This Week in Marin History

"Miwok Outlaw"

On Feb. 6, 1824, a Coastal Miwok insurgent named Pomponio was executed by firing squad in Monterey for his crimes of "mayhem and murder." Born near today's town of Bolinas, Pomponio was the leader of Los Insurgentes, a band of Native Americans who rebelled against Mexican rule and "terrorized" missions up and down the coast. After killing a Mexican soldier, Pomponio fled to Marin County, where Mexican military captured him north of San Rafael. Unsubstantiated lore has it that while imprisoned in Monterey, he amputated his own heel to escape his shackles. Pomponio State Beach south of Half Moon Bay bears his name.

 

This Month 100 Years Ago from the Marin Journal
Compiled and transcribed by Doug DeFors, Collections Manager

These are short articles and notices from Marin newspapers, published one hundred years in the past. They present the happenings of the county, the concerns of the readership and the peculiar prosody of their posthumous penmen. The newspapers from which these articles were collected are available for research at the Marin History Museum's Library in the Collections & Research Facility in Novato. Call (415) 382-0770 x7 to make a research appointment.

From The Marin Journal, January 18, 1912.

Electric Co. Files $150,000,000 Mortgage

The largest mortgage ever recorded in Marin County, probably in the State, was filed by County Recorder Holland this week by the Pacific Gas and Electric Company for $150,000,000, with the Bankers Trust Company and Frank B. Anderson, trustees. It is a general and refunding mortgage, dated Dec. 1. 1911 and due January 1, 1942.

14 Convent Girls Take Vail

Archbishop Riordan Conducts the Ceremonies Monday was a day that will long be remembered by the Dominican Convent. Four Sisters took life vows and nine assumed the black vail. Arch bishop Riordan, assisted by eighteen priests conducted the services.

Many of the inmates of the convent were unable to find room in the Chapel: a hundred college girls, in dark uniforms and white tule vails occupied chairs that filled the isles and their fair young faces were sweet to look upon.

No Tiddings From Missing Banker

No tiddings have been heard of Louis Bailey, the missing cashier of the Tomales Bank and Trust Company. A thorough examination of his accounts revealed no shortage. The lost banker is a man of large means, was happy in his domestic relations, and unaddicted to any kind of dissipation. Many theories have been advanced to account for his disappearance, the most probable of which is that Mr. Bailey suffered an attack of mental aberration, lost his identity, and is wandering somewhere without any idea who he is or where he came from.

Orphage Wagon Struck By Electric Cars

Horses Killed, Wagon Smashed, Boys Injured The Electric train leaving San Rafael at 10:29 on Wednesday morning collided with a team at Ross avenue crossing at San Anselmo at 10:37 killing two horses, reducing a wagon to splinters and severely bruising and cutting two boys who were in the vehicle, Herbert Wightman and Earnest Edson, of Presbyterian Orphanage.

A load of coal had arrived for the Orphanage, and as some was needed at once, Dr. Doane sent Herb Wightman with the team to the station, with instructions to the grammar school and get his older brother , George Wightman and Earnest Edson to help. Earnest and Herb were in the wagon while, the older boy was on a wheel. There is a sharp turn at Ross Avenue and the boys did not see the train approaching, and crossed the track in time to get the full force of the impact.