Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-10-21

In former times the Ceris were in
the habit of making trips as far down
as the environS of GuaymaS, and they
would steal whatever came i'll their
way. from a cow or 4 steer to Durro
or a goat, horse or q mule to dog
CT cat, and would eat their booty.
They got the reputation of being can
nib&ls, it the occasion offered, and
would kidnap children boldly. In this
manner a number of little ones were
stolen from their parents during the
years that passed before the Sayages
were coWed, and their fate can only
be surniscd. However. the mystery
that surrounded the stealing of a little
girl whose relatives still live in Glay-
mas was explained Il few wears ago
The child was the daughter of 4 NIryi
can family named Casanova, ana |
think it was in 1850 that She dis,,,-
Peared. A thorough search was made
Tor her. but no trace WaS uisc0y lrvl
Of what had become of her. and il
was only suspected that she had been
stolen by the Cers. Some eight or
ten years ago Frenchman named
Joseph went Oh an aDalone fishing
expedition in the gulf with number
OF associates on board of schooner.
BY the way, this Joseph had a curious
history. He had come to Sonora with
the marquis de Pendiay, and had man
aged to ingra tate himself with the
MeXicanS and SO saved his life when
that noble tilibuster's expedition ended
dlsaStrously. The vessel happened to
become becalmed off Tiburon and some
of the Indians came out in their cam
oes for the purpose of trading for to-
bacco or corn.
AS they appeared to be peaceful
and We're not in sufficient numbers to
be dangerous, Joseph invited a few of
them on board. Among the visitors
was SquaW who spoke some Spanish,
and She acted as an interpreter.
Joseph, while talking with her, thought
that through its coating of skin show
ed lighter hue than that of her COM
paniOnS. Her hair was not so coarse
and her features were not uncomely.
He entered into conversation with her
and was surprised when she told him
that she was from the coast. .muier
de razon,' as she said. She knew that
she had been stolen from her parents
by the Indians. but who her people
were she had forgotten.
by dint of questioning he learned
enough to assure himself that she had
lived at Guaymas and that she was
the child whose disappearance had for
so many years remained a mystery.
Ills sympathy was aroused and he
OHefeu to rescue her, take her on
board OF his vessel and restore her to
her family. But, to his surprise, she
absolutely declined. She had become,
TO all ntents and purposes, a Ceris
Indian. She told him that she cared
no longer for her people. She had
lived on the island so long that she
knew no other home and no other
people. All attempts to rouse her in
terGSt III her mother OF her sister was
fruitless. She had merged into the
Indian life and had become in full
sympathy with her captors. Further
more she was married, as far as mar
rage goes with those Indians, and was
the wife, or rather the property Of a
medicine man of the tribe, who was
also q chief. She had children and
felt quite cOntented with her life. All
Joseph'S efforts to change her mind
were of no avail and he gave up the
attempt. She remained steadfast i'm
her resolution. Before leaving, the YES
sci she warned the Frenchman to keen
good guard and, above all, to make no
attempt to land or allow any of his
companions to do so, as they would
surely be overcome and killed.
when Joseph returned to Guaymas
he told this remarkable story to many
people, including the Casanovas, but
no steps were ever taken to rescae the
willing captive, and she is probably
now at TiburOn, if still alive. Ten
years ago she was reported as being
i'll good health. The Indians are dy-
ing out rapidly, and in a few decades
Will probably have disappeared from
their island forever