Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1847-03-13


mate, and then gathering round her
form her flowing mantle, wet by the
ocean wave, imam Instant disappeared
forever from the sight Of he} as.onisi,-
ei cad sosse~iug vompauiuus.
The vessel weighed anchor, spread
her canvass, and IN ioIty-eight hours,
this remnant Of the inhabitants of San
Nicholas, were landed on Point San
Pedro, houseltss and iorlorn.
From that period TO the present-if
she be not dead, or has not left within
the past eighteen monihs--has resided
alone on the Isle OF San Nicholas, this
female Crusoe, the monarch ofall she
surveys. She preferred to part esen
with her chosen mate, and sever every
human tie that could be binding,rather
than leave the home Of her birth---a
lonely little Isle, that had been TO her
a world. which she cared not TO cx
change for the abode of civilized men,
with all its promised luxuries.
Since our Crusoc became the sole
monarch of the Isle, San Nicholas has
been visited perhaps ten or twelve
different times, by different individuals:
but there she continued to be found,
with none to dispute her rights, alone,
SOLITARY and lorsaken.
Her dress, or covering. is composed
of the skins OF small birds, which she
killed with stones. and sews them to-
gether with a needle OF bone, and the
light sinews of hair seal, sometimes
found dead among the rocks. Her
only food is n shclLfisb, which the
surf sometimes throws on the beach. -
She never remains long in one spot;
but is constantly wandering about the
shores Of the Island. sleeping, which
she seldom does, in small caves and
ttr4sgiCCs n The rocks.
! During the few last years, it has been
very difficult 10 obtain communication
with her. At the approach of the
white man, she & es as from an evil
spirit; and the only way TO detain her
is by running her down, as one would
the wild goat of the mountain, or the
young lawn Of the plains.
Those who have seen her at the
latest period, report that she appears to
have los. all knowledge Of language,
that she makes only wild noise, al
though inhuman; and when taken and
detained against Ter will, becomes
frightened and restless; that the mo-
ment she is liberated, she darts of. and
endeavors tosecrete herselfin the wild
grass, or among the rocks which hang
over the never ceaslng sulf.
San Pedro, il may be known, is u
bleak barren bluff point, running out
into tbs blue waters Of the Pacific, on
which no vordure is TO be seer. and
bat one solitary abode Of man, rising
amid the desolalion that surrounds 1t.
The Pueblo dc los Angeles is situated
8 leagues distant, with oae farm house
between the one on the point.and those
Of the town. The mission Of San Ga
bric lies yet farther on some three or
four leagues, where, at that time, might
be found perhaps three or four hun
dred converted Indians.
But orr hero, as he may be called,
never left the beach where he first
landed. Alone and friendlcss there he
remained, an isolated being, ill life
ceased to animate his frame. True ii
is. that several times he was induced,
and once or twice forced TO venture as
far os Pueblo, and even TO the mission of
San Gabriel, bat always as soon as at
liberty. returned and resumed his old
station, the beach, or fixed himself on
the rocks which hung around the point.
And there he might always be seen, n
solitary outcast, as it were, and more
constantly when the sun was going
down, with his eyes gazing on that &C.
lestial orb as it sunk into the western
horizon, direction which he well
knew, pointed TO the lost, but never
forgotten home Of his nativity.
Every endeavor has bern made, and
every induccmcnt offered By different
individuals 10 prevail on her 10 leave
the Island, but in vain. The only
home she appears TO desire is her own
little Isle. Her last hope, if she has
any. is to finish her journey alone
She has no wish, now, 10 hear the
sweet music Of speech. It's sounds are
no longer music to her ear; and as for
civilized man, his tamencss is shock
ING even 10 her dormant senses.
TO all appearances, she is strong,
healthy, and content 10 be alone
What can reconcile her TO her lot who