The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1880-10-23
A Fenate Robinson Crusol.c.

1
There is in !Seribner's Magazine n
wonderfully romantic story of an
occurrence which happened on the
Santa Barbara islands, a cluster oft
the California coast, which, in the
fifteenth century, were densely
peopled by superior race, de-
scribed as white, with light hair
and ruddy checks, the women with
fine forms, beautiful eyes and mod
est demeanor, who dressed in petit
coats and capes Of sealskin, en-
broiGered with pearl aud small
pink shells. But in time the in
habitants mysteriously melted
away, and in 1885 n schooner was
sent to bring the remnant to the
main land. After tho ship had
| sailed, it was found that Il child
had been left behind, tho mother
supposing it to have been carried
aboard by an old sailor. She fran
tically implored the captain to re-
turn, but, a storm threatening, he
refused. She became desperate,
and Jumping overheard swan for
the shore. No attempt was made
to rescue her, and the captain ofthe
schooner, although promising to
visit the island and take her off,
never did SO, his vessel shortly af-
ter being destroyed in q storm.
There being no other sen craft on
that coast, and no one caring to at
tempt a passage ofscventy milesi in
an open boat, the event faded out
ofinterest and finally out Of mem
ory until fifteen years aftervard,
when, under promise of 5000, tho
island was visited and searched,
butwith no results. The attempt.
however, revived the story, and.
three years afterward a captain and
crew Of otter.hunters, Walking along
the beach lin zone Of those iimpid
nights of which California khows,nn Y
saw on the lonely shore The print
ola slender naked foot. Search
was begun, and after several days
march a dangerous climb brought
Brown, the captain, TO spot where
there were fresh footprints, which
he followed up the cliffs until they
were lost in the thick moss. Then
his eye caught a small object a
long way of on the hills. It ap-
peared like crow at first glance,
but advancing steadily he found it
was the head Of o woman barely
visible above the low-woven brush
sides of her roofcss retreat in the
bushes. Her complexion was
much fairer than the ordinary III
dian, and she had regular features,
and thick brown hair, which fell
about her shoulders in n tangled
mat. She was talking TO herself
and watching with alarm Browns
companions OF the plat below.
Whom lie stepped forward and
spoke 10 her she ran a few steps,
then, controlling herself, stopped
and answered him in an unknown
tongue. She was dressed.in tunic-
shaped garment made of birds
plumagc, low in the neck, sleeve
less, and reaching to the ankle.
She greeted them MI with a simple
dignity, and set about preparing
food for them. They made her un-
derstand by signs that she was to
so with them, aud che gladly did
so. By signs she, on her part, told
her history. She had never found
her child, which was probably de-
stroyed by the wild dogs OF the
island. She made G fire by rub
bing sticks together, and for eigh-
teen years had kept it alight like a
vestal flame, and had lived on
roots, fish, seals blubber and she'll
fish. Her return to tho confning
and unhealthful conditions of civil
ization after her free outdoor life
soon killed her.
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