Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-05-13
SAN NICOLAS.


About three hundred miles down the
coast from San francisco the ocean lie |
dotted With group of small islands. |
They are owned moltly by private parties
and are uninhabited except by u few |
herders and fishermen.
Of these San Nicolas IL tho outernost
OF the group, being seventy miles from
the coast, aud thirty miles from Its near
eat neiglbor.
Years ago the islands were said to be
Inhabited by Indians of the mainland, be.
ing lar superior TO them In appearance
and civilization.
When the Franciscan menks first came
to this coast, they made the Indians
work for them, building churches 10y the
sea- constructing aqueducts, and plant
Ing gardens.
Ruins of these missions" ae they are
called there, are still to be seen in the vi
entity Of San Diego and Los Angeles, but
the one at Santa Barbara Ia kept in re-
pair, and still tenanted by franciscan
monks.
After establishing themselves, and
pressing the coast Indians into service
these Fathers" turned their attention
TO the ludians In the olling, and brought
those from some OF tue nearer Islands to
the mainland.
But San Nicolas being the the furthest
away was not disturbed for Icing time.
Some time between the years OF 1888,
and 40, schooner took party from
Santa barbara over to San Nicolas otter
hunting, and In the conrse OF month
returned to San Pablo, which is about
eighty miles further soutb.
There they told OF the Indians they
had seen on the island, and were at once
sent back to bring them TO the mainland.
When they reached San Nicolas n storm
was rising, which made the land ng very
difficult. There was no har' or, and there
Yves danger of losing the vessel.
The Indians, about two dozen in mum
her, were hurried into the boats which
started Immediately for the vessel
In the excitement caused by the en-
forced haste, 1t was not discovered until
they had reached the vessel, that d child
hal been Jeff behind, the mother sup
posing 1t TO be In charge of some Of the
sailors. She begged the men TO return.
The captain told her that 1t was impos-
siblo at that time, the storm having in
creased in fury; that soon, perhaps to.
morrow, he would go back for the little
one.
When the poor mother found they
were really going. before any one was
aware Of her intention, she had jumped
overheard and was trying to swim ashore.
No attempt was made to rescue her. and
in few moments she was lost sight OF in
the waves. She was o widow between
twenty and thirty years of age and very
handsome
The vessel was already under Roadway,
and proceeding after tempestuous voy-
age reached San Pablo.
The captain intended to return at once
TO see II mother or child were still living,
but he received orders to make a trip to
San Francisco, and during that voyage
the vessel was lost, although the crew
were washed ashore and saved.
There was no o her vessel large enough
on the lower coast to make the trip, and
the most adventurous did not care to at
tempt It in open boa's.
So in time the interest died away
every one supposlng that mother and
child had died during the days OF wait
ing.
Fifteen years aiterwarj, no one having
been known to land there during the ia
tefvening time, a small vessel visited tue
island, partly on hunting expedition
| and partly for traces Of the woman, but
nothing to indicate that a human btiul
resided on the island could be found, and
tie death Of the woman then became al
accepted fact,
THREE years after that party wen
over to San Nicolas seal and otter hunt
ing, among whom WAS Hy informant o
this sad stlry.
They found plenty OF game and re
manned Oh the leland seyeiai weeks.
A few days before the date set for the
departure the captain discovered the
| print Of bare human foot, narrow ant
shapely, on the sand.
Immediately the story of the woman
came to his mind, and he determined Il
search the whole island, and lind her ii
possible.
Among the party were several coast
lndiaus, that had been brought over to do
the aVier work.
The captain organized search com-
mittee, and they 81 ent whole day and
traverse, d nearly the entire area OF the
island belore the poor creature was dis
covered.
Ny narrator warmed into bis subject
when he reached this point of tho story
and seemed more as II he was talking u
himself, than to me.
He said he had become feparated from
TIE rest OF the party, and was on the
waiting for their return, when his at en-
ton WAS attracted by something mo c
in the chaparel.
He neared the spot, ard there In a email
open space at the mouth OF cave in the
rocks ihat had served as u refuge from
the violence of storms, the woman oil
San Nicolas sat preparing her evening
meal.
Sac was talking to herself in an un-
known tongue.
She stepped out and showed herrelf, she
seemed frightened at first, but soon re-
covered herself and spoke to him in that
dead langege. He called up his com
rades whom she received quietly and with
certain dignity.
She then started TO prepare meal for
them from her scanty store, that consist
ed principally OF herbs.
There were several languages spoken
among the Indians, but noEe OF them
could under,tal d her.
They made signs that they wanted her
to go with them by picking up what few
things she had, and starting for the
sh re. She understood at once, and they
took her on board and sailed for Santa
Barbara.
Arriving there the captain took her
home, where she was kindly received by
his Spanish wife.
The frlerdless creature showed great
iondntss for the children OF the family,
ard would sit all day, playing with them.
No one ever found who could under
stand her language.
But she lived only a short time; her
long experience of outdoor life rendered
her unfit for the confinement and diet OF
| civilization