The suburban citizen., 1901-11-02

san NlcOluS edrly III tue uOTuluS, III
tending to remain during the day to
search for seal and otter, but near
noon n Northwestern began blowing,
and he FASTENED back to the schooner.
Here they remained at anchor for
eight days in the lee Of the island the
sea being at times so rough and the
wind so fierce that he expected mo-
mentarily to be driven from his an
chorage. When the storm abated suf-
ficiently, Captain Nidever returned to
Santa Barbara without again landing
upon the island.
The next year he once more visited
San Nicolas for game, landing near
the same place as on his previous vOy'
age. He and his ships mate explored
the island nearly to its western ex-
tremity. The blubber found on the
previous visit had been replaced by
a fresh stock. In the crotch Of tree
near the west end Of the island they
found a basket containing a garment
made Of the skins Of the cormorant,
cut in squares and neatly pleced to-
| gether; with the ends of the feathers
all pointing downward. There were
! shell hooks, bone needles, a rope Of
sinew, and various trinkets in the bas-
| ket with the robe. These things Cap
| tain Nidever scattered upon the
| ground, thinking if they were replaced
on his next visit to the tree it would
be conclusive evidence that the wom-
an was still alive. After several days
spent in securing seal and otter upon
the ground already explored, another
wind storm came on, and the spot
containing the basket was not revisit
ed; as on all previous voyages, the
woman was left to her fate and the
schooner crossed to San Miguel Island
without her.
In July, 1858, Captain Nidever again
went to San Nicolas. determined to
rescue the woman if she could be
found. Before, he had gone to find ot-
ter and seal; now he had a nobler
| quest
He anchored midway Of the north
western shore OF the island, near Cor
raj Harbor, where the natives had
embarked In 1886. At this point and
at the western extremity Of the island
is found an abundance Of good water,
seal and fish. Here Captain Nldeyer
! made camp, and with his men began
a systematic search. On the second
day a hut was discovered upon the
ridge, and on approaching 1t, piles of
ashes and bones were seen at its
entrance.
Within the enclosure sat the object
Of their search, talking aloud to her
| self, and with a rude knife, manufac-
tured from n piece Of rusty iron hoop,
washed up by the waves, she was dill
gently scraping blubber from a piece
of sealskin.
She watched the approach Of the
men with interest, but made no at
tempt at flight. She was clothed in n
! garment Of cormorant skins which
reached nearly to her ankles, and her
throat and arms we're bare. Her hair
was yellowed by the sun and tangled,
and her skin, where exposed, was
brown, but where protected by her
robe It was quite fair, showing her
to be Of Aztec or Toltec origin. She
received her visitors with the quiet
and dignity Of a queen, greeting each
with bow and a smile. She talked
necessarily, but no word OF hers could
be understood, although the Indians OF
the rescuing party spoke several dial
ects. In her hut was fire, and when
the captain and his men were seated,
the woman roasted roots, termed Gear
comite" by Callfornians, which she
served to the company an nbalone
shells.
One day she took her new comrades
to deep hidden grotto, where bub-
bled a cool spring from whence she
drew her supply Of water for cooking
Here they found several unique water
Jars woven by her Of the island
grasses, and lined with asphaltum
which is plentiful on the western
shore. The water Jars resembled
wide-mouthed bottles, and would hold
from two to six quarts. 1t was inter.
esting to watch her make baskets
water tight. She would drop into them
bits of asphaltum and hot pebbles
whlrllng them deftly as the asphaltum
liquehed. 1t required skill and pa
tience,, but when they were thorough
ly galvanized with a thin coating the
Jars were both light and durable.
A second spring near the above
mentioned grottO she used as n lava
tory, and would frequently visit It, FOL
she was very cleanly In her habits.
At the expiration Of a month, when
the schooner was ready to depart, she
was lade to understand by signs that
she was to go on board. She evidenced
the pathetic struggle she had wageC
with want in the years Of solitude by
gathering together every fragment OF
food in her possession. In the crevices
Of rocks and in other spots secure from