Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-29
PASS HONEYMOON ON
RANCH AFTER WRECK
ST. CROIX SURVIVORS ENJOY
NOVEL EXPERIENCE
Newly Married Couple start to Walk
to San Francisco on Malibu
Railroad-Reach Santa
Monica
rsneclal TO The Herald.l

SANTA MONICA, Nov. 2S.-A safe
but thrilling landing on the beach from
a burning steamer, a dark and foggy
night passed hopping the infrequent
crossties in the track of the Malibu
railroad in search of human habitation
and pleasant weeks visit at the Doo-
ley ranch north of Point Dune, are
features of the never to be forgotten
honeymoon of two passengers of the
unfortunate st. CroiX. The story of
the adventures of the young couple
was told today by Frank Slertt, an In
dian laborer who spends considerable
of his time on the Malibu. His story
is corroborated by Jack Henry and
other ranchers of the Malibu country.
According to Slertt, the bridal cou-
ple had a full week of experiences that
fall to the lot of but few persons in
this world, but through them all the
pair came out cheerful and are none
the worse for their unconventional in
PRODUCTION to the Malibu. To Slertt
the young man gave the name of
Charley Jennings of Stockton, but this
name is not to be found in the passen-
ger list of the st. Croix as published
the morning following her destruction
five miles off Point Dune November
90 It is thought a fictitious name was
given by the man to prevent notoriety.
When the landing was made early
from the destroyed steamer, Jennings
and his wife were anxious to reach
civilization" as they told Slertt, and
struck out at once for the north, fol-
lowing the Malibu railroad with the
mistaken idea that it is a part of the
Southern Pavific coast line.
Painfully they trudged onward
through the night, not knowing whittier
they were going except that they
thought they were headed in the direc-
ton of san Francisco, and expected to
reach a station along the way and
board a train. In the excitement that
followed the orders of Captain Warner
from the st. Croix they managed to
save their money and a few personal
effects.
1t was almost the break of day when
they suddenly discovered that there is
an end to all railroads, including the
Malibu line, and they had reached it,
Climbing a high bluff near the end of
the track they saw the ranch house OF
Mr. Dooley only a short distance away
Dooley is a foreman employed by Mrs
X. Rindge and manages the north end
Of the Malibu ranch, part OF when
is in Ventura county.
Jennings and his tired wife made
their way to the Dooley place, where
they were welcomed and given break
fast.
Dooley's house is at least ten miles
from the place where the passengers
landed the night before. He was great
" surprised when his visitors told him
they had been shipwrecked and were
on their way to San Francisco. He had
not heard of the st. CroiX burning. He
told the young couple to make them
selves at home and remain as long as
they desired.
Quickly seeing the humor of the situ-
alton the couple decided to accept the
invitation of Dooley. Later they de-
clared they passed several days of the
happest time in their lives while tar
rying with Dooley.
Finally they bethought themselves OF
the anxiety caused their friends and
relatives by their long absence and
prepared to come to Santa Monica.
Dooley could not leave the ranch and
could spare none of his men to take
the visitors TO town, about thirty-tiVe
miles distant.
He found a way out Of the difficulty,
however. by loaning the shipwrecked
couple a team of mules and wagon
belonging to Slertt, which the latter
left at the Dooley place some time ago.
Dooley told the young couple to drive
the animals to Santa Monica and leave
them at Slertt's place, and they start
ed on their way yesterday morning.
About half way to Santa Monica
Jennings met Slertt driving out to the
Malibu Slertt recognized his team at
once and when he inquired where Jen-
nings had got it, Jennings reluctantly
told him, gave him an account of his
experiences for the week.
The Indian then gave Jennings eX-
plicit directions where to take his team
and told him to go on to Santa Mon
lea. Mrs Slertt cared for the young
couple when they arrived. They re-
mained only a short time, going to Los
Angeles last night, saying they eX-
rected to go to san Francisco at once.
Jennings and his wife told Mrs. Slertt
they wouldn't mind being shipwrecked
every week in the year if their subse
Quent experiences We're as interesting
as those they had on the Malibu.