Thunder on the Sierra

Social Studies Review, Fall 2003 by Rocca, Al M

Thunder on the Sierra by Kathy Balmes [Illustrated by Vicki Catapano] Silver Moon Press - New York 2001 - ISBN 1-893110-10-9

Every once an a while a really good children's reader on California history is made available, and Thunder on the Sierra certainly fits the bill. The story centers around a young Californio, Mateo who has recently been orphaned. The only "family" he has left is a prized young palamino, Fandango, that was the envy of all of the vaqueros on the rancho. After hearing a threat by others to steal the strong horse, Mateo decides to ride away with Fandango. From here the adventure begins. Set in the Gold Rush year of 1852, the brave teen and his mount. Realizing that he has little money and food, and no plan, Mateo decides maybe gold panning is the way to go. The book explains his dilemma:

I had wanted to join the gold rush ever since 1848 when I read the story of the gold discovery in the Californian, a San Francisco newspaper. Many of the vaqueros left the rancho to look for gold the day after that article came out. "Let's go too." I urged my father. He shook his head, "They're fools. These cattle are the true riches. You'll see, Mateo."

He had been right. Before 1848 there had been so many cattle and few people in Calikfornia that beef was almost worthless. Rancheros sold the hide and tallow of a steer for three or four dollars each. But during the gold rush of 1849, the flood of hungry new miners wanted beef so badly that they paid fifty dollars or much more for a steer.

Some of the young vaqueros who had gone off to the gold camps later returned to the ranchos, disgusted with the lawlessness and prejudice of the Yankee gold seekers. They advised friends and relatives to stay on the rancho."

So the reader is only slightly diverted from the story to learn about the conditions for Californios during the gold rush, and it also helps set up the rest of the story. The story picks up with Mateo briefly visiting Stockton and then he heads for the gold camps in hope of finding a job. Unfortunately, the young vaquero is stopped by Joaquin Murieta and Three-Fingered Jack, who take Fandango. Not knowing exactly what to do next, Mateo decides to head for the foothills in hopes of finding a gold camp and maybe rescue Fandango. Parched, hungry and exhausted, Mateo finally comes upon a muleskinner, or arrieo, named Pedro. Mateo explains how he lost his horse and Pedro guesses that it is Murieta and Jack, who have been raiding miners in the area.

Pedro offers Mateo a place in his packer business, supplying isolated mining camps with food, clothing and dry goods. From Pedro, Mateo learns the microgeography of the California foothills. In one incident, Mateo accidently shoots Pedro in the leg in an attempt to scare off a mountain lion. Realizing that he cannot run his team of mules with a hurt leg, Pedro decides to teach Mateo to be the arrieo. Mateo learns the names of each of the mules and all of "tricks of the trade" to get the mules do what you want them to do. Throughout the long winter Mateo leads the mule team safely to mining camps, despite lightning storms and a risky encounter with crazed miners.

One interesting episode has Pedro explaining the discrimination against Mexican ranchers in California:

The old arriero shook his head sadly and explained how in 1849 thousands of gold seekers flooded the area. It became harder to find gold. Frustrated Yankee miners felt they should have what there was. Had America not just won the short war with Mexico over California? The Yankees resented that the Spanish-speaking miners, who had arrived first, had the best claims. They called all Sonorans, Chileans, Peruvians, and even the Californios who were U. S. citizens, 'greasers.'

"But the Yankees couldn't make them leave." I protested. "Sometimes the Yankees attacked Spanish-speaking miners and ran them off their claims. If an injustice was done to a 'greaser.' it went unpunished. I've heard that Yankees threw Joaquin Murieta off his claim near Sonora. That started his life of crime."

The Yankee miners found other ways to force Californios out. In 1850 California became a state of the U. S. The new state legislature imposed the Foreign Miner's Tax. Spanish speakers had to pay twenty dollars a month if they wanted to look for gold. By 1850 many miners hardly earned twenty dollars a month.

"Some desperate Mexicanos like Murieta stole or killed to get money and food. Thousands returned to Mexico," the arriero said, shaking his head.

"But you didn't return to Mexico," I commented. "No," he answered quietly. "I love California. It is some of the people that I dislike."

Months later, Mateo returns to find Pedro healing and full of news about Fandango. Pedro tells how the town is talking about Murieta and his hideout. Of course, Mateo immediately decides to go t the camp and rescue Fandango. He comes across Murieta while the bandit and Three-fingered Jack struggle to lasso a grizzly bear. Mateo watches in horror as Fandango is wounded by the grizzly, but eventually the bandits rope the tired bear and drag it back to camp. Mateo follows them and there he witnesses a matched animal fight between the captured grizzly bear and a bewilderd bull. Sliding into the camp late at night, Mateo finds Fandango in a nearby meadow, apparently unguarded. In moments, he bridles and mounts his horse. Mateo does not stop for hours as he heads away from a sleeping Murieta.