The Evening News. October 20, 1916

20. The Miracle Ranch, Part II.

In the early days the Bernals had large families, and so, the Santa Teresa was divided into many shares. At one time ten of the Bernal families lived on the Santa Teresa ranch.

Bruno Bernal, grandfather of the Bernals who own the mineral water and the fertilizer, married Miss Maria Antonia Ortega of Gilroy. He lived in the old adobe ranch house and added to it. It stood directly in front of the Santa Teresa spring. There were several houses joined together by a wall forming a patio. The old ranch buildings were razed when the new orchard was set out and the ranch was modernized.

There are some reminders of the early days on the ranch. You can see the tannery pit near the well worn steps cut into the ground leading up to Santa Teresa spring. If you hold your ear to the stones from which the water gushes you can hear the murmur of the sea. Near the spring is a picture of St. Teresa herself. Though it stands in the open, and in the exposed place, we are told that the picture is never wet, and we believe it. You believe anything at the miracle ranch.

During this lifetime Bruno Bernal was the cattle king in the valley. In 1800 he brought nine cattle from the Spanish ships and turned them loose in 60,000 acres of virgin grass and flowers. In 1840 where there had been nine cattle, there bellowed 16,000. One could almost hear time in Pueblo.

Bruno Bernal was an excellent business man. He marketed his tallow and hides himself. Ox teams drew them on the old clumsy, creeping, creaking carrettas to San Francisco. This journey filled several weeks. Always the first night Don Bruno stopped at the Santa Clara Mission. The best meats from the Bernal ranch went to the Mexico. In later days orchardists bought the bleaching cattle bones for fertilizer. James Lick was one who did this when he set out his great orchard at Agnews.

Now there is a modern ranch house at the Santa Teresa. Of the old adobe there remain only some hewn timbers, a hundred years old, but so carefully cured that they are like new lumber. They were used in the new Bernal barn. Some rocks from the old adobe foundation weighing two hundred pounds are piled in the creak.

The most picturesque landmark is the giant white oak tree scarred by the teeth of all the bear that were killed by the bulls when there occurred the Pelea de Oso, the bear and bull fight for which the Santa Teresa ranch was famous. Only the wildest bulls were used in this clash, but the bear tied to a tree was gored by four or five bulls before he succumbed.

One finds also at Santa Teresa the old millstone used in 1800 in grinding flour. Mrs. Ygnacio Bernal has an Indian basket given to the family nearly a hundred years ago by the natives. She has also an Indian earring made of a polished stone resembling agate. It was worn fastened to the ear by a piece of leather. She has flint and arrow heads found in the Indian mounds on the place.

There is also a painting of Mrs. Bruno Bernal, born Maria Antonia Ortega. It was done in the old adobe house on the Santa Teresa. Mrs. Bernal's shoulders and frame were hidden by her marvelous hair. A nearby photography showing the influence of heredity is of the lady's granddaughter, Miss Jacoba Bernal. Her hair extends almost to her knees.

One of the most vivid reminders of the old life and custom is Mrs. Bernal's jewel case of rose shell and gold. It contains her wedding ring and the proposal of marriage for her hand.

The ring is double. The upper part is of two hands clasping over a tiny love case. The hands unclasped, the ring opens. Inside are engraved the words "Io juro amor" (I swear love). The jewel case was imported from France, and it was bought at Mr. Lion's old store which stood at the corner of Post and Market, where the Wells Fargo office used to be. The jeweler who made it was Thomas Ravenna. Only one ring of the kind was ever made in San Jose.

In the jewel case with the ring, written on old-fashioned stationery, is the formal proposal of marriage for the hand of the young lady who because Mrs. Ygnacio Bernal. Her mother was a widow, and so, the letter was written to Mrs. Patron. This does not mean that Spanish youths were laggards in love. Already unofficially Ygnacio Bernal had won the consent of Miss Jesusita Patron, but this was how Bruno Bernal requested the consent of Mrs. Patron to the marriage of her daughter with his son.

"Rancho de Santa Teresa,
29 Agoste 1860.

"Senora Dona Criaquita Patron:

"Querida Senora: Siglendo ed deber de los Padres para con los hijos fuerzo el hacer a tomar los puseos sigulentes, Mi hijo Ygnacio hallandose en disposicion de tomar estado con su hija de V. Dona Jesusita; se sirve V. en tomar el declaracion de ella. Aseguro a V. que mijo, en convirmidad con esto. Espero la resolucion lo mas pronto possible. S. S. Y.

"BRUNO BERNAL."

"Respected Lady; Following the duty ofparents to their children, I take this step. My son Ignatius desires to marry your daughter Miss Jesusita; will you see if she is willing? I assure you that I join my son in this proposal. Hoping to have the earliest possible decision, your humble servent.

"BRUNO BERNAL."

Transcribed by Kitty LaFavor, for the Santa Clara Co. CAGenWeb Project. 2008

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