Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-09
New York Sun.l


at every whim OF the wind, the home
of the wind gods of the Pacific. San
Nicolas Island would not he considered
attractive as Il place OF residence, yet
as our yacht rounded to Oft IL spit OF
sand that reached out into the sea Il
small shanty could be seen on the
rocky shore and nearby Il man and
two dogs. The island appeared to be
about ten miles long, perfectly fiat on
top, rising to IL height of 200 or more
feet in places and cut and scared by
the wind in a marvellous fashion.
After many attempts to land we sue
ceeded. almost ut the risk OF our lives,
hoping TO see the sole inhabitant of the
dreary spot. But he had disappeared
and we made our way to his shanty-
single-roomed affair under the lee
of the hills near the beach. On the
door was the sJirical notice: mo
irespassers allowed on this island"
Dcsolation could not better be illus
trated than by this island, about sixty
miles off Los Angeles county, south
ern California; yet there lived n man
who delighted in his surroundings lie
finally came along the beach, appear
ing mySteriously. He was IL French
man. small of stature, with Il mahog-
any-colored skin, decp-set eyes and Il
KINDLY expression. On his head was Il
great sombrero-like hat. tied by a
string beneath his chin. On his Shout
der he carried an old ia shloned shot
gun ana cantcen of water, IL cane or
STAFF completing his outfit. Two shep-
herd dogs which followed at his heels
We're his sole companions. He was very
reticcnt and refused the papers offered
Kim and had no desire to hear of the
world. We told him OF the ending of
The war with Spain, but he did not
know there had been Il war He had
turned his back on the world long ago;
mad two faithful friendships dogs-and
was not dependent upon anyone. When
asked why he did not collect the Indian
implements SO common on the island he
expressed Il feeling of disgust and fear.
ihtimating that the terrible winds With
Wiiicn the place WAS accused were due
10 the robblnS of the graves. MS ne
put ii. He complained of nothing but
the winds, which sometimes drove him
34l OF his house at ni2ht and forced
him to take refuge among the rocks
alonS shore. That night we had evil
dcnce OF this. as the wind rose and
pew n hurricane from the island in n
clear sky. finally blowing the Yacht
away INFO calmer seas.
Sixty or more miles to the south Is
the Island of San Clementc. about TWEEN
ty-tWo miles III length, where lived an
irishman up TO the present year His
name was Gallagher. Gailagher of san
Sicinchte, and he. too was at war with
al! the world, though it is but fair to
say that once n year he left his island
home and repaired to Los Angeles.
Where he diligently spent his money,
tEen returned 10 live alone for another
year. Gallagher preferred his own So
ciety and that of his sheep and dog.
lie never was afraid Of their overreac CHI
ing MIN, he once said. He lived on San
Clemente. fifty miles off the coast, for
twenty years, and was finally stricken
n,.ni Hfr l.
nshermen sitting in his chair looking out
over the sea and unable to move. They
took him To Los Angeles, where he died
AT Santa Catalina Island thirty miles,
from land, there are several men who
prefer solitude to the world. and have
turned their backs upon civilization for
reasons best known to themselves. one
OF theimost isolated places of this group
Is san Miguel, n small island opposite
Santa Barbara. Here man lives
alone. Two years ago the island was
shaken by an earthquakes The cliffs
Tell in, the harbor changed. and a small
vessel was wrecked. Twenty miles
south OF this is an island known as
Anacapa, the ever-changing. 1t is
about mile long. very narrow. with
small slopinG MESA upon which ali
the pelcans of the Pacific slope seem
10 have settled. There is no water
here, so it is said, except what is caught
in winter, and the few sheen upon II
obtain what they get by licking the
dew from each others wool. On this
desolate sea -beaten spot lived a man
Tor many years, contented to be left
alone. resentng any intrusion.
These strange characters are found
all along the coast The writer once
found n man living contentediy on n
rock OF the Maine coast completely
out OF the world; and on small kev in
the Gulf of Mexico. hardly three faet
above high-water mark, lived two men
some years ago from choice men who
had dropped out of the world. changed
their names and We're dead 10 the past.
Rarely are such men criminals. Oft
ener they are individuals who have had
some experience that has turned them