In reading Camp and Camino in Lower California by Arthur North he relates an interesting story about Mission Santa Maria.
In 1893 an American from San Francisco visits the mission and with the aid of his Mexican guide marks a spot on the west wall. The next morning the
American announces he is returning immediately to Alta California. While packing his guide secretly examines the wall where the mark had been made and
sees the excavation with rust in the hallows.
Had Padre Victoriano Arnes put his treasure in there after being told to leave the country? Had the American taken it? Also what became of the Padre?
I have only found references to him being at Mission Santa Maria and Calamajue.
Mission treasures? Never existed, but I am sworn to secrecy!
Padre Victoriano Arnés was born in 1736 and died in 1788, in Rome.
He worked (assisted) at San Borja in 1764 and 1765. Founded the next mission north, at Calamajué in 1766 and moved it seven months later after crops
would not grow using the water at Calamajué.
In May 1767, he reestablished the mission and gave it a new name, Santa María de los Angeles.
Arnés, as well as the other Jesuits, in January 1768, were forced to leave their missions. Several months later, the Franciscans arrived to replace
the banished Jesuits.
IT WAS THE FRANCISCANS (Padre Juan Leon de Medina Beita) who had the adobe church built after their arrival. So, like many other historical statements
by Arthur North, the truth turns out to be different.
This, about who built the mission we see today, is in my book, pages 109-115, by-the-way.
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
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