h $1000. With the exception of
the church property this estate, or what remained of it, was sold in
1845 for $1110. Under the management of administrators appointed by the
government, the Mission property rapidly disappeared, lands were sold,
live-stock killed and scattered, and only the fragments of wreckage
remained to be turned over to the jurisdiction of the padres according
to the decree of Micheltorena in 1843. The following year an epidemic
of smallpox caused the death of the greater proportion of Indians still
living at Purisima, and the final act in the history of the once
flourishing Mission was reached In 1845, when, by order of Governor
Pico, the ruined estate was sold to John Temple for the paltry amount
stated above.

In regard to its present ownership and condition, a gentleman interested
writes:

"The abandoned Mission is on ground which now belongs to the
Union Oil Company of California. The building itself has been
desecrated and damaged by the public ever since its
abandonment. Its visitors apparently did not scruple to
deface it in every possible way, and what could not be stolen
was ruthlessly destroyed. It apparently was a pleasure to
them to pry the massive roof-beams loose, in order to enjoy
the crash occasioned by the breaking of the valuable tile.

"On top of this the late series of earthquakes in that
section threw down many of the brick pillars, and twisted the
remainder so badly that the front of the building is a
veritable wreck. During these earthquakes, which lasted
several weeks, tile which could not be replaced for a
thousand dollars were displaced and broken. To save the
balance of the tile, as well as to avoid possible accidents
to visitors, the secretary of the Oil Company had the
remaining tile removed from the roof and piled up near the
building for safety."

CHAPTER XXI

SANTA CRUZ

Lasuen found matters far easier for him in the founding of Missions than
did Serra in his later years. The viceroy agreed to pay $1000 each for
the expenses of the Missions of Santa Cruz and La Soledad, and $200 each
for the traveling expenses of the four missionaries needed. April 1,
1790, the guardian sent provisions and tools for Santa Cruz to the value
of $1021. Lasuen delayed the founding for awhile, however, as the
needful church ornaments were not at hand; but as the viceroy promised
them and