The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-20
SANTA CATALINA.

Opening OF the Season ut the Famed
Resort.
AVALON, June 19.-The seaside season
can now be said to be fairly open at this
charming island resort. The number of
visitors and campers now here is greater
than on any previous year 80 early in
the summer. There was, in fact, q
goodly number OF people here all through
the winter, and as the season advances
the population OF the island increases.
The steamer Falcon, which is now max.
ing four trips per week from San Pedro
to Avalon, brings ON an average about
go passengers on each run, and it 10
noticeable that the arrivals far exceed
in number the departures, which goes
to show that the msjority OF the people
who come here are not mere transient
visitors. The hotels and lodging houses
are gradually filling up and tie hillsides
are becoming dotted with snowy can
vas tents. The big rush, OF course, will
not begin until after the 4th OF July, but
already the transportation facilities are
taxed, and it is the intention OF the
Banning Brothers, next Saturday, In sd-
dition to the Falcon, to put in service
the splendid excursion steamer Hermo-
ga, which has been laid up at Whining.
ton since the close OF last season.
In addition to the passenger traffic,
the Falcon has been carvings great
deal Of freight to Avalon, most OF it con-
sisting OF supplies and materials for the
vast number of Improvements being
made here by the entsrprising Banning
Bros. The work in progress consists,
in part, of enlarging the hotel Metro
pole, strengthening the pier, increasing
the water supply, graveling the streets
and constructing q stage road across the
leland. The section from the isthmus
to Middle ranch 10 practically finished
and the contractor is now at work on
the Avalon end OF the line. which will
be pushed to rapid completion.
The attractions on the Island are be-
ing increased from year to year, and vis-
itors this summer will find many new
points of interest. The promenade
along the base of the cliff, through the
tunnel at Sugar Loaf point and beyond
along the beach to Descanso cailon,
where 10 located the beautiful summer
home of the Banning Bros, is delightful
and much frequented. Ii 10 on this path,
about half way between the bath honse
anu buc tu4uoi, thht 10 iVChbcQ TUG re-
Gently discovered Lost Nine" While
excitement over the discovery has in
measure subsidized, there is constant
diggings. The old drift has been cleared
OF debris for distance of q little
more than hundred feet, and as to
what ia beyond, little is known. There
is marked reticence as to the
extent and quality OF the ore
in sight, and it does not yet
appear to be definitely settled whether
the tunnel is the entrance to a once pro.
ductive mine or q mere prospector's
hole. 1t seems to be the purpose OF the
Banning Bros, however, to further ex-
plore the mystery, and men are at work
extending the excavation and placing
new timbers in the drift, most OF the old
ironwood props having decayed or being
in state of petrifaction.
Fishing ia at present the chief pastime
of the people who are here. Yellowtail
and seabsss are running in large schools
they were never more plentiful and
are just beginning to bite freely. Several
large catches were made during the past
week. Barracuda. rockbass and Span
ish mackerel are alec caught in large
quantities and the jewish season is
close at hand. A crew of fishermen,
with the sloop Alpha, have made large
catches OF msckerel and sardinea for the
San Pedro eannery. They recently took
lS, 900 pounds in Avalon bay at one haul.
But since the big fish have began to run
close in, the little ones have become
and fishing for the cannery is
not 80 profitable as few weeks ago.
The water is row becoming about the
right temperature for bathing, and the
lovers of salt water are beginning to
iisport themselves in the waves. One
Of the contemplated additions to the
bathing facilities is q toboggan slide.
which will shortly be erected at the
bath house, and will NO doubt furnish q
great deal of amusement.
There 10 an immense feet OF email
naphtha launches and sail boats In the
business, and many trips are
made to Seal rocks and other points of
interest along the shore. The seal
,olony is much larger than usual this !
rear and the animals are tanner, the
ltrict regulations in force having put
complete stop to the slaug entering OF the
innocent creatures. A "trip to the
10 very interesting at this time,
as there are many baby seals, closely
guarded by the cid ones. HowDoats now
10 almost in touch of the animals with
,ut frightening them off the rocks into
he water.
Among the guests registered at the
Netropole are parties from Denver,
Omaha, New Orleans, Baltimore, Que
zee, and many other eastern Localities.
naong those who registered there Sun
lay were Miss Tessie Gately OF San
francisco. O. e. Crowley, Mr.. and Mrs.
". f. Nordholt. 7. J. Armstrong and
smily, w. w. Conant, Miss Jettie Ar
hur, Alex Whitehead, Charles /. Nye,
drs. bob" Hamilton, George HI. Wy
nan, Simon Msisr, Charles Hayden, e.
/. Woodman and r. Y. Mcbride of Los
angeles.
Victor Ponet and J. M. Elliott, with
MEMBERS OF their families, were among
he Sunday visitors to Avalon.
DIR. Kirkpatrick has taken a cottage
Or the summer and 10 smashing all the