The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post. [volume], August 30, 1917, Page 3, Image 3

About The Seward gateway and the Alaska evening post. [volume] (Seward, Alaska) 1917-1918

Image provided by: Alaska State Library Historical Collections

                
U. S. WARSHIP RESCUES SURVIVORS OF
MEXICAN ISLAND COLONY AFTER YEARS
ON BARREN ISLAND BATTLING FOR LIFE
% _ •
WASHINGTON, Aug. 15, (By Mail)
The Navy Department has just re
ceived the following report from the
commanding officer of an American
warship:
“On July 18, 1917, this vessel,
cruising in pursuance to orders issued
by the commander, patrol force. Pa
cific Fleet, visited Clipperton Island.
The landing party in charge of the ex
ecutive officer found the following
women and children, subjects of Mex
ico, in destitute condition, who begged
that they be taken away from the isl
and, viz: Senora Alicia R. de Arnaud,
aged 29; Ramon de Arnaud, aged 8;
Alicia de Arnaud, aged 6; Lydia de
Arnaud, aged 4; Angel de Arnaud,
aged 2; Tirza Randon. aged 22; Gua
dalpe Cadorna, aged 2la (daughter of
Tirza Randon); Altagracia Quiroz,
aged 22 (maid to Senora Arnaud);
Rosalia Nava, aged 15; Francisco Ir
ra, aged 12; Antonio lira, aged 6 (the
last three are orphans of Mexican sol
diers).
“After careful consideration of the
circumstances I decided that dictates
of- humanity required me to bring
them to Salina Cruz and accordingly
took them on board as passengers,
landing them at this port yesterday,
the 22d instant.
Story of the Colony
“The pitiful story, as I was able to
gather it through rather indifferent
interpreters, is as follows:
“A phosphate company obtained a
concession from the then Mexican
government to work the guano de
posits on Clipperton Island and es
tablished a colony for the purpose
about 1905. The Mexican govern
ment gave it official sanction, main
taining a small garrison on the island,
the commanding officer of which acted
as Government inspector. For a num
ber of years past this officer was Capt.
Ramon de Arnaud, of the Mexican
army, apparently- a highly educated
trained officer. In 1908 he took his
bride with him. Communication with
the mainland was maintained fairly
regularly until 1914. Early in 1914
Capt. de Arnaud with his wife and
children arrived on the island for the
last time. The vessel that carried
them there was the last supply ship
that visited the island. A short time
afterwards the American schooner
Xokomis was wrecked on the island.
A boat with four of her crew reached
Acapulco and acquainted the world
with her mishap. The U. S. S. Cleve
land visited the island in June, 1914,
to bring away the remainder of the
t-rew of the Xokomis. which included
the captain’s wife and two children.
Capt. de Arnaud sent away by the
Cleveland the only employee of the
company, Gustav Schulz, with his wife
and child, with the belief that Schulz
had lost his mind. Xo one else left
by the Cleveland, as at that time there
was no apprehension of disaster. The
Cleveland was the last ship that visit
ed the island until the American war
ship came. ** *
Little Vegetation on Island
“There is no vegetation on the isl
and except a few uncertain cocoanut
palms. The colony had a few pigs
and chickens and could secure fish
from the lagoon of the island. Gun
nets, gulls, and other sea fowl breed
on the island and are to be found by
the thousands. After the Cleveland left
the colony numbered about thirty peo
ple. Early in 1015 their provisions
were exhausted. Scurvy broke out
among them and they began to die
i rapidly. In May Capt. de Arnaud, in
a desperate effort to obtain relief, left
the island in a small rowboat with
the only three men able to pull an oar.
They have never been heard of since.
Weakened as they were by scurvy and
unable to carry adequate supplies they
undoubtedly perished at sea. When
the number left alive had been re
duced to within the available supply
of cocoanuts the ravages of scurvy
were checked. At the time of the
American warship’s arrival the above
persons were the only survivors. For
more than two years they had sub
sisted on the flesh and eggs of the
gannets ’and gulls, varied by a few
fish and chickens. They had no way
of killing the pigs, which had a pre
carious existence themselves.
One Cocoanut a Week
“They had one cocoanwt a week for
the entire eleven to ward off scurvy.
Considering their food supply they
were in remarkable good health.
“By a fortunate circumstance I was
able to send advance notice of our ex
pected arrival here to the British con
sul, Mr. William Wiseman, also in
| charge here of American interests, and
through him to acquaint Senor Felix
Rovira, father of Senora Arnaud, with
the fact that his daughter was still
alive and on board the American war
ship. *Mr. Wiseman was able to make
all necessary preliminary arrange
ments with the Government officials
for the expeditious landing of the
party and they were landed shortly
after our arrival, in care of Senor Ro
vira.
/~i Wear 7
(jossard
GORS'RTS
They Loco In front
JUST RECEIVED LATEST
STYLES IN LADIES AND
MISSES COATS
j HALLETT & SCOTT
! OF COURSE
The Seward General
- Hospital
desires to acquaint the general hospital inter
ests of this country with the facilities of this
institution for giving the latest devised methods
of nursing care to persons requiring medical or
surgical treatment. Special attention given to
patients requiring gynecological treatments.
Hydrotherapeutic treatments carefully follow
ed. This building, just complete, electric light
ed, steam heated, hot and cold water. Physi
cians placing patients in our care will receive
every ethical attention. Prompt readiness for
acoidents, obstretrics and emergencies, day or
night. For further particulars address,
SISTER SUPERIOR.
“The officers. and crew voluntarily trusted with Mr. Wiseman for distri
raised a fund of $200 for the relief of bution among: them as their neccssi
these poor people, which has been in- ties may require.”
Steamship Agent will
sell you a through
ticket via this line
To Portland, Spokane, St. Paul, Chicago, Kansas City and East and
South
Through Trains—Good Meals—Quick Time—Fine Service
Try it on Your Next Trip
REMEMBER, YOU SAVE MONEY BY BUYING YOUR TICKET
HERE
A. S. DAUTRICK, Traveling Freight and Passenger Agent
Room 18, Valentine Bldg. Juneau Alaska
T. J. MOORE, City Passenger Agent,
Second and Columbia, Seattle.
SEATTLE
%
Invite you to send to them for such items in FURNI
TURE and DRY GOODS as cannot be readily sup
plied by the merchants in your community.
All such orders received by FREDERICK
& NELSON receive the prompt, personal
attention of an expert shopper and Parcel
Post shipments are sent POSTAGE PAID
to any point in Alaska.
NOTE: Inquiries for information relative to the New Spring Line®
of Dry Goods, Apparel and Accessories Will Be Given Prompt
Attention.
Alaska Agricultural
Industrial Fair
TO BE HELD AT
All Alaska and her friends Invited
REDUCED RATES ON ALL STEAMERS
11 Piano Tuner i
!
Geo. Anderson, Expert, is in |
| Seward and is making his head- •
j1 quarters at the Overland Hotel, j
I! Orders taken for Pianos and j
!! Player-Pianos. Pianos for rent. •
" Expert work guaranteed. Main {
120. |
1 •
Scratch pads—for school, for your
desk, for the counter, for the work
room—10c at The Gateway.
-O—-■
Ask your grocers for Seward,
Bakery Bread.
Waste paper, suitable for starting
fires, at The Gateway; 10 cents per
sack.
-8- # j
Andy’s Express, phone Madison 143.
-8
If your sweet tooth Is your wisdom
tooth you will buy your candy at the1
Key. .
-0
Certain-teed Roofing. Guaranteed
5, 10 and 15 years. J. L. Graef’s. tf.
GOOD WARM
WINTER COATS
$25.00 and Up
at
Ellsworth’s
Everything that Ladies and
| Children wear.
HOT and COLD
DRINKS'
at
THE KEY
PHONE MATHISON 115
N
Seward Steam Laundry
Phone Main 157
Beit of Work—Latest Machinery
Work Delivered in 24 hours
Extra Charge
No Charge for Mending Clothes
Rough Dry 10c Pound
Cleaning and Pressing
The RAINIER BUFFET
Ashland Block, corner of
Broadway and Railroad Ave.
WINES, LIQUORS,
CIGARS, ETC.
The House of Good Service
Quality Goods Our Motto
For a Good Haircut go to
JUNTE
Broadway Near Adams
iJoe Reno
MILE 75 ROADHOUSE
GENERAL MERCHANDISE
GIRDWOOD
Everything for Dog Mushers
and Travelers
Best Roadhouse on the Line m
Seward
% || Geo. A Mitchell
Vjf*l I I Proprietor
Open Day and Night
Phone Adams 119
Service Cleanliness
Private lioxe* for I.u<li***i or Parti****
WE PAY—
8 l-2c pound for lead.
$2.75 a hundred for rags.
$33 ton for cast iron.
27 l-2c pound for copper.
5c pound for rope.
18c pound for brass.
7 l-2c pound for rubber.
27c doz. for beer bottles.
ATLAS JUNK CO.
1043 R. R. Ave. So., Seattle.
SEWARD SAW MILLCO.
Good Rough I.umber of all
kinds $30 and up per thousand,
delivered.
TELEPHONE: KENAI2
ANTON JOHANSEN
Seldovia, Alaska
0
First-class merchandise at rea
sonable pricea, prompt service.
Courtesy Food Service
PACIFIC STEAMSHIP CO.
THE ADMIRAL LINE
/ADMIRAL EVANS.Sept. 8
f Captain C. A. Glasscock
SAILINGS ). ADMIRAL FARRAGUT.Sept. 14
FROM SEATTLE: „
‘ ( Captain A. McKay
The Admiral Evans, sailing September 8, goes to Kodiak.
Through Tickets to Eastern Points at Reduced Rates.
For full information on sailings from Seattle to San 1 rancisco, ad
dress Wayne Blue, Agent, Seward, Alaska.
HOTEL OVERLANI
K. L. WHITTEMORE, Proprietor
--- \
Headquarters for Mining Men
SEWARD, - - * ALASKA
H. V. HOBEN A' K J)AV'S
ALASKA TRANSFER
II. V. HOBEN, Manager
Coal, Wood and Ice
General Transferring. Phones, Main 0 and 41
The Seward News Company
GEORGE PHELPS
Booksellers, Newsdealers and Stationers
gjggg W PALACE"
Best Liquors and Cigars
■ ■ ' ~
Lunch Counter in Connection
Lynx, marten, vyntte weasei,
Bear, Mink, Wolverine, Otter
IN DEMAND
Red, Wkite and Bine, Cross
and Silver FOXES In especlahy
STRONG DEMAND
Ship to “Shobert”
Write for
containing valuable Market in
formation you must nave.
A. B. SHUBERT, Inc. 2&7 ^CHICAGO. U.S.A.