Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-05-03
ONE PACIFIC PEARL.
The Isle of Santa Catalina Rich in
Relics of the Past.
ONCE THE HOME Of GREAT GIANTS
Who We're Ruled by Handsome Women Who
Could Keep House.
A WESTERN RIVAL OF THE BERMUDAs

which Is at present an object Of deep inter-
est to the tourists and the vsletudinarian.
Inc island is about % miles in length and
averages tour in width. 1t is a beautiful
Spot-at once wild and picturesque-the soft
oreezes which sweep upward from the sea
Dear healing in their wings" A steamer
PHYS daily between Los Angeles and the
various coast towns of California and this
island, the chief landing place being at
Ilmm's Cove, one OF the widest spots on
the Island as far as ocean breakers and lux
urlance of mountain scenery are concerded.
Now, to the reader of these lines, 1 would
say-that is, ifyou have never been to Santa
Catalina-when next you come to California
come to Los Angeles, and there take
that captivating little steamer ''The
Queen" and ride out over the
foamy waves to the island. 1t
will be the prettiest little ocean voyage you
will ever take 1 feel safe to say. The Pa
cifc is wonderfully kind in his treatment
OF you, in this brief journey. To be sure
old ocean loves to thunder and show his
powers little, but here he only plays at
violence and you would be coward indeed
to show the white feather just because he
chooses to be little tantalizing and wants
to see how much steel threads your nerves.
Oil how iDdescribably delightful is the
voyage. To sit on the upper deck of the
vessel and watch the sunbeams dance across
the glaucous waves-to look up into the
even blue of the serene skles-to feel at
peace with everybody and especially de-
lighted with yoursel:-that is what pleas
ant ocean voyage means. Perhaps l am
sort of fantor to nature-but love her joco-
serious moods and 1 can assure you that this
little voyage. in which shadow is blent with
shine, is quite enchanting.
AN INTERESTING LANDING PLACE
Now, if we start on this trip in the morn
ing, our worthy timoneer will land us about
MONDAY at Timm's Cove I could not find
out definitely the origin of this very COM
monplace name, so concluded some heroic
fisherman thus christened, once dwelt here.
Many time no doubt has poor Tim dried
his nets upon the gigantic rocks and thrown
bait to the willy residents Oh the deep, be-
fore you or came on this globe. Timm's
Cove is very, very old. Tim must have
lived on fish. The rocks at the landing
seem to be built of scales, piled high.
These fossils are a curious and interesting
study. Volcanic rocks and choice speci-
HeHS Ol mluerdIS are mere ID PERCUSSION.
Sea shells, of irridescent splendor and
nacreous hue, are found in every corner of
the coast. The water of the Pacific having
lashed the coast for ages have worn into the
margin, pretty beaches of circuitous curve
and the softer portions OF the land being
worn away have lett rugged promontories
bare and precipitous cliffs, p1nuacled rocks
and indented caves. Over these the sea-
gulls hover with many loud cry and
graceful sweep. Hear the sealions come on
pleasant day and sun themselves upon the
rocks-the lat little seals also. The baby
sealions are very cunning, and if you can
pick up one while its mother is in the sea.
you can tame it and have household pet
ever after.
They are afectionate animals. Do not
let the mother be near, il you steal one of
her darlings, however, for her vengeance is
terrible as well as her grief. Her loud cries
will ring In your ears ior years, unless you
let your heart become fossil; and il she is
in position to rob you of hand or foot |
one snap Of her jaws and you carry five toes
or fingers less. In some localities on the |
island there are indications OF mighty up-
heavals o nature. Delicate sea-mosses are |
found on all the beaches, and their slender |
tendrlls form rich drapery to the juttng |
rocks. They typity beauty embellishing
strength.
CURIOUS FIRST INHABITANTS.
The Island oil Santa Catalina was proba-
bly, first discovered by Captain Van Couver
History tells US how in his course he landed
at numerous islands in the Pacific, OF which
he has left graphic descriptions. The Cap
tain carried a cargo OF goats and at every
island he turned number oil them out to
pasture leaving them to run wild and feed
II ha toir L. |
this an excellant plan, and in case of ship
wreck succeeding years would furnish
plenty OF flesh Tor any unfortunate CrGsoe
who might be here domiciled. In 80 years
the island became SO over run by these wild
creatures that general slaughter became
imperative and many thousand were killed.
The goats had eaten all the herbage, so lit
lie was lett ior them to live upon.
About the time Captain Van Couyer
landed at Santa Catalina, the island was in
hablted, SO he informs us, by curious race
o. men. Both men and women were six
leet tall and broad in proportion. Their
hair was bright as sunshine and cured like
wool. Their iaces were ruddy and skins
very white. They laughed a great deal and
seemed generous, open-hearted people. The
Captain thought them Indians OF peculiar
sort, but it is now generally believed bv
California people that they we're OF Spanish
extraction. They regarded the goats with
great respect, and would not injure them,
IS they regarded evidently present as
sacred There are none of this
sort OF people on the island at present, but
lere one can find
MANY CURIOUS THINGS
'elating to their mode o life. Portions o;
heir houses are still standing. They were
II Moorish architecture, and as picturesque
is were their natural surroundings Their
esidences were modelled on a spacious {
Gale, with large corridors ,and courts and
Iuaint windows and turrets. This people
vas rather averse to the light, we are told.
their eyes were weak and they kept them
haded as much as possible and remained In
oors or under the shaded tees whenever ,
For food, they lived upon fish
nd fowls and ate peculiar moss which was c
altered from the rocks. They were, how
yer, fond of costly clothing, and Captain
IAN Couver assures us that their everyday
arments were rich and elegant. AS they :
poke in foreign tongue the Captain could
lake but little headwsy in his inquiries.
10, after stay of several hours, he again
ow and then ound on the shore, which fact c
GEMS to confirm the Captains belief that
he people were Indians. Santa Catalina
GEMS to be especially rich In prehistoric
emains. If one rides over the island he
'ilI find large mounds of black soil !,
howing signs of fire. These mounds
re burving places of the extinct race.
sare Indian relics can lie found by digging
lto these mounds-curiously wrought and | .
arved shells, vessels of various kinds and
lone implements, pipes Destles and NOR | ,