The Red Cloud chief., 1897-02-12

W outlying point Of
the coast, says a correspondent Of the
Pittsburg Leader. We passed the lit
tie island Of Santa Barbara late in the
afternoon and at Z o'clock were five
miles from the outer island. This
was about seven miles long, and in
portion 500 feet high. Around the
summit OF its low hills a bank of
cloud had gathered and piece by piece
was being torn away by a gale that
had gathered so rapidly that, after ly-
ing to for five hours in an attempt to
weather 1t out, we were forced to bear
away and run before it under a close
reefed ~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, 1t Is a
dangerous place for yachts. Notwith-
standing this, San Nicolas has had
within two centuries a vigorous ma
tive population, and with its barren
shores is associated a true story that
bears all 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 the
priests at the Santa Barbara mission,
under instructions from the Mexican
government. The Indians had been
living there from time immemorial,
subsisting or fish land shellfsh), with
which the waters abound.
A vessel was sent to the island, and
all the Indians were taken aboard with
the exception of one woman. whose
child or children had been forgotten.
1t is believed that a gale was coming
up. and that the skipper found his lit
tie craft in danger. and so put Off. 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" 1t probably mattered little to
the other hunters, who we're glad to
get away from the rough coast. When
the Indians were landed at Santa Bar
bara 1t was said to be the intention Of
the captain to return and rescue the
woman.
But not long 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 to
%credulous listeners. Seventeen years
went by and the oma 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 for her, and as
a result three unsuccessful trips were
made to the island. On the last Capt.
Niderer 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 1t the
following day found the feathers re-
placed.
1t vas evident that the woman was
avoiding them, SO they formed a line
as well as they could across the island
and marched in regular order 200 yards
apart. Even then they could not find her
and 1t was only when they had nearly
given up the hunt that one of the
party finally stumbled upon three huts
and the woman, who was sitting on the
ground, with a wild dog beside her,
which gr0wled fercely at the strang-
ers. The men signaled to the others
and the entire party was soon gather
ed about the woman, who had lived q
life as remarkable as that Of Crusoe.
She could not understand a word that
was said. The Indians Of the party,
thinking that she was a sacred person,
fell on their knees before her. She
was q comely woman, 80 years of age.
dressed in the skins of seabirds or
shags which were fastened to sealskin
About her were baskets cleverly made
and, to the windward 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 sealskin and with needles
from the bones OF birds. She consent
ed to go aboard the vessel and was
carried to Santa Barbara with all her
belongings, which were considered
great curisities. her dress Of skins be-
ing sent to Rome to the pope.
At Santa Barbara she lived In the
family of one Of her rescuers, and
though Indians from all over the state
visited her, no one could be found who
could understand her. She was a per-
feet child, playing for hours at a
time. and making signs which could
no be interpreted. She was baptised
and given a Spanish name and at her
death was buried at the old mission
graveyard, having survived the change
from savage to civilized life less than
two months.
Aspiring Humorist.
M Alabama lppiaIa-