PUBLISHED OCCASIONALLY BY THE FRIENDS OF THE BANCROFT LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF , BERKELEY 4, CALIFORNIA

Number 20 * APRIL 1959

Return postal cards will soon be sent to all Twelfth Annual Meeting Friends for convenience in reserving places at SENATOR WILLIAM F. KNOWLAND, well known the Annual Meeting. We are looking forward in the fields of politics and statesmanship, will to welcoming you to the Bancroft Library. take on the mantle of the historian when he Remember the date: Sunday afternoon at addresses the Twelfth Annual Meeting of the three o'clock, the Bancroft Library, Berkeley Friends of the Bancroft Library on Sunday Campus of the University of California. afternoon, May 3, 1959. He will speak on a subject of historical and current interest—the changing and ever-important relationship be­ Sir Francis Drake tween California and the Federal government. The Knowland family, long prominent in California, dates back to pioneer days —the Senator's children are fourth generation Cali- fornians. Joseph Knowland, the Senator's grandfather, came to from New York in February, 1857. After several months in the mines, he turned to business, working for a shipping firm in San Francisco. A few years later he entered the lumber business and in time acquired one of the most extensive and important lumber interests on the Pacific Coast. The speaker's father, Joseph R. Knowland, well-known publisher of the Oakland Trib­ une, was born in Alameda in 1873. After be­ ing associated with his father in the family lumber business for several years, he entered politics and was elected in 1899 to the Cali­ fornia State Assembly. Later, after serving in the State Senate, he was elected to Rve terms — 1905-1915 —in the U. S. House of Repre­ sentatives. From politics, Knowland turned to journalism, and for more than forty years has been president and publisher of the Oakland Tribune. HERB CAEN'S COLUMN in a noted San Fran­ Senator Knowland, the publisher's second cisco newspaper carried the following com­ son, has served in public office since 1933, in­ ment on the morning of December 10, 1958: cluding two terms in the U. S. Senate. The "BUSINESS AS USUAL: Save old letters, they Friends are honored to present as their speaker may be valuable. Frexample, Wm. Wreden, a man who has taken such a prominent part the P'Alto dealer in rare documents, just sold in both state and national affairs. a letter signed by Sir Francis Drake to the Friends of the Bancroft Library (at Cal) — vitation to join the Friends of the Bancroft such as the printed programs of performances Harte, Bret. Dickens in Camp. (Printed by John for $2000. The note is dated Oct. 10, 1593, Library, ready to do something to further its of Mary Austin's play The Arrow Maker, Henry Nash as a gift to The Book Club of California). (1923) which goes to show that some people never usefulness. With this increase, the member­ New Theatre, New York City (February- throw anything away for centuries." ship has grown to over 1,000, making the or­ March 1911), and Fire, Panama-Pacific Inter­ . San Francisco in 1866. (1951) Of course we appreciate Herb Caen's com­ ganization one of the largest of its kind in the national Exposition, San Francisco (Septem­ Lawrence, David H. Fire and Other Poems. (1940) ments, as well as his knowledge of Drake and country. ber-October 1915). Lewis, Oscar. The California Mining Towns. Num­ the Bancroft Library — though in view of his Here is the story. Last fall Joseph M. Bran­ bers 1, 2, 3. (1933) Gelett Burgess was next on Bransten's list. . The Origin of the Celebrated Jumping Frog exaggeration of the price we are not very sure sten, chairman of the Friends' membership From all parts of the country he has tracked of his accuracy with figures.Th e Friends did, committee, after consultation with O. Cort of Calaveras County. (1931) down 21 items, the latest being a group of Norris, Frank. The Letters of Frank Norris. Edited after a careful and thorough investigation, Majors, then president of the California Burgess' original drawings for a book, Blue by Franklin Walker. (1956) buy for the Bancroft Library an authentic Alumni Association, realized that the Alumni Goops (New Y)rk, 1909), a copy of Goop Perez Rosales, Vicente. California Adventure. (1947) document bearing Sir Francis Drake's signa­ would like to do something special for the Tales (New York, 1904), and a letter to his Stevenson, Robert Louis. The English Admirals: ture, the only one known to be in any West­ University, particularly the Bancroft Library, publisher, November 25, 1905. Last year, at Greenville. (1923) ern library. oldest and most famous repository of Califor­ Mr. Bransten's suggestion, we published in Weil, Oscar. Letters and Papers. (1923) Drake is a subject of unending interest, not niana and Western Americana in the country. Bancroftiana a list of Burgess books still lack­ Weller, Earle V. Ballads of El Dorado. (1940) only in California but throughout the world. He suggested that they be told about the ing at that time. These have all been received, Not All is Gold... His exploits on the 1577-80 expedition are Friends, their work, their publications, and and Mr. Bransten joins the Bancroft Library enough to make any explorer envious —he what they are doing to preserve the record of in extending thanks and appreciation to those NOT LONG AGO one of Bancroft's staff caught invaded the Pacific Ocean (hitherto consid­ California's past. The Director and the Ban­ Friends who generously responded: Anthony a glitter of gold while "prospecting" some ered by the Spaniards as their own backyard), croft Staff accepted the responsibility of pre­ Boucher, Walter A. Gabriel, Mrs. Guy Gil­ Fremont letters that had recently been ac­ stole enough treasure to load his ship to the paring suitable literature, an anonymous christ, International Bookfinders, Lester Rob­ quired in the William K. Rogers collection. waterline, spent a month on the California Friend and Alumnus paid all the costs—print­ erts, and Dr. Albert Shumate. Another good The "nugget" that caught his eye was a note coast in refitting his vessel and resting his ing, postage, everything—and the envelopes, Friend, Warren Howell, at Christmas time from the glamorous Jessie Benton Fremont crew —and just incidentally taking possession with an attractive brochure (designed by Law- presented a full set of eight Lark posters. to Colonel William K. Rogers, private secre­ of that land for England and setting up a brass ton Kennedy) went into the mail in October, We are now preparing a new project for tary to President Rutherford B. Hayes. Read plate as evidence of the claim! Then, instead 1958, inviting Alumni to take a personal in­ Joe Bransten. If there are other Friends who it and chuckle! of returning via South America where the terest in the Library. would be interested in directing their own New Brighton, Staten Island. Spaniards might be lying in wait for him, he The response was electrifying. From every­ "book hunts,' we shall gladly furnish sugges­ February 18th [1881] sailed across the Pacific and rounded Africa where Californians, anxious to be of service tions. For those content with a general list, DEAR COLONEL ROGERS on the way home to England —and became to their Alma Mater in specific, practical we publish below a number of Book Club of Mr. Edward Tatnall Jackson of Georgia (I think) the hero of the age, giving history one of the wishes to be appointed to the Marine Corps, and his ways, sent in active or sustaining member­ California titles we should like to have for connexion, Admiral Edward Tatnall Nichols — until grand adventure yarns of all time. ships. The Bancroft Library is proud of this the Bancroft Library. lately my son's chief here —asks a line of introduc­ Even England's Queen Elizabeth flattered loyalty of the Alumni. The Staff will cooper­ tion through you to the President. Mr. Jackson has and honored the red-headed mariner. When ate with the Friends in developing a library all sorts of papers, Northern and Southern. I think that will continue to be the country's richest he will get to Heaven as quickly as into that little the Spanish minister demanded that he be Want List close corporation, the Marine Corps, but you under­ punished for his depredations on a friendly in California and Western history, and which stand I do not say No to anything asked of me by power, she held a magnificent "news confer­ will be of maximum usefulness to teachers THE BANCROFT FILE of the Historical Society my son's superior officer. ence"—while her diplomats tried to appease working with young people in these fields of of Southern California's Annual Publication Sincerely yours, the irate Spanish government—where she study. is complete except for Volume 15, Parts 2 and J. B. FREMONT knighted Drake for his courageous and patri­ 3 (1932), which we have not been able to locate. Could someone help us? otic accomplishments. The doughty queen Hangnail Sketches knew just how to inspire her bold "sea dogs" Resourceful Patron Our collection of The Book Club of Cali­ and tease and exasperate the Spanish foe. fornia publications has been augmented by SEVERAL YEARS AGO when Eleanor Bancroft, To JOSEPH M. BRANSTEN, we of the Bancroft gifts from members of the Club, and we are who personified the Bancroft Library to so This Drake document will be on exhibit at Library extend our special thanks for his con­ hopeful of receiving the following: the Annual Meeting on May 3 in the Drake Alta California. Diputacion Territorial. A Facsimile many friendly users, had completed 30 years tributions to our Western Authors collection. of continuous service, we prevailed on her to Plate Case. He has presented works of a score or more of Edition of California's First Book, Reglamento provincial . . . (1954) tell about the Great and Near Great she re­ different writers, and has undertaken to com­ The Book Club of California: Its Purposes, Member­membered who had frequented its treasure- plete the collections of printed works of sev­ 557 New Members ship, and List of Publications. (1928) laden shelves. Since there was no Guest Book eral individual authors. A few years ago, when Browne, J. Ross. Muleback to the Convention. (1950or Visitor') s List in those years, she drew on FANTASTIC, BUT TRUE. The success of the he set out to gather the writings of Mary Early Transportation in Southern California.he Editer memoryd , though, she confessed, it was membership drive, launched last October, Austin, he succeeded in uncovering 29 titles by Robert J. Woods. (1954) growing a bit dim, but added, "I dredged up has exceeded our fondest hopes. To date 557 lacking in our Library. Through agents, he is Field, Charles K. Prayer; A Poem. Foreword by David Starr Jordan. (1921) the names of a few visitors who left an im­ California alumni have responded to the in­ still searching for the more elusive materials, Hall, Carroll Douglas. Donner Miscellany. (1947press.) " Here is her story, written in that sly [2] [3] tongue-in-cheek manner so characteristic of the book world, forever holding some fabu­ to be kept as a permanent memorial to H. H. newspapers in California and , and her good humor: lous collection at a fantastic price, the pocket- Bancroft. We hope that one of our readers then in San Francisco as a reporter, and even­ "Thomas C. Russell, small, dry, and incred­ book hurt alleviated a little by his sparkling knows of such a bookcase with a set of the tually city editor, on the Morning Call. From ibly wrinkled, who searched through the li­ humor. Harry Breen, of Hollister, shattering Works and might wish to present them to 1894, when he became editor of the San brary for the texts of the rare books he was our 'Oulde Sod' theories by telling us that he the Bancroft Library. Francisco Bulletin, he steered the destiny of printing by hand, counting words and letters, has never visited Ireland, he being our num­ -G.P.H. that paper for 24 years, engaging in fight and working over his layouts. John Henry ber one choice for a real, live contact with the after fight to break the political grip of the Nash, recovering from serious illness and fi­ Blarney Stone. Clarence Walker Dobie, whose California Historical Southern Pacific Railroad on the State, to nancial reverses, coming to see the Bancroft reminiscences should be recorded: fascinating clean up San Francisco, and to expose injus­ Library and eventually donating a valuable stories of his boyhood days in San Francisco, Society Awards tice, crime, and corruption. He was ruthless collection of his own famous imprints. Bout- weeks and months of explorations of San in his exposes, and the city was rocked by well Dunlap, avid collector and meticulous Francisco Bay under sail, owner of a livable THE CALIFORNIA HISTORICAL SOCIETY at its the Bulletin s flaming headlines and Older's student of California history, occasionally houseboat, banker and business man, and January meeting testified to its high regard fearless editorials. The paper's circulation adding some item to his library over which the donor of our valuable collections of the for George P. Hammond, Director of the soared. he could gloat, 'Not in the Bancroft Library.' papers of his brother, the late Charles Cald­ Bancroft Library, by electing him a Fellow Older's first tilt with the Southern Pacific William Martin Camp, handsome, interest­ well Dobie. Many, many more." of the Society. It would seem, indeed, that a political machine came in 1897. He plunged ing, and on the outside a harmonica player, connection with the Bancroft Library is, if into the mayoralty campaign, supporting not a requisite, at least a recommendation to whose tragic death a few years ago took one A Matter of Sentiment James D. Phelan as the reform candidate. of our most promising writers. Spencer Coch­ honors in the Mansion 'cross the Bay, as four Phelan was elected. Ultimate victory over the ran Browne, scholarly gentleman and at the of the five new Fellows are Friends of the railroad came in 1910 when Hiram Johnson, same time competent in worldly matters, well Bancroft Library, and Awards of Merit were with Older's vigorous aid, was elected gov­ informed, fine looking, and one with whom presented to three other very good Friends. ernor. it was always a pleasure to pass the time of A recent distinction among the California The most spectacular of Older's campaigns day, grandson of J. Ross Browne. Ernest A. historians, Fellows are elected "in recognition against political corruption was his support of Wiltsee, known as 'Colonel' because, he told of distinguished attainments in the field of the graft prosecution of Mayor Eugene E. us, head waiters in the better eating spots California and Western History and of out­ Schmitz and political boss, , in 1906. thought he looked like a Kentucky Colonel, standing service to the Society." Awards of So intense was this fight that Older's life was a gold mining man with a talent for making Merit are presented "to individuals or insti­ threatened, and, at the height of the investi­ tutions for outstanding contributions to Cali­ cordial enemies, six feet five inches tall, a gation, he was kidnapped in an attempt to fornia history." Fellows elected in addition to regal host at large and small parties, ordering prevent his appearance as a prosecution wit­ photostats by the dozens from our early files Dr. Hammond are John W. Caughey, Edith M. Coulter, Sidney M. Ehrman, and Carl I. ness. Fortunately, the scheme didn't work. of the Alta. Admiral William Carey Cole, Schmitz and Ruef were convicted —although, Commander of the 12th Naval District, sur­ Wheat. Bancrofters who have received mer­ ited awards are Col. Fred B. Rogers, Miss because of a legal technicality, only Ruef re­ rounded by respectful aides who held the ceived a prison sentence. books and turned the pages for him. Gladys Wickson, and Arthur Woodward. This, however, does not exhaust our supply It was often said of Older that he devoted "Then there was Raul Ramirez, the aristo­ of distinguished contributors, and we shall be half his long newspaper career to putting men cratic and handsome Latin, exchange profes­ happy to continue to furnish worthy candi­ in prison and the other half to getting them sor from the University of Chile, who, though H. H. BANCROFT'S PRIDE as author, entre­ dates as long as the Society wishes to honor out. Older became convinced that Ruef was on his honeymoon, caused many a feminine preneur, and publisher of the monumental them. merely a scapegoat, and, in the last analysis, heart to flutter. Henry R. Wagner, that wise 39-volume History of the Pacific States is that men like him were not the cause of cor­ and witty man, discussing the 16th century suggested in part by the care he showed in rupt politics, but their product. Older went Mexican printer, Juan Pablos, the 19th cen­ binding and in exhibiting a few sets of this Fremont Older to San Quentin to ask for Ruef's pardon. His tury publishers Bosqui, the Bancrofts, and work. The most common binding, with which THE FREMONT OLDER PAPERS, presented to change of heart is best revealed in this letter Whitneys, as though they were all as modern all readers of Bancroft are familiar, is the hand­ the Bancroft Library by his widow, Cora Bag- written to a friend: as his friends the Grabhorns; throwing in a some calfskin, with black labels, but some gerly Older, inspired us to refresh the mem­ ". . . It was the very exposures brought about by little about the conquest of Mexico and a sets were treated more luxuriously. the graft prosecutions which taught me that jails ory of her husband, widely recognized as a and jute-mills, cropped hair and dungeons, would wickedly funny story about some current A few, beautifully bound, were sold with towering figure in Western journalism, who not give us civic health. I learned that the acute mutual friend. George Parker Winship, call­ a special library bookcase made to fit the set fought without quarter for what he believed disease which Ruef was suffering from was notice­ ing on us again after many years, wanting to exactly. Such a library case I have seen but was just and right. able in all of us in variloid [sic] form." see just one item: a manuscript written en­ once. There is none in the Bancroft Library, Born in Wisconsin August 30, 1856, he Older's personal bitterness toward Ruef had tirely in gold, remembered from his firstvisi t though we have photographs of it. One of was spurred early in life by an ambition to passed. His visits to San Quentin marked the in 1910; our frantic search failed to produce these specially bound sets with its own book­ emulate Horace Greeley. At the age of 16 he beginning of his great interest in prison re­ it. Edward Eberstadt, that Paul Bunyan of case would be a particularly attractive exhibit, went West and worked as a printer on various form and the plight of the ex-convict who u ] [5] could not make an honest living. In this pe­ Library can verify by its magnificent collec­ Norris, Willa Cather, O. Henry, Sinclair 1849. Friends who may be so fortunate as to riod, too, was born the philosophy of toler­ tion of Alaskan photographs. Lewis, W. Somerset Maugham, and many have this remarkable book on their library ance which became so pronounced in his later One of the finest acquisitions of pictorial other literary figures of equal stature, the shelves will remember it both for its beautiful life. As he put it, "From being a savage materials owned by the Library, this collec­ collection contains manuscripts, drawings, format and its significance as one of the most fighter against wrong and injustice as I saw tion of early Alaska pictures consists of over photographs, memorabilia, reminiscences, and detailed and readable of all accounts of the them in the old days, I have gone clear over 2,000 glass negatives and prints. It represents published works. Many of the 287 letters rush to California. Printed by the Grabhorn to the point where I do not blame anyone for the work of four pioneer Alaska photographic to Burgess combine to document impressively Press for The Book Club of California in anything." firms: E. A. Hegg (1898-1904); Larrs & the breadth and duration of his fame. In 1897, 1931, The Santa Fe Trail to California, 18/j.C)- In 1917, Older undertook the last great fight Duclos (1898-1902); Frank Nowell (1902- for example, William Dean Howells encour­ 1852, won the coveted recognition of being of his career— the freeing of Tom Mooney and 1904); and Case & Draper (1906-1908). aged the young author-editor to leave San selected by the American Institute of Graphic Warren Billings. By this time he was con­ E. A. Hegg came to Skagway in the win­ Francisco and go East by promising him "a Arts as one of the fifty most beautiful books vinced that the two men had been convicted ter of 1897. Traveling the "Trail of '98" over cordial welcome from all this Lark-\ov'mg of the year. on perjured testimony, and came out flatlyi n Chilkoot Pass to Dawson, he operated a stu­ flat." Later, during aircraft tests in France, Powell traveled with the Illinois Company, the Bulletin with the accusation that they had dio there until 1900, when he sold out to Wilbur Wright looked forward to meeting and somehow he found time and energy each been framed. Advised by the owners of the Larrs & Duclos and moved to Nome. Frank the author whose work he read "more times day to record the experiences and scenes of paper to drop the case, Older resigned and Nowell, from his studio in Nome, made ex­ than any other book in the world probably." life on the trail. The haunting presence of accepted 's invita­ tensive photographic tours over much of the And from the White House in 1938, Frank­ cholera, the fear of "lurking Apaches," the tion to come to his newspaper, the San Fran­ territory from 1902 to 1908. Case & Draper lin D. Roosevelt, who shared his birth date inevitable bickering and dissension between cisco Call, and bring the Mooney case with located in Juneau in 1905, and since then with Burgess, rounded out best wishes on the members of the company; the weariness, him. It was not personal concern for a man have been responsible for many pictures from occasion with the ebullient quip: "Long live thirst, and other tribulations, all are reported like Mooney that motivated Older. It was, that area. the purple cow!" by the articulate and observant Powell. His rather, "the integrity of our legal procedure The collection covers many events in Alas­ California, where Burgess did much of his descriptions of Santa Fe —"a miserable hole; ..." Undismayed by repeated refusals of ka's past: best work, receives some noteworthy atten­ gambling and drinking in all directions," and governors to pardon Mooney and Billings, he The Gold Rush from Skagway and Dyea to tion by the writers of these letters. Near the of other spots of civilization along the route, kept up the fight for 18 years and would un­ the Klondike; end of the last century, when Burgess com­ including Tucson and several Indian villages, doubtedly have continued to do so had he Nome in its early days, and the surrounding plained of a lack of inspiration in England, present a uniquely graphic account of the lived. area up to Point Barrow and the Bering Rudyard Kipling reminded him that "Cali­ long journey. In 1929, at the age of 73, he became editor Straits; fornia is a mighty easy place to be oneself in." Nor did Powell end his diary on arrival in and president of the Call-Bulletin, a merger Mining activities of all kinds in Nome, the And in the locally disastrous year of 1906, California. Unlike so many, he continued to which had been accomplished with Hearst's Klondike, and other areas; Henry James, far away in his peaceful "little write each day, giving a fine account of life purchase of the moribund Bulletin. In his Shipping, railroading, fishing, whaling; old-world corner" of Rye in Sussex, wrote: in the tumultuous land of gold. Indeed, his later years, Older, having won the reputation Schools, residences, and saloons; "Your brief words about San Francisco cast diary even includes the story of his return of a man who "had fought more battles, faced Indians and Eskimos. upon me a miserable chill. . . The situation is home via the Isthmus. And finally, he more issues, and won more victories for the One picture is of a group of young ladies to me . . . unthinkable!" sketched sixteen lovely pencil drawings of things he held dear than any editor of his who are, so the caption assures us, "hard Burgess' development as a humorist, the missions and scenes on the journey. times," left most of the active work to younger workers." In short, the collection covers nearly most delightful element in his character, col­ The original Powell Journal came to the men on the staff. He died of a heart attack, every activity in our far northern state dur­ ors many of these papers. A 1% x 2/^ inch Bancroft Library with the Thomas W. Norris at the age of 78, on March 3, 1935. ing the decade following 1898. It is a fine magazine that he wrote and printed in 1880 Collection. It will be on exhibit —as an out­ Like most newspaper men, Older was not addition to Bancroft's Alaskana. at the age of 14 —the tiniest and earliest item standing example of overland narratives — at a "saver," and consequently the letters in the in the collection —contains what is probably the Annual Meeting on May 3. collection represent only a portion of what Burgess' first published work, and certainly must once have been an extensive correspond­ cLong Live reveals a first sign that the "Muse of Non­ ence. What has escaped loss and destruction, sense" had bitten him: ;i New Honor for Old Friend however, adds considerably to the understand­ the Purple Cow Now merrilie the sting-bugg ing of a man who became a legend in his own A HALF-CENTURY of correspondence with Pursues his way with glee: THE FRIENDS WILL BE DELIGHTED to learn of Yet, half-an-hour ago, he did the latest of many honors showered on Carl some of the most distinguished persons in But stick his sting in me! America and Europe is included among the I. Wheat, who was for several years their more than 1,000 items that have nearly Chairman. In recognition of his varied contri­ The 49th State in Pictures butions to the history and culture of Califor­ doubled the size and research value of Ban­ PowelVs Santa Fe Journal CALIFORNIA IS NOT THE ONLY STATE in the croft's extensive Gelett Burgess Collection. nia and the West, the Board of Trustees of Union with a Gold Rush in its history. The These have now been arranged and are ready AMONG WESTERN JOURNALS few, if any, are Pomona College voted on March 21,1959, to 49th State can proudly lay claim to colorful for use. more famous than that of H. M. T. Powell, confer on him the honorary degree of Doctor mining days of its own, a boast the Bancroft Besides letters from Jack London, Frank who made the overland trek to California in of Letters. Salud, Dr. Wheat! [6] [7] learned book, the Libra Astronomica, in de­ How Important is a fense of his country, of Mexican scientists, Rare Book? and of his own reputation as professor of mathematics in the University of Mexico. WOULD A BOOK ON ASTRONOMY, printed in The book, though written in 1681, was Mexico City in 1691, be a rare item, worth not published until ten years later, at which hundreds of dollars? Or one on mathematics time Father Kino was completely pre-occu- or history? pied with his missionary work in Pimeria That depends, of course, on several factors. Alta, and if he saw the book he did not reply. The question comes to mind because the This literary duel between two of New Spain's Friends, through their Council, voted to give great men brings into focus the growing en­ $400 to the Bancroft Library to help purchase lightenment of the age —the eternal quest to Sigiienza y Gongora's Libra Astronomica, learn more about the universe and free the printed in Mexico in the year 1691. mind from fear and superstition. And the book is well worth the price. This This fine copy of the Libra Astronomica particular copy is immaculate, bound in the belongs among Bancroft's resources. We are original sheepskin, with paper as soft and hoping that one of these days its companion, white as it must have been nearly three hun­ Kino's Exposicion Astronomica (Mexico, dred years ago. 1681), likewise rare and a most important The Libra Astronomica is primarily famous book, will also come to the Bancroft Library. for its account of a controversy between the Mexican scholar Sigiienza y Gongora and the missionary who had recently come to Mexico from Europe, Father Eusebio Kino. The Champoeg Legend In an age noted for its superstitions rather THE INCREDIBLE staying power of a legend is than its learning, these men got into a heated remarked by the venerable Rev. J. Neilson argument over the nature of comets. Barry of Portland, Oregon, in presenting to The ever-popular almanacs had warned Bancroft an interesting collection he has made there would be an eclipse of the sun on August of copies of documents bearing on the "ficti­ 21, 1691. It was "not only total but one of the tious Champoeg meeting" of 1843. He has greatest that the world has seen," wrote Si­ frustrated, he remarks, 14 different efforts to giienza. For fifteen minutes there was total obtain government funds for commemorat­ darkness. "An eerie chill descended abruptly ing the "Champoeg legend" as history. Being with the pall of night..." Women and chil­ well assured that the legend will outlive him, dren shrieked in terror, Indians deserted their he has deposited the documentation in the fruit stalls ... all rushed to the Cathedral to Bancroft Library by way of encouraging other offer their frightened prayers. But Sigiienza, scholars to carry on the fight after he shall the Mexican scientist, stood with his quad­ have passed on. rant and telescope viewing the sun,' 'extremely The legend, Mr. Barry explains, is that a happy and repeatedly thanking God for hav­ meeting of American and French-Canadian ing granted that I might behold what so rarely settlers was held at Champoeg, in the Wil­ happens in a given place and about which lamette Valley, in 1843, at which action was there are so few observations in the books." taken to make Oregon a Territory and later Sigiienza's strong bent toward mathematics a State. The documents assembled indicate and astronomy shines through these lines. He that the meeting was actually held in 1844, had already upheld the spirit of scientific in­ but that it became confused in the Oregon vestigation about comets in a number of pam­ folk memory. The Reverend Barry, now 87, phlets. Then, when Kino gave him a copy of who has published several score articles on his own Exposicion Astronomica, in which he the history and cartography of the North­ denounced Sigiienza's views on comets and west, traces the origin of the "Champoeg maintained "their ominous portent," while legend" to a hoax printed in an Astoria news­ at the same time referring to Sigiienza as a paper after the Civil War, republished in a "trabajoso juizio" —dull wit—the Mexican popular book of 1870, and ineradicably re­ professor, his pride hurt, wrote his most corded in Oregon history ever since. m