Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-04-26
FEMALE CRUSOE.
4 Woman Left Alone on an Unin-
habited Island and Found Fifteen
Years Later,

l
Years Later.
The recent explorations on the Island
OF San Clemente, which is due west
from Del Mar, this county, but sixty
miles, says the San Francisco Chroni-
Gle, has aroused interest in the history
OF the other islands of the coast The
Santa Barbara islands in the early
part OF the present century were in
habited 10y Indians OF comparative
white compilations who spoke a pecu-
liar language. They were supposed to
be descendants of the Aztec race of
historic fame. There is no record of
how these people came to be upon the
islands or when they first settled there,
but it is probable that the islands were
inhabited by them before the founding
of the California missions by the
Franciscan friars.
Otter, seal, foxes, and fishes were
10 be found in abundance on the islands
and in the adjacent waters, and upon
those the natives subsisted, using the
flesh for food, the skins for clothing
and tents, and the bones for making
hunting implements. According TO
tradition Indians from the Alaskan
islands frequensly made trips TO the
Santa Barbara islands for the purpose
Of hunting. During one OF these visits
the Alaskans fell upon the natives,
killing all the males, and after hunting
for some time they left the north, aban-
doning the women to their fate. The
mission fathers, learning OF the fate of
the women, determined TO have them
removed TO the mainland and for this
purpose engaged a schooner. Upon
arriving at the island Of San Nicholas
the men proceeded TO remove the wo-
men and such few personal effects as
they had TO the boat. When this
had been accomplished and all were
ready for embracing one OF the wo-
men male a sign that she had forgotten
her child and started back after il.
While she was gone a severe wind
sprang up, which soon increased TO a
gale and compelled the little schooner
to put 10 sea for safety. As the wind
kept up for several days the captain
ran into San Pedro, intending TO return
for the woman who had been left. At
San Pedro the Indians were disem-
barked and taken TO the missions at
Los Angeles and San Gabriel. where
they were cared for. From San Pedro
the schooner sailed TO Santa Barbara,
and from there to Monterey, where she
had been ordered. Thus was the poor
woman left on bleak island out in the
broad expanse OF the great Pacific, with
no companions save the wild wolf and
the Indian dog. with which the island
was infested. The news OF the woman
having been left behind spread rapid
ly but no further effort was made 10
rescue her. The natural supposition
was that she had persisted. and in the
course of "a few years the subject had
passed from the minds of the people.
In 1851, just fifteen years later, u
hunter named Nidcver and "a couple Of
companions visited the island OF San
Nicholas and were astonished to find
indications which led them u believe
the woman was still alive Footprints
which had been made in the previous
rainy season were TO be seen in the now
dry and hard soil, and from the size
and general appearance the hunters
concluded they had been made by a
woman. Some small, circular inclos-
ures made of brush were also discover