The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1872-10-03


ocean, the island of san Nicolas lifts It's
brown, ruggid outline from the surging
waters. Hidden from the main land by
Santa Cruz, an island of greater maoni-
tude, the sun seems to rise from the
purple rim OF the waters, and to set where
the golden seas meet the horizon Of the
golden skies. The waves wash far up
the slopng. sandy shore, and. receding.
leave bright shells, tangled kelp, and
smooth, wavc-pollShed stones. The seals
sun themselves on the crystallized rocks,
and gaze at the intruder with almost hu-
| man eyes. The seaWaspS shake their
delicate wings in the bright atmospheric;
and strange birds call from the high
branches OF unfamiliar trees. Deep pools
lie hidden IN lonely gorges. and fold their
secrets forever in their dark bosoms. The
wild dogs bark from the shelving rocks.
and, with unclnny faces, dart into the
close ravine
Years and years ago, ere the energies
OF the white settlers had made their i'm
press upon the wilderness along the Paci-
tic shore, = tribe Of Indians existed on
this now desolate isle. OF what they
thought, suffered, hoped. or accomplish
ed, we have only scanty tradition. Now
and then Il pirates craft anchored along
the quiet shore, and, departing, told no
tale. Sometimes the friendly voice of the
Mission Fathers stole across the calm bay
and the shadows Of the Cross, planted in
the Wilderness, threw its benign influence
even over these lindcvcloped children of
the sun, But the Fathers sleep and left
no record.
ThirtysiX years ago, famine found
this isolated band, and clutched them
with its gaunt, relentless hand The
! parched earth refused her sustenanco;
the trees stood bare and leacss in the
hot wind; the streams ran dry, and the
rocks glittercd white and salt under the
fervid sun. The wild game furnished
and died; and the fierce wolves proved
upon each other. With pltving horror,
these human beings stared into each
others faces, and, with stoical fortitudc,
crawled away TO die alone Whether the
Mission Fathers learned OF their distress.
or whether urged by other motives, is not
known; but they fitted out Il boat which
sailed TO san Nicolas and brought away
the survvors-eightrcn in ALL
As the rescued islanders were brought
down to the shore where the boat was
anchored, one Of the women--who after
wards gave her name rs Hona Maria
darted away. over the sandy shore. over
rough rocks, through tangled rAvnes,
| with savage eagerness, to bring her only
child, which, by some oversight had been
left behind They waited for her reap
pearance-they waited long The skies
| darkencd; the winds arose and tossed the
unsteady boat from her frail anchorage,
and the reluctant captain was compelled
to put ont to sea; and lIona Maria was
left alone on that dcsOlate, sea-wallpd
| isle
The thick fog shut down over the ocean.
and the heavy swell Of the waves tossed
! the boat rapidly toward the mainland
| The rescued Indians were kindly cared
for by the humane people Of Santa Bar
bara; but, either from past suffering OF
the unaccustomcd influences of clvilza-
! tion, they died, or dispersed to wilder
| surroundings. The boat was wrecked,
preventing another expedition to the
| island, and for years was not replaced.
tlona Maria was supposed 10 have died,
and no heart turned to the lonely island
Eighteen solitary years had passed.
What faces prcred over the rocky battle
ment of mountains, and Drowned under
the California sun. Avenues OF communi-
cation and commerce We're opened, and
the mysteries OF the tloien State were
| penetrated. Captain Nidcvef, Il resident
of Santa Barbara, fitted schooner at
| Monterey, and, in one of his cruises, an
| chored ut the tragic island OF San Nicolas
In wandering over the island he found
traces Of human lite-ashes yet warm-a
foot print in the soil But again, the
storm beat down upon the shore, and
compelled the small crew to put out to
sea. With clear skies and hecalmed seas
they returned. Again the smonldering
| tirc-thc trace in the sand; and after II
short search, to their amazcment iIona
Maria herself-thc hermit monarch of
| this lonely isle Without the least sign
of surprise, she gazed, for the first time
in eighteen years, upon human faces. In
mintellIgble language, hnt expressive,
| savage gestures she made them under
stand that the dogs killed her child This
was the burden of her limited expressions
this longing tor human sympathy amid
her tragic solation--burstn@ the bond
/ age of nninteligihle language, and max
| ing the grand sorrow of her savage heart
| known and felt
A rude hut, constructed of interlaccd
branches, sticks and leaves, constituted
her shelter A fantastic robe OF gailV
| teathered bird-shins neatly dressed and
adroitly stitched with fine len,lonS by the
aid Of needles manufactured from fish
| bones, covered her duSky limbs, and
another Of brighter hucs was ready for
| time of need, or possibly reserved for her
solitary festivals. Many rude treasures
collected during her hermitage, was Strans-
| ferred TO the boat, and afterwards landed
at Santa Barbara With astOnishment she
| heheld the mainland. Her rapid glance
took in the coast and placid valley, gin
died by the rugged mountains, sloping to
the bay From The narrow limits of her
island home, the sea only was vast,
stretching away beyond the range of
vision The bonndless view of land pre-
Sented a new and strange geographical
development to her uneducatcd mind.
"a solitary horseman" galloping along
the smooth beach caused her ecstasies of
delight, which she expressed in long,
wild peals OF laughter and fantastic dan
ces. A team Of oxen completed her amuse-
ment. She observed the unfamiliar ac-
tions of people and animals with child
like pleasure, yet never forgot her lost
child, nor the horrible manner OF its death.
She was proud Of the attention she re
ceived. pleased with gifts and kindness,
like child in a new creation. She spoke
q dialect entirely different from the native
Spanish or Indian of the Santa Barbara
region. A short time previous to her
death, which occurred six months after
her departure from her native island IN
Indian woman was found who could in
terpret her strange tongue. She had not
much to tell. A life more colorless, de-
void of imagery or experience, it is i'm
possible to conceive. The effect of long
seclusion, upon her mind so crude and
undeveloped, cannot be conieciureI. In
her solitary abode she knew The ways of
the birds Of the mir and fishes Of the sea,
and fashioned nets TO capture them, which,
with seals and roots, furnished her slls.
tenance.
Large sums of money were refused by
Captain Nidever for the possession of the
woman, as IN attractive addition to a
museum; but she was kindly guarded at
his private residence, and in 1858 she
passed to the spirit-land. The bishop
took possession of her ingeniously man.
utacturcd robes. and carried them to
Rome.
Jona NJ, oIoano on Tho o,1iaf hillside