DIVISION FIVE — NAMES. 387 



cabin alone here, getting out wood for Jesus Rubio (Marrone) after whom 

 Rubio canyon is named. One day the old man was found dead, nobody 

 knowing just when or how he died. And the canyon took its name from 

 this circumstance. Old Mr. Brunk, who was one of the men who found 

 the dead Indian there, always claimed that he had been murdered ; but I 

 don't believe it. 



Brown's Canyon. — This is a small branch of the Arroyo Seco, next 

 below Negro canyon, and is on the mountain homestead taken up by Owen 

 and Jason Brown in 1886, after Jason had sold his land where the Las 

 Casitas Sanitarium now stands. It was on the east wall of this canyon that 

 they started their trail to Brown's peak, but which never reached the sum- 

 mit. 



The Arroyo Seco Canyon. — Arroyo Seco is Spanish for "dry 

 creek," and this great branch of the I,os Angeles river has been called by 

 that name almost ever since Los Angeles was founded as a pueblo [town] in 

 1 78 1. The reason was, that it was a running stream during the winter, but 

 always went dry during the summer and autumn seasons. In the days of 

 the Spanish rule it was their most famous hunting ground ; and here were 

 often captured wild cats, mountain lions, or bears, for the bloody sport-pens 

 of Los Angeles ; for bull fights, bear baiting, etc., were lawful sports, even 

 on Sunda}^ up to 1855 — and on week days as late as October 26, 1872, 

 when the last great public bull fight occurred there. The old accounts give 

 two cases at least where bears were lassoed in the Arroyo Seco by one hind 

 foot and one forefoot, and then dragged bodily over the ground down to Los 

 Angeles (by the riatas being attached to the pommels of the horsemen's 

 saddles) and there put into the bear pit to fight with dogs, or a bull, or wild 

 cats. Pasadena lies on the east bank of the Arroyo, and extends across to 

 its west hills, where extensive grading and improvements were made by Mr. 

 C. W. Scoville from 1887 to 1893. "^^^ following item from the Vai/ey 

 Uni'ofi of February 26, 1886, gives some idea of the condition of things 

 prior to 1886, where all is now so changed by dams, bridges, retaining walls, 

 county road, private winding drives, substantial dwellings, etc. : 



"There has been more inquiry lately [February, 1886] for Arroyo 

 lands, or wood lots, which extend from the Arroyo Drive across the great 

 gulf and up the half mountainous hills on the west side of the stream. 

 These hills are as full of local names as was old Judea. Jumbo Knob and 

 Jumbo canyon belong to Charley Watts. There is undeveloped water in 

 this canyon. The Fremont Trail and Wildcat canyon are on Mrs. Hood's 

 lots. Buzzard CHff and Gold-hunter's canyon are on Dr. Reid's lots. Near 

 the head of this canyon are some old gold diggings. The gold dirt assayed 

 only $4 or $5 per ton, and hence wouldn't pay for working. Fern canyon 

 is on Johnson's land, but opens down on the west end of B. F. Ball's and 

 J. F. Steen's wood lots. It is a sort of gap through the hill range, and 

 would furnish the shortest and easiest route for a road from Pasadena to 



