The Nevada Democrat., 1859-06-01
A FEMALE ROBINSON cRusoE.

A letter from Racine, Wisconsin, to the Chi
cago Herald, contains a startling account of q
Cleveland lady who has been living for three
years on desolate island on Lake Superior,
and who was brought to Racine on the bark
Ozelle, Captain Marvin. The lady's name Is
Miss Sophia Richardson, and for the last three
years she has been living in solitude aud secln-
sion upon desolate and uniuhabted island in
Lake Superior, near the British coast, and In .
northwesterly direction from Isle Royal. rec
The Racine letter writer says, i
"Miss Richardson is apparently about tweD-
sy-two years old. Her countenance, without
being positively handsome, is pleasing in its
expression, and she has the air and manner Of
"a well-bred person. Her conversation is that
Of an educated lady, and although when saw
her she was arrayed in garments thatwere any
sible not to see that she was an intelligent and
respectable young lady. iiia
From the letter 1t appears that the bark Mary
was wrecked in the month OF May, 1856, and IL
was supposed every person had been lost. In
her description Of the shipwreck. Miss Richard
son says that the captain and crew bad ell DO.
come intoxicated, and allowed the vessel TO be
driven by gale against the rocks. She then.
In pursuance Of her narrative, says: n}
"The rudder OF the barque had become un-
shipped or broken, her rigging was torn TO tat
ters, and the captain said their only hope Of life
was TO wait until the ship struck, then 70 leap
into the water and trust TO the waves TO throw
them on the shore. The vessel was then some
half q mile from the island, between which and
her arose long line of broken and jagged
rocks. Miss Richardson had life-preserver,
the only one on board. The barque struck with
immense force upon the rocks, and then ap-
peared to stick fast, either upon the sand or be-
tween the breakers. The captain and crew
leaped overheard as she struck, and Miss Rich
ardson and her cousin were about to follow,
when spar from the broken and shattered
mast fell to the deck, striking the mate upon
the head and instantly killing him. Miss Rich
ardson's courage forsook her at this awful
sight, and she sank upon the deck In q swoon."
Miss Richardson remained on the ship for
some hours, expecting some one would come to
rescue her, but she neither saw nor heard any
living person. She then swan ashore by the
aid Of life-preserver, and got her trunks
ashore Also Ultimately she succeeded in Sc
curing large lot of provisions, blankets, buf-
falo robes tools and other things convenient
for setting up Robinson Crusoe life.
After narrating to the letter writer how she
husbanded her provisions built low hut for
shelter, and fashioned dress out Of buffalo
robes, she goes on to say:
"The forest supplied me with food, and ~
long as the weather continued pleasant. got
winter ! suffered terribly; but by means Of con-
slant exercise, regularity In my diet, and
steady hope Of release, / managed to live
through it. In the same manner passed three
entire years. have kept a journal Of my life
during this unhappy period, and this indeed
was the only literary pursuit In which had
the opportunity Of indulglng. Ny books
even my Bible--were left upon the wreck Du.
ring these three years saw but seven vessels.
hon all asoA r.
signals, or would not regard them. Ny an.
guish on these occasions was indiscribable,
The thoughts Of home, and Of the friends who
were now, no doubt mourning over me az
among the dead, would rush upon me with
overpowering force, and my misery would
seem too heavy for me to bear. / wonder now
that my reason sustained ITSELF
"At LENGTH know not on what day, but,
according to my calculation, on the 18th Of
February, my Island was visited by band Of
Menominee Indians. elk in number. They had
crossed on the ice from the British shore, and
were as much surprised at seeing me rs was
delighted to look upon human face. We
could not understand each other, but they made
signs for me to go with them, / was ia their
power, but was willing to go, and conceived
by this means might finally obtain release,
and be restored to my friends. They returned
with me to the British shore, which fancied
was not more than twenty miles from my Ia'
land, aud then by short and easy stages, they
conducted me to French trading post. where
for the first time found myself In the company
Of civilized man.
~ was received with the greatest kindness,
and soon forwarded to Fort Williams, the com.
mander Of which post entertained me hospita-
bly, till the lake opened, when be sent me across
to Marquette, from which point Captain Marvin
has conducted me hither. At the Sault learn.
ed Mr.. Ashness had returned to Cleveland, aud
am now on my way thither."
The foregoing story is Of q marvellous order,
and severely tests our confidence in newspaper
letter walters. The narrative may be true, and
therefore we give Il TO our readers At all
events, II is a romantic story, whether founded
on truth or not, and will afford good reading
for those fond of wonderful adventures and
hairbrcadth escapes.
THE GLORIOUS Q) BRTIsH CoEsrTTUTroE.--
The following recital carries the mind back to