Washington sentinel., 1899-11-18
u, 49,, SENTINEL
The Wind Swept Island OF san
Nicolas,
Pref c, F. Holder. in the Scientific
american

EAOOAA SCNCAAN AAAAlGo OlA AAAG NNA9N
OF southern California lies the ISL
and OF San Nicolas--a Veritable
desert, wind-swept to such deg
rec that one might well imagine
that thu (uries are guarding the
island. San Nicolas, which is
twelve miles long and four or five
wide, has no harbors, the anchor
age being merely a lee under the
low hills; the fact that the wind
blows directly off-shore making it
possible for vessels to anchor here
at certain seasons. On this island,
which has been the central point Of
a romance and tragedy OF much
interest, deserted and alone, Maria
Better Than Nothing, the wild
woman of San Nicolas, lived 20
years-long enough TO forget her
people and even her language.
The story is as follows:
For centuries the island was in
habited by race OF hardy mari
ners who have left their monu
ments in large shell heaps and
mounds that cover many acres.
Less than one hundred years ago,
the Franciscan fathers determined
to take the natives away from the
inhospitable island and provide
them with homes around the vari-
Gus missions, where they could
also be comfortably converted.
With this object in view, a vessel
was sent to the island, and after
much difficulty the Indians, now
reduced to about one hundred,
were collected and taken aboard,
deserting thousands of implements
which their ancestors had used for
centuries. When the vessel was
about to sail. one Of the women
discovered that her child had been
left behind. But it was blowing a
gale and the vessel could not hold,
so the captain sailed away, where
upon the frantic mother dashed
into the sea and swan back to the
shore, making her way successfully
through the surf. The captain Of
the vessel promised to return Tor
the woman, but soon after his YES
sci was wrecked, and no attempt
to rescue the poor Indian woman
until twenty years after, when a
priest determined to make an effort
to learn whether she was alive. He
enlisted the services Of an otter
hunter and several Indians, who in
a small schooner, known as Better
Than Nothing, set sail for San
Nicolas.
they landed on the island, and
very soon found evidence thatsome
one was living there, but avoiding
them. To make the search perfect,
the men formed a line across the
island at certain distances apart,
which resulted in the discovery of
the wild woman. She was sitting
by q brush hut in a canon, about
which was a windbreak Of whale
bones and various material. She
smiled and spoke to the Indians in
a language they did not under
stand; but they fell on their Ia ;es
before her as though to worship
her. She offered them food. and
readily consented to 60 with them,
and was taken aboard the schooner
with tame otter. She was dressed
in the skins OF birds, over which
was a garment OF sealskin. She
was named Better Than Nothing,
after the vessel, and by signs sue
ceeded IN telling some Indians on
the mainland something Of her his
tory, AT first she had mourned
the loss OF her friends; then the
dogs killed her baby, and she
wished to die and was sick Tor a
long time. She was taken to Santa
Barbara, where Indians from all
about were brought to her to see
If they could understand her Ian
guage, but without avail. She
lived with different families at
Santa Barbara; but civilization
proved disastrous to her, and in
less than three months she died.
Her remarkable dress Of feathers
was sent to Rome as a curiosity,
and the remains OF the unfortunate
woman found a resting place in the
sanctitied ground Of the mission.
San Nicolas has proved a verit-
able treasure house for the archse-
ologist, and tons OF stone imple-
ments have been taken from vaTi-
Gus mounds on the island. One OF
the most remarkable shell mounds
in the world is found here, being,
1t is said, nearly mile long and
ten feet in average height. Onits
wind swept surface innumerable
objects have been found, exposed
during previous hurricanes, with
the bodies of Indians facing each
other, having been buried in sit.
ting position, with hands clasped
over the head. With many re-
mains were buried such personal
effects as mortars, ollas, flutes,
Jewel boxes, charms, flint spear
heads, and almost every article
needed by hunting and fishing
people-all formed from shell,
bone, or wood. Fishing lines were
made OF kelp; sinkers OF stone with
a groove worn around or a hole in
the centre; the hook'was OF elegant
design, and bore the barb upon
the outside.
One Of the greatest curiosities
on San Nicolas, after all, is the
wind. 1t tosses the sand dunes
into the air like wraiths and keeps
them continually moving and shift
ing. 1t has buried a stone house
and so threatened another that the
lone herder on the island often
deserts it for shelter among the
rocks near the sea lion rnnkeriAs