The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1851-08-28

INTERESTING FROM CALiFoRNIA.--T
following letter from Pittsburgh paper.
is written by Josiah Blake, Esq. dated
San Francisco. California. June l5i
II appears that vessel had arrived at
San Francisco. which reported having
effected landing ou an uuinhabted Is
land. about thirty miles from The cOast Of
California, which they fourd To be iufest
ed with sea liOns, of enormous size. which
the crew had attacked firing bnllets in
10 their heads without effect. They also
told other wonderful stories about the
discoveries made in the Island. Mr..
Blake says; .u.,'Y al NJ
81 was at ono" seized with desire to
seelthe wonders of the place and esPec
ially the lions, and # possible to secure
one of them. | soon made up party Of
twelve resolute men, and after some de.
lay in getting suitable vessel. had a fair
sail over to the island. aud sure enough
the half had not been told u.s. We found
the Island to be about mile long. and
about lhree-eights Of a mile wide. |
have not time to describe the numerous
caves, arches. natural bridgeS--I saw six
of these, some of them over deep ravines,
Through which the ocean waves run and
break with great fury-the "spouting
horns" steeples and towers, two of which
are pierced through and through with
lopenings,havihg the appearance Of wind
ows. its overhanging cliffs. under which
the waves of the broad Pacific have dash
ed for ages. .l...,,....., ...
From one Of these cliffs 1have looked
down upon more than FIVE hundred sea
lions basking in the sunshine, the ocean
spray -braking over them every few min
utes. We also found acre upon acre oI
sea. birds, so thick and densely packed
together, and so tame we could hardly
make our way through them without step
ping on them and their eggs We spent
three days and nights upon the Island
sleeping in the caves, Robinson Crusoe
like, and were serenaded constantly
night and day, by the roaring of the lions
and waves. and croaking Of the birds. =
I The first day / examined their ha otis anC
, motions, examined the skull of one OF
} The rocks, aud from it learned the mos
, tender or vulnerable point. Two Of our
, party were chased by the lions, but man
aged TO escape by climbing the rocks. -
The second day six of Us prepared fo
battle. arming ourselves as best we could
I with two whaling lances aud clubs.
I was to lead the way, and do the shooting
. and then If made sufficient impression
! to render it safe, all were to fall on an
dispatch or Gnisb up the business. w
advanced, and as we came in sight of tn
!. ions, the lionesses and young retreate
a to the water. and left the old fellows, som
:, ten or twelve, along the shore. rod q
" so apart, all looking at US, and roarin
d most bravey. Between US and the an
i mails was ravine. now empty, but lhrougl
" which the sea flowed at high tide.
r. Ileft the rest of the party to go som
little distance to the left. to take advan
" tage of this ravine as shelter to ap
}, proach the lions. ! followed up the rs
'r vine till opposite the lions, aud on clint
n ing up The bank or wall. | found myse
n about thirty feet from. and face TO fac
" with the very old lion that chased one {
> the men the day before. His eyes caugf
: me the moment my hat,was above tn
o rocks. when, with blast of bis nostri
n and a shake and growl, he began to az
:, vance. His "tender point" is spot o
= the stdeof the head. about as large as tn
r palm of my hand, to hit any other spc
D. would have no effect. ., e.'. e.l.
le 81 felt much confidence could hil hi
if he would turn his head, which | WI
sure he would do to measure his srcor
e, jump He did so. andas he turned fire
al He bounded. and fell between the rncl,
ne | approached him as he lay on his bac
to and found the blood flowing quite free
from his nose, and without another bio
~ aud almost without struggle. he died
a huge monster. as large as three cor
?" mon oxen, and weighing not less thi
10 three thousand pounds. | thought it W
is, the greatest shot [ had ever made. al
,r. have gained some nOtoriety and credit I
I. it,. Old lion hunters say they have ney
known one to be killed before by a sing
o. shnt.
he I'VE tried in vain TO move the bo
Of with ropes, &C., so we dug out his teet
in and pulled out his smellers. as trophi
y some Of them lpropose bring hon
Some of his smellers were sixteen inc
20 es long"