The Davenport daily gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1869, 1857-04-21

N6pt gill ~ y w 4SoCoSh oO0 WI
tributsd to Hutchings' Magazine an
interesting narrative Of woman who
lived eighteen years alone upon the
island Of San Nicolas; one Of tho San
ta Barbara group, of the lower coast
OF California, and situated about SO
deg. is min. north latitude. While
stationed il that quarter, making tidal
observations for the United States
Government, Captain Russell received
from one George Nedeyir, an old Cali
fornia resident, the following remark
able history
Twenty years ago, the whole Of the
Indian tribes inhabiting the Santa
Barbara group of islards were enga-
ged in fierce and exterminating war
with each other, and to such an ex
tent was this deadly hostility waged
that alrea ly the population had very
much diminished, and would, in all
probability, before many years, be
come entirely extinct. To prevent
this, and at the same time to amelior-
ate the condition Of the Indians, the
Fathers of the Mission of Santa Bar.
bara conceived the idea of removing
them to the mainland, where they
might be watched over, improved and
preserved, under their immediate ga
perintendence. For this purpose they
visited the islands, in company with
partially civilized Indians, and ex-
planned to them the advantages of re.
moving to the Mission. They listen
ed attentively to the proposal, and
finally consented to go, on promises
of protection from their natural enc.
mics.
Accordingly, a 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 en-
barking, at the island of San Nicolas.
and ali were supposed to be on board,
achild was missing and its mother in
great distress, was seeking every
where, without success. Each por-
tion Of the vessel was diligently
searched; oil the adjacent rocks were
examined, but no child could be found
Almost frantic, the mother requested
the captain to wait while she went in.
to the interior to search for her child,
to which he reluct ,ntly consented. .
As night closed down in darkness,
heavy masses Of clouds rolled up from
the horizon, and gave threatening evil
dence Of a coming storm. All were
anxious for the return of the woman
and her child before it broke upon
them, hut still they came not The
wind began to blow harder and strong
er; the storm wis rapidly increasing
and as the groups of Indians on board
strained their eyes trying to discov 8
In the darkness some object that r.
sembled the returning woman and b 4
child, yet saw them not, there We Z
many sad hearts and anxious counter
ances that night, on their account
The storm at last came on in oil ito
fury, tossing their little vessel up and
down like feather, and compelled
them at last, though reluctantly, %
nu, 70 sea for safety before any sidings
of the absent ones could be received,
Although the cargo Of living freight
reached Santa Barbara in safety, be-
fore tho vessel couhl return for the
woman it was wrecked and entirely
los.: and as no other could be obtain
ed at that time, the poor woman had
to remain upon the island, where she
lived, alone, for eighteen years; no
doubt forgotten, or givenup as long
since deal. :.
After the discovery Of gold in Cali
fornis, it was rumored that SaA Nico.
las was inhabited, that several hun
ters had seen the prints OF human
footsteps, and they endeavored to dis
cover the whereabouts OF the indlvldu-
al but could MT. As all the foot
steps 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 stranges
being was, but without avail, until
one of Caliiornia's Oldest pioneers,
Mr. Nedevir--the gentleman who re-
lated the story-went over to look Tor
her. He having spent many years as
q hunter and trapper in the Rocky
Mountains, was expert as an Indian
in following trail, and consequently
found but little difficulty in discover
ing the track, which he followed nm
iii he saw singular object among
the rocks upon the sea shore, near the
mouth of a ravine, upon its knees,
skinning a seal. Upon approaching,
he found it to be q woman, clad IN =
singular dress offeathers. When she
saw him, she jumped up, aud wltf. ex'
cd almost beside herself with Wild de-
Iiuht at the sight, once more, OF a hu-
man being. IN her hand she held "
rude knife. blade, that she had made
from a piece Of old iron, probably OBJ
tanned from the fragment. OF some
wreck and which she evidently val
ued beyond anything else in her pos,
session. She was unable to make
herself understood, except by slgns;in
making which she showed . greass y
amount Of intelligence, and s'gnineo
he, willingness to acco npsny MIN 70
Santa Bsrba. Here Father Gonzales
Of the Mission, took The greatest pains
TO discover some of the Indians VINO
had been taken from those ISLANDS
eighteen years before, but no one o.
them could be found, and what 10
came of them is mystery unto thu