Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-12-28
A Female Robinson Crusoe.. .

- .-li
t3 The San Francisco Times gives a romanticac
count of a female Robinson Crusoe recently
found on st. Nicholas Island, the only inhabitaht
on that lonely spot. The Indians who formerly
inhabited it lad been induced by some missiona-
ries to leave it in 1885. One of the Indian Voc
men, just on the point of departure, missed her
child, who. had she supposed wandered Off
While engaged in the search, the vessel which
was to convey her to another island was blown
off, leaving her alone on the island. ,;,..r....
About three months afterwards, it is said, the
schooner again touched at the island to bring her
away but she could not be found. Since that
time her footprints have occasionally been seen
on the shore, and other indications met with,
showing that she still existed. ..,.,,s,.,..,r
Vi At the beginning of the last month, an Ameri-
can, by the name of George Niedever, who is
now and has been a resident, of Santa Barbara,
was engaged in Otter hunting off the coast, and
touched at San Nicholas. While travelling along
the beach, to his great astonshment, he suddenly
came upon this woman. She was engaged in
cleaning bird skins, which she sewed together to
serve as a covering, and in a garment made of
which she was then dressed, She did not mani
fest much surprise at seeing Mr.. Niedeyer, but
readily assented TO his proposition to leave the is-
land, and accompany him to hi, schooner. She
immediately set about making preparations for
her departure, and having packed up ,seyeral bun
dies of bird skins and other "fxings'' which she
had found serviceable in San Nicholas, she bade
adeu forever to the land where, for so long a
time, she might have soliloquized with poetic
truth: .-..- ..--- ~. - :.
"i,m monarch Of all survey, i!ilEs
She is now living with the family Of Mr.,
George Niedever, in Santa Barbara, where she
has all her wants administered to. She is about
so years old, and is as simple as a child, and
4uite free from deception and guile. One of the
reverend clergymen of the mission Of Santa Bar
bara, accompanied by the writer, went to see her
as soon as he heard of her arrival. He brought
with him one Of the Mission Indians, who could
speak the languages of one or two tribes of CALI
fornia Indians. She was greatly delighted to
see this Indian, but neither Of them could UNDER
stand word of what the other said She has q
distinct articulation for almost every object she
saw, but no one understands her unless when she
uses signs and gestures. She is very contented,
and takes great delight in showing to her visitors,
as well as she can, how she dug the roots. caught
the fish, manufactured her garments, and provi-
ded generally for her sustendnce.
She signifies that she is much better pleased
with her present mode of life than that she led on
the island. '5'-'i -'i2't1 5ios3a0obaz 1sds
She takes great dehghtin looking at horscs aud
cows, having probably never seen such lngeani
mails before. One one occasion she canehk bold
of a horse by the tail. and had'it notbeen that
Mrs. ,Niedever called her away, she mightpreba-
bly, have suffered severely for ignorance!2ai
AWFUL PuN.=-A young gentleman Of our 90
.'Ive discovered new city" tf@t
"What!'' cried half dozen, sa dao| saw
VI oscar city."S;f'of-ss Hi wsi ss;t9slq o.
.gassWhas State is il inl' was the next qpestioa.
IS HThe ssG.s Of want, = wfs the reply "a,