The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-02-13

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uhlNG the past
SUMMER the writer
mOHE$Nl made the attempt
AN t{ 70 land on the
Hhs Island OF San Nlco-
NV las. an almost bar
~ NJ rem mass OF sand
T1 ~ lylng sixty miles
H0VA of the coast OF
wv southern Callfor-
~ MIA, the extreme
" outlying point Of
the coast, says a correspondent Of the
Pittsburg Leader We passed the 1t
tie island OF Santa Barbara late In the
afternoon and AZ 2 o'clock were fye
miles from the outer island. This
was about seven miles long. and IN
portion 500 feet high. Around the
summit Of is low hills a bank Of
cloud had gathered and piece by piece
was being torn away BY a gale that
had gathered 20 rapidly that, after ~
Ing 20 FOR five hours In an attempt TO
weather Il out. We we're forced TO bear
away and run before Il under a close
reeied foresail for a lee Of sixty miles
away.
The island lies IN an area Of con-
slant gales and Is almost unapproach-
able, except during the calm periods
OF the winter. and. even then. owing
to the storms that suddenly rise. Il Il
dangerous place for yachts. Noswith-
standing this. San Nicolas has had
within two centuries a vigorous na-
tive population. and with is barren
shores IL associated a true story that
bears an the essentials OF a romance
OF the crusoe order Within the pres
ent century the last OF the natives
were taken ashore by order OF 4he
priests az the Santa Barbara mission.
under instructions from the Mexican
government The Indians had been
living there from time immemoriai.
subsisting on fish land sheilash). with
which the waters abound.
A vessel was sent TO the Island. and
al the Indians were taken aboard with
the exception OF one woman. whose
child or children had been forgotten.
i Il believed that a gale was coming
up, and that the skipper found his 1t
Tie craft IN danger. and so put on. 9th
ers say that the woman was purposely
deserted. In any event. the boat sailed
away leaving her standing alone on
the beach. and. being "only an Indian
woman" 4 probably ma;tered little to
the other hunters. who we're glad to
set away from the rough coast. When
the Indians were landed At Santa Bar
hara u was said 10 be the Intention Of
the captain 70 return and rescue the
woman.
But not lang after the sloop was
wrecked and the story Of the lost wom-
an became almost a legend. her appear
ance often being pictured BY the story
tellers OF the day. and her one quaint
cry Of "Maneuauna" being repeated 70
credulous listeners. Seventeen years
went by and the woman was almost
forgotten. until finally Padre Gonzales.
excited By curiosity to learn her fate.
hired a resident Of santa Barbara TO
make a careful search Tor her. aad as
a result three unsuccessful trips were
made to the island. On the last Capt
Nidcrer took several Indians. and after
futile attempts succeeded IN landing.
They soon found evidence that some
one had lived on the Island. discover
ing a basket containing feathers. This
they disturbed. and on visiting Il the
following day found the feathers ~
placed.
Il was evident that the woman was
avoiding them. 90 they formed a line
as well a. they could across the island
and marched In regular order 200 yards
apart Even then they could no. ind her
and It was only when they had nearly
given up the hunt that one OF the
party finally stumbled upon three huis
and the woman, who was sitting on the
ground. with a wild dog beside her.
which growled hercely az the strang-
ers. The men slgnalod to the others
and the entire party was soon gather
ed about the woman. who had lived a
lie a. remarkable a. that OF Crusoo.
She could not understand a word that
was said. The Indians OF the marty.
thinking that she was a sacred person.
fell on their knees before her. She
was a comely woman. 50 years OF are.
dressed IN the skins Of soabirds or
shags which were fastened 10 sealskln
About her were baskets cleveriy made
and. 70 the w.ndward Of her hut. which
was made Of the ribs Of a whale. she
had built a wind break Of brush and
grass. She had dishes Of stone IN which
she ground roots Of various kinds and
her clothes were sewed with thread
made from sealskln and with needles
from the bones OF birds. she consent.
cd TO 20 aboard the vessel and was
carried to Santa Barbara with all her
belongings. which were considered
great curisl,lcs. her dress Of skins Be.
ing sent 20 Rome 10 the pope.
Al Santa Barbara she lived In the
family Of one Of her rcscucrs. and
though Indians from an over the stat,
visited her. 70 one could De found who
could understand her. She was a per.
feet child, playing for hours at q
time. and making slFns which could
not be Interpreted. She was haptlse.
and given a spanish name and at hcl
death was buried al ne old mission
graveyard, having survived the changl
from savage 10 clylllsod he lcss thar
two months.