The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-06
INHOSPITABLE MICE.
They Own an Island, and RepeI All
Intruders
From the Cincinnati Enquirer

AhNFuuerS.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
on the coast Of Southern California. dis
tant some sixty-fve miles, there rises
sharply up out of the bosom of the Pacific
massive, barren rock It forms. per-
haps, the most inhospitable spot in all
the world.
The place is nothing more than huge
volcanic rock, uplfted from the sea to
hight of several hundred feet. and it is
not more than mile in length and half
a mile in width. 1t lies, however, near
the track of the cOastwise steamers, has
been accorded the dignity of a name, and
may be found marked upon the map. 1t
is known as Santa Barbara Island.
1t IS not because there is scarcely
spear of vegetation to be seen upon it.
nor because there is probably not a drop
OF fresh water 10 be found. that people
shun IL as they would a plague-stricken
city. Utter desOlation reigns there Grin
ming skulls of aborigines, whltened by ex-
posture, gaze out to sea from the face Of
the cliffs, and horror fills the mind Of the
boldest navigator who, perchance, drops
his anchor near its leeward shore 10
weather out storm. But all this would
scarcely make it the terrible place it is
were it not for the fact that the island is
literally alive with mice. Millions and
66SOfdt9
rock. The cliffs are black with Them
They cover the island as with a living
moving carpet.
This seemingly strange circumstance is
easily accounted for. Several years ago
lumber schooner on her way from the Pu-
get Sound country to San Diego, was
wrecked a mile or so west Of the island
and the lumber wreckage hoated ashore
there. Some mice were brought ashore on
the wreclcage, no doubt, and they have
multiplied to countless numbers during
the years since then. Fishermen who go
out from Santa Barbara and San Pedro
sometimes sail quite close to the rock. but
they would not land upon it for all the
fish in the sea.
Not long ago a storm prevailed along
the coast for several days and two fishing
boats that had put out from San Pedro
before the blow began failed to return
Friends of the men aboard fitted up a
small sehoQper with provisions and starr
ed out to look for them. Coming nCar
Santa Barbara Island without having seen
anything of the missing boats the search
ers determined to land there, thinking
it barely possible the fishermen might
have been cast away upon the rock. They
well knew the danger from an attack of
the vicious little animals that swarmed
over the island, but they thought that if
they each took a stout club and vigor-
ouslly resisted attack they would be able
to explore the island safely. They were
terribly mistaken
Anchoriug their boat a mile from the in
hOspitable shore, three members of the
crew jumped into the small dOry they had
lowed behind The schooner. and started
for the shore. Armed with their clubs
they bravely left the dory after reaching
land, and started up the steep ascent
They walked briskly along. and being I'M
molested became forgetful of the danger
.,f..
middle of the rock, and just before them
was deep depression, while beyond that
yawned the mouth of cave 1t was de-
cided to explore this cave As they APP
preached its entrance swarms of the ro-
dents retreated before them into its dark
interior. This made them more confident
of their safety than they had been before
and they boldly entered the cave
When their eyes became accustomed to
the darkness within. they saw, way in the
recess of the cavern, the pale simmer of
a pool of water. They were proceeding to-
ward this when all at once they found
themselves surrounded by a thousand of
the little beasts. which but a moment be-
fore had appeared to be fleeing before
them in fright. So sudden was the attack
that they were taken wholly unawares
and could not beat back the swarms of
mice that surrounded them. They killed
hundreds of their tiny assailants in the
LiSt ie" moments OF the battle, but 10
fight such afoe was a wasteful use of
much needed energy and the end Of it
could be only death for them. And what
DEATH Their only salvation was in flight.
over the ragged rocks they sped, follow
ed by an army which for numbers was
probably never equaled since the
word began Reaching the shore the
three men hastily leaped into their little
boat and showed it away from the land.
But even then the battle was not ended.
for they were covered from head to foot
with the ferocious beasts, and for sew
eral minutes they struggled TO rid them
selves and the boat OF the vicious little
creatures When at last they were rid
Of their tormentors they sank exhausted