The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-09-16
MAY OPEN WONDER
LAND TO PUBLIC
Suit Would Lift Gate
$1,000 Acres of
Land on Pacific
STRANGE SCENERY

If suit recently filed in the count!
superior court at Santa Barbara, Cal
is successful, one of the wonder spot,
of the Pacific coast will be thrown
open to the public. The suit, which Il
brought by Aglae s. Capuccio, against
Arthur j., Fred f. and Albina C.
Claire, the Santa Cruz Island com
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
Santa Barbara, and is little known be-
cause Of present inaccessibility.
The island was secured from the
government many years ago by jus
tinian Cairo and his family, who
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
The suit, it is believed by some of tn
protesting heirs, will result in the cor.
porati0n's being dissolved and the
property divided Tito parcels in &C.
cordanee with the stock holdings.
Santa Cruz contains about $1,000
acres. The north side of it is pre-
cipitous, mountain chain running the
entire length, but there is a good har-
Dor at the other end. The south side
is exposed to the full force Of the Pa.
cific and there is no landing place.
There is small settlement upon 1t.
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
with caves. Some of
these great holes are gaudy with won
1erful combinations of colors, suggest.
ng camouflage. The sea rushes In at |
nigh tide and the caves are filed with
queer sounds likened to the moaning
md groaning Of giants. Practically
very seal in vaudeville or in circuses
which shows exceptional intelligence
'omes from Santa Cruz. For years
capt. George M. Mcclure has driven
hfiving trade with amusement enter
rises in capturing seals.
The island abounds in wild pigs,
oxes and mountain lions. The wild
igs are descendants of porkers
rought to the island half century
go by Russian seal hunters who, on
eparting after a stay Of several
lonths, kidnapped a number Of Indian
omen then resident on Santa Cruz.
he women were taken to the arctic
lnds and formed part Of seal-hunt.
lg colony there. t
Forms Movie Background.
Because Of the strange and beauti. =
4 scenery Of the island 1t is frequent i
used as motion picture back.
.ound. TTJ1
The island management has been
'erse to permitting campers on the =
land In considerable numbers, but 6
casional trips are made to It by :,
lpt. Ira Eaton In his ship the Sea !,
off, with vacation parties. II the =
and IS split up some of the contest. :
heirs will build a wharf and make
bid for tourist patronage.
declares that pirates made HI
island their rendezvous, and there A
8 been desultory and futile search A
buried treasure by various adven. "
rers. n