At a later date, when the mission at Monterey was in serious danger of a famine, Captain Fages called to mind the experiences in the Cañada de los Osos, and headed a hunting expedition to that region for the purpose of securing a supply of bear meat. The party succeeded in killing a considerable number of the animals, and were thus able to relieve the scarcity at Monterey. The name of Los Osos (the bears), is still applied to a valley in the vicinity of San Luís Obispo.
Finding this spot highly suitable for a settlement, in the matters of climate, arable land and water, points always carefully considered by the padres, the mission of San Luís Obispo de Tolosa (St. Louis the Bishop of Toulouse), was established by Padre Serra, September 1, 1772, in La Cañada de los Osos. In the usual course of events, the name of the mission was extended to the town and finally to the county.
The story of the patron saint of this mission runs as follows: “St. Louis of Toulouse was the nephew of St. Louis King of France, and son of the King of Naples and Sicily. Like his kingly uncle-saint, he was piously reared by his mother. When he was but fourteen, his father, being made prisoner by the King of Aragón, gave Louis and his brother as hostages. He became wearied of everything but religion, and in 1294, when he was made free, he gave all his royal rights to his brother Robert, and became a monk of the Order of St. Francis. He was then twenty-two years old. Soon he was made Bishop of Toulouse; and he set out, bare-footed and clothed as a friar, to take his new office. He went into Provence on a charitable mission, and died at the castle of Brignolles, where he was born. He was first buried at Marseilles, then removed to Valencia, where he was enshrined. His pictures represent him as young, beardless, and of gentle face. He has the fleur-de-lys embroidered on his cope, or on some part of his dress. The crown which he gave away lies at his feet, while he wears the mitre of a bishop.”—(Stories of the Saints.)
SAN MIGUEL
San Miguel (St. Michael), situated about forty-seven miles northeast of San Luís Obispo, is the site of Mission San Miguel, founded July 25, 1797, by Padres Lasuén and Sitjar. It is said that “the lands of this mission extended from the Tulares on the east to the sea on the west, and from the north boundary of the San Luís Obispo district to the south line of San Antonio. It had its work-shops and little factories where the good padres taught the Indians the useful arts. Its property was confiscated in 1836, and sold at auction in 1846.”
St. Michael, in whose honor this mission was named, “is regarded as the first and mightiest of all created spirits. He it was whom God commissioned to expel Satan and the rebellious angels from Heaven. His office now is believed to be two-fold, including that of patron saint of the Church on earth, and Lord of the souls of the dead; presenting the good to God and sending the evil and wicked away to torment.” In pictures St. Michael is always represented as young and beautiful, sometimes as the Lord of souls in pictures of death, sometimes in armor as the conqueror of Satan.
PASO DE ROBLES
Paso de Robles (pass of the oaks), known far and wide for its hot sulphur springs, where the sick of many lands find surcease from their pain, is situated twenty-nine miles north of San Luís Obispo. It was named for the reason indicated by Father Crespi, who says: “....in a valley in the hollow of the Santa Lucía Mountains, called Los Robles, for the great abundance of these trees with which it is populated.”
It should be explained that the roble is not the evergreen, or live-oak, which is called encino. At Leland Stanford Jr. University the names of these two species of oaks have been rather poetically used for the students’ dormitories,—Encina Hall for the men, and Roble Hall for the women.