The record-union., 1897-09-27
BATTERED AND WEATHERWORh.
ARRIVAL OF THE SCHOONER
EMMA AND LOUISA.
Eerocious Seris Deter the Crew
From Landing at Tiburon
Island.

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 26.-The schooner
Emma and Louisa arrived this after
noon from ports in the Gulf of CaifOr-
MIA, battered and weatherwOrn. The
paint had been rubbed from her hull,
and part Of her rigging had gone over
the side. as the result Of the terrific
gales near the mouth Of the gulf. These
storms are known as chabuscos, and
are particularly severe at this time of
year.
The Emma and Louisa sailed from
San Francisco June Goth last in COM
mand Of Lew B. Harris Of this city 10
explore the islands of the gulf for gold
and guano, under a concession obtained
from the Mexican Government by Jesse
r. Grant and others.
Captain Harris expressed a determi-
nation before sailing south TO make a
landing on Tiburon Island, the home of
the savage Seri Indians. From the ac-
count given by Captain Harris to-day
II appears that the Emma and Louisa
called at Tiburon, but as no favorable
landing place was discovered the ISL
and was not explored. Observations
by Captain Harris and his crew, how
ever, gave them no desire 10 land, for
upon the approach of the schooner near
shores the Seris came off in canoes and
exhibited such dislike for the whites
that no attempt was made to go ashore.
The Seris swarmed around the schoon-
er their naked bodies hideous with mud
and paint, and with their bows and
arrows conspicuously displayed.
The Emma and Louisa remained off
shore several days, an anchor watch
being on duty at night for fear of sur
prise He reported that every night
Indians could be seen near by in a
score Of canoes. Captain Harris is pos
tive that an attack would have been
made on the schooner if an opportu-
nifty had presented itself. The chief
Of the Indians boarded the schooner
the second day, but only to beg. When
asked for permission to send a number
OF men ashore he shook his head and
replied in Spanish that the request
could not be granted. For hours the
chief remained on the schooner, finally
leaving with the twenty bucks that had
escorted him to the vessel. They were
all large and muscular, and except for
the indescribable ferocity in their faces
We're above the average Indians of the
Southwest
While on board the chief presented
Captain Harris with an ola filled with
a sort of meat stew, but none of the
crew dared to eat of it. Later Captain
Harris fed a portion of the stuff to a
sea gull, which died in less than five
minutes from the effects Of the poison
contained in the mixture. 1t was
learned from Mexicans in the gulf that
the Seris poison meat by holding it be-
fore a rattlesnake until it is soaked
with venom. a few days were also
passed by the Emma and Louisa at
Pelican Island. near Tiburon. where
enough more of the Tiburon Islanders
was learned to satisfy the captain Of
the schooner that he was right in max
ing no landing at the island.
Great quantities Of hair seal exist in
the gulf Captain Harris found evil
dence, however, that the Mexicans liv-
ing down the coast are killing them off
quite rapidly in order to get the oil
On Consag Rock, Georges Island and
elsewhere fires had been built to try out
the OIL The skins are Of little or nc
value. Turtles are found all through
the gulf by the million. The Indians
and Mexicans eat the turtles and be-
lieve the flesh gives them strength and
immunity from pulmonary diseases. Or
the return voyage the Emma and
Louisa was almost wrecked by a sue
cession of storms.