The Vashon Island record. [volume] (Vashon, Wash.) 1916-1919, 1919-10-02

II a suit recently filed In the county
superior court ut Santa Barbara. Cal.
IL successful, one OF the wonder spots
OF the Pacific coast will be thrown
open TO the public. The suit, which Is
brought by Aglae s. Capuccio. against
Arthur j.. Fred #. and Alblnn G.
Claire. the Santa Cruz Island CONF
pany and others. Involves the owner
ship Of Santa Cruz. the largest OF the
Channel islands. which lies within
thirty miles OF the mainland opposite
Snnta Barbara. and Is little known be-
cause of present lnaccessibility.
The Island was secured from the
government many years ago by JUS
tlnlan Cairo and his family. wlio
formed the Santa Cruz Island com
pany as holding corporation. On
Cares death the widow, holding one
half the stock. combined her interests
with those Of one of her children. thus
exercising complete control OF the
company and the island.
Tax Failure Left Opening.
A recent failure to pay the annual
corporation tax gave the other heirs
an opportunity to attack her control.
Tie suit. 1t is believed by some of tn
protesting heirs, will result in the cor
poration's being dissolved and the
property divided Into parcels In ac-
cordance with the stock holdings.
Santa Cruz contains about $1,000
acres. The north side of 1t is pre-
cipitous. mountain chain running the
entire length. but there is good har-
Dor nj the other end. Tile south side
IL exposed to the full force Of the Pa
cifc and there Is no landing place.
There is small settlement upon II.
Part Of the land is devoted to sheep
grazing and part to wine grape cult
walton. but the greater part Is wild.
The waters about the island teen
with fish and abalone. For large
part of the shore line the cliffs are
honeycombed with caves. Some Of
these great holes are gaudy with won
derful combinations of colOrs, suggest.
Ing camoufiage. The sea PUSHES In nj
high tide and the caves are filled with
queer sounds llkened to the moaning
and grooming Of giants. Practically
every seal In vaudeville or In clrcuses
which shows exceptional intelligence
comes from Santa Cruz. For years
Capt. George NJ. Mcclure has driven n
thriving trade with amusement enter
priscs In capturing seals
The island nbounds In wild pigs,
foxes and mountain lions. The wild
pigs are descendants Of porkers
brought to the island q half century
ago by Russian seal hunters who. on
departing after stay Of several
months. kidnapped number of Indian
women then resident on Santa Cruz.
The women were taken to the arctic
lands and formed part OF seal-hunt.
Ing colony there
Forms Movie Background.
Because of the strange and beanti.
full scenery Of the island 1t is frequent.
ly used as motion picture back
ground,
The island management has been
averse TO permitting campers on the
island In considerable numbers, but
occasional trips are made to 1t by
Capt. Ira Eaton in his ship the Sen
Wolf. with vacation parties. If the
island Is split up some of the contest.
ing heirs will build wharf and make
bid for tourist patronage.
Tradition declares that pirates made
the island their rendezvous, and there
has been desultory and futile search
for buried treasure by various adven-
turers.