The Trinity journal., 1856-12-13
A California Crusoe.

Narrdtire Of a Woman rho lired Eighteen Years
alone, upon the Island Of San Nicolas.
Capt. C. J. w. Russell, who will be rec
olected by the readers of the Erentng But
letin as the writer of many valuable articles
for its columns OH the subject of California
Fisheries has contributed to Hutchng's
Mopaztae an interesting narrative of wO-
man who lived eighteen years alone upon the
Island of San Nicolas, one of the Santa Bar
bara group, off the lower coast and stua-
ted about 33 deg. Is min. North latitude.
While stationed in that quarter, making IT,
da observations for the u. 5. Government,
Capt. Russell received from one George Ne
devir, an old California resident, the follow
ing remarkable history
Twenty years ago, the whole of the Indian
tribes inhabiting the Santa Barbara group
of islands were engaged in fierce and eX-
terminating war with each other, and to such
an extent was this deadly hostility waged
that already the population had very much
diminished, and would, in all probability, be-
fore many years, become entirely extinct
To prevent this, and at the same time to
ameliorate the condition of the Indians, the
good Fathers of the Mission of Santa Bar
| bara conceived the idea of removing them
to the main land, where they might be
watched over improved, and preserved, un-
der their immediate superntendence. For
this purpose they visited the islands, in com
pany with few partially civilized Indians,
and explained to them the advantages Of
removing to the Mission. They listened
attentiveIy to the proposal, and finally con-
sented to go, on promises Of protection from
their natural enemies being given by the
Fathers.
! Accordingly, small vessel was sent to
/ the different islands, and the various tribes
/ were taken one by one, to the Mission Of
| Santa Barbara. But while the last of the
Indians were embarking, at the island of
San Nicolas, and all were supposed to be
on board child was missing, and its moth
er, in great distress was seeking everywhere,
without success Each portion of the vessel
was diligently searched all the adjacent
rocks were examined, but no child could be
found Almost frantic, the mother request
ed the captain to wait while she went into
the interior to search for her child, to which
he reluctantly consented.
As night closed down in darkness, heavy
masses Of clouds rolled up from the horizon,
and gave threatening evidence of a coming
storm All were anxious for the return of
! the woman and her child, before it broke
upon them, but still they came not. The
wind began to blow, harder and stronger :;
the storm was rapidly increasing and as
the groups of Indians on board strained
their eyes, trying to discover in the dark
ness, some object that rescmbled the return
ing woman and her child, yet saw them not,
there were many sad hearts and anxious
countenanees that night, on their account.
The storm at last came on in all its fury,
tossing their little vessel up and down like
a feather, and compelled them at last, though
reluctantly, to put to sea for safety, before
any tidings of the absent ones could be re-
ceived. Although the cargo Of living freight
reached Santa Barbara in safety, before the
vessel could return for the woman, it was
wrecked and entirely lost and as no other
could be obtained at that time the poor
woman had to remain upon the island, where
she lived 0lOne, for eighteen years no
doubt forgotten, or given up as long since
dead.
After the discovery of gold it was rumor-
ed that San Nicholas was inhabited, and
| this, no doubt, had its foundation in the fact,
| that several hunters of the sea otter had
seen the print of human footsteps, and they
endeavored to discover the whereabouts of
the individuals, but could not Yet, as the
footprints were alike, they concluded that
there could be only one person living upon
it. Many attempts were made to find out
who, and where this strange being was, but
without avail, until one of CALIFORNIA; old
est pioneers, Mr.. Nedyer-the gentleman
who related the story, and who arrived in
this country some twenty-five years ago, and
still resides in Santa Barbara-went over to
look for her. lie having spent many years
as hunter and trapper i'll the Rocky Noun
tains, was as expert as an Indian in follow.
ing trail, and consequently found but little
difficulty in discovering the track, which he
followed until he saw singular object
among the rocks upon the seashore, neal
the mouth of a rayine, upon its knees, skin
ming seal. Upon approaching, he found
it to be woman, clad in a singular dress OF
feathers. When she saw him, she jumped
up, and, with excessive joy, ran towards
him, and seemed almost beside herself with
wild delight at the sight, once more Of a
human being In her hand she held rude
knife-blade, that she had made from piece
of old iron, probably obtained from the frag
ments of some wreck, and which she ev
IDENTIFY valued beyond anything else in her
possession. She was unable to make her
self understood, except by signs in making
which, she showed great amount of intelI
gence, and signfied her willingness to ac
company him to Santa Barbara. Here
Father Gonzales, of the Mission, took the
greatest pains to discover some of the In
dians who had been taken from those
Islands eighteen years before, but no one oi
them could be found, and what became Of
them is mystery unto this day. Not one oi
the Indians, within circumference of many
miles could be found, who could understand