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William Henry Hudson - The Famous Missions of California
would save the survivors from actual starvation. Perhaps it is hardly surprising that, under these
circumstances, Portolà's courage should have failed him, and that he should have decided upon a return
to Mexico. He caused an inventory of all available provisions to be taken, and calculating that, with strict
economy, and setting aside what would be required for the journey back to San Fernando, they might last
till somewhat beyond the middle of March, he gave out that unless the San Antonio should arrive by the
20th of that month, he should on that day abandon San Diego, and start south. But if the governor
imagined for a moment that he could persuade the padre presidente to fall in with this arrangement, he
did not know his man. Junipero firmly believed, despite the failure of Portolà's expedition, that the
harbour of Monterey still existed, and might be found; he even interested Vicente Vila in a plan of his
own for reaching it by sea; and he furthermore made up his mind that, come what might, nothing should
ever induce him to turn his back upon his work. Then a wonderful thing happened. On the 19th of March
- the very day before that fixed by the governor for his departure, and when everything was in readiness
for to-morrow's march - the sail of a ship appeared far out at sea; and though the vessel presently
disappeared towards the northwest, it returned four days later and proved to be none other than the San
Antonio, bearing the much needed succour. She had passed up towards Monterey in the expectation of
finding the larger body of settlers there, and had only put back to San Diego when unexpectedly, (and as
it seemed, providentially), she had run short of water. It was inevitable that Father Junipero should see in
this series of happenings the very hand of God - the more so as the day of relief chanced to be the festival
of St. Joseph, who, as we have noted, was the patron of the mission enterprise.
The arrival of the San Antonio put an entirely new complexion upon affairs; and, relieved of immediate
anxiety, Portolà now resolved upon a second expedition in quest of Monterey. Two divisions, one for
sea, the other for land, were accordingly made ready; the former, which included Junipero, started in the
San Antonio, on the 16th of April; the latter, under the leadership of Portolà, a day later. Strong adverse
winds interfered with the vessel, which did not make Monterey for a month and a half. The land-party,
following the coast, reached the more southern of the great wooden crosses on the 24th of May, and after
some difficulty succeeded at last in identifying the harbour. Seven days later, steering by the fires lighted
for her guidance along the shore, the San Antonio came safely into port; and formal possession of the bay
and surrounding country was presently taken in the name of church and King. This was on the 3rd of
June, the Feast of Pentecost; and on that day of peculiar significance in the apostolic history of the
church, the second of the Upper California missions came into being. Palou has left us a full account of
the ceremonies. Governor, soldiers and priests gathered together on the beach, on the spot where, in
1603, the Carmelite fathers who had accompanied Viscaino, had celebrated the mass. An altar was
improvised and bells rung; and then, in alb and stole, the father-president invoked the aid of the Holy
Ghost, solemnly chanted the Venite Creator Spiritus; blessed and raised a great cross; "to put to flight all
the infernal enemies;" and sprinkled with holy water the beach and adjoining fields. Mass was then sung;
Father Junipero preached a sermon; again the roar of cannon and muskets took the place of instrumental
music; and the function was concluded with the Te Deum. Though now commonly called Carmelo, or
Carmel, from the river across which it looks, and which has thus lent it a memory of the first Christian
explorers on the spot, this mission is properly known by the name of San Carlos Borromeo,
Cardinal-Archbishop of Milan. A few huts enclosed by a palisade, and forming the germ at once of the
religious and of the military settlement, were hastily erected. But the actual building of the mission was
not begun until the summer of 1771
[3] The Diary, furnishing a detailed itinerary of the expedition, is given in full in Palou's noticias de la
Nueva California.
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