The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-12-07
:" HE story of the Indian woman
II. left alone on the island of
~ San Nicolas for nearly TWEEN.

aM story OF the luuidu WOudl
left alone on the island o.
San Nicolas for nearly TWEEN
tysyears has been written By
b number of fomancers who gave bu
little heed to fact and free rein to Inn
agination. From occurrences tina
have passed into history and arr
known to be authentic. this tale ID
drawn.
The aborlgines of San Nicolas Island
were supposed to be Of Aztec or Tol
tee origin, peaceable people like all
tribes indigenous to the tropics.
War with the savage Alaskan In.
dams had nearly exterminated the In.
dians Of San Nicolas when the Cath.
Ollie fathers who founded the missions
on the mainland desired to bring the
few remaining natives across the
channel that they might teach them
the Christian religion. Accordingly.
after repeated efforts to accomplish
this, a schooner was sent to the island
In 1896 for this purpose. Some time
was consumed In gathering together
these people and their effects.
AS the last boat was leaving the
strand, woman with young babe
in her arms sprang on shore. Her lit
tie girl, a child Of eight years, had
slipped from her side in the confusion
gone probably in search of some re-
membered trinket dear to her childish
heart-or, perhaps. run away, over
come with terror at the unusual migra-
tion Of her people.
The woman besought them to await
her return, and FASTENED over the hill,
calling as she went. The moments
passed-the white man is ever impa-
tent, and he grumbied at the delay.
An hour went by. but the woman had
not returned. The wind was rising
rapidly, and storm was imminent.
The schooner had signalled them twice
In the last half hour. The waters
about the island were shoal. and there
was no safe anchorage along its
shores. The waves were running high
upon the lodges surrounding the little
bay, and their crests were white with
the foam of action. The ship signalled
again. and with muttered impreca-
ton and gruff command, the boat
pushed or to Join the tossing vessel.
As soon as all were on board, Cap
tain Hubbard weighed anchor and
stood away for deep water. When the
relatives and friends learned that the
woman had been left behind, they be-
sought the captain with many tears.
and with pleadings in their own
tongue, to return and bring her away.
The gale increased In fury and con-
tinued undated for the space Of q
week. The heavy-laden schooner Ia
bored hard and disaster threatened.
When San Pedro Harbor was finally
reached. the San Nicolas Indians were
distributed between Los Angeles and
San Gabriel missions, and Captain
Hubbard departed for Monterey,
where he had orders to take on a car
90 Of lumber for San Francisco.
On reaching the Golden Gate, In
rough weather. the improperly laden
craft capsized and was eventually
blown out to sea, and IL supposed to
have been taken by q Russian vessel.
The crew reached shore in safety, and
It was always Captain Hubbard's In
tention to return to San Nicolas for
the lost woman. There was now no
craft Of any description except open
boats and Indian canoes from San
Francisco to San Diego. and no one
could be found willing to risk q voy-
age to San Nicolas In one Of these.
1t was generally known along the
coast of California that an Indian
woman and her children had been left
upon the Island Of San Nicolas, but as
time passed and they were not res
cued. 1t came to be generally believed |
that all had persisted. Fifteen years |
slipped by. and in the spring Of 1851 |
Captain Nidever. Of Santa Barbara, |
with one other white man and q small |
crew Of Mission Indians, visited San |
Nicolas In a schooner in search Of
otter. They made a landing at the
eastern end Of the island. and walked
along the southern shore q distance Of |
i've miles or more. Captain Nidever
discovered footprints Of a human being
'oon after landing. These were no
ioubt made when the ground had been
'oaked by the previous winter rains,
or the impressions were deep and
quite dry and hard. The footprints
we're small, and the captain felt con-
rinced that they were made by a
woman. A short distance from the
hore were found several circular,
oofess huts made Of brush. about
TX feet in height and the same In d.
meter. These enclosures were full
v mile apart, and near them were
takes of driftwood driven In the
round. from which were suspended
'ieces Of seals blubber out Of the
each Of wild animals. The blubber
vas comparatively fresh, and had no
oubt been placed there but few |
vceks previous.
Captain Nidever had landed upon
an Nicolas early In the morning. in
ending to remain during the day to
earch for seal and otter. but near
DON a Northwestern began blowing,
nd he hastened back to the schooner.
[ere they remained at anchor for
Ight days In the lee OF the island. the
"a being at times so rough and the
ind so fierce that he expected mo-
Ientarily to be driven from his an
1orage. When the storm abated sui.
GENTLY. Captain Nidever returned to
anita Barbara without again landing
pom the Island.
she sszt vssr b snss mere visltsd |