The Utah County Democrat. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1898-1909, 1908-10-15

~NA< fSLO VI ZH1LlrCIF /cLfdID
Capt. f. &. Thompson Of the schoon.
er Estrell has Just returned to San
francisco from a nine-months' cruise
In the Gulf Of California. He made
hve landings on the mysterious Island
Of Tiburon, met Chief Francisco head
OF the Seris, at Freshwater bay also
the chiefs son, Ponchita, and 10 mem.
bers of the tribe, at Pearl Point. set
down in Dewey's chart as The In.
ierno' Capt. Thompson had with him
eight Yaquis, who were listed as sailor.
men.
The sensational feature OF Capt.
Thompson's story is that he found the
Seris the very opposite OF what they
have been customafily painted. In.
stead Of meeting canibals and desper.
ate characters, Capt Thompson was
welcomed to the island under a flag Of
truce, spent some time in the company
OF Chief Francisco and was invited by
the chief back into the island two
leagues, to visit grazing land on which
are the chiefs herds OF burros; but
this invitation was declined.
He found the dreaded Seris hospit
able, well-meaning and kind-hearted
willing TO do him any favor within
their power. In return for gifts of
beans, tobacco, matches and sugar.
Chief Francisco gave Capt. Thompson
handsome bow and arrow, and Pom.
chita made a peace Offering of a queer
wooden crown, stained with red and
blue berry juices.
This friendly visit to Indians, con.
ventionally written about as head
hunters, whose island has long been as
jealousy guarded from the encroach.
ments Of the white man as has been
the Sacred City Of L'Hassa, opens a
new and startling chapter in the story
OF Tiburon, says the captain. He is
the first white man who has brought
back friendly report from this won.
der island in the Gulf OF Southern
California.
my object in going to the Gulf of
California" said Capt. Thompson. was
to find phosphates. / went by rail to
Guaymas, and QUILTED the Estrell
there to make the nine months cruise
on the gulf took eight Yaquis as a
crew, and never had the slightest
trouble with them. They are very
hard-working men, and have prodigious
strength as packers. They think moth
Ing of wadlng through the surf with
l25-pound bags of phoGphates on their
backs, buffeted by waves that would
make an ordinary man lose his foot.
ing.
I'VE went to Tiburon for wood and
water, and in all made five separate
landings. | expected trouble. of
course. but when ! came within hail.
ing distance of Chief Francisco and his
men at Freshwater bay, ran up a flag
of truce-a shirt on an oar-and he
replied by doing the same.
THE chiefs signal was handled by
his son Ponchito, who dipped his rag
twice, meaning that two of my men
should come ashore for talk. /
went with one of my Yaquis.
The chief spoke to me in doggerel
Spanish, asking for cigarettes, tobacco
and matches, and | gave him some
Mexican cigarettes. also some corn.
beans and sugar, and he was certainly
much pleased. His son spoke In the
lingo OF the Serbs. / did not under
stand a word he said, but we managed
to get acquainted somehow, and after
o little while the chief lighted a pipe
Of peace. | took whiff and he grunt-
ed in frontier Spanish that we would |
be good friends. OF course, | was a
bit suspicious, for an Indian may be a
good friend to-day and an enemy to.
let II go at that.
THE chief showed us where to get |
water, and sent some of his men to
help us cut wood. He told me / was
The irst white man he had seen in
several years, and he was very friend
Iy. We ate a supper Of sea turtle,
stayed there that day, and then went |