Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-07-18
A Veritable Female Crusoe


The recent explorations on the island of
San Clements, which is due west rom Del
Mar, this county, but sixty miles, have
aroused interest in the history of the other
islands of the coast. The Santa Barbara Il.
lands in the early part the present century
were Inhabited by indians of comparative
white complexion, who spoke q peculiar
language. They are supposed to Do de.
scendents of the Aztec race of historic fame.
There is no record of bow these people came
to tie upon the ielsndstr WIEN they frat set.
tied 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, foxeu a1d Gshes were to bs
found in abundance on the islands and in
the adjacent waters, and upon these the ua-
tives subeisted, ueing the heph for food, the
skins for clothing and tents, and h bones
for making hunting Implements. According
TO tradition, Indians from the Alask Islands
frequently made trips to the Santa Barbara
Islands for the purpose of bunting. During
one of these visits the .Alaskans fell upon
the natives. killing all the males, and, after
hunting for some time, they left for
the North, abandoning the women 70 their
fate.
The mission fathers, learning of the fate
of the women, determined to have them re
moved to the mainland, and for this pur-
pose engaged a schooner. Upon arriving at
the Island ofSt. Nicholas the MEN proceed
ed to remove the women and such few per-
sonal effects ss they had to the boat. When
this had been accomplished and all were
ready for embarking ons of the women made
sign that she had forgotten her child and
started back after it. sg..9 I. s5s.a
While she was gone strong wind sprang
up, which soon increased toa gale and com.
PEELED the little schooner to put to sea for
safety. AS the wind kept up for several
days the captain ran into San Pedro, in
tending to return for the woman who had
been left. at San Pedro the Indians we're
disemberked and taken to the missions at
Los Angeles and San Gabriel, where they
were cared for. From San Pedro the schoon
or sailed to Santa Barbara, and from there
to Monterey, where che had been ordered.
There was poor woman left upon
bleak island out 10 the broad e1panse 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 rapidly, but no further effort
was made to rescue her. The natural sup
position was that che bad pershed. and in
the course of few years the subject had
passed from the minds of the people.
Ia 1861, Just fifteen years later, q hunter
named Nidever and couple of companions
visited the island of San Nicholas and were
astoniehed to find indications which led
them to believe the woman was still alive.
Footprints which had been made 10 the pre-.
yious rainy season we're to be seen in the
now dry and hard soil, and from The eize
and general appearance the hunters con.
cluded they had been made by woman.
Some small, circular enclosures made of
brush we're also discovered and in them
some dried seal's blubber.
Further than this the buts gave no indi.
cation of having been inhabited for some
| time. A strong wind arising, the party put
to sea without making sny further discoV-
cries. The next winter, 1852, Nidever again
visited the island, and, upon arriving, imms.
diately landed and searched for fresh signs
of the woman. The huts discovered on the
first trip were unchanged, but the seal blub-
| ber seemed to have been replenished by q
fresh lot. Some wild dogs were found 10
the vicinity, and the hunters thought 1t
likely the woman had fallen prey to these
beats. as they were quite ferocious.
| In 1858 the same party planned another
expedition for The purpose of hunting aud
making one more attempt to settle the
question as to whether the woman was still
alive. They searched about the island for
some time, and we're about despairing Of
success, when one who had become separa
ted from the rest discovered an object some
distance away, and upon approaching. 1t he
found it to be the long.looked for woman.
He at once sgnalled the others, and direct
ed them to approach her from different d..
reotions, in order to prevent her escape,
should she be go disposed. S
The men succeeded In getting quite close
to her before they were discovered. Instead
of showing signs of alarm, as they had ex.
pected, the woman appeared quite pleased
to see them, and received them With q
smile which indicated that she was not in
the least afraid. The hunters assisted her
to remove such articles OF clothing and food
to the boat as che was not disposed to leave
behind.
In the course of few days she had be-
come at home in The boat and helped In
whatever way che could in the work
aboard. After months hunting the party
sailed for Santa Barbara, where thu woman
was regarded with wonder and curiosity.
The people treated her with the greatest
kindness and consideration. She was taken
to the families of her rescuers, where che
remained until her death, which occurred
in few years from overeating fruit, OF
which she was very fond.-Sar Francisco
Chronicle