 |
On the CD: San Francisco
Waves crashing at Fort Point, and Sea Lions
in the bay; Marcha Real; Mission Bells; ¡Ay
Susanita!; Cable Car Bells.
On March
27, 1776, Father Font, Captain Anza, Lt. Moraga
and the exploratory group of soldiers arrived
in San Francisco and made their way to the area
near today's Fort
Point. Father Font noted the abundance of
sea life and made a prediction that the area would
make a beautiful settlement and port. Anza selected
the sites for the future Presidio
and Mission
and then, together with his core honor guard and
Font, made his way back to Sonora. He left the
rest of the task to Moraga and the colonists.
Moraga led a group of colonists and soldiers to
the area of today's Mission
Dolores on June 27 and there on the 29th,
Father Palóu celebrated the first Mass.
On September 17, the Presidio was dedicated,
with the crew of the supply ship San Carlos
on hand for the ceremonies. These included the
singing of the Te Deum, accompanied by
peals of bells and repeated salvos of cannons
and muskets. The Mission was formally dedicated
in early October with similar revelry, fulfilling
one of the main purposes of the expedition. The
Spanish had placed a sign of occupation on their
northwest outpost. The Marcha Real was
their Spanish national anthem. After 1849, sounds
of the Gold Rush (e.g. Oh Susana!) were
heard in San Francisco. The sounds of Mission
Bells have given way to those of the Cable
Cars, but those of bygone days still resound.
|
|
