River News-Herald Isleton Journal, July 30, 1986 Page Five Children, Adults Play Where Chinese Folks are Buried (Continued from Page 1) crews unload the dead and injured. Just over a year after that fateful event, on October 12, 1865, the Steamboat Yosemite stopped in Rio Vista to unload some cargo. It was on its way to Sacramento, and was going to make its stop a brief one. It took on a few passengers bound for Sacramento, and was almost ready to be on its way. After about a 45 minute stay, the captain loaded a "cargo" of Chinese coolie laborers below deck for the trip up river.
An account of the events that followed were quite vividly presented in Julian Diana's The Sacramento, River of Gold. "Captain Poole and Fouret had paused on the hurricane deck a moment, looking out at the deck throng of three hundred passengers they were carrying. Poole was particularly interested in a troupe of actors and musicians from Maguire's Opera House, enroute to a Sacramento engagement. "As the Yosemite swung slowly out, Maguire's 'low J. H.
Meyers, was dancing a gay step for some children who were doing their best to imitate him. William Sharon was among the amused bystanders and 'so was Senator J. W. Haskin of Mono. "Roly-poly Myers had burst into the most innocent doggerel he knew, when the world ended.
All the upper cabin, pilothouse, and deck forward of the smokestack rose in flame and smoke and chaos. Bodies hurtled through the air. A hundred passengers died in that instant and half that number in the next hour. Myers and his laughing children went jiggling into eternity. Senator Hoskin was blown into the river and swam safely to the shore of Wood Island with a small girl in his arms.
Every Chinese below deck died. Most of the Chinese victims of that tragedy had just come over from the orient. The bodies were taken to a plot of land donated by Joseph Bruning, and there they were buried. In all there are 22 IN BRENTWOOD ESTIMATES SAT REPAIRING AUTO- TRUCK TRACTORS. (415) 634-5074 424 RAILROAD AVE.
BRENTWOOD MAY 4 headstones bearing inscriptions written in Chinese, but there are no names on any of the first stones. Nobody knows how many bodies were buried in that cemetery. In the 1940's or 50's some workers digging a trench through the surrounding land stumbled across some human skeletons. There are also other grave markers such as that of a one-day-old infant buried in 1935, and there are two American ones in the west end of the cemetary. And there the bodies lie to this day, but the cosmetics of the area have been slightly altered.
In the 1960s, a major redevelopment program known as Morgan Tract was implemented. Several blocks of old houses were torn down, and in their place went new edifices which are still in use. One part of the project called for turning the Chinese cemetery into a park. City legislation called for all of the tombstones to be placed flat on the ground (yes, once they were all upright just like ip any other cemetery). A cyclone fence in the front was replaced, and numerous attractions such as slides and swings were installed.
That was the easy part. The hard part was naming the thing. What do you call a cemetery after it's been turned into a park? The city council, under then Mayor Val deFlores, surely did not know. They tossed around the name Yosemite Park, but realized that might cause some conflict with another well-known park with a similar name. Then they considered calling it Bruning Park, but half of the city already had the name Bruning associated with it.
So they decided to let the public help them pick a name. The River News- Herald, then owned by the late Ardle Pierce, in conjunction with the Rio Vista Redevelopment Agency, tried to speed up the process of picking a name for the park by offering a $25 savings bond to the person who came up with the best name. It was noted that as part of the renewal project, the park had to' be styled as a memorial to something or somebody. The contest went well; numerous submissions were made, but legal problems hindered the naming of the park. Headlines during those weeks summarize the happenings: Cemetery Will Become Memorial Park; Council Chooses Name for Park Thursday Night; RV Memorial Park Naming Delayed Due to Legalities; $25 Bond Still Waiting for Name for Park; and on February 15, 1961, the River News-Herald reported that the naming of the memorial park was once again delayed.
Research into subsequent papers did not reveal the name, if any was ever chosen. Did anyone ever win that bond? If you know, please tell. I am anxious to find out. Years ago, a steamboat blew up on the Sacramento River in front of Rio Vista. That was a sad day; I am sure.
But that was in the past, and, although that bit of trivia is interesting, I find it much more interesting that children enjoy the playground equipment, adults toss frisbees, while others simply enjoy lolling in the grassy area of Rio Vista's park located on Highway 12 at the end of Main Street. Blue Anchor President Helps Funding of Levee Funds to finance a portion of Walnut Grove's commitment to help funding of a new levee along the Walnut Grove Thornton Highway was given a boost recently, it was reported. Dennis Icarti, president of Blue Anchor, turned over a check for $1,000 to James Gualco, attorney, who represented the Walnut Grove Homeowners and Merchants Association and Delta Estates Cooperative, who pushed for the levee construction. The new levee was constructed when the county approved a plan to restore the roadway to its original condition following the flood in February. Blue Anchor had sought to have the hastily raised roadway built to protect the eastern part of Walnut Grove from flood waters, brought back to its original lower height: The company had complained its Da Cruz Construction (916) 777-5266 STRENGTH ECONOMY IN FARM STORAGE.
(YORK) York Manufacturing Co. York, Nebraska 68467 Farm and commercial grain storage Drying and handling systems Hopper tanks and farm buildings "Farm Credit can handle all my lending needs." At Farm Credit we have the right solution for all your lending needs--the Federal Land Bank for long-term financing, and PCA for short and intermediate-term operating capital. Give us a call and find out why Farm Credit is all the credit you need. LAND BANA Working Together, We Do It All SM Part al the Farm Credit System FL.BA of PCA 283 Main Woodland. C.1 95695 Land Bank Offices: PCA Offices: Woodland 666-3333 Woodland 666-3333 Freeport 665-2265 Freeport 665-2218 Dixon 678-3051 OBITUARIES ES OBITUARIES ES Aldo Barsotti Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday for Aldo D.
Barsotti, 62, a resident of Rio Vista, who died in Fairfield, on July 23. He was a native of San Francisco. Barsotti owned and operated Barsotti's Body and Fender Service in San Rafael prior to his moving to Rio Vista five years ago. He was a member of San Rafael Lodge No. 1108 BPOE, Marin Rod and Gun Club Italia, and Marvelous Marin Lodge No.
1969, Sons of Italy. He was also a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II. Mass was held at San Rafael Catholic Church followed by entombment in Mt. Tamalpais Cemetery.
A rosary was recited Sunday at the church. Memorials may be sent to Guide Dogs for the SENIOR MEALS Rio Vista Build Thursday Your Orange Salad Juice, Own (Tuna, Cottage Cheese, Egg), Tossed Green Salad, Wheat Bread, Chocolate Pudding. Friday Meatloaf af Mashed Potatoes, Mixed Vegetables, Whole Wheat Bread, Fresh Orange. Monday Grapefruit Juice, Steak Teriyaki, Steamed Rice, Japanese Vegetables, Whole Wheat Bread, Lemon Cake Tuesday Veal Parmigiana Gravy, Potato Salad, Three Bean Salad, Biscuit, Fresh Orange. Wednesday Apple Juice, Ba Baked Chicken Potatoes Breast and Gravy, Pickled Beets Whole Wheat Bread, Cookies (2).
Up The This 1200 San RaBlind, Box fael 94915, or Hospice of Marina 77 Mack San Rafael 94903. held San RaBlind, Marvin Ostlund Marvin James Ostlund, 59, of Rio Vista, died last Friday in Rio Vista. A native of North Dakota, he was employed by the bridge division of Caltrans. Ostlund was a Past Master of Franklin Lodge A.M. No.
143 and Past Patron Onisbo Chapter O.E.S. He was the husband of Hermelle Ostlund of Rio Vista; father of Dennis Ostlund of Suisun, Roger Ostlund of Virginia, Patricia Shugart of Ryer Island, and Paul Ostlund of Rio Vista; brother of Eugene Ostlund of Virginia and Marian Kennedy of San Diego. Also survived by 10 grandchildren. No services were scheduled. Carrie Prewitt General services were held last Friday for Carrie Wilma Prewitt, 83, who died on July 21, in a Sacramento Convalescent Hospital.
Originally of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, she lived in the Isleton area from 1978 until 1982. She was a member of the All Nations Church of God of Isleton. Mrs. Prewitt was the mother of Anthony Fitchue of Brooklyn, New York; the grandmother of Ebony Joy Fitchue of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and the sister of King Whitherspoon of Isleton. She had numerous nieces and nephews.
Services were held at the All Nations Church of God with the Reverend Hosea Parham officiating. Burial, followed in the Galt Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were made by the Ben Salas Funeral Home. Ruby Riddle Funeral services will be held this Friday in Sacramento for Ruby Lee Riddle, 71, who died on Tuesday at her Sacramento home. A native of Smiley, Texas, she owned and operated Riddle's Griddle in Walnut Grove for 10 years.
Upon selling the business she moved to Sacramento. Mrs. Riddle was wife of the late Frank Riddle and Milo J. Davis; mother of Ilene Brink of Walnut Grove and Sacramento; and Richard Davis of Beumont, CA; and one granddaughter. Services will be held at Andrews and Greilich Funeral Home, 3939 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento.
Interment will be at Sierra Hills in Sacramento. Yolo County Hears Ideas On Drug Use All people in Yolo County who are concerned about youth and drugs are urged to attend a public meeting at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Augusut 5, in the Board Room of the County Office of Education, 175 Walnut in Woodland. The purpose of the meeting is to collect comments and suggestions to Pollution Board To The Yolo- Solano Air Pollution Control Board will 1 hold its regularly scheduled meeting on August 6 in the Planning Commission Meeting Room, 272 West Beamer Street, Woodland, beginning at 2 p.m. Business matters will include adoption of the be incorporated in an applications for up to $90,000 in drug abuse prevention funds. The money is being offered by the State of California as part of its statewide School Community Primary Prevention Program.
If the application is successful, it will be used for a countywide drug prevention program involving a partMeet August 6 FY 1986-87 budget, increased compensation for board meetings, and other administrative matters. The term "maverick" comes from Texas cattleman Sam Maverick's practice of not branding his calves. Disney Summer. RETURN TO OZ The recent Disney fantasy. in which Dorothy again sets off high adventure in this brand new tale.
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INSTALLATION. Send this coupon today or call 374-6743 The DisNEy Channel TCI Rio Vista Cable TV, 113 Main St, Rio Vista CA 94571 1986 The Walt Disney Company nership among the schools, other agnecies, and communities. Some of the ideas that have already been suggested are drug prevention curriculum for elementary and secondary schools, further training in drug abuse related topics for teachers and other school personnel, after school or latch programs, and peer support and rap groups for teenagers. trucks had a hard time navigating turns into the plant. The $62,000 project received $40,000 from the county's Community Development Block Grant program.
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