The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-10-31

r
n number Of romnncers who gave but
little heed to fact and free rein to i'm
aginatlon. From occurrences that
have passed into history and are
known to be authentic, this tale is
drawn.
The aborigines OF San Nicolas Island
were supposed to be Of Aztec or Toll
tee origin, a peaceable people like all
tribes indigenous to the tropics.
War with the savage Alaskan In
dams had nearly eXterminated the In
dams 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, schooner was sent to the island
in 1886 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 n young babe
in her arms sprang on shore. Her lit
tie girl, q 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-
tient, and he grumbled at the delay.
An hour went by, but the woman had
not returned. The wind was rising
rapidly, and a 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 We're 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 a muttered impreca-
tlon and gruff command, the boat
pushed off 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 unabated for the space of
week. The hcavy-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 car
go of lumber for San Francisco.
On reaching the Golden Gate, in
rough weathef, the improperly laden
craft capsized and was eventually
blown out to sea. and is supposed to
have been taken by 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 a 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 ali had perished. Fifteen years
slipped by, and In the spring of 1851
Captain Nidcver, of Santa Barbara,
with one other white man and n small
crew Of Mission Indians. visited San
Nicolas In schooner in search of
otter. They made n landing at the
eastern end of the island, and walked
along the southern shore distance of
five miles or more Captain Nideyer
discovered footprints of human being
soon after landing. These were no
doubt made when the ground had been
soaked by the previous winter rains,
quite dry and hard. The footprints
were small, and the captain felt con-
yinced that they were made by a
woman. A short distance from the
shore were found several circular,
roo1ess huts made Of brush, about
six feet in height and the same in dl-
ameter These enclosures were full
ly mile apart and near them were
stakes Of driftwood driven In the
ground, from which were suspended
pieces of senl's blubber out of the
reach of wild animals. The blubbel
was comparatively fresh. and had nc
doubt been placed there but few
weeks previous.
Captain Nldeyer had landed upon
San Nicolas early In the morning, in
tending TO remain during tile day to
search for seal and otter but ueai
noon a northwestern began blowing
and he hastened back TO the schooner
Here they remained at anchor fol
eight days In the lee OF the island. the
sea being at times so rough and the
wind so fierce that he expected mo
inentarlly to be driven from his an
cborage. When the storm abated suf
hcientIy, Captain NIdexer returned tt
santa Barbara without again landing
upon the island