Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-12-17
ISLE OF T|BUR0N
NOT AS PER|l0US
AS REPORTED
of News Caused by Fact
That Island is Always Incom-
municado; SeriS Not BeIiev-
ed to Have Many firearms,

buquerque, mining expert, who with
a party OF explorers disappeared into
the wilds of the island of Tiburon in
the Gulf of California over a month
ago are considerably anxious as to the
fate of DIR. Jones and the party. Many
believe that the fact that no news has
lcome out of the island for so long a
time BODIES i'll for the fate of the ex-
pedition. The Blsbee Review believes,
however, that as the island Is always
more or less 'ineommunicado" the
lack IF news should occasion no
alarm.
The last news received from Or.
Jones here was a letter received by
Mrs. Jones, written November IA,
shortly after the departure of the ex-
petition.
The Review says e~ditorially:
Because no word has been heard
from the Tiburon explorers, their
friends are beginning to fret and worry
over their long SILENCE, but just why
no one acquainted with the situation
can find out. So far as al be learned
these people went there to explore
the island and as the island itself is
'incommunicado" no word need be
expected from them pending their re-
turn.
The dangers attending n visit to the
island have been oVerrated by the
newspapers and by the explorers
themselves. True there is some dan
ger, and SO there was and is yet in
portions of Arizona. But a few years
ago the isolated prospeetor and ranch
man were subject to greater dangers
than the limits of the island of Thur
on ever contained, Beyond doubt the
Seri Indians are as poverty stricken
the Pacific slope. In former years
they frequently visited in Hermosillo
for barter and trade, but of late years
they have not been known to have left
the vicinity of the island The only
things they, at that time, could afford
for sale were the breast skins Of the
white pelican. Several of these when
sewed together made Il rug of about
two by four feet, and for which they
received less than n dollar in value in
merchandise. They never asked for
or purchased ammunition, but took
the little coming to them in provisions,
trinkets, white and colored ealicos
they bought no ammunition was
evidence that they had no weapons
for its use. At the time hat Robinson
and partner met their deaths they
were killed with a borrowed gun
have been many stories told Of
this lamentable tragedy, but the ac-
count given by themselves to DR.. Nc
Gee, through an interpreter, was in
substance that Robinson and two
companions rowed from their sloop to
the island for the purpose of hunting
deer. Outside of Robinson, whom the
personally knew, the names of
companions have been forgotten.
Robinson with one of them, went in
land, while the third party was left
to guard the boat. They had been
gone but a half hour before the man
at the boat was persuaded TO loan
some Indians his rifle for the purpose
of killing a large turtle, said to be
above a short bend in the bay. Later
he heard men shout. As these noises
grew closer be became alarmed, push
ed his BOAT off and rowed out int the
bay, and was beyond comfortable gun
at the time the Indians returned
He later joined a sick companion left
lboard the sloop and got away. Some
years later they committed other muir
lers. but always on the unsuspecting
During the two days stay ON the ISL
md. on his second visit to the place,
Or MCGEE did not see m Indian
will the bunch of p~rospectors
low there if it is possible for these
people to avoid them. The winds
over tho island are con-
'cssedly cold in winter and the In
are compelled to occupy fairly
rood shacks. In the summer they
wear but little in the way of clothing
adults occasionally going stark
without modern weapons they
he absolutely harmless against q
mall body of cool headed men. such
Is the present explorers are supposed
o he. Unfortunately, a miscellaneous
,athering OF prospecvors are not al
among the most judicious. In q
ickup of such kind there is generally
ONE on to weaken rather than
trengthen the party. n due 10 this
ccidents are liable to happen. but
side from such possibilities there
sill be nothing to prevent a safe re-
urn of the entire party 50 far as
anger from the Indians is concerned.