File:History of San Diego, 1542-1907; an account of the rise and progress of the pioneer settlement on the Pacific coast of the United States (1908) (14577705948).jpg

Identifier: historyofsandiego00smyt (find matches)
Title: History of San Diego, 1542-1907; an account of the rise and progress of the pioneer settlement on the Pacific coast of the United States ..
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors: Smythe, William E. (William Ellsworth), 1861-1922
Subjects: San Diego (Calif.) -- History
Publisher: San Diego, The History Company
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
Presidiowere somewhat like the toy cannon now used on yachts forfiring salutes. One of the original San Diego Presidio cannonis now in the Coronel collection at Los Angeles, and a cut ofit appears herein. These cannon were far less effectivethan a modern rifle, but, mounted in the bastions of the oldPresidio, they served their purpose of making a loud iioise andawinu the Indians, who called them creators of thunder. Vancouvers visit, with its annoying revelation of the weakstate of the countrvs defenses, led to the strengthening ofthe military ai-ni. In the same ycai-. upon the Gov(>rnorsurgent request, the Viceroy ordered the Presidio to be repaired.A fort was also projected on what is now known as BallastPoint, then called 1oint G^iijarros (cobblestones), the samespot which Vancouvers quick eye had noted as the strategicdefensive point. Plans were drawn in 1795 for installinii tlierea battery of ten guns, but the work proceeded slowly and wasnot completed for five years or more.
Text Appearing After Image:
.5f 5 cj n OT o; 3 C y ;^ X -^ m -2 nj d/ tH C o ■4^ -^ V -i^ o W t1 -P^ a> oc O C73 O Cfi — 0) a 3 CO 3OP . >..5 J3I <!QO faO J s H 0-. THE FIRST AMERICANS 87 111 Xoxciiilici, ITlHi. the priests were (•;illr(l ii;Min to pcridriilthe ceremony of l)lesshii; tlie csiihiiiatle. jjowder nifijiJizine. andflati at the Presidio, and a saliitt was fired in honor ol tlieevent. There were neitlier fhitis, nor materials Ioi- makin;:,them, ill Ippii California, and they were therefore sent fromJMexieo Tliis marks the lieuinnini; of the fortifications properon Presidio Hill, on the point of the hill below the Presidiowalls. This foit was maintained, in a small way. dnriny theSpanish administration, and to a certain extent afterward.Nothing whatever of the site now i-emains, the earth fornnngthe point of the hill having been hanhnl away and nsed bythe government engineers in making the embankment for tnrn-iiii: the San Diego Rivei-, in 1877. Some of this earth was alsonsed for gradin

Note About Images