The herald., 1894-08-25
HEIGHT OF THE SEASON.
INTERESTING CATALINA LETTER
WITH A PROPHECY.
Now Yorker Points to the Bsautiss OF
the Island aud It's Fnture-Ft-
and Fun-Ssptembs
BE a Big Month.

AVALON, Aug. Eft l could have
seen this island three years ago." said a
New York gentleman to the writer,
you Southern CalifornianH would nos
have had it. Why? Because about as
soon as the wires could work / would
have gotten up a syndicate among q
few friends and would have snapped it
up, even ii had to pay half million.
have been in Southern California for
several months, and begin to think you
people are maligned. You have the
reputation of booming your country on
nothing; but am free to confess that
you are certainly too modest. consider
that this region, and mean Los Angeles
county, has future that you haven't
even realized. This island of Catalina
is the finest thing l have seen
yet, and ii you cant give
it big winter population
Of eastern climate seekers, it 10 simply
because you don't want them. The
summer climate here beats anything l
have ever eeen, and have been around
the world, and as the winter is said to
be even better, you have right under
your noses a natural saniterium and re-
sort for fashionable people that should
drive Bermuda, Florida, Bahama and
the South of France out of the business.
l consider it the best all-around place
that L have seen. generally spend .
month at Newport, where We have rain,
fog, muggy weather and heat, and here
you would have none of that. am go
ing to give you some free adver tising
when | get home, but am afraid no
one will believe me-"
"What would do with the island?
well, if | come to Catalina, would
have new hotel about three times the
size Of the etropole-becauae l could
fill it. J. would have small places on oil
theee delightful littlssbays, on tho north
side. would bring out eastern
people, and tell the world the
truth-that here isH the santa
rum OF the world. The place is 80
picturesque that you can make it para
disc, so to speak. would stock it with
deer, pheasants and ether game. This
alone would attract the eastern sports
men, who have already heard of the
fine fishing. Why, / would make the
trip from New YORK to see one OF those
big jewish caught"
Santa Catalina has caught the public
fancy this summer as never before.
Every one is delighted, and it is an easy
matter to forecast the future OF this
Isle Of summer by the sundown sea-"
In the not Distant future all these ideas
will probably be carried out by the en-
terprsing owners. A number of
wealthy men living near Los Angeles
are now figuring upon plan for q sum-
mer village on ore of the beautiful bays.
This would mean 30 to 100 congenial
people in one party. They would have
a central dining room. their own steam
launch, and from June to October live
on the island. Five years may see
every bay taken up in this way. The
island is unique and is the only resort
in Los Angeles county where there
ia lee, and where boating
and fishing can be had with ease and
comfort. The season this year promises
to extend much later than usual. Sep
tember is really the warmest month in
the interior-the time when the winds
! 20 down--and all the reeorts this season
will probably be crowded. Then the
| fish are said to bite in September, and
number Of fishermen are booked for
Catalina in September, among them
Governor Markham, who came to Cata-
lima when there was not a house at
h'dlons auu Wucu yoilOWGhA W6Ie
caught off the beach.
Hancock Banning and some frinds
rowed through the Blue cavern at the
isthmus few days ago. and the boat
went rapidly throdgh about $50 feet of
this singular and most interesting cave,
that should form part of all trips up
the island. The entrance OF the cavern
is about 20 feet wide and the water so
deep that big vessel could run her
bow spirit fairly into it. The
water is so wonderfully blue
that it almoat gives the impression
OF artificial color. The sensation OF sail.
ing th rough this cavern riding on the |
waves that come gently in is remarka-
Bile one, and there is not the slightest |
danger. Ladies have made the trip, and |
at high tide there is @ space of about |
five feet to epare overhead. The small |
cavern is wide enough to permit boat |
being padded through. The water is |
about elk feet deep and of beautiful |
hue, the floor covered with shells, aba |
lones, sea anemones and seaweeds of
many hues, go that here, deep in the |
cliff, is natural aquarium.
These are gay days on the island. |
Fishing. boating. dancing, and other
parties follow each ather, and the great
pavilion has been found inadequate to
accommodate the dancers that f1cok
thers every night, and probably an addi-
ton will be built. The fishing contin-
ues fair and some good catches are
brought in every day. The strangest
thing vet caught was q dolphin about