The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-04-11

possible existence of a small herd OF
the generally considered extinct Cali
fornia Elephant Seal (Maerorhinusl
They are largest of all seals, the old
bulls attaining size greater than that
of the walrus.
My guide, from whom I got the first
intimation that some of these rare mann
mails might still be found, informed me
that Mexican had told him that he
had seen some of these animals on the
shores of the "Isla de Guadalupe,
and island lying some $50 miles off the
west coast of Lower California, in
about latitude twenty nine north, longi-
tude one eighteen west.
This interested me very much, as
knew it would be considered by natur-
ralfsts great catch if I could secure
some specimens So I made it a point
to find this Mexican, and, from what
he told me, I came to the conclusion
that my information was good. Upon
NV return to the land Of Uncle Sam,
[ communicated with the Honorable
Walter Rothschild, OF England, who
had been my patron before, and whose
magnificent collections of natural his
tory specimens at the museum on the
RothschiId s Estate at firing, Herts,
England, are among the finest In the
world I was Immediately cabled to
make the try, and you can be sure
at once Efset the mills to grinding
for I had been at Guadalupe, in COM
pany with the late W. E. Bryant Of the
California Academy of Science, in
1885, making a collections of birds, and
our hopes had then run in the direc-
ton Of elephant seals, as it was
thought that the island might possibly
be the home of remnant of the prac-
tically exterminated beast; but we saw
no evidence of their existence.
I was very anxious to accomplish
what we had failed in twenty-five
years before, the lapse of time lending
added value to success.
7 will not dwell on several tiresome
weeks spent at San Diego in an attempt
to secure vessel flying Old Glory. The
maritime laws of Mexico are very pecu-
liar Foreign vessels of under thirty
tons are rated as pirates and not al
lowed ordinary American privileges,
without a special permit from Mexico
City. This I did not want to wait for,
and as I could find no sailing master
willing to take a chance at being over
hauled as pirate by Mexican war
vessel I was obliged to accept the
opportunity offered to charter small
vessel at San Quentin, small port
some 200 miles south of San Diego.
Just about this time the Mexican,
Ignacio, who had informed me of the
seals. came into San Diego as one OF
the crew of Mexican vessel hailing
from Guavmas / at once enlisted him
in my service, and on the evening OF
May s, accompanied by Ignacio and V.
T.. Carroll. of Buffalo. who was to 60
with me- to the island. 7 boarded the
st. Denis. a steamer plying down the
coast; and the next morning we arrived
at Ensenada, Bay of Todos Santos, port
of entry for the northern division of
Lower California. It is several miles
up the north shore of this beautifui
bay where Mrs Robert Louis Steven
son has pretty bungalow to which
at times with chosen friends she re-
tires to escape the rush and swirl Of
our more northern civilization. Leav-
ing Ensenada toward evening we were
landed at San Quentin late the next
morning.
We began preparations for our vov-
age at once. An inspection of the
Freia, the little craft which was to
carry us to Guadalupe, showed her to
be sehooner-rigged sharp at both ends,
steering with tiller. and incidentally
having bit of romance attached to
her; her cabin showed bullet holes
made by shots from the guns of the
revenue boats when she was a irene
gade.n We employed for crew, beside
Ignacio Tor as I called him, my man
Friday, he having been marooned alone
for six months on a small island not
long before), three Mexieans, one
sailor. one as cook and sailor, and the
captain, Lopez by name; man whose
violent attachment for that nationally
beloved, villainous poison called mes
cal, gave us much trouble. but as he
was the only man at San Quentin hav-
ing 'tpapers' to sail vessel, we were
obliged to put up with him.
Mr.. Cannon, from whom we charter
ed the vessel. said: 'sNever mind.
Ignaeio can sail the boat; throw Lopez
overheard after you clear and get out
side. - We did not do this, but MANY
times wished we had, for on his get
ting advance money he became drunk
and ugly, and we had TO get him on
board by strategy and keep him there
by force and argument.
It was early morning, May "a, when,
with the Freia well provisioned and
supplied with water, plenty of salt for
curing our specimens, extra ropes,
anchors, etc. we hoisted sails and with
the red, white and green pennant OF
our Southern neighbor flying at the
mast head. a fair northwest wind car
ried us out the ten miles of tortuous
channel across the bar, and at 1880
we were in blue water and scudding
away for Guadalupe With night
came a nasty wind and rain and the
sea got very rough. 1t was here that
/ realized that we had come to sea with
a chart and an old compass the efficacy
of which I had doubts, to represent that
nautical paraphernalia, such as sextant,
almanacs. etc. which all
"oldse dog" navigators think they
must have. I told Mr.. Carroll that I