Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-10-24
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Capt. F. E. Thompson of the schoon-
er EstrelI has just returned to San
Francisco from a nine-months' cruise
in the Gulf of California He made
five landings on the mysterious Island
of Tiburon, met Chief Francisco. head
of the Serbs, at Freshwater bay, also
the chiefs son, Ponchita, and Is mem
bers of the tribe, at Pearl Point, set
down in Dewey's chart as 'The In
ferno." 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
Serbs the very opposite of what they
have been customarily painted. In
stead of meeting canibals and desper-
ate characters, Capt. Thompson was
welcomed to the island under 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
a handsome bow and arrow, and Pom
chita made peace offering of a queer
wooden crown, stained with red and
blue berry juices.
This friendly visit to Indians, con-
ventionalIy 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
10 find phosphates. | went by rail to
Guaymas, and outfitted the EStrell
there to make the nine months cruise
on the gulf took eight Yaquis as
crew, and never had the slightest
trouble with them. They are very
Woodworking men, and have prOdigious
strength as packers. They think moth
ing of wading through the surf with
125-pound bags of phosphates 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 l came within hail
ing distance of Chief Francisco and his
men at Freshwater bay, ran up 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 a 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. l did not under
stand a word he said, but we managed
TO get acquainted somehow, and after
a little while the chief lighted a pipe
of peace. l took a Whit and he grunt-
ed in frontier Spanish that we would
be good friends. OF course, 1 was a
bit suspicious, for an Indian may be a
good friend to-day and an enemy to-
morrow-but let it so at that.
1.-The chief showed us where to get
water. and sent some of his men to
help us cut wood. He told me | was
the first white man he had seen in
several years, and he was very friend
". We ate a supper of sea turtle,
STAYED there that day, and then went
on to other points, where we saw other
Seri Indians, but none of them mo-
Tested US In all, we made five separ-
ate landings, covering the whole of the
Island. In the course of the month
we WeAt clear around ii.