The San Francisco call., 1897-12-12

I fog gr w thicker 1t was cOIu anu "4i
less, and the officers on the steamer
solaced themselves with small po"ue'
speedily followed by numerous others.
The sentry placed to keep watch on Inc
captives fell asleep. Porter and johnson
released themse selves, and quietly walking
the tow rope hand-OVer-h hand reached
their own vessel. They cast off the rore,.
and while the steamer went on to En-
senada Porter sailed away to the Cedros
Islands. He stayed there two weeks and
then went to the little harbor, delivered
his cargo and sailed for San Diego.
This caused no end of comment, but
after a time it blew over and Porter
thought it again safe to venture into
Mexican waters. He accordingly cleared
with cargo for La PaZ. Just before he
started the Mexican Consul at San Diego
asked him to deliver letter to the GUS
toms officer at La Paz. Porter took the
letter, but, being suspicious, opened it.
1t was as he expected. The letter said
''This.ls the man who slipped the Carlos
PaCheco. Take him in and nail him to a
board until he is safe in jail."
Porter landed his cargo without passing
it through the custom house. and on his
return TO San Diego met the Consul. He
| thanked that gentleman for giving him
letter to such an excellent fellow and
swore he never enjoyed any body's COM
pany so much.
Last summer Captain Porter and his
crew sailed the World into the port of
Guaymas, on the Gulf of California He
wanted permit to visit Tiburon, but it
was refused him, and be was warned not
| TO go there, as the Indians would certainly
kill and rob him and Johnson. Finally,
on August 6, Porter sailed up the gulf in
quest of shells, promising not to visit
Tiburon. On November 6, just three
months from the day the World left Quay
mas, Captain Bou lies boat came into
port with the story that on October II, as
they passed Tiburon, they had seen the
! Indilns dismantllng the World al Tiburon
Island.
I'm mediately the Iurid stories began to
be printed. All the particulars of the
fight were given and Porter was pictured
as killing five Indians before he suc-
cumbed. These stories, it is said. were
obtained from the Seri Indians. As
n latter of fact no living Seri Indian has
since last Septemb ber.
Ol 4eCe4N1llS the report OF captain BOu-
lille Mr.. Nieto, the federal Judge of the
district, chartered the steamer Rio Yauui
and with fifty soldiers went 10 the Island
OF Tlburon TO investigate. They were on
the island for two days and saw not an
Indian. Buried on the island they found
the name board of the World, two old
shoes, not mates, the Iogbook Of the craft
several novels and other small articles
They also found half burned portions of
the hull and spars of the vessel Abso-
luteiy nothing was found of the bodies OF
Porter or Johnson, nor were their cloth
ing, arms, cooking utensils or anything
further than mentioned above found.
The troops ran on to a rancheria where
II was burning, showing that the In
dians had fled at their approach, and thew
also found q litter of newly born puppies
which The Seris had abandoned in their
flight.
As only two days were spent in the
island the soldiers did not penetrate The
interior and the facts stated above consti-
tute the only evidence of the fate of Por-
ter and johnson. Judge Nieto says that
he has.no evidence OF the mode of their
death, whether they were killed by the
Seris, and in fact his Investigations do not
prove that the TWO Americans are even
dead.
The Judge has reported the results of