independent state. That's when the lone star state. Begins. 

And their battle cry leading up to this. Massive victory.  Was remember the Alamo. 

   

The vast majority of the press  is pointing to this conflict is being. The Mexicans as the oppressors.  But there were conflicting reports initially.   

One, Quaker abolitionist newspaper. Rights, this story headlined. This is a mouthful. 

Quote.   The war in Texas. A review of facts and circumstances showing that this contest is a crusade against Mexico  set on foot and supported by slave hoarders, land speculators, et cetera, in order to reestablish, extend and perpetuate the system of slavery and the slave trade in quote.  

The author of that article before we print the second edition. At his life threatened his printing press destroyed.    This isn't an isolated incident.  This is happening to anyone who is speaking out against the Texas revolution.  Even historians. Just after the Texas revolution, who will try to point out as the cause of Texas's independence being. He slaveholders. Leading the torch, so to speak.  There'll be harassed. Some of them will lose their jobs.  The country \\\\\\\

was unifying around this idea of the Mexicans being new pressers. And the Americans are Texans being the oppressed.  

It's this herd mentality.   One modern book about this conflict written by, Penn state university, professor Amy Greenberg. Called the wicked war. Points to how the Texas revolution was really turned into a race war. By these slave holding states and how they were really the ones that started this conflict. 

 I'm sure there's conflicting opinions   

but one thing that's inarguable is that the press was overwhelmingly on the side of these revolutionaries pointing towards these Mexicans as being. The oppressors.   This idea. We'll penetrate. The American mindset.  

 Now it's zoom in. And understand how this all impacts. 

Our focus. And California and San Francisco.   

We left off in the last episode.  California was  in this state of chaos.  You have these major land grants being given out. You had the secularization. Of the missions and these large native American populations. Really wandering aimlessly. And you have this

carousel of governors  the Mexicans implementing their own. Governor's or comandantes and then the California was revolting and. Implementing their governors.   I didn't cover them in detail. Cause there's so many of them, . .  But there is one revolt. That is worth. Dwelling on.    The revolt. Of 1836.  

 What happens is you have this governor Gutierrez implemented by Mexico.  He's a terrible governor  has a harem of native American women attached to his governor's mansion.  It's perpetuating this divide between Mexico and California is  the California was think they should rule themselves because they've largely been surviving on their own without. Financial support from Mexico for. Dozens of years at this point 

 So you have this revolt. 

A man named Juan Bautista. Alvarado.  And Jose Castro. Lead it.  Alvarado was a member of the mexican Gentry..  

His grandfather was a member of that Portola expedition.  He's a few generations down of those first settlers. And Alta California.   Castro was one of his childhood friends.  

Alvarado is also the nephew of Mariano.    who you might remember. From the last episode.  That military commander? The fought against Stanislau the Zorro like native American that led that revolt. And San Jose.  Even though their nephew and uncle they're roughly the same age.  

 Alvarado and Castro. They're trying to oust this Mexican governor.  

To assist them in this effort.  The elicit the help. of foreign settlers. In California.   

Many of them were frontiersman, trappers.

They were formidable force in this revolution. 

 

And we're led by an American frontiersman. But the name of Isaac Graham. We'll hear more about later in this episode.   

It's with the help with this militia. That Alvarado successfully AOS Gutierez Mexican implant. As governor. 

Civil war breaks out in California for two years, California is an independent state. Much like Texas.  

In fact.  The star you see on the California flag today.  Was the star that was on. The California independence flag.  The flag looked just like the Texas independence flag with a giant star in the middle.  The difference was only the colors..  

That may have been a nod to these foreigners or maybe a subtle threat to Mexico.  

 After Alvarado. Gains control.   News of Texas is reaching these foreigners.  They are becoming quite bold. 

 According to Bancroft. The godfather of this history  ,  quote.  Many Americans desire to attach the country eventually to their own nation. And some of them talked openly of immediate annexation.   This spirit. Though manifested chiefly by irresponsible men was sufficiently marked to alarm, not only the Mexicans, but to some extent also the Californians and foreigners of other nations.  In quote, 



Some of these foreign riflemen are becoming

so bold.  They're calling  Alvarado nicknames to his face that are. Seemingly degrading.  Alvarado's childhood nickname was the hairy one. Many of them are calling him the hairy one to his face.  Alvarado  realizes he might not be able to keep control.  

  Rather than proclaim. Extended independence. And come under the authority of one of these foreign nations.  He negotiates again with Mexico.   And Mexico allows Alvarado. To remain as governor. 

  

 If you look at sealing accounts at this time. California conquest is openly discussed.  Everywhere.   1837.  You have this English captain, sir. Edward Belcher. Arrive in your  

 Belcher is the successor of beachy from the last episode. If you remember his account of the cause, man is that beautifully written account of that war between the Presidio soldiers, and they cause many as native Americans that are brought into the mission.   So this is his successor. Oddly similar names.   Belcher rights and account of his voyage to San Francisco and 1837 and subsequent visits called narrative of a voyage around the world performed in her Majesty's ship. 

Sulfur. During the years. 1836 to 1842.  

He writes of California 

quote. 

The hour is fast approaching.  Harassed on all sides by Indians. Pestered by a set of Renegade, deserters from whalers and merchant ships. Who start by dozens and will eventually  form themselves into abandoned gang and domineer over them. Unable from one of spirit to protect themselves. They will soon dwindle into insignificance. The missions. The only respectable establishment in this country. Our annihilated. They've been virtually plundered by all parties.  They sadly want the interposition of some powerful friend to rescue them. To great Britain, their hoops are directed. Y I can not learn. They look with some apprehension upon a power daily increasing. And organized independent band of desserts others. From American and English whalers. These men. Had to buy one or two noted daring characters. 

Now, amongst them will, whenever it suits their purpose, dictate their own terms and said all law at defiance. In quote,  

  The following year. In 1838..  The first history of California. Written in English. Is published by a Scotsman. Named Forbes. Called the history of upper and lower. California.  

Of the potential conquest of Mexico.  Forbes writes, quote. 

 It is at least evident. Now, if there was any doubt, formerly the California is at this moment in a state, which cannot prevent it's being taken possession of by any foreign force that may present itself. In quote,    Forbes describes how every superpower could potentially take California. 

How the Russians could take it.  How the English might take it, the French. 

And on the Americans.  He has this to say.

  Quote.  The Northern American tide of population must roll on southward and overwhelmed, not only California, but other more important states. This latter event, however, is in the womb of time. But the invasion of California by American settlers is daily talked of. And if Santa Ana. had prevailed against Texas, a portion of its inhabitants, sufficient to overrun, California. Would now have been it's masters.  End quote. 

    To compound this issue. Mexico had solicited. England's help. During their war against Spain.  And now owes them a debt. Debt of $50 million.  

California at that time. Was thought to be valued at. $50 million.   Forbes publishes in his account. This rumor going around. The Mexico's considering seating, California to England. In order to pay off this debt.  

 There's no evidence that this is actually the case. It's all rumor at this time.  But  if you're an American Hearing a rumor like that is going to set off all sorts of alarm bells.  Oregon is still contested by England and America.  There's this hope by America that we can take Oregon much the same way we did Texas.   This influx of settlers overwhelming the English and forcing them to cede Oregon to the United States.   If England takes California  and builds settlements there,  they're going to have a much stronger position in protecting Oregon than they would otherwise.   

 Most Americans. probably haven't even heard of California. at this time. 

It's just these trappers, semen. and Mexicans.  Then you have the American politicians, it's not a widely known area to go to.  The focus is Texas and Oregon.   

But you have all these rumors swirling around. About Mexico. Rumors circulating about Oregon.

 This worry about? California being taken by England.  All of this put together as creating this powder keg atmosphere. These lies coming together.

Shifting the mindset of a nation 

And we're really. Pushing towards a certain type of action.   When you have these big lies stack on top of one another.  It creates this pressure.  And almost seems inevitable. That some release. Is going to come.    





Now let's zoom back in.  To get a sense  of how  this  axed between  the United States and Mexico.  Is affecting California in San Francisco. Out west.  



When we left San Francisco in the last episode. It was largely falling into decay.  

Your big winner. Glenna had just been established this new town. 

The population was.

Spilling out. The Presidio soldiers have gone into Sonoma.  But Yahoo was called them up north. To help. Hedge against Russian expansion from Fort Ross, about a hundred miles north of San Francisco. This frontier Russian Ford, we described in the last episode.   Well, most of these missions have been secularized. There are still a few that are in operation mission. Dolores is not one of them. 

 Then all you really have is this sleepy town. Of Yerba bueno.  On the Northeastern part.  Of San Francisco today. Occupying. What is today? Downtown San Francisco on Montgomery street.  Just below Telegraph hill. 

It's still bears, wolves, and coyotes. Still these enormous sand dunes shifting every day with the wind.  It was like living on a beach with a perpetual storm going on. And if you lived in San Francisco, you know how.

Crazy. The wind can be at times.   

You were born is surrounded by these hillsides, almost like an amphitheater. So there's only a section of flatland.  Then we're downtown San Francisco is that's all this kind of marsh water area.  

Too shallow for most ships to come through. So they'll dock further out in the bay and then a row ashore on smaller row boats to bring in their supplies.   

That's what San Francisco is this tiny Seaport.   By 1836 there's. Only one permanent structure there. Rest are tents and like shacks. About five families. Most of them. Largely transient.  Richardson is one of these families he's involved in hide and tallow logistics.  And the other families that are living there are largely involved in trade.  The fuel kit, a lot of the, uh,  The street signs in San Francisco, they give the names of water. 

These first. Settlers. Spear. Hey CLI lease. Those are among the first five families and Richardson. All of them have street names after them. 

 That's really the entire population. Of your Mina and then add on top of that, these native Americans that would work with these families.  Richardson as a few native Americans that is teaching. Navigation shipbuilding to. Some of them are. Incredibly talented. There was this one. Older native American. That I was reading in Davis's account.  Uh, described how his ancestors told them a story of how the bay was created. 

The San Francisco bay.  I was trying to look up how it was created from a geological perspective. And there wasn't really a whole lot of information.  But according to this native American , he said his ancestors had passed down the story.  How there was this enormous earthquake.  

And that's really what created the San Francisco bay. Previously, it had been a fresh water source.   The entry into the ocean was towards, I think it was San Rafeal. I believe.   Then this enormous earthquake happens.  This wall is preventing the water from getting to the ocean. Drops.  

Then there's this new entry point into the ocean and the San Francisco bay.  

 If that is true, it's not in these geological books,    but I digress.  

  The population in San Francisco from a European standpoint was probably not more than 20 at this point.  

And then you have.

Surrounding the bay and attached to these tributaries that feed into the San Francisco bay. Most of these land grants that we described in the last episode, most of these dawns live on a ranch attached to some water source that feeds into the San Francisco bay. Reason being. It's easier transportation for this hide and tallow.   

You have these ranches attached to these water sources that will come into San Francisco.  

 And you have these men working at your bueno. And this hide and Telogis sticks and trade. 

 And when a ship would come in. To the bay.  It would explode the population while the ship was still dot there. So if he had numerous ships there you'd have a population explode by as much as a thousand.  Because some of these ships would have crews as large as 500.   

 

Some of these ship captains coming into the bay 

had been there before or had heard stories. Of these previous shipped captains coming into San Francisco.  They had a certain expectation. Of how they would be received there.  If you remember Richardson story.  Coming into the bay being treated by this. I'll call day leader of the Presidio, soldiers, all his beautiful daughters. Oh, come in for this musical accompaniment in the evening. And oh, by the way, I have all these beautiful women. 

I want you to dance with, and I love for you to marry one of them. If you could. And let me serve you all this delicious food and wine. And then after that you go and be taken to the mission for a tour by these Padres that we're so excited to have guests. And feed you all this. Uh, food that you hadn't had in ages because you've been on the water for so long. 

 I feed you wine from these notorious California grapes and have these native American servants waiting on you hand and foot. 

And they might throw a celebration in your honor.  Give you a bull fight, which he never seen before or bull and bear fight.   

So when the sailors were coming in,  Expecting that sort of treatment and they weren't giving it.  They were understandably disappointed.     Belcher whose account we read earlier.  Sailed to your baboon and Monterey during his California visit in 1837. 

 Writes that Monterey had quote.  Much increased as San Francisco had fallen into ruin. It was still however, very miserable and wanting in the military air of 1827.  In quote,  

A year later in 1838, we have a French commander, a Theodore Laplas  anchor and Yerba bueno. Going out with the crew of 450 men.  Bancroft writes of a pauses visit quote. 



He mused at some length on the surrounding desolation, there was no genial Commandante with a family of beautiful daughters to entertain him as they had some French navigator of earlier times. And San Francisco had no charm for him. Nothing, but Fogg's fleas wins and sterility.  In quote, 



 As far Northern port.  It was beginning to lose its appeal. 

At least to these captains coming in.  

It's a different story. For a particular kind of crewman.  

And that being. 

 The aspiring desert or.    We talked about the unique population in Alta, California, quite a bit.  And this in previous episodes.    Not a lot of talk about the common folk. Let's say. 

Reason being there. Aren't a whole lot of common folk.  

It's these native Americans. These ranches is Presidio's.  These missions.  A few small play blows or towns.  Most notable being in San Jose.    Aside from that you have this one particular type of person. Often known as Beachcombers. 

 That are. becoming  almost a staple. Of the California population of this time.  They're largely neglected from the history books. Particularly these history books that are trying to romanticize this entire period. 

 What a Beachcomber is essentially is a desert or.  You have all these ships coming in to this California coast. These men, they see the possibilities there.  Maybe see some of these. Women that are trying to be married off by their fathers. They can convince their fathers that they are. Prominent Naval figures. 

Maybe they can marry all of these women.  You see these enormous ranches and these land grants being given out. And I'm thinking maybe I can get one of these land grants. If I can convince the Mexican government, I am. A worthy recipient. 

They're seeing all this native American labor. It's unique. And Alta California.  This land that is. Fertile. All these horses and cattle. 

Depending on where you are from.   This might be a paradise to you. 

Your opinion of it may be higher coming off of one of these ships. If you've been at sea for. You know, six months with the same crew of people locked in close  confines living in like a hammock,  

 the possibility of escaping that life. Living in this beautiful far away. Land that hardly anyone knows about.  Must seem pretty appealing. 

And so that's really what these Beachcombers are.  These desserts that have fallen into harder times.  Not just dessert hers, and some of them were.   Horse thieves. Mountain men  trappers. There's a lot of crossover between all these men. Some of these desserts will become trappers and horse thieves, and some of these horse thieves. And trapper as well. Jump on a ship.  So it's Beachcomber is a general term of.  A foreigner who has landed in California and in his is hard on his luck. 

 Of  you're landing in this far Northern port. On the edge of the world.  It's this ripe opportunity.  For re-invention.    There's no social media for someone to check you. There's no background checks .  If you can convince somebody, you are what you say you are. Then you are what you say you are.    There's a quote. I can't remember where it's from, but it's.  Power resides where people think it resides. Maybe it's from game of Thrones. That sounds like it.   In the case of California. And you have this isolated population.  That really doesn't know what's going on around the world. And you have the sailors coming in to California. That have no idea what's going on in San Francisco,  or, other areas of California as well.   It's a great opportunity to spend a yarn 

 there are a few accounts. The described this particular type of person.  

The best  I've found.  Is  from a book by a man named William Henry, Donna.  Titled two years. Before the mast.  This book is an account of Donna's experience. A board of hide and tallow ship.  It's sales throughout California in 1835.  Don is of an upper-class going on this rogue adventure and describes the account in vivid detail is a really good writer. 

 At the time. Became published in 1840.  It was a bestseller in the United States   one of these publications that enlightened people as to what lies in California.    This also gives us a perspective of what it's like to work on. One of these heightened teller ships.     

This first account is of a man Donna encounters near Los Angeles.   Who had been a tailor is trying to get back on his feet 

 Paint's  a good perspective of what.  The typical Beachcombers were like,  

So I'll let Donna take over from here.  Cool.   

There was one man in the only house here. And him, I shall always remember as a good specimen of a California ranger. He had been a tailor in Philadelphia.  And getting intemperate and in debt.  Joined a trapping party and went to the Columbia river. And then Stan a Monterey where he spent everything left his party and came to the Pueblo de Los Angeles to work at his trade.  Here. 

He went dead to Leeward among the pulpit. Murray's gambling rooms, et cetera. And came down to San Pedro to be moral by being out of temptation. 

He had been in the house several weeks, working hard at this trade upon orders, which he had brought with him. And talk to much of his resolution. And opened his heart to us about his past life.  After we had been here some time, he started off one morning and find spirits. Well-dressed. To carry the clue is what she had been making to the Pueblo. And saying that he would bring back his money and some fresh orders the next day.  The next day came and a week passed and nearly a fortnight.  When one day. Going ashore. 

We saw a tall man who looked like our friend, the tailor, getting out of the back of an Indians card, which had just come down from the Pueblo. He stood for the house. But we bore up after him. When finding that we were overhauling him. He hooved to and spoke us.  Such a site. Bare footed with an old pair of trousers tied round the waist by a piece of green hide,  a soiled cotton shirt  and a torn Indian hat cleaned out to the last real and completely used up. He confessed the whole matter. Acknowledged that he was on his back and now he had a prospect. Of a fit of horrors for a week. And being worse than useless for months.  This is a specimen of the life of half the Americans in English who are adrift on the  coast of the Pacific. And it's. Islands. Commonly called. Beachcombers.   

One of the same stamp was Russel. Who was master of the Hyde house at San Diego while I was there. But had been afterwards dismissed for his misconduct. He spent his own money in nearly all the stores among the half bloods upon the beach. And went up to the Presidio. Where you live the life of a desperate loafer. Until some rascally deed send them off between two days with men on horseback dogs and Indians and full cry after him among the Hills.  One night,  he burst into our room at the Hyde house. Breathless pale as a ghost covered with mud.  And torn by thorns and briars, nearly naked and begged for a crust, a bread. Saying he hadn't either eaten nor slept for three days.   He was the great Mr. 

Russell, who month before  was Don Tomas, captain de LA Playa Maestro de LA Cassa, et cetera, et cetera. Begging food and shelter of Conoco. And sailors.  He stayed with us until he had given himself up and was dragged off to the kela bozo. . End quote.   

 How good was that?   , this first man. . Oh, reformed derelict. Excited about his possibility of becoming this tailor that he had aspired to be in California, actually gotten some work. Seem to be well on his way. 

I  then he disappears and comes back a month later. Looks like he's been thrown into a washing machine.  Torn up shorts, no shoes. Hasn't showered, a green string for a belt. No new clothes is being.  Pushed up hill in a wheelbarrow. And Donna and his crew are witnessing this guy come in. 

It looks nothing like the person that they had met before.  Hadn't been strong enough to withstand the temptations of the gambling houses  of Los Angeles. And he'd fallen back into his previous bad habits.   

The next example was this master of the Hyde house.  

He,  held himself in high regard. Then he goes down to the gambling houses.

Loses all his money. Is fired from his position.  Don and his crew don't see him for awhile. Then all of a sudden he bursts in with his Harold, just shoveled thorns, all stuck in him saying he hasn't slept or eaten in three days begging for across the bread. This is all a matter of maybe a month.  

It goes from the master of the Hyde house, which is probably a pretty prominent position because hide and tallow is the largest trade item. And California is still at this time.  To being fired and run down by. These native Americans and Presidio soldiers, and then thrown into the Kaba. Alba yarrow,  which is a dungeon.  

    Both of these men have phone victims to their own vices. As they weren't willfully manipulating anyone else to get their way. But Donna does have this one. Last accountant is probably my favorite of, of Donna's accounts of these types of men.  

, it takes place in San Francisco. 

So more of our focus area.  And describes this young man. 

Who's trying to lie his way, aboard a ship.    I'll let Donna take over.



 Quote.   Another and more amusing specimen was one whom we saw at San Francisco. He had been allowed on board the ship, California. And one of her first voyages. And ran away and commenced Ranchero, gambling and stealing horses, et cetera. He worked along up to San Francisco and was living on a Rancho near there while we were in port. One morning . When we went ashore in the boat. We found him at the landing place. Dressed in California style,  a wide hat  favored, Velveteen trousers, and a blanket thrown over his shoulders. And wishing to go off in the boat saying he was going to pass our with our captain a little. We had many doubts of the reception he would meet with. But he seemed to think himself company for anyone. 

We took him aboard. Landed him at the gangway and went about our work, keeping an eye on the quarter deck where the captain was walking.  The lad went up to him with complete assurance and raising his hat, wished him a good afternoon.  Captain Thomas turned around, looked at him from head to foot said, coolly. Hello. Who the hell are you?  And Kept on his walking.  This was a rebuff not to be mistaken. And the joke passed among the crew by winks and signs of different parts of the ship.  Finding himself disappointed. At headquarters, he edged along forward to the mate. Who was overseeing some work upon the Forecastle and tried to begin a yarn. But it would do no good. To meet had seen the reception had met with AFT. And would have no cast off company. The second may was a loft and the third mate and myself were painting the quarter boot. Which hung by the davits. So he mistook himself to us.  But we looked at each other.  And the officer was too busy to say a word.  From us, he went to one and another of the crew, but the joke had got before him and he found everybody busy and silent.  Looking over the rail, a few moments afterwards, we saw him at the galley door talking with the cook. This was indeed a come down from the highest seat in the synagogue to a seat in the galley with the cook.  At night to when supper was called, he stood in the waist for some time, hoping you'd be asked down with the officers.  But they went below one after the other and left him.  His next chance was with the carpenter and sailmaker and he lounge around the after hatchway until the last of going down.   

We had now had fun enough out of him and taking pity on him, offered him a pot of tea and a cut of the kid. With the rest and the Forecastle. He was hungry. And it was growing dark. And he began to see that there was no use in playing the Caballero any longer. And came down into the Forecastle put into the grub and sailor style.  Threw off his heirs. And enjoyed the joke as much as anyone. For a man must take a joke amongst sailors.   He gave us an account of his adventures in the country, rosary and all, and was very entertaining.  He was a smart unprincipled fellow. I was in many of the rascally doings in the country. And gave us a great deal of interesting information as to the ways of the world we were in.  And quote.    



  Keep in mind that during Alvarado's revolution.

An 1836 year after Donna's account.  These desserts. And  Beachcombers when crease drastically.  Because while Alvarado is at war. He's not policing. These desserts hers. As meticulously as had been his predecessor.   Where you had this foreign problem before of roughly 300 foreigners. That can stir the pop so much that  California has a worry, that they might take the country from them. 

Now you have the number increasing with. Derelict.  Hardened men    the type of men, you don't want to be there whenever revolution breaks out.  

 For years after Donna's account.  In 1839.  Ship by the 

name of Clementine. Sailed into your bueno.  

Uh, boarded was its claimed owner. Uh, prominent Swiss captain. By the name of John Sutter. 

We had just recently arrived. In California. 

Within we're Hawaiian craftsmen.  Said to be a gift from the king of why himself.

A number of foreign workers, his followers. 

And letters of introduction. Spanning the 

continent. 

Soder himself gave our markable appearance.  Dressed in finery is a Cape that touched almost to the ground.  It looked like a young gene Hackman,  mid thirties,  piercing blue eyes,  bald.  

A proper mustache.  Very gregarious. 

These members of San Francisco, the few people who were there.  They'd seen him before.  He'd come months earlier. 

With the stated intention of building a Fort. On the Sacramento. 

The territory that was then. Largely unknown. 

I can imagine the people living in San Francisco at the time. Hearing this Swiss captain claiming to want to build a Fort in the Sacramento. And almost dismissing him.  He did have all these letters of introduction, spanning the country, all these governors and mayors. Very prominent figures.  

He was this. Uh, supposedly Swiss captain.  A member of the Swiss guard. And elite military force charged with defending the Pope.  And have someone like that. On their side within California.  It could be a huge resource  

There's also this threat.

Deserters had been increasing. Especially since Alvarado's revolution.  They don't want what happened in Texas.  To happen in California.  

 So the sins Sutter. To Monterrey. To teen visa.  Before they allow him to settle a Sacramento.    

When Sutter returns .  It's not only with this visa.  It's also with letters of introduction. from. 

prominent California's.  Including a letter from. governor Alvarado   

 granting and permission. To settle the Sacramento valley.   In fact Alvarado had appointed him quote. Representative of the government and agent of the law and the Northern frontier in quote. 

A strange appointment. This. Just random captain from Switzerland 

but  here is this letter of introduction from Alvarado. 

  Over the course of the next few weeks.  Subtle we'll take journeys to ranches lining the San Francisco bay.  Organizing trade on credit. In every case. For cattle, for horses for different supplies to help build up his Ford. 

 Then he returns to your  =for a goodbye dinner.  Before he takes off. Up the Sacramento river.   This was thought to be a goodbye dinner. And more ways than one  

Most of these men. These California natives thought.  To try to settle a Sacramento was virtually suicide.  

That land was completely unknown.  You don't know what kind of people are there? You don't know how.  Combative. They're going to be.   But these California's.  They know they are the wildest  of the native Americans they encounter in California.  At least as of yet.    There's the sense that many of them. Don't expect Sutter to return. 



  The next day. Sutter takes off in two schooners  he'd chartered   led by William Heath Davis.  The author. Of 75 years. In California.    Davis at this time was a 19 year old.  Half Hawaiian.  Warren to a English trader of the sandalwood trades and Hawaii. And Hawaiian royalty.  He's commonly referred to as Kanaka Davis.  He had been living in Hawaii, making  journeys to San Francisco. To visit his uncle. spear an early settler of      of this trip of the Sacramento Davis rights. Quote.    

We left a year, but winnow on the 9th of August. 1839 from alongside the ship monsoon. The only vessel in the bay. For Sacramento valley. Concerning which there was, but little known at the time.  The fleet was about eight days going up the river.  Every night  we would stop at the bank. And captain Sutter would make excursions from the river to examine the country, looking for a suitable place to establish himself.  His idea was to settle and obtain grants from the Mexican government. I think he had an understanding with that government before he went there. Probably with the Mexican minister in the United States.  When stopping along the bank of the river at night,  we could not obtain any rest on account of the immense multitude of mosquitoes, which prevailed. Exceeding anything we ever experienced before?   On the way up the Sacramento river. Captain Sutter communicated to me has plans. He said. As soon as he found a suitable site. He would immediately build a Fort. As a means of defense against the Indians. And also against the government of the department of California in case any hostility should be manifested in that quarter.  He also mentioned his intention to form a large colony. I was own country men to come to this coast. With a view of developing the immense Sacramento valley. Into quote. 

 

I mentioned before. That's sailing up this river.  Uh, Sacramento.  It's like sailing into the Amazon.    Like a heart of darkness S journey.    Heavy mosquitoes,  burning sun.  The feeling of natives, watching them from the coastline,   Subtle evidence of these native Americans and things like beads. Her feathers tied to trees. and elaborate patterns.  

No other evidence. Of civilization.  No other evidence of humanity.  

As their boat continues to float along this.  It looks if we flat river in flat landscape.  Into the deep unknown.   

These tributaries haven't been mapped out.  They don't know where they're going. Exactly.    They get lost routinely and then they get found again.   Has Davis and Sutter. Continue on their way towards the Sacramento.  Heading towards the fork of the American river.   An enormous group.  Of  native Americans.  Emerges. From the wilderness. Painted in red and white. War paint.   

He's men panic.  Some want to begin firing upon them.       Sutter begins calling out from aboard his ship in broken Spanish.  

And to their surprise.  He's answered by two native Americans that are thought to be.  

Mission Indians from the mission San Jose. That same mission, the winnin and.  Slaughtered all the Cosmin is.   

Of this. encounter.  Davis has this to say.    Quote.   The last afternoon. We anchored in front of what is now Sacramento city. And so on the banks of the river, some seven or 800 Indians, men, women, and children. We prepared ourselves for an attack.  But our fears proved groundless. They came off to our Anchorage in large numbers and canoes made of tools.  That afternoon, we weighed anchor and went into the American river. Landed pitched tents and made preparations to occupy the country.  All his small arms remade ready for the defense against the Indians in case of necessity. In quote, 

 These natives paddle out to Southern his crew board, their canoes during this initial counter.  Sutter claims to have given them handkerchiefs colored handkerchiefs, which they thought highly valuable.  When they decide to sail in and camp for the night,  Sorta makes his guns ready in case they do attack, but he also tells them to come back to his camp  that he will give them presence..   Despite this potential danger with all these wild native Americans.  Despite this being a completely remote region.  And the Sacramento. Which is a part of this central valley.  Unknown to most of the California's. 

Sutter decides this is the ideal spot.  To build a Fort.   He chooses this spot on the fork. Of the American river.    Orders Davis to unload their supplies.  And head back to your boy now. 

 

As Davis sales off. . Sutter and his men come to the beach. To wave him off.    And all of this experience.  Davis has this to say.    

As we moved away. Captain Sutter gave us a parting salute of nine guns. The first ever heard at that place. Which produced a most remarkable effect.   As the heavy report of the guns and echoes died away. The camp of the little party was surrounded by hundreds of Indians. Who were excited and astonished at the unusual sound.  A large number of deer, elk and other animals, and the planes were startled running to and fro stopping to listen. Their heads raised full of curiosity and wonder seemingly attracted and fascinated to the spot. We're from the interior of the adjacent wood, the howls of wolves and coyotes field, the air. And immense flocks of waterfowl flew wildly about over the camp.   

Standing on the deck of the ship. I witnessed this remarkable site.  Which filled me with astonishment and admiration. And made an indelible impression on my mind.  This salute. Was the first echo of civilization. And the primitive wilderness so soon to be populated. End quote. 

  

 And so Davis leaves him there.  Watching from the deck of his boat.  As hundreds of native Americans.  Surround Sutter's camp. 

Likely thinking to himself.  This is probably the last time. I'm going to see John Sutter alive.  

So who was John Sutter? Really?  Who was this? Uh, Swiss captain. Who would come to California?    Had all these letters of introduction across the United States.  Even from California's own governor who declared him the law  of the Northern frontier.   And what was he even doing  in California, to begin with  This foreigner. Who had just arrived. It would eventually become. One of the most controversial figures. And California's early history.  The truth was.  

The John Sutter.  At this point in his life.  Is virtually. Uh, nobody.  

He's not a Swiss captain.    He has no money.   To understand. How he becomes this captain, like figure and puts on this persona.  You have to understand where he came from.   

Sutter was born in Switzerland. That much is true.  To a lower class family. In a small town.  Traditionally, if you're born in the lower classes  in Europe,  it's incredibly difficult for you to advance.  And in terms of economics and in terms of class.  But Sutter's parents. Make a go of it. Sutter's their eldest son.   They  put him through school.  Find him a publisher's apprenticeship.  Hoping it works out for the best.   he's working in the city his first splash of the better kind of life outside of a small town 

  Sutter isn't invited to continue on in this apprenticeship.  He's hired. At a drapery shop.  And find fabrics for clues and furniture. 

A lot of the clientele. Young. Beautiful. Wealthy women.   And Sutter.  We'll be known throughout his life as somewhat of a ladies, man. 

He's very outgoing, very enthusiastic.   Round in the chest proud figure  piercing blue eyes and kind of around face.  .. He ends up.  Impregnating. One of these young women who frequencies shop. Who has a wealthy. Mother who's also a widower. 

 This mother doesn't approve. Of a marriage between Sutter and her daughter.  But Sutter has gotten her daughter pregnant.   It is a major social full Paul at the time. To have a child out of wedlock.  That would not only look bad for. Sutter's. 

Potential wife,   it would also look incredibly bad for her mother.  Perhaps against her will. This young girl's mother approves her marrying down a class.  To this young John Sutter.  Who seems to have convinced her and perhaps her mother, that he is bound. For better things.   Now Sutter has a financial backer. And the mother-in-law.   

She loaned him money to start a dry goods store.  Helps him and our daughter purchase a house nearby.   Set or makes the mistake. Of inviting his brother  and his brother's friend.  To go in with him as a partner at this store.  

 His brother very quickly. Begins relationship with Sutter's wife's  younger sister.  They ended up marrying.   The mother-in-law has.  Lost two of her daughters to the Sutter family, two daughters marrying down.  Probably dashes or hopes of rising her social standing while she's still alive.  



   To complicate matters further.  Sutter's partner, his brother's friend.  Ends up taking all the dry goods at the store. Running off  and selling them for his own profit.    Now sitter has no means to pay off his debt.     

Sutter's. mother-in-law seems to have turned against Sutter and his younger brother.  She  convinces her youngest daughter. To divorce. Sutter's younger brother. 

He will take to the bottle, so to speak.  And die a few years later. Never sad death in the gutter sort of thing. 

  Sutter ends up selling his house to his mother-in-law to help pay off some debt.    At the same time, the mother-in-law seems to be trying to convince her eldest daughter. To divorce Sutter just as she had done with her younger daughter .   

Sutter's wife will be loyal to him to the end.  And she and her husband.  Or forced to move into an abandoned farmhouse on the outskirts of town.  Living off the charity of their friends.    Sutter now has four children. And no means of paying off this debt.   As many other creditors. Are growing in patient.    He set to enter debtor's prison. If he can't come up with the funds.  Debtor's prison at that time was.  No joke.  Men would spend their entire lives and debtors prisoners.  Once you fell into debt, there was.  Largely, no getting out unless you were of some means either socially or economically.  Sutter was not. 

If he'd fallen into debtor's prison, there's a good chance. He would never have left.  

 He and his wife.

Pack up his finest clothes.  And he kept from his drapery shop.  But together as much money as they can.   And then Sutter fleas.  To the United States.  Riving in July of 1834. 

  

At this point, Sutter has nothing. Large amount of debt. Pocket full of change. Some nice clothes from this drapery shop.  You will have this taste for fine things throughout his life. One of his undoing.   

 But he does have this very gregarious personality. 

  His biographer, a man named Albert Hurtado.  And his book, John Sutter. Uh, life on the American frontier.  Has this to say. About Sutter at this point in his life.  Quote.  So there was a confidence man who had first favorably impressed, nearly all who met him. He attracted people with his brilliant personality and convince them that his schemes were excellent business propositions. He plied them with liquor fleece them was slight of hand and paid them with promises that might be redeemed later on steeply discounted terms. And Switzerland, these tactics had nearly landed Southern jail, but the north American frontier was not so well policed.  In quote,   

What Sutter we'll soon find on the north American frontier.  Is that this is virtually a playground for anyone who convince other people, that they are something that they're not.  He's no longer contained by social constraints. By a family name. Or inherited wealth.  

And the west, he can make up any version of himself. He wants.  If he can convince others that he is this person that he claims to be. They'll trust him and give him the things he needs. 

So Sutter makes his way. To st. Louis from New York.  Meet, say another German that he travels. Travels with. The only. The other firsthand account. We have of Sutter. During this time, a.   Cooter. I think I'm pronouncing that correctly.  

And a few other immigrants.   Why he travels to St. Louis. It's likely that he'd heard of the German settlements. There, there are a lot of German settlements popping up in Missouri.  Switzerland, and Germany. They're kind of interchangeable as countries at this point. In fact, the small town that Sutter is from is now a part of Germany.   There's a lot of crossover there.   When Sutter arrives in Missouri.  It's at first unknown, 

how he's able to 

earn a living..    



He has run a drapery shop in a dry goods store. So he has some skills. And he's also very enthusiastic and this confidence man. 

So it's likely talk to his way onto some small jobs at first.   He was a frequenter of the saloons and beer halls.  An importantly joins. The German club of St. Louis.  

 It's at this German club. It's Sutter. We'll meet a Prussian Colonel.  Who will become the foundation.  For his captain Sutter. Persona. 

Sutter had a military background. He had been a Lieutenant second Lieutenant in a militia. 

He had been in charge of young men.  Was very keen on drilling and that authority. 

From his biographer. Apparently he loved being a member of this militia. 

In the pomp and circumstance gave him.   

When he meets this Prussian Colonel. In the German club.  To Sutter. He's one of the most impressive figures.  He's ever met.  Especially in the far frontier. 

Not just to Sutter, but to everyone around there.  

  And not many colonels coming out. It's the middle of nowhere in Missouri.  So everyone's leaning in to listen to this Prussian Colonel stories. Uh, buying him rounds of beer for a chance to. Be in his orbit,

and men are loaning him money.  Because he's said to have steamer.  It will be arriving in the next week or so. To bring all of his wealth with it.  He's planning to settle up and establish himself. And this German settlement in Missouri.  

 It seems like practically half the town into blowing this man money.  Hoping to make a profit for when.  His steamer comes with all of his goods and wealth.  And perhaps be in as good graces.   Sutter  himself even learned some money, what little he had at the time. 

 

 



The Colonel.  It turns out he's a fraud.   He's been lying about this steamer coming in.  Getting these loons from all these people accruing debt.    Tries to smooth talk his way out of it. People would take pity on him, particularly Sutter, and then he ends up playing.     This kernel has another important relation to Sutter.   Because it's through the Colonel. That Sutter will begin to adopt. His captain persona.   Sutter's been in the militia.  He loves this military pomp and circumstance. 

He's overseen. The training of young cadets.  And he can spin a yarn.  He sees this other man spinning this yarn. Being able to do it successfully out in the west.  He has really nothing to lose at this point.    So Sutter begins to lie.  He begins telling people that he is this captain of the Swiss guard. 

It's notorious military unit.  In charge of protecting the Pope.  

These frontiers men are enamored by stories.  He's very gregarious. 

One of his contemporaries in Missouri. Describe Sutter at this time as quote.  Uh, soldierly looking man with a great deal of dash and restless energy. Or high top to boots, uh, splendid blue cloth cloak. The Cape's reaching nearly to the ground. And altogether was well calculated to create a profound impression upon a simple Backwoods men.  And quote.   Sutter begins. To get these loons. That this Colonel had previously been getting.  

  He  adopts this. Colonel's persona. And becomes this woe known, respected figure in the forefront tear. 

  From this Prussian Colonel.  Sutter also learns. Of the Santa Fe trail.  Which had just been reopened to trade with the United States the year before. 

Santa Fe trail, is this. Notorious trading route 

it spans Santa Fe, New Mexico into independence, Missouri.

 Santa Fe in 1835 was a wild place. It was one of these hubs of illegal horse trade throughout the American continent.  I kind of equated to like, um,  Like a shop that sells illegal goods.  Where you have the workers going out the back door. Stealing all these legal goods coming back through the back door. 

 Then the shop owner puts these goods up in the front window. Sells them off till whichever customer comes in the store.   That's essentially what Santa Fe was an 1835. 

A staple of its trade was stolen horses.  

And also sell legally obtained horses and alcohol and cattle. It really just sold whatever you brought in, like almost like a pawn shop.  

It was still this small, far off town in the middle of nowhere, New Mexico. 



 When I say they'd sell off to anyone that would come in the store, I literally mean that.  You have these native American tribes coming in and buying horses, you have. The settlers. Buying horses. And then you have the American army purchasing horses all from New Mexico.   In 1835. Horses were incredibly scarce on the frontier.  To all these different groups.  And had never been in a higher demand.   You don't have cars.  There's no other form of transportation other than walking, besides the horse.  

And you have these settlers pushing farther west. They can't move west without horses. They can't acquire more land.  They can't form effectively. Because it takes much longer to get from point a to point B on your property. If you have a large farm.  

 In horses weren't readily available. And the frontier.  

Especially the far frontier.  On top of that, these native Americans.  We're valuing the horse more and more.  To them, it had become a staple of their culture.    If you remember the story I told in the last episode where.

The vaqueros. Those are being horse trained in these Northern territories of Mexico in like New Mexico, Arizona, Texas.    Then you have these native Americans. Go back to their tribes and then they explain to them, Hey, there's this animal at this mission?  Called the horse.  

 It will allow us to ride faster and longer than we've ever written before. We can hunt Buffalo. We can hunt larger game. We can dominate these other tribes. If we collect more of these horses  and they've already trained me on how to use it.  So I'll train you now and I'll become a chief and we'll become this warring tribe. 

  That's. And effect what's happening with these tribes.   One drive we'll discover horses from another tribe and it becomes this staple of power within these tribes and the planes. The more horses. These tribes had, the more powerful they were thought to be. 

  They're  stealing these horses from the settlers whenever they can. 

  You have this enormous demand for horses. On the planes. And where do you have an abundance of horses?  

And California.  Too many horses.  So many, they drowned a thousand horses and 1831.  

He's wild horses in the central valley. And then these missions.  And ranches.  With thousands of horses of their own. 

 Not many people out there watching them.  

 In the last episode there was this. Influx of horse rates after Jebidiah Smith's expedition into California.   He had actually discovered. This route. Into California that connected. The old Spanish trail with California  around the Southern tip of the central valley. If you remember that description of him going around the central valley.  And what is called the Tahan. Han or Chaon pass. 

There's two passes  right next to a one, another name Tian. And Chaon.  

One goes into the central valley. And one goes west into the Los Angeles region.  

 Jeopardize Smith by discovering this route. He connects the old Spanish trail with.  Santa Fe. So you could travel from Santa Fe all the way into California.  Go to these ranches and these missions.  Steal thousands of horses.  then ride back to Santa Fe.  According to Bob Wiseman. Author of the legend of the horse, Steve trail.  Quote  between 1830 and 1855. Tens of thousands of stolen horses. We're rushed up the old Spanish trail. These animals will be traded or sold to other Indians, trappers immigrants. In the U S army.  The well-bred California horses brought in high prices. And code. 

 Who is an incredibly dangerous journey.  Because you're crossing these deserts. Crossing mountains. Then you also have these other native American tribes that might find you and try to take your horses. You have these Presidio soldiers that might chase after you. If they call wind what you're doing.   Once you steal these horses, you're going to be traveling slower because you have to round up all these horses to go with you. So. There's this nickname for that.  Old Spanish trail. I think it was called like the death trail or something like that. 

Because there was so perilous.   Las Vegas was the last favorite stop before they would head back to Santa Fe, which was this little Oasis. And then after that you were crossing virtually the desert.    That was the back entrance into Santa Fe of these stolen goods. He stolen horses. What's they'd sell to anyone. 

Who'd come and try to purchase them. 

  This is what Santa Fe is when Sutter makes his way there 

In  1835. 

 He first links up with this. French noble.  

And a trading expedition for alcohol.  He comes with horses too, but it's mainly this alcohol, that's the source of his profit, which he probably sold it off to these native Americans.  But this first expedition is an incredible success.  He returns to Missouri as this. Well-established businessman, somebody who knows how to maneuver on the Santa Fe trail 

 and it elevates us standing even further.  So He puts together this new venture.   Hoping to acquire wine horses.  17 men end up investing.  Many of them, their life savings.   

 Sutter, as I mentioned before, was a green horn.  He's in charge of this company.  

 Luther.  Who was still with Sutter at this time.   Writes of this venture quote. 

The train was accompanied with at 17 owners who were composed of bankers,  doctors,  colonels,  captains,  merchants,  mechanics. And farmers. Single and married men all equipped with a good size canteen, which was filled with liquor every morning by the provision master.  In quote,  

  17 men that have no idea, really what they're getting into on the Santa Fe trail. 

 Incredibly remote  not well-traveled. Taking this wagon train to Santa Fe to try to so off these supplies that they'd acquired.  Filling up their canteens with liquor every morning. So they're probably rowing drunk by noon.  

 This venture to everyone, perhaps except Sutter.  Is a complete and utter failure.  . 

They've run out of money by the time they get to Santa Fe.   These partners are frustrated because they've lost their money.  Some of the company members were   thrown out upon the charity of the world. According to one historian.  One of the. Investors. Is killed on the way back to Missouri. By somebody that many suspect Sutter had sent after him.   There's no real way of knowing.     At this point he doesn't have any money.    He boons his time as a store clerk.   Trading trinkets with the Apaches.  Womanizing with these native Americans.  



 It's during this months, long layover and Santa Fe.  At Sutter begins to hear from these trappers that have been to the far west.   I have this place called California.  

My all these accounts is incredibly fertile. 

Not well populated.

Tons of horses.  

according to the accounts a years,  You can get a grant.  You can acquire land. 

 All of this opportunity for. Kahneman.  With the right mindset.   

So Sutter begins to dream up this plan. That he'll settle, California. And establish a Swiss colony.  Win back. His wife and become this success. That she had always hoped he would be.    After boating his time in Santa Fe   Sutter returns to Missouri.  

Avoid St. Louis because  investors of his  failed expedition, or there   he lands in Westport, Missouri. 

Where he begins to take advantage. Of the native American labor. 

Particularly the Shawnee's.  

He's thought to have paid them by smuggling liquor.  Selling trinkets.  They help him build a hotel. Called the far west hotel in Westport.  Again, Sutter's accruing incredible amounts of debt.

 He's had to, to build up this far west hotel, which is a fairly prominent hotel on the west. Luth quarter and he goes to visit Sutter in Westport.  Is astonished at how prominent Sutter seems to that community. He'd known him. As this. 

Poor wandering spirit. Who traveled with him from New York to Missouri had nothing.   Now he's this so-called captain. With a hotel and native Americans working for them.   

But his creditors soon come calling. 

And Sutter seems cornered. 

 He was considering committing suicide. 

It doesn't really have a way out.  

One of the ways Sutter manages to overcome such hardships 

Perhaps it's because he's fallen under hard times himself, but.  He would have a sympathy for. 

Travelers. Hard on their luck throughout his life. 

 He had given money to the mayor of Westport's father.  When he'd been hard out on his luck.    The mayor of Westport. 

Generously. Lynn's Sutter money.  Sutter also goes and forges, additional loans pays off the more immediate creditors. But it's not enough to ward off the potential of debtors prison.  So he still has this summons pending.  The day before he's scheduled to appear in court.  He takes off west. In late March of 1838.   Aiming for California.  

 At this time, there's not even really an Oregon trail to go on. It's just these old trapper trails that are beginning to connect. Together the Oregon trail. Won't start in name until the 1840s.  Sorter is among the first people to really travel on this trail.  

And these first travelers on these trails, aside from the trappers.  Where these missionaries.  

 Sutter is traveling in this wagon train that's. A combination of  trappers, traders, and mainly missionaries. 

There's great descriptions of these missionary women in particular that are a novelty in the west. Most of these native Americans have never seen. A white woman before, especially those in the four planes.   They're also riding sidesaddle, which must have been a terrible journey, sidesaddle, meaning.

You're laying your legs over one side. Because it was thought. To be on womanly to straddle your horse.  Making that journey. I imagine more difficult for women that it was for men.   

On their way , soda arrives at the mountain, man. Rendezvous. If you remember that rendezvous from the last episode, this crazy. Trading. Party  for mountain men in the forefront tier generally in. Wyoming.  

 While there he ends up. Trading the renowned mountain man kit Carson. For a young native American slave.   Could Carson will become the hero of countless dime novels. On the far west.  In the mid 18 hundreds.  



 On top of that Sutter commence. 

As some of these people at the mountain man, rendezvous to follow him still has this captain persona going on. 

It's probably even more impressive at the mountain man rendezvous than he was in Missouri.   He continues. Overland.  To Fort Vancouver. And Siskey,  which is. Oregon. 

Hudson's bay company territory.  Then he takes a ship.

To Honolulu,   waiting to go to California.  

 Along this  journey, he's collecting letters of introduction.   He has letters  from founders of cities in Missouri.  The head of Fort Vancouver.   Mint of influence from. Every  nationality.  Hoping for this ship to travel to California. There's no ship to be had.  He spends a few months in Hawaii meets with the king who Sutter claims offered him command of his entire army.  

While he is stranded. There is this ship. 

The Clementine. On the Hawaiian coast.  Sutter convinces the owner of the ship.  To let him become. The super cargo.  Which really means the head merchant.  So we want you to use the ship to take it across into California. And make all these different trades.  The ship owner. Agrees.  Soder arrives. And San Francisco board, the Clementine. 

An early 1839.  

   When Sutter first arrives in your  He's turned away. Cynthia Monterrey. Told to get a visa.   When he does arrive in Monterrey,  it's easy to understand how Sutter could get an introduction. Alvarado given all these letters of introduction from prominent men.   Many of them probably knew Alvarado.  But to give him permission to build a Fort on the Sacramento.  That's another matter. 

Because the Sacramento valley is an incredibly dangerous place at this point.    To really drive this point home because just saying it's dangerous   a lot of people might be thinking that's a bit of hyperbole. It really is.  

  We get a vivid description of this. 

 From an English captain named George Simpson.  

Who documents his account of this journey in the California.  And an Overland journey around the world during years, 1841 in 1842.  this is. A few years after Alvarado's revolution  a few years after Sutter's  arrived.  But it helps paint a picture of how wild these native Americans are in the central valley. 

Remember the  Sacramento valley is the Northern part of the central valley. The San Joaquin valley is the Southern part.  Simpson rights of these excursions into the interior.  Quote. 

   In the poemy days of the missions, the practice of sending out soldiers to bag fresh subjects from civilization tended to embitter the naturally unfriendly feeling of the red man. More, particularly as the Aborigines of the interior, we're constantly more restless and energetic than the savages of the coast. And the revolution of 1836.  Aggravated the evil by turning loose into the woods, a multitude of converts. Whose power of doing mischief besides being increased by knowledge and experience was forced into full play by sense of the injustice and inhumanity of the local government.  But the Indians of all descriptions are from day to day we're injured, more audacious by impunity. To indolent to be always on the alert, the Californians overtook the constant pilfering of cattle and horses. Till the arouse beyond the measure, even of their patients by some outrage, more than ordinary mark. 

And then instead of hunting down the guilty for exemplary punishment.  They destroy every native  that falls in their way. Without distinction of sex  or age.  The bloodhounds of course find chiefly women and children.  The men are better able to escape the soldiers, butchering their helpless inoffensive victims after the blasphemous mockery of baptism.  In quote,  

What you have happening here?  

 The Presidio soldiers  go in. And find these horse thieves. Oftentimes they can't cause the horse thieves have already escaped. So.  They just find whatever native Americans they can and kill them. Baptizing them before they kill them.  Under the theory that if you are baptized, you will reach heaven upon your death.  



Nice. Horse thieves or accelerate in California. Largely because of the secularization of these missions.   The trappers and traders coming in and seeing the horses is one thing. And that's certainly a big part of this,  but the bigger part. Is that these missions had been secularized.  And then you have these mission, native Americans, many of them   who've been trained on the horse. Going in and training these wild native Americans. On how to train and steal horses.  

 These wild net native Americans having lost most of their food sources to the horse to begin with. 

Well now. Take horses go in and steal horses and then eat them. Because a part of their diet. Like horses become a staple food of these native Americans. Throughout this period. And even in later periods after the gold rush Yael. Have American agents feeding these native Americans, horse meat.  

Because their food supplies are dwindling, their traditional food supplies.   It's the same thing that happens with the original native American horse riders.  In  the Apaches or command cheese.  And the planes.  You had these mission, native Americans being trained on the horse and these far Northern missions.  



You do they ran away or were disbanded from these missions? 

They run off into the Plains. Tell their tribes about this thing called the horse. Come back in. I steal horses.  That's what's happening in California just a few hundred years later.  It's that same evolution.  You can see this history being repeated. Just in a different area.  Under different conditions.  

 I used to watch a lot of these. Avant garde, Western movies, a lot of them independent films. And take place in  the California region. Some of them. Made that whole atmosphere, just semen scene. These random men wanders would come across and they'd just be, you know, doing something crazy, like, uh,  Pointing the gun up in the air and shooting it in. You know, eating dirt and painting their faces, all these different colors and.  It seems strange to me how disillusioned these men seem in the movie is, and I couldn't really grasp 

How weird that that world was painted in these movies.  Reading these accounts. And understanding. 

That these native Americans at this time. Had just lost all of their culture. It's been released from these missions. Have no where to turn to new culture, to turn to.  

Most of them have died out from malaria. 

You can see why it'd be such this strange. 

Depressing. Discouraging. Situation.  You have these ranches building up around you, taking your food sources.  

You have these acorns that have been a staple of your diet? Dying out, you have most of your kinsmen killed by malaria,  and then you have these Presidio, soldiers and ranchers.  Coming in and 

soldering you and your families. When any of these horses are Stony, even if you had nothing to do with it.  And you need these horses to survive.  

I think reading these accounts helps me understand the Genesis of these.  Strange early westerns that had been watching  in my days of college. And didn't really get at the time. But after reading this, like, I certainly, I don't understand because I haven't gone through it, but you can see how. Uh, people would be so.  Disllusioned to the point of insanity 

 There's other accounts I've found.  And help.  Describe the craziness of the Sacramento and central valley at this time.   This account is from a bit earlier in 1837.   It's written from one of these Presidio soldiers. Describing a baptism slaughter.  On the Stanislaus river.  The Stanislaus river. If you remember Stannis Laos in the last episode.  That native American, who was the Genesis for Zorro. 

Who would write an S on his victims, but wouldn't kill them. As a river's named after him.   This baptism slaughter  takes place in the San Joaquin valley. So the Southern part of the central valley. Most of the central valley is still this remote wilderness at this point. Particularly the Sacramento it's even Wilder than the San Joaquin.   this will help paint the picture of what's going on with these wild native American tribes.   Coot.   

We took the hostile Indians who number 200. Including Gentile and Christian fugitives. Gentile is  wild native Americans.   

By pretending that our Indian aides would buy all their arrows. Even though it left them without a shirt.  The purchase was concluded. We invited the Gentile and Christian Indians to come eat. Pinoli and dried meat.   They all came over to our side of the river.  Then when they were on our shore,  we surrounded them by the troops, citizens and Indian aids. And took them all prisoners. Uh,  we separated a hundred Christians from the prisoners and at each half a mile or mile, these were forced on their knees and prayer. And were made to understand they were going to die.    Each of them received four arrows. Two in front and two in each shorter.  Those who are not killed by the process were killed with lances.   The Lieutenant did not want to make these executions because he had no courage. .  On the way a hundred Christians were killed in the manner already explained.  We reached the camp where we were going to stop with a hundred Gentile prisoners.  The Lieutenant told me to decide what was best to do.    I answered him that this would be to shoot the prisoners. First Christianizing them.  Letting them know they're going to be shot and asking if they wanted to become Christians.  I ordered Nazareth Galendo to take one bottle of water and I took another. He began at one end of the line and I at the other.  We baptized all the Indians and then shot them through the shoulder.  I doubled the charge for the 30 that remained and they all fell.  And quote. 

 Where do you even begin with? That kind of description.  

And these native Americans. Are invited over this river to eat some food.  With these Presidio soldiers and these other native Americans that are out there.  When they come over, they're surrounded and captured.  The Christianized native Americans that are, I'm assuming are former mission converts.  Are told they're going to be killed.  As they're walking, they make one Neal and prayer. 

Every east. A few hundred yards or so, and then they shoot them with arrows. Two in the front two in the back.  

And do that until all of them are dead.  

 For these non Christianized native Americans.  

 These two soldiers take turns, baptizing them. After they're baptized, they shoot them. And the back, or I guess in the shorter.   This is like red wedding game of Thrones level Savage tennis.   A soldier in his descriptions doesn't even seem to be phased. He's going as commander, a coward for not wanting to just murder these people.   

The straightforwardness of the descriptions by the soldiers almost more dehumanizing.  He read, like, we shot them with two errors in the front and two in the back. And then we moved on and then we baptized another and then we shot them again.  It doesn't have the vivid details of seeing somebody like fear and pain and. Misunderstanding, like how could you have done this to me? 

 You don't feel that emotion.  That these native Americans inevitably would have had any human would have had thin understand they're about to be killed.  

 These types of descriptions, which are throughout all of these different accounts, they're very bland. And straight forward without much. Detail.   It's the detail that you really begin to see how Savage. This world was.    Comparable to the. 

Plantations. In the east. Perhaps even more brutal   slaves aren't being killed off. Indiscriminately. Uh,  they're maintained because they maintain these plantations. If you want to compare them.  You have an entire race being hunted down  by these Europeans. In California.   It wasn't just these Presidio soldiers. 

 You also have these trappers coming in.  And hunting down these wild native Americans assisting these missions with them. You have other native Americans hunting down. Wild native Americans. There's.  All sorts of chaos and brutality.    Blood Meridian, Cormac McCarthy's book that really. Shows the violence of the west that. Takes place in 1849.  So were years before that, at this point.  And the violence is. Continuing to build.  And.  It will build even further. 

By the end of this series.   It's amazing to me that. None of this was really  in the history books. When you learn about our nation's history, because California is a part of American history, but.  

 The Mexican part of America. I feel like is buried. because it wasn't a part of the original English colonies.    We as Americans, like to think  we are descendants of England.  But really we're a nation of immigrants.   If you want to understand the American continent and what makes us American, you have to look at the east and the west and north and the south.  You have to look at our total population, native Americans and all.  To understand what these California soldiers were doing to these men.  And the kind of.  Hatred. This might fill a people with.  

  We described in the last episode, this perpetual MVMT among the tribes between the Christianized native Americans and then the Gentile native Americans, the wild native Americans.  These expeditions.  Killing all these native Americans tricking them and then killing them.  Wolves, deepen the immunity of these wild native Americans toward these California's. He's Presidio soldiers. And these native Americans that are riding with them.  Remember that a lot of these Presidio soldiers many of them were part native American themselves. 

 Some of them full native American.  

You have these tribes that would ally with. Prominent, California men.   was known to have an Alliance with one of these wild chiefs who would help him go in and capture  wild native Americans.  

 And would often torture them.  

 I'm mentioning all this because.  The Sacramento valley is filled with these tribes and to have this. Budding hatred.  Have any foreigners coming into their territory?  As word spreads that is Presidio soldiers aren't to be trusted. 

And the tribes they ally with our enemies.  

 When Sutter meets Alvarado,  Alvarado is aware of this growing amnesty among the wild tribes.  Becoming much more difficult to control.  Then all of a sudden he has this Swiss captain.  It was said to be one of the captains of the Swiss guard. It's prominent military force.  Offering to go and settle the Sacramento and build out a Fort.    If you're Alvarado.  

That's an opportunity.   They have new foothold in the Sacramento.   The deeper you go, the more wild kids .  Eventually you're going to come to these tribes that.  Have no interaction with European still.  

  When Sutter makes this proposal to Alvarado,  Alvarado's thinking is.  Absolutely.  So long as you become a Mexican citizen, you wait a year to get this land grant.  You become Christianized, you can go and settle the Sacramento.    On top of that,  There's this growing tension between Alvarado. And his uncle.    Alvarado. As the governor   is controlling the military  . There's this.  Relative rivalry,   Alvarado must also be thinking that if he gives Sutter this land, And promote some.  He will begin to check. Faye who has power. And the far north.    

 It's really a win-win situation for Alvarado.  

The worst case scenario that  he's likely imagining at this moment.  And the most likely scenario. is that Sutter will go into the Sacramento, try to build his Fort and then be killed by these wild native Americans. 

If that happens, Alvarado's no worse off than he was before.  And he can perhaps use that as propaganda to go in and say how wild these native Americans are and how he needs more support from Mexico. To go in and civilize them.   

 So Alvarado grants Sutter. Permission to settle a Sacramento. On point SIM this law in the Northern frontier.  

It says that if he becomes a Mexican citizen,  



And remains in the valley for over a year.  He will give him an enormous land grant. 

If 

he can 

survive.  

When we left Sutter.  It was from this point of view of Davis.  Sailing off. On the remote.  Sacramento. river. Looking out at Sutter. And his men ashore. Has hundreds of native Americans. descended upon him.  Following the firing off of his cannons and this sort of goodbye salute.  With Davis wondering whether or not he's ever going to see Sutter alive again.  

 It was perhaps a surprise. To all of these California leaders.  At Sutter, not only survives.  He flourishes.   When all these native Americans come back to his camp after Davis has left in a schooner. 

Sutter fulfills his promise.  And gives them presents.  

They are apprehensive of him.  

As they are of everyone who comes into their territory, they're worried that he might be one of these Californians might be allied with these Presidio soldiers. 

I try to trick them as all of these other California's had done.   Sutter reassures them that he is their friend.  That he is not an ally of the Mexicans or the California was. 

And that he will protect them. If they come work for them. 



  These wild native Americans are looking almost for a savior.  Someone who can protect them against the quote-unquote Gente de rezone. The people who've reason. The California. Those 

who these wild native Americans don't seem to have an answer for.    There's that saying?  The enemy of my enemy is my friend.  If John Sutter is in fact. Going to protect  these wild native Americans in the Sacramento, from their enemies.  From these Presidio's soldiers from the Vaquero.  And  these dawns.  So long as they work for them.   That might be a good way. To settle off this period of disillusionment.  And uncertainty.  think back to episode one, I know it's been months now, since that was put out.  But if you remember how. The tribes that have been conquered by the Aztecs.  Allied with Hernan Cortez. When he went into Lawn.  They'd been conquered by the Aztecs. It didn't like being under there. Authority.   They see this man with power come in. With technology come in.  And begin to see him as sort of a savior to release them. Of this. Oppression put on them by the Aztecs.   I imagine that the native Americans in the Sacramento. Are looking at Sutter similarly.  Here's this man, who's not a California. 

Who's a foreigner.  This captain.  Who has these powerful He  can repel these Presidio soldiers.  Can repel these vaqueros.  Can protect us in our own land. So long as we protect him.   Sutter  becomes like a feudal Lord. Of the Sacramento valley.  Remember, he already is approved by governor Alvarado to be agent of the law in the Northern frontier.   Now he has this native American. Band of workers. Which he slowly turns. And to an army.   



So Sutter begins to build out this Fort.  With native American help. And also these Hawaiians that he brought over and they were supposed.  gifts from the king of Hawaii. They are. Master carpenters and this rough band of settlers that had followed him across the country.    He begins to create alliances with  tribes in the area.  Saying that if you ally with me, I'll protect you from other wild tribes that were warring with also protect you from these Presidio soldiers that will come in and take you and your families.  Q you off.  Or bring you into these missions.  That's all going to stop. If you come work for me.  

 These chiefs, there's some descriptions of them coming in ceremoniously.  Kneeling before Southern giving him their bow and arrow has a symbol of them. Uh, seeding to his authority   it's not all just talk. 

He fulfills these promises. 

William Wiggins, one of the earliest settlers of Sutter's Fort.  

 Writes that Sutter was quote. The best Indian Tamer and civilize, or that I know of, or ever heard of in quote.   Sutter's biographer Hurtado writes similarly.  Saying quote. 

So there seems to have had remarkable success and maintaining friendly relations with the natives and introducing them to work not only for himself, but for friends and other parts of the country, to whom he sent them. 

End quote.   So does treatment of these native Americans. Isn't. Necessarily good.  There was this one settler in later years after the Ford's been established, describing how. He came to the Fort and during feeding time, his troughs are brought out with food. In hundreds of native Americans will go kneel over these like pig troughs. Licking them clean in the hot sun. 

 He gave them like this metal hole punch around their necks. So if they worked a certain amount of time, he give them a punch and then they go to the trading store. To trade for articles or food they needed.    They couldn't trade their labor anywhere else.  Because the only place that accepted this necklace with the whole punch. With solders Fort.  

It's this same kind of slave labor in act, but not necessarily a name that these missions were using.  Sutter  had this native American army that he brought up. He dressed them in these clues from Russian Fort Ross that he had gotten. Would March them and drill them.  They'd have these calls in the Fort and like, you know, all clear kind of thing every half hour to make sure no other native Americans are coming in.  There were all sorts of  assassination attempts on Sutter at this time. Too many of these stores to account and like, some of them were. Upended by these native American. Allies that he had, there was one where a bulldog jumps in and.  Stops, uh, and assassin just before he reaches Sutter.   Sutter has  Neo. And the matrix like skills in terms of how well he can Dodge these assassination attempts. And also these creditors.  It's amazing that he survives in this wilderness without really having the skills to do so. At least not on paper.  



He just develops into this kind of person. 

He has some of this training with the militia, but he's not a captain. He's not well-trained. He was. You know, a warm person who worked at this drapery shop.   Who was very well versed in convincing others. He was something, he was not.  

I Sutter was also an incredible womanizer. I mentioned that much earlier in the episode.  That continues while he's at this Fort.  

He has a harem of native American women attached. To his office.  Some of them, very young girls under the age of 12 or 10.  

I was common practice for these native Americans. If they wanted to make an Alliance, a lot of these chiefs would trade one of their daughters.  On a road to solidify an Alliance.   He has his family that he said to be bringing over into California in the years to come. 

But.   When in the frontier do as the frontiersman, do I guess?  Sutter certainly lives by that phrase.   He's also  brutal. Towards some of these women.  One young girl. He. Is suspected of killing, beating to death. He'd go on these rampages after to get drunk.   They find her body  often near the forest. Sutter   has this kind of mock uh, search for her murderer.   We tend to look at things as good and bad. Um, Black and white.   Most of the time, events and people are somewhere in between.  Sutter was no different.  He had his positive qualities. Especially, it is. And this empathy towards these travelers, as we'll see in the. Years to come.   He also had his faults in his sins. 

In terms of these native Americans that come under his control.  

Sutter will prove to be. Liberal in his punishment and liberal and his support of these native Americans.    Early on in his force development, there are accounts of  native American tribes that are  

 Planning an assault on him.  Thinking that he might be tricking them, just like these California's are.  Sutter learns of this planned attack through one of his native American allies. 

He goes on a preemptive strike.  Kills something like 50 of them. 

  He brings in the rest of the tribe. To Sutter's Fort. 

He protects these native Americans. One example  a group of. Like five. Or so native Americans with passports.  From Martinez. If you remember Martinez from the Richardson story who had that family of young daughters that Richardson married into.   Martinez had been the Al call day.  Of San Francisco at the time. Now he is a ranch owner.   He has this native American force of his own. And he has drag gooned some of his  

Turn them into essentially like an army in taskmasters form that would ride off to these other ranches and maybe collect horses that road or cattle. 

And they'd have to be given passports by  military leaders in the area. If they were to go off in another person's territory.  These native Americans show up at

so there's Fort with passports from Who his brother who's overseeing the distribution of the land at. All these missions and there's supposedly a lot of corruption around that. 

These native Americans tell solder that they want to go off to this river.  Where there is a known ranch area of one of Sutter's allied tribes. And trade with native Americans there. 

 All the males from this tribe  are working at Sutter's Fort.  

Sutter allows these.  Drag gooned native Americans to go off to this Rancho, to trade with these native American women and children. 

So long as they don't engage in kidnapping and don't take any of the women without permission from the tribe.    Kidnappings at this time are incredibly common  These Quadro.   ride off and there's no description. Of how scared a lot of these wild native Americans are when they see these vaqueros. Letters on the horses.   

A few days later.  An old man from the native American village.  Stumbles into Sutter's Fort.  And describes what actually happened. When these drag gooned native Americans. Had entered the ranch. Hurria  

 these native Americans, the Rhonda Martinez.  Had gone in and killed all the old members of the village, except for this man who does scaped.  Then kidnap all the children and women.  And are riding off into the Northern territory. 

Not expecting anyone to know about this until they're already well escaped.    Sutter's native Americans. Aren't raged all the men of this tribe. Her at the Fort.  

Sutter  gets his native American army.  And he rides after these kidnappers. And they're slow moving because they have these women and children they're dragging along.  

They end up finding them. As they're trying to cross a river.  

And Sutter kills all from.  Kills all the kidnappers, I should say, not the women and children.    He tells Martinez and VAO. Oh that no other native Americans with passports can enter his territory.  

He is the law. I Sutter. And the law.  



  Sutter we'll continue to develop his Fort in relative isolation.  Within the Sacramento valley.   At the famous fork of the American river.  Where Jebidiah Smith's trappers.  Had supposedly, possibly.  Discovered gold many years before.    

The Oregon and California trails are still in their infancy. California trail hasn't even been established yet. There's only been a handful of settlers who have crossed the Sierras. And also across the. Cascade range from Oregon and to California. So Overland travel is a slew trickle at this point.  The water hasn't risen enough. For it to turn into this torrent.  But it will.  And sodas Fort will be this main landing point. For settlers crossing the Sierra in years to come.    While this is happening. In the frontier.  And relative isolation.   

The chaos along the coast.  Is continuing. To bubble over. 

   About 1840. Talk of annexation. Is common among sailors. Among these desserts. Among settlers throughout California. 

This PR campaign is building. From Texas. Painting Mexicans as the oppressors.   

This will culminate.  And an international fair in 1840 known as the gram of fair.     This affair unfolds in an unusual way.  A foreigner on his death bed.  By the name of Tom, the napper. I'm not sure. Why he has that name?  But he goes to a missional in the coast to confess his sins before he dies.  

During this confession.  He states that he is involved in a plot to overthrow the California government. Led by Isaac Graham.

 The leader of the foreign rifleman. And Alvarado's revolution. Of 1836.  

Use one of those men that was growing. Incredibly bold and calling Alvarado by these nicknames. Uh,  saying that they should. Annex California to the United States   the plan is to go and kill Alvarado and Castro. take over California from the Mexicans.  

As a result of this.  Alvarado and Castro decide to round up. 46 foreigners throughout California.  Mainly on the coast, around the Salinas valley area In between Monterey and Santa Cruz.  Just south of San Francisco.  

Their plan is to arrest these foreigners, particularly those that have arrived in California, legally. And  kick them out of the country.  

Which is terrible news for an you. These Beachcombers.   

Many are staying at Isaac Graham's distillery. In Salinas valley.    According to Davis's accountant 75 years in California, he writes quote. 

Just north of the Salinas river nestled in the first arises of the gavalon range. Was  not TV dad.  The rendezvous of deserters from ships touching on the coast. Here when Isaac Graham, uh, Tennessee and Mountaineer. And arrival of 1833 in a crack shot had set up a distillery. And here he gathered to him spirits as reckless as himself. In quote,   

Davis will sum up. The thinking of Alvarado. And Castro writing this quote. 

General Castro who is still living in Monterrey. Recently in 1889. And for me, this movement originated with governor Alvarado and Jose Castro. That they had been informed that the Americans were preparing to rise against the government of their apartment. Take possession of it, assassinate them, and assume control of the department affairs on behalf of the United States. That Alvarado and Castro becoming alarmed of their personal safety, as well as that of the department  in order to prevent this outbreak.  Issued the order above mentioned to arrest these foreigners.  Don Manuel and giving me this information said with a smile, he did not think the Americans had any such desires. He thought Alvarado in general, Jose Castro were unduly alarmed.  This is Don manual Castro's version of the matter.  My own opinion is that governor Alvarado had been secretly instructed. By the home government to be constantly on the alert for any movements or designs of the Americans for getting possession of the country. And becoming alarmed himself, ordered the arrest.  In quote,   It may not have been a distinct plot yet. Hatched out.  But it was clear that these foreigners  had this revolutionary mindset.   If one were an Alvarado in Castro's position or did they might be assassinated by these foreigners who are speaking  openly of annexation to anyone who will listen.  Rounding up the illegal foreigners and kicking them out of the country is probably not a bad idea.   Certainly more measured approach than was used by CNA Ana and Texas.      

 So Castro. Brings his forces.  Goes to Graham's distillery.  And  arrests.  All these different foreigners.  Some of them will be spare, particularly ones that have been.  Naturalized and had been with the California is for a while.  Richardson being a good example.   Newer arrivals, particularly those  there illegally. They're the main ones targeted  and  Isaac Graham.

 

After a month that these prisoners are being held  A ship arrives .  Carrying a lawyer by the name of Farnam to California.  He finds these men in prison.  Takes their cause as his own.   May have been. Coming to California with  some. Predisposed idea of who these California is. We're aligned with these Mexicans in Texas.  Remember, you have all these accounts circulating of the. Degradations perpetuated by mexicans and the Texas revolution.   If you're a foreigner coming across the country, particularly from the United States  you're reading these accounts of what's happening in Texas, then come to California and you see your comrades arrested.   You're probably going to have  sympathy for them  believing that.  It's these oppressors oppressing your fellow countrymen  much like they had been doing in Texas.   Forum finds these men in prison. 

And begins acting on behalf of the United States government to free them.  

He listens to their stories   prince these accounts.  And the New York journal of commerce.  . Polynesian. And the Niles register.    This is Graham's official statement. Of the arrest.  Reported in the papers.    Coot.  

We slept quietly until about three o'clock in the morning. When I was awakened by the discharge of a pistol near my head. The bowl of which passed through the handkerchief above my neck. I sprang to my feet. And jumped in the direction of the villains. When they discharged six other pistols. So near me, then my shirt took fire in several places.  Fortunately the darkness. And the trepidation of the cowards prevented they're taking good aim.  For only one of their shots took effect. And that my left arm.  After firing, they fell back a few paces and commenced reloading their pieces. I perceive by the light of their pistols, that there were too numerous for a single man to contend with. And determined to escape.  

But I'd scarcely got six paces from the door when I was overtaken in a sealed with heavy blows from their swords. These I succeeded in pairing off to such an extent that I was not much injured by them. But being incensed at last. By my successful resistance. They grappled with me and threw me down. When an inside by the name of Joaquin Torres. Drew is dark. And sing with an oath  did he would let out my life meta thrust at my heart.  God saved me again.  The weapon passing between my body and left arm, some deep in the ground. And before he had the opportunity of repeating his blow, they dragged me up a hill. And the rear of my house.  There who's a Castro was standing. They call to him. Here he is.  Where upon Castro rode up and struck me with the back of his sword over the head. As to be put through me. But this was prevented by faithful Indian and my service. Who threw himself on me declaring that he would receive the balls in his own heart.   And willing to be thwarted. 

However, in they're designed to destroy me. The next fastened the rope to one of my arms and passed it to the man on horseback. Who wound it firmly around the horn of a saddle. Then the rest taking hold of the other arm, endeavor to hole my shoulders out of joint.  But the rope broke. Thinking the scoundrels bent on killing me in some way. I begged for Liberty to come in my soul to God. To this, they replied. You shall never pray to you kneel over your grave. In quote,   

 Many of the captors complain of The harsh conditions in which they're dragged out of their beds   starved after they're jailed.  Of being whipped. .  More just around to different jails.  

 Some talk about.  Having to drink water. That is the wash water of these native Americans. That's a. Considered a high-end salt at the time. 



 To give you an example  I'll read to you one of forums accounts. Of one of these marches  that these prisoners had to go on.   Quote.  During the March, which was laborous enough to exhaust the stout, just frame the prisoners were urged forward by lashes inflicted upon their naked bodies. And one who sank under fatigue was Barbara Slee, beaten with the butt of an musket. To renovate a strength and arouse has drooping spirits. 

End quote.   Adding to these accusations  . Forum writes that. These conspirators had no knowledge of applaud.    They're forced to sign. What was supposedly their testimony. But was really a confession of guilt.  Without being permitted to know what they were signing.  Essentially that they were tricked into confessing that they were guilty of this plot.    Of the main conspirator  Forum writes that. Graham was quote.  A board. Open-handed man. Never concealing for an instant, either his love or hatred. But with the frankness and generosity of these great souls,  rough hewn,  but majestically honest. Who belonged to the valley states? Uh, he told the governor his sins from time to time and demanded in the authoritative tone of an elder and affectionate brother that he should redeem his pledges.   The good old man did not remember that a Spaniard would have lost his nationality. Had he done? So.  

Uh, spin your, tell the truth.  A spin are ever grateful for services rendered to him. He should have knocked the tombs of Columbus and Cortez and every other man who ever served the contemptible race. End quote.  

 What a description.  You can imagine that being written by a lawyer. Or a politician newspaper today. I mean, phrases like majestically, honest.  I don't know if I've ever heard that phrase before, but what is that? It sounds great, but what does that even mean? 

The front room was also referencing in there. How Graham had been a part of Alvarado's revolution. 

How he was right there with him. A spanner to ever grateful for services rendered to him.  Spaniards being as Farnham puts it. A contemptible race.   Foreign would goes on to portray Graham has this old man feeble. Confused.  

 No picture an old man being broken out on and arrested like this.  

Farnham was 40 years old. So. 

Old is a stretch. He's just entering middle age. 



This is what's being published.  And circulated throughout the United States.  I'm not as familiar with the newer journal commerce or the Polynesian. 

But the Niles register was one of the most widely read  publications of the 1830s   imagine it like a.  Like the first version. Of a Drudge report or apple news where it's not reporters going out and finding these stories. But all of these stories from around the world  curated into one account  by the editor of this register.  It's widely circulated, widely read because it's all these different news sources coming from different reporters, different papers.  You don't have algorithms deciding which news stories you see, it's just curated by this one guy's perspective. 

. If you're reading these accounts, it's understandable. If you might be enraged, it's like news reports today where you have a partisan side covering an issue. Doing everything they can to make it seem as though the other side. Is at fault. 

Every little thing they can point to defend their point of view is used.   It's difficult to get out of your echo chamber, so to speak.  To see the forest for the trees.  The truth is that  this whole situation. And this whole international conflict. I was perpetuated. By these two men.  In Graham. And Farnam.  In this. Big lie, so to speak. The repetition of this lie. 

The counselor read earlier what the entire country's reading over and over again.   It's drilled into their mindset. Bancroft. When he's. Looking back on this affair after collecting different voices and their perspectives. On what actually happened. Has this to say about Isaac Graham's character, that directly contradicts Fordham's description. I  quote.  He was noted for being a bummer. Uh, blue hard and notorious liar without an Adam of honesty in his composition.  I have before me an updated document of 1845 or 1846 signed by 20 citizens. Only one of Spanish blood. Denouncing Graham as a breaker of the peace  corrupter of morals,  quarrelsome,  revolutionary  dualist  assassin. And adulterer.   End quote.  Everyone who knew Isaac Graham. Seems to have hated him. 

 And he'll be this hated character throughout his life.  Who becomes this national hero with all these publications?  

You can go through accusations of the ill treatment by the Mexican government one by one as band Croft does to refute them.  

Regarding the starvation. In these jails. 

 Mark in the us council in California at the time. Notes that he was instructed. By the Commandante of Northern California. To supply the prisoners daily with quote. Ample supplies of fresh meat, bread, beans, and tea. In quote, 

 If he's saying that he fed these prisoners is difficult to argue that they're being starved.  The, regarding the marching of these prisoners being naked under the lash.  One of the prisoners keeps a journal, which he never mentions any of the lash.  . Another one of these prisoners and writes a letter. Of thanks to Castro for his kind treatment during their capture. Which directly contradicts.

Farnam and Graham's account 

 the description Graham has of his capture, which we just read.  You almost picture him like an action hero. You know, guns going off right around them. All these men trying to kill him. And he's dodging bullets here and there. And then he's just overwhelmed with force. Otherwise. He would have come out clean these cowards came in and were trying to kill him. 

And he had this native American that wanted to save his life.  It doesn't seem to be the case at all.  

Just this made up story. That gets published in all these publications and everyone starts to believe. 

Like I imagine.  Some foreigners going to California and having this image of gram in their mind as this hero.  Somebody, you deserving of respect and then actually meeting him for the first time. And it just realizing like, oh, this is a terrible person. Why did they write all those things in these newspapers about them?  Why was I reading all this information? 

Why was he such a cult hero to us?   It's impossible for these people reading these accounts to know what's true and what's not.   

It's this national mindset that's geared towards painting the Mexicans as the oppressors. The Americans as the oppressed and any occasionally have to do that.  They are skewing the perspective.  Remember the big lie theory.  The truth. Is the enemy of the state. If your state is built on a lie,  

 It's  in the best interest of the state to put down.  Any of that truth.  And that's what we see happening here and we'll see it more and more. As this episode. Rolls on and it's, it's a long one here.  Now, according to Bancroft. Fordham's account will be the best known. Account of the gram affair  to Americans.  There'll be other publications of this affair by. Settlers who come to California later, a largely jumping off of. What Graham had published and  Ben Croft notes that these are all largely.  Partisan accounts.   There'll be used to perpetuate this idea of these Mexicans as the oppressors.  . 



 The Mexican government must be terrified that what happened in Texas is about to happen. In California.  Their goal is to. alleviate any of this tension. That's building. And tried to appease these foreigners in any way they can.  

 As a result, they release all these prisoners. after five months.  Hinda paying many of them. To recoup some of the goods that were taken from their homes   they rest Castro. 

Hold a sort of mock trial, accusing of ill treatment of these. Captors, which there's no evidence of. 

 Those settlers that do not have passports. Are forced to leave the country. Though many of them remain.  Graham for instance, stays in California.  

This arrest doesn't go well for Mexico.  There's this tension building there that feels very similar. To the tension that had been percolating in Texas. Just before the revolution breaks out  

 

so what's the end result of this gram of fare. Why are we talking about it now?   

He can't just pick up the phone. And say, Hey, we have these foreigners being captured.  We need to do something about it. News travels as fast as a ship  or horse.  

These nations are learning months after the affair has been finalized what's happening in California     what.  Ends up happening is you have different snips of war. Entering California. Sailing into Monterrey.   Almost. Sparking an all out war  

 the first loop of war to enter is a French origin. 

The captain had been in Hawaii. Had heard that some of his fellow Frenchman had been captured or possibly even killed.   Just hearing word of mouth reports at this point. 

Sales into Monterey, antagonistically.  

He discusses with leaders in California, what's actually happening.  

Then they just sort of get together and have a party for a couple of days. There's no war here.  



Days after this French slip of war, Liza Monterrey.  

And American sleep of war enters the bay. 

 Then months later,  An English slip of war with the same complaints.  

They'll begin patrolling the Pacific with more,  resolve.     

This is what fake news has wrought.  

These Naval warships  now permanently stationed in the Pacific.  Waiting for this opportunity to defend. Americans from the oppressors, the evil Mexicans.  

All this propaganda is pointing to them as being lesser than human. 

 He's terrible Mexicans  hear, what they do gram. Did you hear what they did to the soldiers at goalie ad?  

 They are Savage.  There are worse than these native Americans.  And look how Savage they are.  This is the propaganda that is.

Penetrating the mindset of the Americans.  And for the longest time we had this fear of going to war with Mexico, but as the years progress. We have new leaders come into power.  That are more ambitious  they'll begin to look past some obvious difficulties. 

Look past some obvious. Moral conundrums. . 

 And plot to take. California. Texas.  And the Northern Mexican territory.  As this is all brewing.  More of these desserts. These derelict hardened men. 

We'll continue to flood into Sutter's Fort.  And the Pacific coast.\ 

 The irony and all of this. He's the irony I found. 

 Is that forum? In the gram affair, the lawyer.  Sailed to California border ship called the Don Quixote.  Why I'm mentioning that. Is because we know the story of Don Quixote.  It's about  this night. Who's misled by chivalric romances. Romance books that he reads. He loses his mind, decides to become this night, errant to revive chivalry.  

Based off of these drummed up novels.  

And doesn't really see the world for what it is and prefers  to imagine that he's living out some nightly story and meant for the annals of time.   Why I say there's this irony there. , a lot of these Americans believe these publications believe that they are,  fighting the oppressors.  On top of that.  You have this character of John C Fremont. You'll become one of the most popular. Americans, one of the most popular people in the world. For his explorations.  Largely due to the romanticized version of his travel as he writes.  And he will inspire thousands of others.  To travel into California.  

Into Sutter's Ford.  And we'll be the spark. That blows this powder keg wide open..



 

   Thank you so much for listening.  If you liked what you heard.  Please consider following the podcast.

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You can do so on Venmo at the Savage west podcast.  Shows up under a company called mossy wander, LLC. Which is the umbrella company of the Savage west podcast.  

I am doing this all for free. It does take a ton of time, way more than I was expecting the amount of research and production that goes into this. Is incredibly time consuming. And the equipment of hetero purchase for this. has also a financial strain.  But again, I just want to build a following at this point. 

So only donate if you have the means.  any support.

Is greatly appreciated.  Special. Thanks. To Dr. Young. Of Richmond, Virginia. Who was the first financial backer of this podcast? He give a very generous donation. And a kind handwritten note. That emailed directly to me. And I greatly appreciated not just for the financial support, but also for the kind words. 

Hearing how people have listened to this podcast and encourages me. And makes it feel like this is all worthwhile. You can see the amount of downloads on the podcast. And that is certainly encouraging.  The amount of people that have listened to this so far, but  hearing somebody's story of how they listened to this podcast while they were working out or rehabbing or whatever it might've been.  It gives me a feeling of gratitude. Uh, that people find this story isn't interesting and engaging. As I do. So thank you again to Dr. Young.  

Before we get to the special announcements. I want to apologize for the amount of time it's taken me to get out this last episode.  This one was tricky. The research took far longer than I expected. 

With the first three episodes.  I'd record them all in mostly one sitting.   This one was more piecemeal.   I had to find different stories to connect together.   It was supposed to be around for hours  I thought that might be a bit too long for listeners.  And it would take me much longer to get it out. 

So.  I decided to break it a bit earlier than I had anticipated.  Hopefully the next episode will be quicker because some of the research is already done for that episode, 

 but these episodes finished when they finish.  When I feel I understand the story well enough to share it with the audience. 

Now. To the special announcements.  

First.  We've been named one of the top. San Francisco history podcasts for 2024.  

On feed spot. A podcast review site.  I'm incredibly grateful.  We've only had three episodes so far. And already we're getting some recognition. Which is hugely encouraging. 

The second announcement.  Is lb featured. Uh, one of the history of California podcasts, upcoming episodes. By its host, Jordan Maddix. We had an engaging interview on how this podcast came together.  We discuss different topics of California history related to this podcast.  That episode should publish any day now. 

 

 I love Jordan's podcasts. I've been listening to it for over a year. I was very grateful that he asked me to be one of his guests.  And you'll see why, if you look at his host of guests that you've had on his podcast thus far, They're all big names in the history world. So I was flattered when he asked me to come on. I didn't think I was worthy. But it was a very fun conversation. 

So thank you to Jordan.  

The next episode.

We'll follow kit Carson.  And John C Fremont. Push into California.  

The bear flag revolt. 



The chaos. And California building.  And the violence. That begins in the Mexican American war.  I hope you'll join me for that one. And the rest of the episodes 

 and this the first season of the Savage west.  Uh, port. At the edge. Of the world.  I'll see you then.