DIVISION TWO — COLONIAL. 1 23 



here, and were also destructive on the grape crop. Mr. Wilson once told 

 me that discovering that the ranch abounded in jack-rabbits, he bred a lot 

 of gray-hounds, and anticipated great sport in the chase ; but he had no 

 sooner got his dogs ready than the eagles discovered the game, gathered 

 about and caught the jacks in such numbers that they were greatly thinned 

 out, and the sport was spoiled. 



Along the base of the mountains rattlesnakes were quite plentiful, but 

 they do not increase rapidly and soon disappear upon occupation and culture 

 of the territory. The first year at "Fair Oaks" I killed eleven, three of 

 them having eleven rattles each. Every year the number killed became 

 less, and the last year we encountered but one, and he a little fellow with 

 but one rattle. 



Of tarantulas, scorpions and centipedes there were enough for familj- 

 use, but as they are harmless, they are only proper subjects for natural 

 history. I have never known any one injured by them. 



HOW "a CASS OF asthma" DECIDED THE LOCATION OF PASADENA. 



Judge Eaton furnishes the following graphic account of D. M. Berry's 

 first night at his house, and how it proved the turning point which led ulti- 

 mately to the settlement of Pasadena — a story now for the first time told in 

 print. Also a sketchy narrative of the beginnings of colony work : 



Dr. Griffin wishing to dispose of his remaining interest in Rancho San 

 Pasqual, for two years I made a business of bringing out prospective buyers, 

 but met with no one who could see anything in it. At last, happening into 

 a real estate office in Los Angeles, I was introduced to a slender, pale, weak- 

 looking, round-shouldered man, with a stove-pipe hat, and other character- 

 istic features that proclaimed him a "tender-foot." He told me that he was 

 one of a pioneer committee of three who were in search of a tract of land on 

 which to establish a colony of " Hoosiers," already organized in Indian- 

 apolis. I invited him to go out home with me. ^^ * * It was a long, 

 dry and dusty drive to my home, and the ranch, which had been pastured 

 very closely with sheep, showed not a vestige of green. Arriving at Fair 

 Oaks about sundown a different scene greeted his eyes. Broad live oaks 

 surrounded the little cottage, affording a grateful shade, and in front a vine- 

 yard of 60,000 vines presented a sea of verdure. On either side of the 

 house were groves of orange, lemon and lime trees. The following morning 

 he looked two inches taller, and upon my asking him how he rested, he 

 straightened up, and striking himself heroically upon the breast replied, 

 " Gloriously ! Do you know, sir, that last night is the first night in three 

 years that I have remained in bed all night ? ' ' 



" Why so? " I inquired. "Don't you go to bed and sleep nights, like 

 a good Christian ? ' ' 



" Yes, I go to bed all right, but by midnight I am obliged to get up and 

 sit in a chair until morning, for I can't breathe lying down," 



This circumstance has led me to remark sometimes, "that it was a case 

 of asthma that determined the location of the Indiana Colony." 



I kept Mr. D. M. Berry, for my guest was none other, for two or three 

 days, during which I drove him around the neighboring country. I showed 

 him the waters of the various springs in the Arroyo ; and knowing well the 

 topograph}^ of the countr)^ I explained to him how the waters could be 



