Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-11
A CRUSOE IN PETTICOATS.
Eighteen Years on a Desert Island I'm
the Pacific Ocean.

the sixth of the group that cluster
around the bay of Santa Barbara, Cal.
1t is celebrated for having been the
residence for eighteen years OF ''The
Lost Woman of San Nicolas AS
her nams is famous, and as her story
mas been told in romance, I will give
the bare facts about her as I found
them to be, without any added orna-
ment, and leave the fiction to the pen
of the novelist.
The island of San Nicolas was
once densely populated. This is at
tested by the skulls and bones and
ether evidences of human abode that
are found there. The Alaska Indians
frequently visited the island to hunt
for the furs of the sea otter. They
took their women with them on these
hunts, and on returning after the
hunt was over they left them on the
island to their fate. By order of the
government in 1885 the Indians were
removed from the island. Just before
they were to embark and carry away
every human inhabitant, as it was
supposed, white Indian woman beg.
ged for the privilege of going ashore
for her child, which she had accident
ally left. She was gone a long time
in fruitless search for her offspring.
The wind blew a gale, the water
was shallow. there was go one
who was seeking the lost one.
They set sail, intending to re-
turn for the lost woman of st. Nic0~
las, but the boat becoming unsea-
worthy, she was left to her fate. It
was generally known that there was
a woman abandoned on the island,
but no attempt was made for her de-
iverance. AS the world soon forgets,
so the woman of San Nicolas was for
gotten, and the years passed away.
After lapse Of sixteen years man
who landed on the island found that
it was Inhabited by some one. The
footprints of a human being, sunk
deep in the ground, were seen. The
hardness of the ground was an ind
cation that they had been made long
time. From their size they evidently
belonged to woman. Circular in
closures made of crush, six or seven
feet through, were seen, where some
one had lived. Near the huts were
sticks driven IN the ground, and dried
blubber hanging on them, thus pre-
pared for food
In 1850 San Nicolas was visited
again and another hunt was made for
the long lost woman The huts were
seen that had been seen before, but
the old blubber had been taken away
aud new food of the kind hung in its
place, Wild dogs were found which
ran away at the approach Of civilized
man. In basket covered with seal
skins that they found in brush heap
was dress made Of shay skins, cut
In square pieces, a rope made of sinew
and several smaller articles, such as
fshehooks and bone needles. The
discoveries of these proofs that there
lived on the island a human being
scattered them on the ground and on
their return they found them gathers
ed together and placed in the basket
again.
The Catholic father Of the "Old
Mission" the foremost in every good
word and work, offered a reward to
any one who would find the lost
woman, and third effort was made
IN 1853 to discover the prodjga about
whom there was such mystery, and
in whom the world of this coast was
beginning to take an interest Fresh
tracks OF the woman were found.
They belonged TO very small feet, and
were like those that were seen in the
first attempt to find the woman. Huts
made of whale ribs and covered with
brush were discovered. At length an
object was seen In the distance that
appeared to be moving. Going to-
ward it they saw the woman that for
eighteen years had reigned Queen of
San Nicolas, her subjects being the
wild animals, her robe dress of bird
skins she had made and her throne
the hut she had built. She was seated
in an inclosure, so that only her head
and shoulders could be seen, Two or
three dogs were about her that disap~
peared at the command Of their sover-
eign. She was seated on some grass
that covered the ground and served
her as a bed. Her dress was neatly
made OF birdskins, extended to her
ankles, the feathers of which pointed
downward. Her head was covered
with thick mat Of yellowish-b brown
hair, and her shoulders were bare.
She was occupied in stripping blubber
from piece of sealskin which she
held across her knee, and using for
that purpose a knife made OF an iron
hoop. la her hut was fire, beside |
which she sat talking to herself, and.
occasionally shading her eyes with
her hand, looking at the men who were
in search of her. She received them
with much courtesy, bowling and
smiling and showing that this lost
child of nature had much of the po~
likeness Of a true woman. She took |
some roots in the bag, roasted them
IN the FIRE and gave them to the n4en
to eat. She gathered up all her food, |
which was her CHIEF concern, owing
to the fa1nines she had experienced, !!
washed herself at the spring, and fol- |
lowed the men cheerfully to the boat |
On being taken to Santa Barbara she
manifested great delight on seeing
the SIGHTS of civilization. She be- |