VASQUEZ, Rosaline Nicolis
VASQUEZ, Rosaline Nicolis (Rosalindo, Rosalino, Rosalin, Colis, Corlise, Colice) (1866-1920), legendary Santa Barbara sea captain, sea lion hunter and fisherman, son of otter hunter Crispine Vasquez (1845-1878). Santa Cruz Island Company records show that he worked seasonally for the company from 1886 into 1891. Margaret Eaton described him: “I noticed what a good looking man he was. Tall and broad shouldered, he had dark wavy hair and laughing blue eyes, an olive complexion, a very fine set of pearly white teeth, and a drooping black moustache. [That morning] he wore working clothes: a dark blue, heavy woolen sailor shirt with large pearl buttons, khaki trousers, a sailor’s belt of crocheted white twine with a large silver buckle that had his initials engraved on it, and broad black working shoes with low heels. I learned that he was quite a ladies’ man in town and was always dressed in the height of fashion.” [Eaton 1980:39-40].
In 1890 Vasquez was the sole survivor of the wreck of the Undine in the vicinity of Ladys Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. The captain and engineer were both lost. From 1907 until 1913, Rosalin Vasquez ran the vessel Gussie M. In 1913, Vasquez established a tent camp at Fry’s Harbor. Backed by wealthy Los Angeles entrepreneur Frank A. Garbutt, the excursion boat Otter, financed by Garbutt, was built for Vasquez to service the camp. Once Otter was launched, Vasquez and his partner, George McGuire, sold the Gussie M to his friend, Ira Eaton, at Pelican Bay, for $1500.
Vasquez married twice. With Flora, his first wife, they had three children:
- Marguerite Vasquez Griffin (1897-1969)
- Minnie Vasquez Yarwood (1899-1987)
- Harry "Tito" Vasquez (1906-1985)
With his second wife Theresa, they had four children:
- Arnold Vasquez (1907-1979)
- Albert Vasquez (1910-1947)
- Hortense (Daniels)
- Helen Vasquez Gradias (1904-1990)
Rosalin Vasquez died at age 53 while off Smugglers Harbor on Santa Cruz Island from an apparent heart attack. He is buried in Santa Barbara at Calvary Cemetery (#2082).
Rosalin Vasquez dominated the Santa Barbara Channel maritime new for over three decades. Vessels he owned and/or operated include:
- Brisk
- Undine [wrecked]
- Fishhawk
- Helene [wrecked]
- Otter
- Pearl
- Petrel
- Kingfisher
- Peerless
- Gussie M
- Mary B
- Estrella
In the News~
June 7, 1886 [SBDP]: “The sloop Brisk, Captain Vasquez, Friday took a party of seal hunters to San Nicolas Island. While there the boat experienced some rough weather and lost her anchors. She arrived back here yesterday.”
December 10, 1890 [SBDI]: “At last the mystery of the schooner Undine solved. Rosalindo Vasquez arrives on Star of Freedom. He is the only survivor. Early this morning people at the beach sighted a small schooner which old seadogs pronounced the Star of Freedom, a small vessel belonging to the Santa Cruz Island Company. The wind was light and it was eleven o’clock before she got within easy distance. Then Fred Forbush jumped into a small boat and just beyond the kelp boarded her. On the vessel he found Rosalindo Vasquez, the last survivor of the unfortunate schooner, the Undine, which left this port one week ago today, bound for the fishing camp on the Island Santa Cruz. A representative of this paper visited young Vasquez and from him learned the full details given below. The young man looked pretty well used up and shows in many ways the hardships he went through. He told his story in a simple manly way quite touching to hear. The story. ‘We left Santa Barbara at seven o’clock A.M., December 3rd,’ said Rosalindo. ‘All went well till we got within five miles from Lady Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. The wind had been severe for some time and the sea was choppy and boisterous. The propeller became useless and one moment was deep in the water and next entirely out of it and racing terribly. We stopped the engine and ran along under full jib, full foresail and double-reefed mainsail. We pitched and rolled terribly and Fred, the engineer, asked if we hadn’t better take in sail? The Captain said ‘I am running this vessel and know what I am about.’ He then went below. At that moment an angry puff of wind caught us and turned us over, the vessel like a shell. We took in a vast wave which burst the hatches, and we were capsized. I was at the foremast, the engineer was at the wheel and the Captain rushed on deck and ordered the halyards cast lose, but the wind was too heavy and the sails would not fall. I grabbed my knife and cut the painter on the small skiff on deck. As the boat turned I jumped in, losing the oars. I called ‘For God’s sake try and get into the boat with me!’ But I had no oars and drifted away beyond reach, and Captain J. N. Lord and the engineer, Fred, were left on the capsized vessel. I drifted on and on. All that afternoon and that terrible dark, windy, rainy night I was on the water in that little boat. About sunrise, December 4th, I drifted on to Anacapa Island. I had no way of building a fire and nothing to eat. I killed a sheep and my hunger at length drove me to eat a little of the raw meat. I was on the island three days. Last Saturday I got into my boat and managed in four hours to reach Santa Cruz Island. I went to the fishing camp and got food. Last night I embarked on the Star of Freedom and we got here today as you see. I am the only survivor and have had a terrible experience. I am very glad to set foot on shore again.’ It seems that the great reason of the capsizing of the Undine was the insufficiency of ballast. Captain Ellis was intending to add a good deal to it on her return. The saving of this young man was almost a miracle. He was entirely without oars, food or water. Chance only saved him.”
December 14, 1890 [SBMP]: “Editor, Morning Press. The issue of the Independent of December 10th, contains a gratuitous slur, directed toward me and toward my race. I, the sole survivor of three in the unfortunate wreck of the Undine; upon my escape after the disaster, it was my duty to repeat the facts of the ship wreck as they occurred, that the relatives and friends of the lost ones might know the circumstances of their fate. This I did and nothing more. The reporter of the Independent interviewed me and asked for my story. As courteously and correctly as I could, I gave it to him. He, without any cause or provocation, intimates in an editorial clause at the close of the article, that I was willing to play upon the feelings of those already overwhelmed with sorrow by falsely describing the state of those beloved by them. My statement showed for itself whether it was true or false; I have not the reputation of a liar and any insinuation contained in the article of that nature is cowardly. I have no desire to attack the writer of the article in question, and I think the people of Santa Barbara can see clearly that if I am a liar, I have an able co-laborer in the Independent. Rosalin Vasquez. [The young man, Vasquez, was interviewed by a representative of this paper at the same time the Independent reporter was present, and it must be said that Vasquez told a simple, straightforward story without the least attempt at sensationalism. There was no justification for the editorial remark that his story was ‘to be taken with several grains of salt.’—Ed. Press.]”
June 20, 1892 [LAT/SB]: “Thrilling adventure of two seal hunters at sea… Joe Olivas and Colice Vasquez left Santa Barbara some four or five weeks ago in a small sailboat called the Fishhawk for the islands to fish for seals. They had been moderately successful and had perhaps $100 worth of seal products on board when, on passing from Santa Cruz to Santa Clara [?] Island the bottom came out of their boat and it sank, the two men escaping in a small skiff. This they also lost in making the landing in the surf. They lost their entire outfit - guns, clothing, provisions, everything, barely escaping with their lives.”
August 31, 1893 [LAT/SB]: “There is trouble on the island kingdom of President Justinian Caire of the Santa Cruz Island Company. It appears that Mr. Caire has had his son on the island as superintendent, and that there is considerable pains being taken to discourage people from landing thereon. Two young men from this city, R. Vasquez and Manuel Alves, have been on the island since July 15 gathering abalone shells and abalones from the rocks and cliffs on the north side. They had collected fifteen sacks of abalone meat and twelve sacks of shells, and on the 24th began taking them to Surprise [?] Harbor, where the schooner Restless was to come and take the boys and their load to this port. It proved to be a surprise harbor for them, for when they were bringing their last load in the skiff from Lady Harbor, they saw the gasoline launch Santa Cruz leaving in a hurried manner, and on following her in a skiff, found that she had taken their stuff on board. They went to the superintendent, but he would give them no satisfaction and ordered them away. Saturday they swore to a complaint charging young Mr. Caire and the steam schooner’s captain with theft, and Constable Dan Dover left for Santa Cruz Island on the Restless Sunday with the intention of arresting the two men.”
April 10, 1894 [SBDI]: “Two deep water sailors, comparative strangers here, hired a boat of Vasquez about ten days ago, to go to the islands, saying they would return in three days. Up to this morning they had not shown up; the owner has started out to look for the missing boat. There is a division of opinion among the waterfront people as to what has become of them. Some think the strangers have skipped, others that they met with some trouble, as they did not show an extensive knowledge of navigation. The boat in which they sailed was formerly a life boat on the Goldenhorn.”
June 18, 1896 [SBDI]: “The schooner Restless has returned from Santa Cruz Island with a catch of twenty-five seals aboard. After over a month of rough weather which made the capture of the amphibians almost impossible, a calm ensued and in five days the six sealers, which are under the command of Rosaline Vasquez, succeeded in filling the order given by Captain Mullett. Four sealers are still at work at San Miguel Island and their catch will be added to those present on the dock and will be shipped east and then by steamer to their destination in London, Amsterdam, etc. The seals are fine, young and healthy.”
March 18, 1897 [LAT/SB]: “Officer Jacob Shoup returned late Tuesday afternoon from Santa Cruz Island with two Mexicans charged with stealing a boat belonging to Rosalin Vasquez. The men are in jail pending examination, charged with grand larceny.”
July 7, 1897 [SBDI]: “Capturing seals. The first installment of a big shipment east. Fourteen barking sea lions lie confined in cages in the water beneath the wharf and the Restless has returned to Santa Cruz Island for another lot. The seals are for Captain Mullett and will be shipped to New York as soon as the balance of the consignment of forty arrives. Colis Vasquez arrived from the island Monday in the Big Loafer with ten seals, and he returned last night with Captain Burtis in the Restless. His party remained on the island, but may return with the Restless.”
August 14, 1898 [LAT/SB]: “The sloop Helene, Captain Vasquez, arrived from San Miguel Island yesterday with a cargo of sheep.”
October 29, 1898 [SBMP]: “Vasquez, who runs a boat that freights guano from San Miguel Island, was caught in a heavy wind while on his way across the channel, soon after leaving for this side, on Thursday night, and to save his boat, crew and himself, was obliged to throw overboard a couple of tons of guano.”
December 13, 1898 [SBMP]: “The yacht Helene, built a few years ago by J. D. Axtell and owned by Edwards & Company, is a total wreck in Forney's Cove on Santa Cruz Island. Captain Ramon Vasquez, who was in command, is seriously ill at his home on lower De La Vina Street, the result of the drenching received in escaping to the shore, and the exposure in the cold during the following day and night. The rest of the party escaped with their lives and the clothes upon their backs, but nothing else. The story of the wreck can best be told by Captain Rosaline Vasquez, son of Captain [Ramon] Vasquez, who was with the Helene when she was driven ashore. Rosaline has been the survivor of three wrecks in the Santa Barbara Channel, but has always escaped unhurt. In 1892, he was the only one saved from Captain Ellis' Undine when the vessel capsized six miles off Santa Cruz Island. The year following he was with the Fishhawk when she was wrecked on Santa Rosa. And now he lives to tell the story of the Helene’s wreck...”
December 13, 1898 [LAT/SB]: “The schooner Santa Rosa came into port late last night bring with her six shipwrecked men from the schooner Helene… The six men on the vessel were Ramon Vasquez, Joseph Leva, Colice Vasquez, Joe Cota and Charles Shout… The Helene was a comparatively new boat, having been in the channel about four years… She has been employed catching live seals for the Rogers Brothers…”
December 13, 1898 [SFCall]: “Wave-swept channel rock their haven. Horrible suffering of shipwrecked men. Loss of schooner Helene. Strikes a reef off Santa Cruz Island. Crew of six gains the shore by swimming, after a night spent on a rock washed by the breakers. The schooner Santa Rosa came into port last night bringing six shipwrecked men fro the schooner Helene. These men tell a thrilling tale of their experience after having been shipwrecked off Santa Cruz Island on Thursday evening. While on the east side of Santa Cruz they encountered a southeaster and a very heavy sea. They immediately made for the west end of the island, which is protected from a southeast wind. They anchored off Forney's Cove, at the extreme end of the island, and had lain there three or four hours when a northeaster began blowing down the channel between Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz islands. Three anchors were immediately thrown out, but they were powerless against the heavy wind. It was useless for the crew to attempt to pull up anchor and make to sea. The vessel dragged her anchors, and at about midnight struck a low reef, which forms one side of Forney's Cove, with terrific force, knocking a large hole in her bottom. The vessel turned over on her side, and what provisions were not washed off her deck by the waves which swept over her were destroyed by the water. The six men had great difficulty in saving themselves from being swept off the rigging. The small skiff was unfastened, but as soon as put into the water was capsized. Its oars were thus lost. Finally the crew succeeded in righting it, and fastened one end of a rope to the boat and the other end to the wrecked Helene. They all got in and set the skiff adrift, hoping it would be blown to a small rock about 100 yards from the wreck. This hope was realized. All night long they remained on the rock in a howling wind, soaked to the skin, and the waves washing completely over them every few minutes. Late the next day the tide had lowered sufficiently for them to wade a considerable distance on the reef, and by swimming a few hundred yards they reached the mainland. They found a deserted Chinese cabin, which contained provisions. Here they remained another twenty-four hours when the schooner Santa Rosa happened to see their signal of distress. When the southeaster came up the Santa Rosa had been forced out of Santa Barbara harbor and held in the channel two or three days, seeking a safe harbor. She was within three or four miles of the west end when Captain Burtis saw the signal of distress. The wind was blowing a terrific gale at the time, and it was with great risk that an anchorage was made and the men rescued. When found they were in a sorry condition, all being chilled through and through. Ramon Vasquez, an old sea captain, was in command of the Helene. He was in a serious condition when picked up. He could neither move a muscle nor make a sound. At a late hour today the attending physician said that he could not live many hours. The other five men, although badly bruised and exhausted, are not in a serious condition. The men on the vessel were: Ramon Vasquez, Joseph Leva, Colais [sic] Vasquez, Joe Olivas, Joe Cota and Charles Thrift. The Helene was built in this city at a cost of $5000, but was never considered a seaworthy vessel. She was four years old, and was registered at fifteen tons. She was the property of Edwards & Co., local hardware men. The Helene had been catching seals alive for Rogers Bros. of this city, who trained them and sold them to Easterners.”
December 20, 1898 [SBMP]: “Rosaline Vasquez has visited the scene of the wreck of the Helene and obtained part of the rigging, the mainsail, etc. He returned yesterday on the schooner Santa Rosa, reporting nothing left of the sloop but pieces. Captain [Ramon] Vasquez is improving slowly now, having passed the danger point.”
February 9, 1899 [LAT/SB]: “The schooner Pearl came in from the Channel Islands late yesterday afternoon with seven large live seals for Rogers Brothers of this city. Captain Vasquez states that he encountered the roughest weather in all his experiences the latter part of last week, and it was with the greatest difficulty that his vessel was saved. The seals which he caught were brought over in crates, and the most of them will go to Washington, D. C. to go on exhibition in the National Museum of that city. This class of seal is of very little value except that of interest, but they yield some oil.”
February 19, 1899 [LAT/SB]: “Captain Vasquez of the schooner Pearl left this morning for Santa Cruz Island in search of live seals for Rogers Brothers.”
February 28, 1899 [SFCall]: “Santa Barbara, February 27. For many years it has been thought that Santa Barbara and vicinity were the base of a nest of systematic smugglers. On several occasions during the last ten years the Government has sent detectives here to investigate, and although they always felt sure smuggling was being carried on they have never succeeded in getting any definite information. Last Wednesday, as Captain Arabas of the Olita was rounding the east end of Santa Cruz Island, he saw a strange vessel apparently anchored off the west shore of Anacapa Island, four miles distant. He could see a skiff lowered and three men enter it after considerable delay and make for the shore. With the smuggler stories fresh in mind he made for the strange vessel and got within two miles of her, when she took on board the skiff and made for the open sea… Captain Vasquez of the Pearl also saw the vessel and is of the opinion that she did not want her movements known.”
February 28, 1899 [LAT/SB]: “... It has long been thought that there has been smuggling going on in this neighborhood, but no direct clue could be gotten hold of that led to any certainty. While the Olita was rounding the east end of Santa Cruz Island one day last week, they saw a large vessel, apparently anchored off Anacapa Island’s west end. They also saw some men leave the vessel in a skiff and go to the shore… Captain Vasquez of the Pearl also saw the vessel making for the open sea, but could not explain her mission…”
August 4, 1899 [SBMP]: “Twelve tons of seals. Forty of them arrive from the islands yesterday. Island fleet of boats run a race across the channel. Pearl the winner... Petrel, Captain Bates, and Pearl, Captain Vasquez, were also ready to start, when one of the skippers, probably Captain Burtis of the Santa Rosa, proposed a race to Santa Barbara... and at 1:30 the little Pearl ran inside beyond the wharf and dropped her anchor...”
September 18, 1899 [LAT]: “Captain Colice Vasquez arrived here last night from the islands. He brought over four very large sea lions, which were shipped east today by express.”
July 19, 1900 [SBMP]: “The Petrel, Captain Vasquez, arrived last evening from the islands with four sea lions for eastern menageries.”
July 20, 1900 [LAT/Red]: “The Petrel, Captain Vasquez, arrived from the islands last evening with four sea lions to be shipped east.”
January 12, 1901 [SBDI]: “Captain Vasquez arrived this morning from the islands in the sloop Petrel. The vessel brought over 14 sacks of crawfish for the San Francisco market.”
January 15, 1901 [SBDI]: “The sloop Petrel, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, and the schooner Restless, Captain Burtis, sailed for the islands this morning.”
January 22, 1901 [SBMP]: “Rosalind Vasquez returned Saturday evening from the islands after an unsuccessful search for the body of Felix Botiller who was drowned several days ago.”
January 31, 1901 [SBMP]: “Colice Vasquez has entered into a contract to furnish seals from the islands to be shipped to Hannover, Germany...”
February 4, 1901 [SBDI]: “Clarence Libby and Frank Nidever of this city came near finding a watery grave in the channel between here and Santa Cruz Island last Thursday. The two men had taken the sloop Petrel for a sailing and fishing trip about the channel. They left Thursday morning. When about half way across the channel a heavy sea was encountered. The storm tossed them about and the seams in the boat began opening up, and before they could lower some of their sail, the boat was nearly swamped. The men, by bailing the water out of the boat, finally succeeded in reaching Santa Cruz Island, where they met Captain Vasquez. At the island they hauled the boat on the beach and calked the seams. They returned to the mainland last night.”
March 20, 1901 [SBMP]: “Captain Colise Vasquez started for the islands yesterday after six seals for Mr. Rogers, who has eastern orders to fill.”
March 20, 1901 [SBDI]: “The sloop Kingfisher, Captain Colice Vasquez, left for the islands this morning for seals for H. F. Rogers.”
March 20, 1901 [LAT/SB]: “Captain Colise Vasquez left today for the Channel Islands on a seal hunt to supply several orders from eastern menageries.”
March 31, 1901 [SBMP]: “The Kingfisher, Captain Vasquez, arrived from the islands yesterday with eight sea lions.”
May 12, 1901 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez, with the Big Loafer, took a number of Chinamen to Santa Cruz Island yesterday. They will establish an abalone fishing camp.”
June 6, 1901 [SBMP]: “H. A. Rogers is shipping six seals from the islands to the Pan-American Exposition. Captain Vasquez brought them over in the Kingfisher.”
June 10, 1901 [SBDI]: “Herbert A. Rogers is now negotiating with the directors of the Pan-American Exposition for space at the exposition for a small amphibia, to which he will take several seals from the Channel Islands and train them for exhibition. Mr. Rogers has had much experience in catching and training seals, having been in the business with E. F. Rogers for over 20 years. During the last year his men have captured 45 animals about the islands, which have been shipped to various cities of the east and abroad. New York, New Orleans, Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and Hamburg, Germany, have seals from the channel waters. Mr. Rogers is now preparing an expedition that will go to the islands soon after 15 large seals for the exposition, if his request for space is granted. The art of capturing the queer amphibious animals is known only to a few. One must be unusually quick and must be very handy with the lasso. Ramon Vasquez, Colice Vasquez, José Espinosa, José Olivos and Hiram Pierce are all experts. It is dangerous as well as difficult work to get them, as they are very vicious and only haunt the roughest shores, where the deep caves are.”
July 9, 1901 [SBDI]: “Henry Short’s launch with nine passengers given up for lost, Higgins’ launch drifts to Ventura and yacht Ariel lands on Santa Cruz after fierce battle with elements… Yesterday morning the party of 22 left this port, ten going in the yacht Ariel, nine in Henry Short’s launch, Chispa, and three in Mr. Higgins small gasoline launch… The Ariel shipped sea after sea, but early in the afternoon succeeded in getting to the island and thinking Prisoners’ Harbor the safer port for them, passed Tinker’s Harbor, where they intended to make camp, and anchored in Prisoners’ Harbor… Captain Colice Vasquez, who was to bring over a party of campers from Tinker’s Harbor this morning, saw the boat sail past the harbor and about three hours later rowed down to Prisoners’ Harbor and found them in distress. The boat was half full of water, they were wet and chilled through, their provisions were soaked and their row boat was lying near by full of water, so that they had no means of getting ashore. Vasquez rowed the party back to his camp, where a great fire was made and food and dry clothes provided…”
July 10, 1901 [SBMP]: “Captain Colise Vasquez returned yesterday from the islands where he has been engaged in shooting seal. He killed over 200 during his stay at the islands, and will return today.”
July 10, 1901 [SBDI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez left this morning for the islands to shoot seals. Vasquez returned yesterday with over 200 skins for the San Francisco markets.”
July 22, 1901 [SBDI]: “Colice Vasquez came over from the island this morning with a load of seaweed for local Chinamen. The Chinese use the prepared seaweed in their food.”
July 31, 1901 [SBMP]: “Colice Vasquez has entered into a contract to furnish seals from the islands to be shipped to Hannover, Germany, for Captain Webb, the noted seal dealer and trader. B. M. Treat of New York, agent for Captain Webb, was here last week, and left the matter with J. M. Armstrong... Captain Vasquez expects to ship several every sixty or ninety days, as there is a ready market for them as fast as they can be trained.”
July 31, 1901 [SFCall]: “Santa Barbara, July 30. Two Stanford University men, Snodgrass and E. C. Starks, are making an investigation of the local seal rookeries for the Government, which may add volumes to the present knowledge of seals and the industry of sealing. For some weeks they have been engaged in visiting the rookeries of San Miguel and Santa Cruz islands, two of the island chain which bounds the Santa Barbara Channel… The work of the Stanford men has been to ascertain whether the seals were fish-eaters. For this purpose they chartered a schooner under Captain Vasquez of this port. They did not confine their search to one locality, but took seals from every part of the island where they are found. On their first voyage sixty-three were captured and killed for examination of their stomachs. Out of the sixty-three only three were found to contain edible fish. There were devilfish, squid and shellfish, discerned by microscopic analysis, in the stomachs of the seals, but other kinds were not there. This was taken as a proof that the seal is not an enemy but a friend to the fishermen. In the stomach of one huge bull seal were found fifteen pieces of rock, each larger than a hen’s egg. The Stanford men sailed today for the lower end of Anacapa Island, the farthest island southeast in the chain. They will return here for supplies on Monday.”
September 29, 1901 [SBMP]: “The Kingfisher, Captain Colice Vasquez, left for the islands last evening to fish for crawfish.”
October 25, 1901 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez left for Santa Cruz Island in the Kingfisher today, taking a party of eight men who will pick shells for the local factory.”
November 9, 1901 [SBDN]: “The schooner Kingfisher, Captain Vasquez, reached here yesterday from Santa Rosa Island and brought over a small quantity of shells for the Santa Barbara Shell Company, and two seals for the trained animal show which is to take them along at the close of their stand here. The seals are very large ones. Captain Vasquez is the most expert seal catcher of the islands.”
November 13, 1901 [SBDN]: “The Kingfisher, Captain Vasquez, sailed yesterday for Santa Rosa Island. Her only passenger was the foreman of the island.”
November 26, 1901 [SBMP]: “A party of fourteen Santa Barbara men hitched up the gasoline yacht Petrel Saturday evening and drove across the channel for a little Sunday jaunt. They made for Captain Colice Vasquez' crawfish camp on Santa Cruz Island and were received by that gentleman in his skiff.”
December 5, 1901 [LAT/SB]: “Captain Colice Vasquez of the Kingfisher, a vessel plying between this harbor and the Channel Islands, has received an order from Dr. Emmet Wemple of Oakland for forty seals for eastern shipment to be delivered within two months.”
June 6, 1902 [SBMP]: “A strong northwest wind has prevailed for days. Captain Vasquez and his seal hunters have been unable to make any catches for a week.”
August 6, 1902 [SBMP]: “The Kingfisher, Captain Vasquez, has sailed for the islands to catch twelve seals for Herbert Rogers.”
August 12, 1902 [LAT/SB]: “The Kingfisher, Captain Vasquez, arrived from Santa Cruz Island today with a number of seals consigned to Herbert Rogers of this city.”
September 17, 1902 [SBMP]: “The sloop Kingfisher, Captain Vasquez, is preparing for a sealing cruise about the islands. The captain has orders for fifteen live seal.”
October 11, 1902 [SBMP]: “Colice Vasquez sailed yesterday for Anacapa Island in the sloop Kingfisher. He is after seals, and will remain at the island until he has a full cargo.”
January 20, 1903 [SBI]: “The schooner Kingfisher, Captain Vasquez, will sail for Santa Rosa Island tomorrow with several men and the island mail.”
February 20, 1903 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez brought over from the islands yesterday six live seals that are to be shipped east by H. A. Rogers. Two of them are pups that are to go to Lonawanda, N. Y. to take a circus kindergarten course, and the others, full grown specimens, are for zoological gardens in New York City.”
March 12, 1903 [SBMP]: “Colice Vasquez set sail yesterday with the Kingfisher headed to Santa Cruz Island to secure a number of live seals for eastern shipment.”
August 1, 1903 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez, the local sealer, brought over from the island last night eight fine young specimens of that intelligent mammal for shipment to the seal college at Pacific Grove. After finishing the course of instruction there they will be sent to various circuses and zoos in the east.”
September 21, 1903 [SBI]: “Santa Barbara sea lions marvel of brute intelligence… Theses wonderful sea lions were captured at Santa Cruz Island, three years ago, by Captain Colice Vasquez of Santa Barbara, who has done more than any other man in America in the traffic of sea lions for training. He shipped them east and they were trained there. They were about eighteen months old when captured, this being the age at which these animals are at their best for educational purposes. Captain Vasquez states that the life of a sea lion in captivity is about six years…”
September 22, 1903 [SBMP]: “Rosaline Vasquez was arraigned in the police court yesterday for disturbing the peace. He pleaded not guilty and his trial was set for this afternoon at 2:30.”
October 2, 1903 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez, whose fame as a capturer of sea lions reaches from the Pacific to the Atlantic shores; has his hands more than full at present in the effort to keep up with his orders for the very intelligent and tractable amphibians that have of late years been in eager demand for show purposes. Only yesterday Dr. Robinson of Chicago left for the east with seven of the animals that had been taken from their native element by Captain Vasquez…”
October 6, 1903 [SBI]: “Santa Barbara seals to shine at St. Louis. Captain Charles Lyons, the famous trainer of sea lions, and J. M. Wilkins, proprietor of the Cliff House at San Francisco, today concluded a short visit to this city… Their visit here was in connection with Captain Lyons’ quest of the amphibia… Captain Lyons is now after another lot of pupils, and Captain Colice Vasquez has a crew of men at Santa Cruz Island at the present time engaged in the effort to capture not less than twenty…”
October 14, 1903 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez arrived from Santa Cruz Island this morning in the Kingfisher with a cargo of seal pups. There were nineteen of the strange little animals, and they showed a distinctly homesick mien. Thirteen of them went to Captain Charles Lyon at the Cliff House, to be trained for the world’s fair at St. Louis next year. The other six are taken by Demetera Bilyck, who for the past seven years has worked as trainer for the great Hagenbeck menageries, and who arrived in Santa Barbara only a few weeks ago. He has secured a small building on Ocean Boulevard, just west of State Street, where his pets are already disporting in a large galvanized iron tank filled with sea water.”
December 2, 1903 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez returned from the Channel Islands yesterday with Captain G. M. McGuire of New York, who had been for several days past trying to catch seals. The captain is old at the business and he was accompanied by several capable assistants, but the party was unable to catch a single seal, owing to the very rough seas that have prevailed at the islands for a week or so past. Captain McGuire expects to return to the islands with his party today and make a fresh attempt in the business in hand.”
December 14, 1903 [SBMP]: “On account of some delay in constructing the proper crates, Captain Lyon did not leave for Santa Cruz Island on Tuesday as expected. He hopes to start this morning on the schooner Peerless, Captain Vasquez. The party will be absent several days, as Captain Lyons is in hope of securing about 20 dolphins to take up to his training school at the Cliff House.”
December 19, 1903 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez took a boatload of supplies over to San Miguel Island for Captain Waters today, and when his cargo is delivered he will enter upon a hunt for big bull sea lions, whose favorite resort is the island in question. The animals are wanted for exhibition at the world’s fair at St. Louis next year, hence the principal requirement is large size.”
December 24, 1903 [SBMP]: “On account of some delay in constructing the proper crates, Captain Lyon did not leave for Santa Cruz Island on Tuesday as expected. He hopes to start this morning on the schooner Peerless, Captain Vasquez.”
December 24, 1903 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez went to the islands this morning in his power launch Peerless, with crates for ten sea lions that he hopes to capture for exhibition at the St. Louis world’s fair.”
February 19, 1904 [SBI]: “This afternoon Captain Colice Vasquez will set sail in the Peerless for San Miguel Island, where he will prosecute his familiar and favorite quest for sea lions, to fill orders received from eastern zoos.”
March 28, 1904 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez returned from the Channel Islands last night with six fine young sea lions for Mullett & McGuire, who will ship them to St. Louis for exhibition at the World’s Fair. This is the first installment on an order for forty of the odd mammals, and Vasquez will return to the islands to hunt for more.”
April 4, 1904 [SBI]: “Last Saturday evening Captain Merry and Arthur C. Greenwell returned home from the islands in the former’s yacht Daisy. As detailed in The Independent in last Friday’s issue, they went across the channel night before in quest of Jack King and Arley Peters of Hueneme, who had left that port on March 22 in a small surf boat on a fishing expedition to Anacapa Island, expecting to be gone a week, and from whom no tidings had been received by their anxious friends. The searching party found absolutely no trace of the missing fishermen. They sailed around all of the Channel Islands and scanned closely every spot on the beaches where craft of any size could make landing, without getting sight of either men or boat. Captain Colice Vasquez, who is over at the islands hunting for sea lions, has also been for several days on the lookout for the lost fishermen, but he has seen no trace of them, as he informed the Daisy’s crew. Although all efforts at their rescue have thus far been fruitless, it is by no means certain that the lost men have perished in the deep. It is thought very likely that, overtaken by some vessel out on the open sea, they may have been taken aboard and carried to the port whither the vessel was bound, in which event they must be heard from, sooner or later, according to the destination of the craft that rescued them.”
April 12, 1904 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez is preparing to sail for Santa Cruz Island again tomorrow in quest of sea lions. He will try to secure eight of the prized mammals for shipment to the east.”
August 7, 1904 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez returned from Ventura yesterday, after taking a large party of people out to Anacapa Island and leaving them there for an extended camping trip.”
August 13, 1904 [SBMP]: “The launch Peerless, in charge of its owner and captain, Rosalin Vasquez, sailed yesterday morning for Santa Cruz Island. From there he goes to San Pedro to have the Peerless overhauled in dry dock.”
August 28, 1904 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez was unloading a cargo of abalone shells in front of the Peerless yesterday. The boat also carried sea grass and other products of San Miguel Island. The Peerless leaves again today for San Miguel Island for another load of the same commodities.”
September 10, 1904 [SBMP]: “The Peerless, in charge of Captain Vasquez, left yesterday for Anacapa Island where there are some fishermen who have been catching crawfish. They have not sent in their catches lately, and it is believed that they have by this time accumulated a large supply of crawfish, which are now becoming rare and accordingly bringing a higher price.”
September 18, 1904 [SBMP]: “The large power launch Peerless left the wharf last night in charge of Captain Vasquez...”
September 27, 1904 [SBMP]: “C. Vasquez left for the islands yesterday in the Peerless in quest of live seals. He has already captured some, but is after more.”
September 29, 1904 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez returned yesterday from the islands bringing back ten sacks full of crawfish, the catch of several fishermen of the last few days.”
October 6, 1904 [SBMP]: “Captain Colice Vasquez returned from the islands yesterday with a boat-load of fish, including fifteen sacks of crawfish.”
November 4, 1904 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez brought sad news last night. Captain Colice Vasquez arrived from Santa Cruz Island last night at 10 o'clock bringing news of S. W. Cooney, a Grand Rapids Michigan man who had been in Santa Barbara since last April for his health. Mr. Cooney, who was passionately fond of fishing and boating went to the island last week to visit a party of campers at Lady's Harbor. On last Monday he took a row boat and went out on the bay for an afternoon's fishing and has not been seen since... Captain Vasquez broke the sad news to Mrs. Cooney, who is nearly prostrated by the blow...”
November 7, 1904 [LAT/SB]: “Captain Colice Vasquez of the launch Peerless has returned from Santa Cruz Island with the news of the sad death of S. W. Cooney, a Grand Rapids, Michigan man who had been in Santa Barbara for his health since last April. Cooney, who was an expert sailor and fisherman, went to Santa Cruz Island several days ago with a party of friends and camped at Lady’s Harbor. He spent most of his time in a small skiff fishing, and Monday left for the fishing grounds as usual. Since that time he had not been seen. Cooney’s friends became anxious when he failed to return Monday night and instituted a search. They found no traces of the missing man, but later his skiff was discovered bottom up on the beach. Cooney wore heavy rubber boots while out fishing and it is surmised that the boat capsized and the boots rendered the man helpless in the water. Captain Vasquez broke the news to Mrs. Cooney, who was completely prostrated. She soon recovered, and later in the day left for the islands in the power launch Frances, with the intention of making a thorough search for the body. Cooney was at one time since coming to Santa Barbara, captain of the Potter Hotel launch, Frances, and Mrs. Cooney has been employed as a bookkeeper at the Potter Hotel.”
November 30, 1904 [SBMP]: “Captain R. Vasquez has returned from San Nicolas Island with the remains of Tie Kee, the Chinaman who died from starvation on that island about five years ago. San Nicolas is a low, barren island that lies about seventy-five miles south of this city. It has a rough shore and no good harbors for landing. Its shores produce large quantities of abalone shells, which were much sought after by the Chinese residents of the coast. The dead Chinaman was one of a party of three who left this city about five years ago, prepared to live on San Nicolas for six months while hunting abalone shells and meat. They fitted a fine camp there, which was looted a few days later by some passing fishermen while the owners were on the other side of the island. The thief took everything they possessed in the way of camp equipment and provisions, and the unfortunate Chinamen were left without means of subsistence. For several months they lived upon abalone meat, and having no means of leaving the island, they were soon too weak to gather sufficient food. One of them died and was buried by his companions. The other two then became so weak that they lost their senses and wandered about the island in an aimless manner, at last falling prostrate. A few hours afterward they were discovered by Captain Clarence Libbey of the Reliance, who thought they were already dead. He took them to his boat and succeeded in bringing them to the city. During the last few days a purse has been made up by the Chinese for the purpose of exhuming the body of the dead Chinaman and shipping the remains to his home in China. Captain Vasquez was accompanied on the trip by Mr. E. A. Sanders of the Ricketts Undertaking Company, where the remains of the Chinaman will be prepared for shipment to the Orient.”
December 1, 1904 [LAT/SB]: “The remains of Tie Kee, the unfortunate Chinaman who died of starvation on San Nicolas Island five years ago, have just been brought to this city by Captain Vasquez of the Peerless. A purse was made up by the Chinese residents for the purpose of exhuming the remains and shipping then to China. Tie Kee’s death was caused by the robbery of his camp on the island, which was shared by two other Chinamen. The robbers took all their catch, camp equipment and provisions, while the fishermen were on the other shore of the island after abalone shells. They managed to live for some days without other provisions than abalone meat, but at last Tie Kee died and was buried by his companions. The other two were rescued by Captain Libbey of the Reliance and brought to this city.”
December 29, 1904 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez of the Peerless has made a number of trips to the islands, but has been unable to land or drop a net into the water for fish or seals. It is believed the weather has now reached a climax, and will be better during the next few days.”
January 4, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez left yesterday for the islands with the launch Peerless after crawfish.”
January 6, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez has returned from the crawfish camp at Santa Cruz Island, bringing with him 40 sacks of crawfish. He captured a fine specimen of sheepshead, weighing eleven pounds.”
January 18, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez and his crew of the launch Peerless have just shipped 18 seals which were captured at the islands last week. Four of the seals went to St. Augustine, Florida, and the others to zoos in the east. Captain Vasquez has an order for six more seals which will be caught in the near future.”
February 14, 1905 [SBMP]: “The Peerless failed to make her trip to the islands yesterday on account of the illness of her captain, Colice Vasquez. She will probably sail today, and will carry several young men from Santa Barbara who are to take an outing at the islands.”
February 15, 1905 [SBMP]: “Colice Vasquez left this harbor for the islands yesterday with the launch Peerless, and will return shortly with a number of sacks of crawfish. The catch this week has been unusually small on account of the very rough weather at the islands.”
February 19, 1905 [SBMP]: “The launch Peerless, which has been waiting for several days to make a trip to the islands, made her way out yesterday for a short tour of the McGuire-Vasquez crawfish camps along the channel.”
March 16, 1905 [SBMP]: “Sailors battle with the gale... Captain Colice Vasquez, Albert Stafford and Frank Maglio made a successful trip to the [stranded] sloop [Owl], and brought off the unfortunate men... Captain Vasquez's schooner Peerless was anchored close to the Owl during the storm, but so well prepared for heavy weather that her owner felt no fears as to her safety.”
March 21, 1905 [SBMP]: “The power launch Peerless that was one of the fortunate to escape the recent storm, sailed to the islands yesterday for a load of crawfish. Captain Vasquez had intended to take out a party of pleasure seekers, but the plan was abandoned before the boat set sail, and the pleasure trip will be made a later date.”
April 7, 1905 [SBMP]: “The launch Peerless was at San Miguel Island yesterday on a business trip for the San Miguel Island Company. Upon her return today, she expects to sail for San Pedro with her owner, George McGuire, and Captain Vasquez. The boat will be put into dry dock there and overhauled.”
May 25, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez arrived last night from the islands with a number of sea lions which were captured there during the last three days. They will be shipped east today.”
May 31, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez is steadfast in his determination to catch some live sea lions. Although he has had some discouragements during the past few weeks in his pursuit of these animals, he has gone to the islands again and expects to remain there until he can bring in some of these much wanted inhabitants of the sea.”
June 11, 1905 [LAT]: “Santa Barbara is extending the boundaries of its sea lion industry to include the whole world. For several years the Channel Islands have offered the best field for for the capture of live sea lions, which are coming into a general demand in zoological gardens and trained animal shows. During the last few months a number of sea lions have been caught from this coast and trained in this city for a large German animal show. They are becoming more scarce all the time, and are therefore bringing higher prices where they are wanted. A few years ago these animals were hunted down and shot for the oil they produced, and a sea lion thus handled would bring no more than $2 or $3, but now they are worth from $80 to $150 when first caught, and after being trained for circus performances are worth from $1000 to $1300. George M. McGuire, the proprietor of launch and fishing camps on the Channel Islands, expects tO leave this city soon with twenty-five or thirty live sea lions for Europe. He has a number of orders to fill in England, Belgium, Germany and France, and will be away for two or three months. He will visit London, Antwerp, Brussels, Copenhagen, Berlin, Cologne, Lyons, Paris and several other European cities, and besides delivering a number of live sea lions will take orders for more to be sent over at a later date. Captain Vasquez is now catching sea lions at Anacapa and San Nicolas islands. He expects to tow them into San Pedro, from which place they will be shipped by express to New York and thence by steamer across the Atlantic. Sea lions will bring about $150 each in Europe, and Mr. McGuire expects to make the trip besides opening up an industry in this line of trade.”
June 20, 1905 [SBMP]: “The Peerless left Sunday for San Miguel Island on a seal-fishing trip. Captain Colice Vasquez was accompanied by Albert Stafford and Theodore Conant.”
July 4, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez will sail this morning with a load of supplies for Captain Waters, San Miguel Island. From there he will go to San Nicolas Island in order to bring Frank Nidever and Clarence Libbey, abalone fishermen, who have been on the island for three months. Their catch of abalone meat, shells and pearls will also be brought in on the boat.”
August 27, 1905 [SBMP]: “The Peerless, Captain Vasquez leaves for the islands today with a party of fishermen and pleasure seekers.”
September 8, 1905 [SFCall]: “Santa Barbara, September 7. The sloop Vishnu was the first boat to leave this port for the relief of the schooner J. M. Colman, which is beached on the western coast of San Miguel Island, about forth-five miles out from this city. She left at 9 o’clock this morning in charge of Calud Cole and carrying W. G. Tibbetts, a mariner of the C. A. Hoper Company of San Francisco, which owns the wrecked schooner. Captain Vasquez, an old Spanish sailor, who is familiar with the islands, went on the trip as pilot. Captain Tibbetts stated that three boats were coming to the assistance of the Colman. The Chehalis, southbound from San Francisco, was intercepted by wire and sent to the wreck, and will probably be the first one to reach the ship. The steamer Savage and the tug Sea Witch are also on the way to San Miguel Island. Little hope is entertained by Captain Tibbetts of saving the ship, although he hopes to be able to get all the lumber off in a good condition.”
November 18 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez of the launch Peerless had left for the wreck of the Colman to take off its pony engine. Considerable anxiety is felt in regard to the safety of Captain Vasquez and his crew of six men of the power launch Peerless which is four days over-due from a trip to San Miguel Island. Eight days ago the Peerless sailed for the treacherous western coast of San Miguel Island in charge of Captain Vasquez with a number of men to assist him in the work of recovering the pony engine from the wreck of the schooner Colman, which has been stranded on the rocky reefs of that island for more than two months. Figuring the time required to transfer the engine to the launch and return to this city, the Peerless should have arrived here four days ago. She has not returned and grave fears are entertained by the owner of the ship and by the friends of those who accompanied Captain Vasquez. They do not fear a wreck of that staunch little boat, but there are many uncomfortable circumstances that might have delayed the boat and put the men to a great deal of trouble and exposures on that island. The engine of the boat may be out of order or some break down may have detained them where food and water supplies are short. If the boat is not heard from today, Captain Merry will leave for San Miguel Island tonight with men and supplies in order to ascertain what has delayed the Peerless, or to render assistance to the men in case they are in need of help. Among the passengers on the Peerless was Captain Percy Bagley, one of the most experienced boatmen of this city.”
November 21, 1905 [SBMP]: “No word received from Captain Vasquez and crew of six men. The power launch Peerless, with its crew of six men, has not yet been heard from, and fears for the safety of the men who went with that little boat over a week ago to the wreck of the Colman on the west coast of San Miguel are growing graver as time slips by and the boat fails to return. The situation has been made worse by a strong northwest wind that makes their position more dangerous and prevents other small crafts from going over to ascertain what has delayed the Peerless. The owners of the Peerless had made arrangements for the Vishnu to go over Sunday, but decided to give the absent boat one more day to return, and to have Captain Merry start for San Miguel yesterday. When a strong gale blew over the channel all day yesterday and the waters of the ocean were raised into high billows, this attempt to go to the rescue of the Peerless was again postponed. A trip across the channel under such circumstances would be perilous to a small boat. Captain Merry is ready to start on his trip, and as soon as the weather will permit, he will leave in all haste for San Miguel.”
November 22, 1905 [SBMP]: “Yacht Vishnu will leave today in an endeavor to locate the missing boat Peerless. The power launch Peerless, eleven days out from this city to the west coast of San Miguel, has not yet been heard from... Captain Colice Vasquez was in charge of the Peerless. He was accompanied by Percy Bagley and experienced boatmen of this city: Roy White, a Bakersfield youth, George Godfrey, and two craw fishermen who were intending to remain at the camps on Santa Rosa Island...”
November 23, 1905 [SBMP]: “Peerless home from San Miguel. The launch Peerless has ventured from San Miguel after a twelve days’ trip, and with the long expected boat returned the six men who went over to the wreck of the schooner J. M. Colman. The power yacht Vishnu did not leave for the island yesterday, as the Peerless arrived before Captain Merry was ready to start. Seamen returning with the Peerless report having experienced considerable rough weather which prevented them returning to this city sooner and accomplishing the work for which the trip was taken. The boat and her crew returned in good condition, and they suffered no lack of food or shelter. The Peerless went to San Miguel for the purpose of getting a pony engine off the Colman, but failed to get the engine, which was washed off the lighter and left on the beach. Upon reaching the scene of the Colman wreck, the Peerless found calm weather for five days, but very heavy swells were rolling in and it was impossible to get to the engine from the lighter. A line was run to the lighter, but the Peerless could not get in close enough to remove the engine. A southeaster came up on the fifth day and drove them out of the south bay into Cuyler’s Harbor where the boat remained for six days. A heavy northwest wind forced them to remain in the harbor, although the men knew that their friends in this city were worrying about them. On Tuesday the weather became clearer and the channel more possible, so the Peerless sailed at noon for Point Conception and arrived off Gaviota before nightfall. Turning south the boatmen were soon in sight of the Santa Barbara light and reached port at 2 o’clock yesterday morning. The six men returning with the Peerless were Captain Vasquez, Percy Bagley, Roy White, George Godfrey, Carlos Ruiz, and craw fishermen who recently arrived in the city from Mexico.”
December 16, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez returned from Santa Cruz Island yesterday afternoon in the launch Peerless. He brought back two small sea lions. The pups will be shipped to Monterey. Captain Vasquez was accompanied on his trip by two physicians from the eastern states, who assert that their trip to Santa Cruz Island was one of the most interesting experiences of their lives.”
December 30, 1905 [SBMP]: “The launch Peerless sailed for Santa Cruz Island yesterday morning after live seals. The boat is in charge of Captain Vasquez, who expects to capture several seals if the weather permits.”
January 16, 1906 [SBMP]: “The rough weather on the channel having subsided, the captains of the mosquito fleet have their boats out again. Captain Vasquez left in the Peerless yesterday morning for Santa Cruz Island after seals and crawfish.”
April 12, 1906 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez takes fifteen from the waters off Santa Cruz Island. Captain Vasquez of the launch Peerless has captured fifteen fine large sea lions which he will bring to this city on Saturday or Sunday... as soon as Captain Vasquez arrives with his catch they will be put into secure crates and prepared for shipment...”
May 10, 1906 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez left this morning in his boat for San Miguel Island. The object of the trip is twofold, to take a party of abalone hunters to the island and to visit the wreck of the J. M. Colman, the large lumber schooner which went ashore there some months ago.”
May 13, 1906 [SBMP]: “Henry Short will take a party of pleasure-seekers over to Santa Cruz in his new boat, and Captain Vasquez will leave about 1 o’clock this morning with a party of twenty young men who wish to visit the caves at Santa Cruz Island.”
September 25, 1906 [SBI]: “The schooner Ellen, Captain Vasquez, which has been engaged in bringing to the mainland the portion of the lumber cargo that has been saved from the wrecked lumber schooner J. M. Colman, which went upon the rocks on the western shore of San Miguel Island about a year ago, sailed for the island after having discharged the cargo of lumber that was brought to Santa Barbara on Saturday last. She will probably be absent for a week or more before she will be able to land another cargo of lumber, if it should be found possible to remove it from the shattered hull of the ill-fated vessel. Before departing, Captain Vasquez stated that he would be able to save the greater part of the cargo that still remains on the Colman, although the lumber is transferred to the schooner Ellen with great difficulty on account of the rough weather that prevails along the western coast of San Miguel Island at this time of year.”
October 23, 1906 [SBMP]: “The schooner Ellen, which has been engaged in the salvage of the cargo of the wrecked schooner Colman, sailed from San Miguel Island yesterday morning. Captains Vasquez and McGuire, who have undertaken the venture of saving some of the Colman’s valuable cargo, realize that their chance will come to an end as soon as the first heavy storm breaks, as the lumber schooner is in a precarious position, and will undoubtedly break up with the first heavy seas. They are therefore rushing work as fast as possible, and a crew of men is at work taking the lumber out of the vessel and transferring it by improvised railroad to the nearest point from which it can be loaded on the Ellen. The Ellen was caught in a stiff gale last week and suffered considerably. She has been laid up for repairs for several days past.”
November 6, 1906 [SBMP]: “The schooner Ellen, Captain Vasquez, left for San Miguel Island yesterday for a load of lumber from the abandoned lumber schooner Colman. Captain Vasquez has been engaged in the salvage work for some months past, and has taken a large amount of lumber from the wrecked vessel, but the Colman is breaking up fast and it is not thought he will be able to make any more trips.”
December 13, 1906 [SBMP]: “The one single sacrifice that was claimed by the heavy wind and rain storm on Tuesday night, seems to have been the schooner yacht Ellen, which is now stranded on the beach a short distance from Port Harford [Port San Luis]. Captain Colice Vasquez, who has been in charge of the vessel in the removal of lumber from the hold of the wrecked vessel Colman, had sent the vessel back to San Miguel for another cargo of lumber, deciding to remain ashore for a trip. When Captain Vasquez received the report of the stranding of the vessel yesterday forenoon, he expressed himself in doubt as to the truth of the rumor. He stated that his first mate, Joe Bermudez, has been sent in charge of the Ellen for San Miguel Island in plenty of time to reach the island before the storm set in, and that she was a long distance out of her course in the neighborhood of Port Harford. Yesterday afternoon, however, Captain Vasquez received definite information to the effect that the Ellen had been washed ashore, the first mate stating that he would be in Santa Barbara on the morning train. The only other person on board was Andrew Broadstone, who with the first mate swam ashore. The Ellen is a sailing vessel of about 19 tons burden. She is about forty feet in length and has a twelve foot beam. She has made several trips between Santa Barbara and San Miguel Island to save the cargo of lumber that had remained on the steam schooner Colman that dashed upon the reefs on the western end of the island during a storm about a year ago.”
December 14, 1906 [SBMP]: “Wreck of Schooner Ellen a Mystery. Non-arrival of mate Bermudas leaves owners in doubt — hope damage small. In spite of the efforts that have been made by Captain Colise Vasquez and George M. Macguire, owners of the schooner Ellen that is reported to have gone ashore near Port Harford during the recent storm, to ascertain the true condition of affairs, they have yet been unable to learn the extent of damage that has been caused to the vessel. On the morning following the day of the stranding of the schooner, the first mate, Joe Bermudas, who was in charge of the vessel, sent a telegram from Surf to Captain Vasquez, asking that he send him enough money to return to Santa Barbara. He said that the Ellen had gone on the beach but gave no details. He was supposed to have arrived from Port Harford yesterday morning. Captain Vasquez and Captain Maguire having gone to the depot to meet him, but he failed to put in an appearance and the owners of the vessel are just as much in the dark as to what actually occurred to the Ellen as they were when the first report of the accident was turned in. It is not believed, however, that the Ellen has been badly damaged as the point at which she is reported to have gone ashore has a long stretch of sandy beach and there is little danger of her being dashed to pieces on the rocks. ”
December 16, 1906 [SBMP]: “Terrific Gale Tore Sails to Rags. Members of the crew of the ill-fated schooner Ellen returning yesterday from Port Harford, near the place the vessel was wrecked some days ago, report that the disaster could not have been prevented under the direful circumstances through which the Ellen labored on its way to San Miguel Island. The Ellen, on the day of the fierce gale that swept the channel lost first mainsail, then the foresail. The crew did not give up, but rigged a jib, and succeeded in beating against the storm until the rudder broke, when further effort seemed useless, and the vessel was run ashore. She soon broke up, and all the crew saved the compass and a few other things of minor value. Captain Vasquez, who left here on his launch for the scene of the wreck, has not yet returned.”
December 25, 1906 [SBMP]: “Captain Colice Vasquez stated yesterday afternoon that he would leave tomorrow on a trip up the coast for the purpose of locating the stranded schooner Ellen and would make an examination of her condition. He states that, according to the reports that he has received, there will be difficulty in getting the schooner off the sands at the point that she is reported to be resting near Port Harford. While it has been established conclusively that the schooner has been shorn of all of her fittings and supplies, the owners of the vessel have not yet set officers at work for the purpose of detecting [—?] of the guilty parties. As soon as Captain Vasquez has had an opportunity to make a complete investigation, a decision will be made by the owners of the craft.”
December 30, 1906 [SBMP]: “The Peerless left yesterday for San Miguel Island with a load of general supplies for the island camp on board. She was in charge of Captain Colice Vasquez and it is expected that she will have returned to port within a couple of days.”
January 2, 1907 [SBMP]: “It is expected that the Peerless which sailed for San Miguel Island a few days ago with a quantity of supplies, will return to the mainland from time today. Capitan Colice Vasquez is in charge of the craft.”
February 7, 1907 [SBMP]: “ The Peerless, Captain Vasquez, arrived yesterday afternoon from Santa Rosa Island, with five little seals for the eastern menageries. Capt. Vasquez reports that on his trip over he stopped at Santa Cruz Island and found the two Japanese fishermen who had been reported missing from their camp. The Japs had been caught by the wind storm, several miles from camp and could not row against the gale. The Peerless towed them to their station.”
February 22, 1907 [SBMP]: “The Peerless, Captain Vasquez, sailed yesterday for Santa Rosa Island with a party of sheep shearers. Returning, the Peerless will bring back a cargo of lumber from the wreck of the schooner Colman on San Miguel Island.”
March 7, 1907 [SBMP]: “Whale a guest at Miramar. Unwelcome carcass disfigures beach. Early yesterday morning, two lads…sighted a whale floating high out of the water near the Miramar pleasure wharf. Each of them secured a small punt and rowed out to the floating mass... Nothing daunted, the boys conceived the brilliant idea of towing the monster ashore... within convenient wafting distance of Miramar and Montecito. Captain George McGuire, a prominent local seaman, ordered out the power schooner Peerless with Captain Vasquez and a crew, Captain McGuire’s wife and a reporter. Upon arrival at the scene, Captain McGuire quickly realized that the whale was far too decomposed for any salvage operation... Mr. Doulton [hotel owner] was left with the weighty problem of disposing of the carcass, for Captain McGuire was unsuccessful in trying to float it at high tide...”
April 13, 1907 [SBI]: “Santa Barbara seals are wanted. Foreign powers pleased with creatures from islands… Captain Vasquez brought thirteen seals over from the islands this morning in the Peerless, and two weeks ago he sent away more than twenty, and thirty are still due from him…”
April 13, 1907 [SBI]: “The launch Peerless left this morning for the islands on a seal catching expedition. Captain Vasquez is in command. The boat will return Sunday.”
April 24, 1907 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez of the launch Peerless made a big catch of seals last week, at the islands. He returned to this port this morning with thirteen.”
April 26, 1907 [SBI]: “The launch Peerless left for the islands this morning on another seal hunting expedition. Captain Vasquez has been very successful of late, having caught thirteen on his last trip.”
May 1, 1907 [SBMP]: “The launch Peerless, Captain Vasquez, arrived yesterday from Prisoners' Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, bringing over Joe Ruiz, whose ankle was broken by a horse falling with him while chasing wild sheep.”
May 2, 1907 [SBI]: “The launch Peerless is expected from the islands tomorrow, where Captain Vasquez is seal fishing.”
May 11, 1907 [SBI]: “Captain Colice Vasquez left yesterday for the east end of San Miguel Island with a boatload of men who will gather abalone and moss.”
May 20, 1907 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez will leave in the Peerless tomorrow for Santa Cruz Island, where he will endeavor to capture eighteen seals for an eastern shipment.”
May 30, 1907 [SBMP]: “Captain Colice Vasquez and Dan Pico yesterday made the trip from Friar’s Harbor on Santa Cruz Island to Santa Barbara, a distance of 25 miles, in one of Captain Gourley’s Whitehall rowboats. The distance was covered in five hours, remarkably good time. The men came over for repairs to the machinery of the launch Peerless. The Peerless was left at the island port, and the broken part was brought over in the rowboat. Such trips across the channel are not common in these days, though in the palmy days of otter hunting such a crossing was an ordinary occurrence.”
July 23, 1907 [SBMP]: “That enterprising mariner, Captain McGuire, has joined forces with Captain Vasquez, one of the most experienced salts on the coast, in the purchase of a fine San Pedro steam schooner the Gussie M...”
August 7, 1907 [SBMP]: “The schooner Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, will leave today on a seal hunting expedition around the islands, Captain McGuire having an order for eight live seals for an eastern zoo.”
August 17, 1907 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez arrived in this port yesterday in his new schooner, the Gussie M, bringing over four seals which are to be shipped east. The boat is a fourteen-ton schooner with a twenty-five horse power engine. She is forty-two feet long by twelve feet six inches in beam. She was built two years ago at San Pedro, where she was purchased. On Monday Captain Vasquez will go to San Pedro, later going on a cruise north, as far as Monterey, hunting for otter. This is the first expedition to go out after otter in four years, as the season has been closed. Captain Vasquez has a school of about twenty otter spotted. He has a new method of catching them, intending to use a net in place of shooting them. The last otter, which was caught by Captain Vasquez four years ago, brought $400. The skeleton, which was perfect, was sold to the Smithsonian Institution, where it now is.”
FIX Vasquez kept a tent camp at Fry’s Harbor: “real nice. He planted a lot of flowers and kept it neatly maintained. He used to take the actors and other people over there from Flying A studios and they’d have a grand time.”
October 12, 1907 [SBI]: “The steam schooner Gussie M left this morning under command of Captain Colice Vasquez for San Miguel Island, to get a cargo of lumber.”
October 19, 1907 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez came over from San Miguel Island last night in the Gussie M. He will return to the island this morning.”
October 19, 1907 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez ran over from San Miguel Island last evening in the Gussie M. He will cross the channel again this evening, after taking on necessary supplies.”
October 26, 1907 [SBMP]: “Captain Colice Vasquez and Don Leach came over from San Miguel Island Thursday evening bringing over the Peerless and the Gussie M. The lighter which was being built to ferry the lumber from the wrecked Colman across the channel, was beached for repairs and was destroyed by a big sea, which dashed it into a thousand pieces.”
October 29, 1907 [SBMP]: “The steam schooner Gussie M will start in a few days for San Miguel Island on a hunt for sea lions, Captain McGuire having several orders to fill for native and foreign menageries. Captain Vasquez, who is one of the most experienced seal hunters on the coast will take charge of the expedition.”
November 12, 1907 [SBMP]: “Seal hunting now a difficult art. The Santa Barbara educated seal, in great demand abroad, is getting very scarce. Some recent orders received. This morning Captain Vasquez starts with a force of experienced seal hunters in the power schooner Gussie M to make a catch of at least a dozen seals of school age to fill orders recently received by Captain McGuire from various parts of Europe. School age means about 1-1/2 years old and prime condition... Captain McGuire relates some little known facts concerning the present habitat and capture of the Santa Barbara educated seal as they are coming to be known... There is a large and rare species of sea lion, exceeding difficult to catch... Captain McGuire calls these big fellows ‘Stella’ seals...”
November 13, 1907 [LAT]: “Captain Vasquez starts today with a large force of experienced seal hunters on the power schooner Gussie M for a catch of seals at Santa Cruz Island to fill orders from various parts of Europe. The Santa Barbara seals are known almost all over the world, where they occupy places in the zoological gardens. Among the rush orders for seals of the ‘school age,’ or those about one and one-half years old, is one from Professor La Martin, of Paris, who seeks eight for the hippodrome and there is another hurry order from an English entertainer who has an amphibian act at the London Empire.”
November 15, 1907 [SBMP]: “The power schooner Gussie M, Captain Colice Vasquez, which sailed for Santa Cruz Island five days ago in a seal-hunting expedition for Captain McGuire, returned without a single seal, yesterday afternoon. Captain Vasquez reported heavy seas running about the island making it impossible for the boatmen to enter caves in search for the quarry...”
December 4, 1907 [SBMP]: “That rakish piratical craft, the Rover, which some years ago was instrumental in the abduction of the girl Bessie Benson by Captain Hall, aided by one John Warnell, part owner of the vessel, is again figuring in a crime of the erstwhile Rover, alias the good steam schooner Baltic, which was alongside the commercial wharf. John Warnell was arrested together with his mate Charles Hansen, by the constable Jack Fullington upon a warrant issued by Judge Overmen. The charge is grand larceny preferred by Captain George McGuire and Vasquez, who allege that Warnell and Hanson, while craw fishing around the islands, made a piratical cruise to the south side of Santa Rosa Island, and there discovered a store of nearly $100 worth of abalone shells, some 48 sacks, and abalone meat in separate sacks ready for shipment belonging to Captain McGuire...”
December 8, 1907 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez has gone to San Miguel Island with the auxiliary schooner Gussie M, his passenger list including Captain Waters and brother, as well as several sheep men. The trip is made for the purpose of selecting Christmas lambs for markets, although Vasquez is likely to keep his weather eye open for pirates.”
December 11, 1907 [SBI]: “The heavy sea of the past two weeks has been playing havoc with the crawfish traps of the fishermen on the islands. The men are kept constantly at work repairing or replacing them. Nevertheless, the catches are fairly good. The Irene returned last night with about 50 sacks aboard, and Captain Vasquez brought in 10 sacks from only a day’s trip. The sea has been so heavy of late that the fishermen have not dared approach the beds about San Miguel Island, where are some of the best crawfish grounds.”
December 20, 1907 [SBI]: “Early in the present month Constable Fullerton arrested two men on a charge of theft of abalones. Captain Vasquez of Santa Cruz Island had hidden a number of sacks of abalones in the sand on the island. Two Portuguese fishermen discovered the hidden treasure, brought it to town and disposed of it. The men were held one night in jail and released on bail, $500 being put up for each man by Ed Stevens and Ben Stafford. The accused claimed that, having found the abalones, they belonged to them. The case was brought up in Judge Overman’s court this morning, and was dismissed because of the absence of the chief witness, Captain Vasquez. It is expected that the captain will shortly bring suit against the offenders to recover the value of the property.”
March 6, 1908 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez, after a terribly rough trip during which he and his crew nearly lost their lives in one of the caves of San Miguel Island, returned yesterday morning with 17 sea lions for Captain McGuire's eastern and foreign patrons. The weather was rough throughout, but orders were urgent, and Captain Vasquez determined to get a good bag of seals at all costs. With a skiff and crew of two men, Vasquez entered one cave with a narrow mouth but chapel-like interior. All was dark within, but upon lighting a torch, 20 or 30 seals slid off the cave into the sea, creating a tremendous tumult, capsizing the boat and giving the occupants a cold dunking. The boat was righted and backed to the entrance so that the seals were driven into cul-de-sac, and in this way many exposed themselves sufficiently to enable the vaqueros to rope them.”
March 7, 1908 [SFCall]: “Santa Barbara, March 6. Captain Vasquez and his crew of four men pf the power schooner Gussie M had a narrow escape from shipwreck and death on the Santa Barbara channel on the way here from San Miguel Island last night. The vessel was sent on a sealing expedition to the island. During the search the captain and crew entered a cave in a rowboat. When the lights flashed, 20 seals in one herd dashed into the water for the open, upsetting the boat. The lights were extinguished and the captain and crew, after a long struggle, managed to right their boat and get outside. Seventeen seals were caught in the quest and yesterday the schooner headed for home. Crossing the channel it ran into a terrific northwest gale and high seas. After battling all day with mountainous waters in his little craft, Vasquez ran her in here last night, saving his cargo of seals, which will be sent east for exhibition.”
April 3, 1908 [SBI]: “There is 10,000 feet of lumber loaded on a barge at San Miguel Island waiting for smoother seas before it can be transported to Cuyler’s Harbor, where Captain W. G. Waters is building a house. Captain R. Vasquez, after waiting 12 days for the wind to subside, returned to Santa Barbara without taking the barge to sea.”
April 14, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Rosalino Vasquez will leave for the islands today or tomorrow, and expects to bring back a cargo of live sea lions. He has orders for 60. In the last two trips he has made, Captain Vasquez has brought back 49 sea lions. They are sent to parks and zoological gardens in all parts of the world.”
May 11, 1908 [SBI]: “Twelve California sea lions were brought in from Santa Cruz Island last Saturday, for Captain McGuire of this city. Four weeks ago Captain Vasquez was equipped with a new seal net by Captain McGuire and sent to the islands to capture 30 seals. Up to the last week the inclement weather prevailing in that vicinity prevented the seal hunters from success. A slight abatement of the stiff winds and the absence of a heavy ground swell, which he had tried in vain to beat in the attempts to find his game, enabled Captain Vasquez to net 12 of the animals. Two of the seals will be shipped east to a seal trainer of Jersey City. Orders are already on file for 45 more, for various points in the east and Europe. Captain McGuire will journey to Europe later in the year with 15 of the sea lions. These will be distributed at various points on the continent. Already this year Captain McGuire has shipped 30 seals out of this city.”
May 15, 1908 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, in the Gussie M, started today for another trial to fill his contracts for seals. For about a month now, Captains McGuire and Vasquez have maintained a camp on Santa Cruz Island, but in all that time there have been only two days when they could get to the caves for seal hunting. On the two days they were able to work at the caves they obtained 14 seals. Their contracts call for 30 seals for Kansas City, 15 for Europe, and about 15 more to fill small orders...”
May 18, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez came in from the islands in his launch Gussie M this morning with 21 seals for shipment east.”
May 19, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez, who came in from Santa Cruz Island yesterday with 21 seals for shipment east, left for the island this morning. He still must capture 40 seals before all his contracts are filled.”
May 28, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez has arrived from the islands with four seals which were caught this week. A high wind made seal hunting difficult, and the catch is not as large as usual. Charles Woods of the Palace Barber shop returned with Captain Vasquez after taking part in the hunt.”
May 31, 1908 [SBMP]: “Well known botanist seeks specimens indigenous to interior of Santa Cruz Island… Edward Rowe of the SCAA and Professor Hall, who holds the chair of botany at Berkeley, started yesterday on a trip to the islands in order to obtain growing specimens of such native plants as are indigenous to the islands, but are not known to exist on the mainland… As a matter of fact the party started very early in Captain Vasquez’s power schooner and probably reached the island before the worst of the windstorm matured. There were eight or ten in the party, which included Miss Niedermuller, one of Berkeley’s foremost students in botany, and Mr. Welsh, a friend of Edward Rowe…”
June 10, 1908 [SBI]: “Three professors of Leland Stanford University at Palo Alto will come to Santa Barbara June 19 and leave with Captain Rosaline Vasquez for Santa Cruz Island, where they will devote several weeks to a study of the seals. Captain Vasquez will act as guide for the party. Several seals or sea lions will be killed and stuffed, to be taken to Palo Alto and placed in the university museum. Three varieties of seals exist on the islands, including the sea lion, the leopard seal and a third species, the members of which grow to a great size. Efforts to capture these large seals so far have been unsuccessful. Captain Vasquez arrived from the island yesterday with 21 seals which will be shipped at once to New York. This completes his contract for the season. In the past five weeks he has captured 107 seals for shipment east. This breaks all records for one season. Captain Vasquez will leave for San Miguel Island tomorrow with Captain W. G. Waters, who is building a large ranch house on his property there. The building will be handsomely finished and will serve as a summer home for Captain Waters.”
June 19, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez will sail at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning in his powerboat Gussie M for Lower California, where with his crew he will spend several months hunting otter. The skins will be shipped to Chicago to a firm of furriers. With him will go Julius and Art Valdez and Charles Ruiz.”
June 23, 1908 [SBI]: “Professor M. R. Jones of Minneapolis will soon have three seals from the islands to train for his museum. At least the seals were shipped this morning by Captain Vasquez, who captured them at the islands, and it is up to Professor Jones to show what he can do, for the seals are marvels of intelligence.”
June 23, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez this morning left in the Gussie M for the islands with Captain W. G. Waters, who will go to San Miguel, and a party of campers who will spend two weeks on Santa Cruz. They are Ed Stevens and Mr. and Mrs. Ben Stafford.”
June 30, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez’ Gussie M, and the power schooner Santa Cruz, both arrived from the islands this morning. Captain W. G. Waters was left at his ranch at San Miguel Island, where he will remain for two months. The last consignment of seals were shipped east by Captain Vasquez today.”
July 7, 1908 [SBI]: “Three professors of Leland Stanford University will arrive in Santa Barbara tomorrow morning for a 10 days voyage with Rosaline Vasquez in the Gussie M. The party will visit every island off the south coast, studying the animal life on each, and bringing back seals to be mounted for the university museum. Professor J. Rowley, who is at the head of the party, has written to Captain Vasquez that he wants at least one seal from each island…”
July 16, 1908 [SBI]: “Sea lions on the Santa Barbara Islands are being ruthlessly slaughtered by men and boys who will sell the ‘trimmings’ of the carcasses for $2 each to Chinamen for export to China, where they are made into a powder and eaten by wealthy mandarins as a rejuvenator. So great is the slaughter that the California black sea lion already is becoming scarce on these islands, and unless the animals are protected by legislation their complete extermination is a matter of only a few years. This is the substance of statements made to The Independent today by Professor John Rowley of Stanford University, who returned to the mainland in Captain Vasquez’s launch Gussie M, after spending 10 days on Santa Cruz Island for the purpose of securing specimens for the new natural history museum of the university…”
July 26, 1908 [LAT/SB]: “Unless the crews of Mexican and Chilean stevedores are soon brought to the mainland from barren Flea Island, the scene of the wreck of the steamer Anubis, there may be bloodshed and death. The hot-tempered gangs, cooped in narrow quarters, are armed factions, ready for the spark that will ignite passions. Petty fights, in which knives were drawn, have taken place frequently since the ship went aground… Captain Rosaline Vasquez of the Gussie M, and Captain Ramon Vasquez of the Baltic, both arriving today, told of the ugly situation and the revenue cutter Manning, with Captain Pillsbury of the Marine Underwriters of San Francisco on board, reached here tonight and the story was confirmed…”
August 22, 1908 [SBMP]: “A party including Carter Harrison of Chicago and eleven others due back from the islands Thursday night arrived safely yesterday after Captain Vasquez had started out after them, meeting the launch in mid-channel. It appears a high sea made it necessary for Captain Short to land his party on the island for the night. When the Charm reached Miramar yesterday, the passengers received quite a welcome.”
August 28, 1908 [SBMP]: “Captain Colice Vasquez will take a merry party of local people over to Santa Cruz Island tomorrow, returning Sunday night. The power schooner Gussie M will make the trip…”
August 28, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez yesterday talked with the captain of the Greenwood at San Miguel Island. The latter declared that if the Anubis had been allowed to remain on the rocks four days longer she would have been destroyed by the heavy swell which began immediately after the steamer was pulled off…”
August 29, 1908 [SBI]: “Promptly at 8 o’clock this morning a large group left the wharf for Santa Cruz Island in the power launch Gussie M, in command of Captain Rosaline Vasquez. They will spend the night on the island, and will arrive home tomorrow evening. Those who made the trip were Mr. and Mrs. Lane Fox, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ross, Miss Boyer, the Misses Kirk, Miss Caroline Candy, Miss Irene Candy, Miss Cyrene Hamlin, Miss Stella Smith, Miss Barbara Smith, Miss Winnie Howe, Miss Helen Pierce, the Misses Evarts, Will Welch, Frank Welch, F. Smith, Max Childers, Ralph Stevens, George Lyons, Edward Rowe.”
August 31, 1908 [SBI]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez brought a large party of teachers and others to the mainland last night in his schooner Gussie M.”
October 8, 1908 [SBMP]: “…At the head of the channel, near San Miguel Island, there has already been considerable rough weather, and Captain Rosaline Vasquez was unable to discharge a cargo of material for Captain Waters’ house which he took over recently in his power schooner, the Gussie M.”
November 16, 1908 [SBI]: “The gasoline schooner Gussie M came over yesterday from the north end of Santa Cruz Island with a cargo of 7 seals captured by Vasquez, Charles Ruiz and Arturo Valdez. Two of the seals will be shipped to San Francisco, three will be sent to New York and two will go to Ohio. The eastern shipment will be put in training while those sent to San Francisco will occupy a pond in Golden Gate Park.”
November 21, 1908 [SBMP]: “Lucero’s body found at sea. Coroner A.M. Ruiz and S. R. McDonald, and assistant to undertaker S. T. Ricketts, will leave here this morning on a power schooner with Captain Vasquez for Santa Cruz Island, to bring to this city the body of Lucero, the crawfish catcher who was drowned off the island on November 7. Lucero and a fellow fisherman left Scorpion camp on Santa Cruz Island on November 7, in a rowboat, to visit another camp. It is believed they were intoxicated, according to the coroner, when they left. The boat was upset and Lucero’s companion declares he never saw him after the boat capsized. Last Sunday a fisherman found the body of Lucero entangled in the kelp off the island, near the spot where the tragedy occurred. He towed it ashore, where it has remained ever since. Word was sent here yesterday and Coroner Ruiz arranged to leave today.”
December 9, 1908 [SBMP]: “There is some size to the crawfish being caught at Santa Cruz Island. In a letter to the press last night, Joseph Morales, half-brother of Maggie Cavallero, whose acquittal of the charge of murder interested many here last month, states that he caught one weighing 23.5 pounds and shipped it by Captain Vasquez to San Francisco. The Morales camp is at Fry's Harbor.”
January 6, 1909 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, under Captain Vasquez, came into port yesterday with 84 tons of abalones from the islands and eight tons of shells from Santa Cruz Island. The cargo was sold to Chinese firms.”
February 22, 1909 [SBI]: “George M. McGuire’s launch, Gussie M, is now four days overdue from San Nicolas Island, and unless news of this vessel is received in the next 24 hours, Mr. McGuire will probably organize a relief expedition and start for the islands. The Gussie M left one week ago today for San Nicolas Island, with a crew of three, and several abalone hunters. Captain Vasquez was in charge of the launch and party. He received instructions from Mr. McGuire to unload the hunters upon the island and return at once to this city. This ordinarily could be accomplished in three days…”
February 23, 1909 [LAT/SB]: “Fears for the safety of the power schooner Gussie M, Captain Colice Vasquez, is crew of three and several abalone fishermen, are entertained here. The ship left a week ago for San Nicolas Island, 100 miles to sea, and is now four days overdue. No word has been received from her, and unless the next few hours bring news, a searching expedition will be sent out. The ship is owned by Captain George M. McGuire of this city. It was two years ago that the powerboat Restless sailed from here for San Nicolas Island and was never heard from. The Gussie M may have met the same fate in the storm-tossed waters near the island, which has no safe harbor.”
February 24, 1909 [SBI]: “Fishermen marooned on San Nicolas. Nearly five weeks on lone island far off Santa Barbara. Subsist on fish and suffer severely from exposure. San Pedro. Captain Swansen of the launch Leone arrived this morning after a stormy trip to San Nicolas Island, where he found four men who had been living on crawfish and other such fish as they were able to catch, for nearly five weeks. They are Charles Erickson, Jack Anderson, “French Joe,” “Russian Pete,” crawfishers who state that they had been fishing for Captain Vasquez of Santa Barbara… The launch Gussie M of Santa Barbara, which was nearly wrecked last Sunday, was their supply boat, but she was unable to make the landing at San Nicolas during the period when they were marooned, and had been forced to remain offshore.”
February 24, 1909 [LAT/SB]: “The power schooner Gussie M, five days overdue from San Nicolas Island, which it was feared had been lost in a recent storm at sea, limped into this port this afternoon. Captain Vasquez said the weather had been frightful over at the island, where there is no safe harbor, and the ship made for the lee of Santa Cruz Island where she remained until the seas abated. The Gussie M took Captain Waters and a sheep shearing gang over to San Miguel Island today.”
March 17, 1909 [SBMP]" “Overdue again, this time from San Miguel Island, the power schooner Gussie M in charge of Captain Vasquez, with Captain William G. Waters, his sheep shearers and Ah Poy, the abalone fisher on board, is hourly expected. The little vessel sailed from here some time days ago to bring back the people from the island, but it is believed that severe storms which have not been felt here, have prevented the schooner from making a landing or from loading the passengers and freight homeward bound...”
March 19, 1909 [SBMP]: “With Captain Colice Vasquez, half-owner of the vessel, at the wheel, the power schooner Gussie M arrived in this harbor yesterday from San Miguel Island after a tempestuous voyage that tried the seamanship and patience of even this rugged veteran of the briny. The schooner brought in Captain William G. Waters and his sheepshearers, but the stormy weather prevented loading several tons of abalone meat and a number of tons of abalone shell, to say nothing of Ah Poy, the Chinese abalone fisher, and his men. The latter are still on the island and Captain Vasquez will have to make another trip to bring them home… Captain Vasquez, however, has important work cut out for him. There are orders for more than fifty sea lions for zoological gardens in many cities in America and Europe to be filled. These must be attended to at once, and Captain Vasquez and his men are the only sea lion hunters in this section of the country. They have a monopoly of the trade and the work is as interesting as it is hazardous and well-paying. As the result of the Chinese boycott of abalones from Japan, the price for American-caught abalone has soared more than 100 percent. Where formerly the price ranged from 5 to 7 cents per pound, it has now reached 10 to 12 cents. Captain McGuire shipped more than 56,000 pounds of abalone shells, the accumulation of 18 months, to New York via Panama last week. This is the largest consignment of abalone shells ever shipped out of here.”
June 12, 1909 [SBMP]: “No more seals can be taken from island rookeries this season. One of the unique industries in the world, and one peculiar to the islands off the coast of Santa Barbara, is the pursuit of the elusive seal and sea lion for commercial and zoological purposes… The method of catching the seals is a most interesting and fascinating one. A three-ply net, similar to a fish net only having larger meshes and heavier strands, is stretched across the mouth of the cave. Several men then enter a skiff and row back into the cave, firing off guns. The seals, startled by the reports, take to the water and dart for open sea. Captain Vasquez in another small boat takes his position near the mouth of the cave and as soon as a seal strikes the net and comes to the surface, he lassoes it with a specially constructed lariat. Then the lasso is passed to a man on shore and the seal is placed in a specially constructed crate hauled sideways to the crew’s boat and placed aboard for delivery at Santa Barbara. In some instances, as many as four or five seals are caught in one haul of the net...”
June 29, 1909 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Colis Vasquez, left last night for Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island with a camping party. Those who composed the party were Messrs. Frank J. Smith, William Welch, Elmer Sample, Frederic H. W. Leuders, Carol Stone, Ivan Bliss, Thomas Allen, Miss Minnie Hunt, Miss Ella Miller, Miss Rena Chappell, Miss Kate Boyer, Miss Ida Kirk, Miss Rosa Boyer, Miss Clara Jones, Miss Estelle Smith, Miss Marie Pratt, Miss Ivene Candy and Miss Barbara Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Frederic Leuders will chaperone the party. A good chef has been engaged for the outing. The campers will remain at the harbor for two weeks camping, fishing, bathing and climbing over the hills. Ample means for amusement and entertainment were taken along, and it is sure that there will not be a dull minute during the whole two weeks.”
June 29, 1909 [SBI]: “A camping party left last night on the Gussie M, Captain C. Vasquez, for Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, for a fortnight’s stay…”
July 1, 1909 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Colice Vasquez, left last night for Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, with a camping party. Those who composed the party were Messrs. Frank J. Smith, William Welch, Elmer Sample… A good chef has been engaged for the outing.”
July 7, 1909 [SBMP]: “With a perfect day and smooth sailing, everything contributed to the pleasure of the party that went on an excursion to Santa Cruz Island on Sunday with Captain Vasquez in the Gussie M. The party was arranged by Miss María de Los Angeles Ruiz, the sister of A. M. Ruiz, a very wealthy resident of Chihuahua, her sister, Miss Russeck, and cousin, Miss Russeck. The party had a delightful trip across the channel and went on shore with splendid appetites for the fine luncheon that had been prepared. Others in the party were Miss Lucy Ruiz, Mr. And Mrs. Lines, Charles Freeman and B. F. Ruiz.”
August 19, 1909 [SBI]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez returned today from a three weeks’ seal-catching expedition on Santa Cruz Island, with three large seals for Belgium and New York zoos, and a party of Santa Barbara people who went along for the outing. In the party were Mr. And Mrs. E. A. Diehl, Mr. And Mrs. Louis Ruiz, Miss Marjorie Ruiz, and Mr. Whittemore of Santa Barbara and Mrs. Tullock of Miramar. The party had camped at Fry’s Harbor and keenly enjoyed every minute of the stay. Mr. Diehl assisted Captain Vasquez in capturing a large seal. Captain Vasquez will leave for the islands next week to fill an order for nine seals wanted for exhibition purposes in eastern cities.”
August 28, 1909 [SBI]: “That the law prohibiting the slaughter of bull seals for their hides and trimmings is being strictly obeyed on the Santa Barbara islands is the testimony of Captain Rosaline Vasquez, who returned today from a seal-catching expedition. Captain Vasquez believes the law is an excellent one and that in three or four years its effect will be shown in a greatly increased number of seals. In previous summers the animals have been slaughtered by the hundreds. Their hides brought a small price and the trimmings were sent to China to make broth for wealthy mandarins who believed it would renew their youth. The law protecting seals was first urged by The Independent, which secured for it the support and advocacy of Senator L. H. Roseberry. Later the Chamber of Commerce endorsed the measure and it became a law last winter. Captain Vasquez is now filling an order for eleven young seals, to be trained in the east for show purposes. They must be a certain weight and age, and this week only one was captured which would fill the bill. Nineteen seals, all too large, were captured and released from the net. Captain Vasquez will return to the islands Monday.”
October 5, 1909 [SBMP]: “When fully prepared to leave for Point Sur on an otter hunt, Captain Vasquez was employed yesterday by Harold McCormick, now at the Potter, to take a party to Santa Cruz Island in the Gussie M. The party was composed of Harold McCormick, Mrs. Cyrus McCormick, Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton. Leaving early yesterday morning the trip was made across under ideal weather conditions, but when the return was made after spending the greater portion of the day cruising about the island, a heavy sea was found running and the trip was found very rough.”
November 20, 1909 [SBI]: “Liquor was responsible for the death of Jesus Carrillo, a laborer about 30 years of age, whose badly decomposed body was found floating in the Santa Barbara channel about one mile offshore yesterday afternoon by Harry Barr, a fisherman… Coroner A. M. Ruiz repeated under oath statements by Captain Rosaline Vasquez and Nick Valdez, acquaintances of the dead man, in which they testified to his fondness for liquor and expressed the opinion that he fell down the gang plank way at the warship landing of the commercial wharf…”
January 6, 1910 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez returned yesterday from San Miguel Island bringing a load of lumber on the Gussie M. The lumber, 6,000 feet of flooring, is one of the last loads that remains of the wrecked schooner John M. Colman which went ashore on the island a few years ago. Captain Vasquez stated that the weather on the channel and the island was as severe as he had ever experienced.”
March 25, 1910 [SBI]: “Launch owners are preparing to take parties from the city and from the Potter Hotel to Santa Rosa Island next week, to camp out for several days and watch target practice by armored cruisers of the Pacific fleet. Captain Rosaline Vasquez of the launch Gussie M said today that a party of men from the Potter wished to camp on the island and watch the target practice…”
May 6, 1910 [SBI]: “That more parties than ever before will visit the Santa Barbara islands for summer outings this season is the prediction of Captain Rosaline Vasquez of the launch Gussie M. Captain Vasquez will leave tomorrow afternoon at 1 o’clock for Santa Cruz Island with a party which will include most of the teachers at the high school. They will camp on the island Saturday night and return Sunday evening. This trip has been planned for many weeks and has been postponed once. One year ago Captain Vasquez received a letter from the Caire family at San Francisco warning him not to take any camping parties to the island. Captain Vasquez replied that he was under the orders of those who chartered his boat. He believes that the Caires will not object to camping parties if care is taken to suppress vandalism. Captain Vasquez this week brought over nine seals which he captured alive on the islands. Four were sold to Campbell Brothers circus and five others will be shipped east.”
May 10, 1910 [SBI]: “Late Sunday afternoon a happy party returned from Santa Cruz Island on Captain Vasquez’ Gussie M after a pleasant day upon the island. The members of the party left early, about 4:30 A.M., so as to have a long lay for their pleasuring. Lunch was taken at Valdez. During the day they visited most of the pretty places on the island. About 20 of the high school students, the teachers of the high school and Judge E. C. Overman enjoyed the trip.”
June 10, 1910 [SBMP]: “‘The demand for sea lions this season has exceeded our expectations by at least 40 percent,’ yesterday declared Capt. McGuire, the dealer in these zoological specimens. ‘Many of our orders come from Europe. We have shipped seventy of these sea lions this year, and the season is about over. We are now after an order of eight, Capt. Vasquez being at the islands with the Gussie M. Of the last lot, we caught twelve in painted cave, and it was a great sight. ‘There is but one place in the world where these specimens can be obtained, and that is Santa Barbara.’”
June 13, 1910 [SBI]: “Captain George M. McGuire shipped one of the largest brown sea lions to New York Zoological society today, that has ever been caught in the Santa Barbara channel. This is one of eight that were caught last week at Santa Cruz Island by Captain Vasquez. It took four men to load the animal into the express car. Captain McGuire is very proud of a sea lion, born last Friday in his aquarium, on the commercial wharf. It will take a good deal of care to raise the little fellow, but Captain McGuire is in hopes of keeping him through the warm weather. The catching of sea lions is becoming quite a business for Santa Barbara, the local dealers having more orders than they can possibly fill for months to come.”
June 16, 1910 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez of the Gussie M this week expects to visit the wreck of the Dora Bluhm on Santa Rosa Island. No one has been to the scene of the disaster since it occurred, so far as known, the prevalence of heavy winds on the south side of the islands preventing the approach of small craft.”
June 28, 1910 [SBMP]: “Captain Lyon, trainer of seals and sea lions, and largely interested in a $30,000 aquarium at Venice, arrived here last night and this morning will contract with Captains Vasquez and McGuire for the delivery of 35 seals and sea lions. These will be caught as rapidly as possible by California’s one successful sealer and delivered at Venice. It is probable that the Gussie M, Captain Vasquez’ boat, will work direct between Santa Cruz Island and Venice, which will reduce the time from the moment of the animal captivity until they are in their private tanks at the training station. In the establishment at Venice, there are separately constructed tanks 25 x 35 feet in which the seals and lions are placed, either singly in pairs or trios. Also a great many fish are kept in the tanks there, so that the animals in training may be fed the living fish, which Captain Lyon believes is far better than those that have been dead for any length of time. Before returning, Captain Vasquez will probably be accompanied to the islands by Captain Low on a sealing expedition.”
July 7, 1910 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, sailed yesterday for the islands on a sealing expedition for the eastern zoos.”
July 9, 1910 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez sailed this afternoon in the Gussie M for the islands on a seal hunting expedition. He took over a camping party of 15 Los Angeles people. This party, organized by J. V. Fredericks, is the same one which has been here the past three summers. They will make Friar’s Harbor their headquarters for the next two weeks. Captain McGuire expects Vasquez to make a heavy catch of seals, as this is the first smooth weather for three weeks, and the seals will be out on the rocks in great numbers. Those that are caught will be taken directly to Venice for the new aquarium being built there.”
July 13, 1910 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez, in the launch Gussie M, returned at noon from a seal hunting expedition to the Channel Islands. He brought with him Francis Flint and Heath Conant, who were left at Friar’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, Sunday to patrol the beach in search of the body of Miss Isabel Pierce, one of the victims of last Friday’s disaster on the island. The boys said they had thoroughly explored the shore and bay where the accident occurred. All that could be found were hats belonging to the members of the party who were capsized. Captain Short will leave tomorrow in the launch Charm and remain the rest of the week. He will cruise all about the island, making a very thorough search for the remains.”
July 13, 1910 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, is expected in today from Santa Cruz Island with latest news from the ill-fated camp at Cueva Valdez, where patrols are watching for the appearance of the body of Isabel Pierce, who was drowned there Friday past.”
July 17, 1910 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, will leave this morning for Santa Cruz Island with a party out for a couple of days’ cruise. The Gussie M returned yesterday from Venice where Captain Vasquez delivered several seals.”
July 18, 1910 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez returned from Santa Cruz Island this morning. No traces had been found of the body of Miss Isabel Pierce, who was drowned about ten days ago in Cueva Valdez. Captain Short with the launch Charm, A. M. Pierce, the father of the girl, Ed Stevens, Eugene Whitcomb, Heath Conant and a force of men have thoroughly patrolled every foot of the shore. They have used about 50 pounds of dynamite, but all in vain. The Charm will leave the island this evening, bringing the searching party home. A jolly party of local merchants with some visiting friends spent yesterday and last night at the islands cruising in the Gussie M. They left here at 5 o’clock yesterday morning and visited Frye’s Harbor and Ladies Harbor. The day was spent in fishing. Those in the party were F. W. Yates, Fred Pinkham, S. Pinkham, J. Brown, J. S. Reynolds, F. B. Reavis, Ed Blakeley, Mr. Carr, Mr. Irwin and Mr. Johnston.”
July 23, 1910 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, left last evening for Santa Cruz Island to bring home a party of Los Angeles people who have been camping there for two weeks.”
July 26, 1910 [SBI]: “There have been many camping parties and cruises at Santa Cruz Island the last couple of weeks. Miss Edna Vandever with a party of about sixteen people from Los Angeles went over to Friar’s Harbor on the Gussie M two weeks ago. During their stay various boats came with crews who camped on the island and as the different campers intermingled there was a great deal of merriment. They even had a vaudeville show with singing and dancing, and many evenings they collected near a common campfire and enjoyed songs and stories which gathered effect in the shifting gleams of the fire bright in the blackness of the night… Captain Vasquez treated some of the ladies of Miss Vandever’s party to an experience which they do not think could be matched. With Captain Lyons, a seal trainer who was formerly with Ringling’s circus, Vasquez for the first time in his life took a party of ladies sealing with him. Five seals were secured after two trips, and though it was necessary to drag themselves from sleep at 3 P.M. and other discomforts were endured on the hunting expedition, the ladies declare they would not have missed it.”
August 3, 1910 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez left in the launch Gussie M for a seal-hunting expedition this morning.”
August 8, 1910 [SBI]: “A small but very successful fishing party spent yesterday along the coast in Captain Vasquez’ boat, the Gussie M. They left here at 6 A.M. and did not return till about 11 at night. Among their catch were 18 albacore which weighed altogether about 400 pounds. The party consisted of R. J. Travers, P. T. Cland and son, O. S. Peffley, M. C. Setzelman and L. E. Hales. The largest fish caught weighed 25 pounds.”
October 2, 1910 [SBMP]: “Two parties of local people will make the voyage to the islands today, one with Captain Short in the Charm, and the other with Captain Vasquez in the Gussie M.”
October 20, 1910 [SBMP]: “Captain R. Vasquez of the Gussie M will leave this morning for Santa Cruz Island to secure seven seals to fill an eastern order.”
December 31, 1910 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez, in his powerboat Gussie M, returned yesterday morning from Santa Rosa Island. He states that the island Company is looking for rain. There are now 5000 head of cattle on Santa Rosa, including several hundred Arizona steers added there but a few months ago. This Arizona stock was not in the best condition, and the dry weather is causing some uneasiness. There is food enough for the present, but usually at this season the island grasses are knee deep on the range.”
February 11, 1911 [SBI]: “Fourteen sea lions were brought over from the island by Captain Vasquez, Monday, for shipment to eastern and European zoos.”
March 30, 1911 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez is at Santa Cruz Island with his crew on another sealing expedition.”
June 10, 1911 [SBMP]: “The powerboat Gussie M, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, has been chartered by a party of University of California scientists headed by Professor John Rowley, for a two weeks' cruise of the waters surrounding the Channel Islands. The expedition leaves Santa Barbara sometime this month. Prof. Rowley has the authorization of the State Fish Commission to take such specimens as are desirable and needed in the studies and investigations of the institution, the permission extending to the seals; and Captain Vasquez has been employed in the capacity of hunter as well as master of the vessel. Birds and fish also claim the attention of the scientists.”
June 13, 1911 [LAT]: “Headed by Prof. John Rowley, a party of University of California scientists will spend two weeks this month in exploring the islands of the Santa Barbara group. They have chartered the Gussie M, and the expedition will be led by Captain Rosaline Vasquez, who probably knows more about the islands than any other man in this section. He makes a business of capturing seals, and is said to be the only man in the country who does so. He has been employed to hunt birds, fish and seals for the scientists.”
June 29, 1911 [SBMP]: “Abalone camps on Channel Islands — large parties of Chinamen prepare for harvest of shellfish. The Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, has already landed one large party of the south side of Santa Cruz Island, and will sail tomorrow with another party, having concessions from Vail & Vickers, owners of Santa Rosa Island.”
July 8, 1911 [SBMP]: “On Frank Garbutt's big yacht, Skinbladnir, and on Captain Rosalin Vasquez' Gussie M, a party of 30 actors and actresses of the Selig Motion Picture Company will cross the channel today for a ten day trip.”
July 8, 1911 [SBMP]: “... the first reports from the motion picture camp [at Valdez] were revealed Friday night when the Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, arrived with two of the head men who took a bunch of films to Los Angeles to develop them...”
July 15, 1911 [SBMP]: “The members of the Selig moving picture troupe, who have been engaged in staging films with an island background, crossed the channel yesterday afternoon with Captain Vasquez in the Gussie M from Fry’s Harbor. They have had a fairly successful week of picture making.”
July 16, 1911 [SBMP]: “Three months camp on Santa Cruz Island for Selig Motion Picture Company. The first reports from the camp were revealed Friday night when the Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, arrived with two of the head men who took a bunch of films to Los Angeles to develop them...”
July 20, 1911 [SBMP]: “The Santa Barbara beach, bay and channel were caught by the motion picture machines of the Selig Company yesterday from the deck of the Gussie M, Captain Vasquez...”
August 3, 1911 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez of the Gussie M, returning yesterday from Santa Cruz Island, reported that he stood off Forney’s Cove on the south side of the island for two days awaiting moderation in the weather so that he might land, and then gave up the idea. A cargo of abalone meat and shells is awaiting shipment from that harbor where a party of Chinese fishermen is encamped. He will return to Forney’s today hoping for better luck. A heavy swell has been running since the northwest blow of Sunday night.”
August 5, 1911 [SBMP]: “The power boat Gussie M, returning yesterday from Forney’s Cove on the south side of Santa Cruz Island, bringing the Chinese abalone fishermen who have been camped there for some months. The boat brought a cargo of between four and five tons of abalone shells and a quantity of seaweed of which the Chinese are so fond.”
August 20, 1911 [SBMP]: “Island Party Returns. Mr. and Mrs. Louis F. Ruiz, Miss Ruiz, Arthur Greenwell and other members of a party that has spent three delightful weeks at Fry's harbor, Santa Cruz Island, have returned. They crossed the channel yesterday with Captain Rosaline Vasquez on the Gussie M. A comparatively smooth passage was reported, although Captain Vasquez states that earlier in the week a heavy ground swell was running. The Gussie M will take a party of Los Angeles people to the island Monday, for a camping trip.”
October 4, 1911 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez in his Gussie M powerboat, leaves today for Santa Cruz Island to secure seven live seals to fill eastern orders. He will also call at the Chinese abalone camps on the north side of Santa Rosa Island to bring over 300 sacks of abalone meat and shells. One of the camps will also break up.”
October 6, 1911 [SBMP]: “The sailboat Belvedere is still among the missing, nothing having been seen of her since she broke her moorings during Sunday’s gale. She was filled with water, but being all wood, and with no weight aboard, is expected to float indefinitely. Captain Rosaline Vasquez, in the Gussie M, who has cruised up and down the coast in a vain effort to locate the Belvedere yesterday abandoned her.”
October 12, 1911 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, returning with the Gussie M yesterday from the other side of the channel, reports continued rough weather around the islands. He was unable to land at the abalone camps on Santa Rosa Island. He did make a landing at the crawfish camps on Santa Cruz Island, and brought over 3000 pounds of these California lobsters, the catch representing several days’ work.”
October 19, 1911 [SBI]: “To Santa Cruz after sea lions. Captain Vasquez, in command of the Gussie M, George M. McGuire’s sea lion’s boat, left Saturday evening for Santa Cruz Island where he goes to capture ten or twelve sea lions to be trained under the direction of Mr. McGuire, the noted sea lion distributor, for performing in various amusement enterprises of the country. ‘The seal rookeries of Santa Cruz Island supply all the sea lions of the world that are used by shows, circuses and amusement enterprises,’ said Mr. McGuire to the Independent this morning. ‘The animals are all shipped from Santa Barbara and this gives our city world-wide fame. Each one of our trained seals becomes a trained advertisement for this wonderful section of California.’”
November 23, 1911 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez left yesterday morning in the Gussie M with a party from Los Angeles to make a cruise about the islands.”
December 19, 1911 [SBMP]: “That Charles Linn, a Genoese sailor well-known in the shipping circles up and down the coast, was drowned in the channel is the belief of his captain, Rosaline Vasquez of the Gussie M... The Gussie M today will cruise about the channel in hope of finding the skiff, and thereby some definite trace of the missing man...”
December 26, 1911 [SBI]: “The Gussie M, Captain Rosaline, left today for a three days’ cruise among the islands. Judge Overman is one of those making the trip and he expects to return with a good load of crawfish.”
December 27, 1911 [SBMP]: “... Linn was drowned on the night of Saturday, December 16, and that he was missing was reported to the Press by his captain, Rosaline Vasquez of the Gussie M... Vasquez left on the Gussie M yesterday before the body of Linn was recovered, and he will know nothing of the discovery until he returns two or three days hence...”
December 29, 1911 [SBMP]: “Judge E. C. Overman has returned from the islands with a fish story fifteen feet long. He made the trip on the Gussie M as the guest of Captain Vasquez. It doesn’t take a particularly good romancer to tell about the fish that got away, but it does take an artist to tell a straight story that is substantiated by facts. As Judge Overman has had some judicial experience it can be taken for granted that he is clinging to the facts. The story is that he caught fifteen fish in fifteen minutes. Not a fish got away. The fish ranged in weight from three pounds to a red snapper that weighed about fifteen. Judge Overman gives the credit, however, to Captain Vasquez, who seemed to know just where the fish were going to be caught.”
1912: “... Not only are [seals] caught in our channel; but they are netted by one - a native Santa Barbaran, who has made sealing a life study, and who, having perfected the art, is considered the best of his kind on the Pacific Coast - Captain Rosaline Vasquez...” Santa Barbara High School Olive & Gold. Sealing on Santa Cruz Island by Marjorie Grey Ruiz, 1912.
January 5, 1912 [SBMP]: “Los Angeles sports have chartered the Gussie M for a sealing and fishing cruise of the Channel Islands. The powerboat, with Captain Rosaline Vasquez in charge, will go to San Pedro today to prepare for the trip, which will require two voyages from San Pedro, as there will be two parties. The Gussie M is to secure 23 seals for shipment, some of them to a trainer at Pacific Grove, and others to eastern points.”
January 6, 1912 [LAT]: “A party of Los Angeles sportsmen have chartered the Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, for a cruise of two weeks around the Channel Islands. The prime object of the cruise is to hunt seals and learn more of their lives. Captain Vasquez is the foremost seal hunter on the coast and has promised the party that he will secure a shipment of twenty-three fine specimens of seals during the cruise.”
January 7, 1912 [SHR/75]: “A party of Los Angeles sportsmen intends to spend some time at the islands. They will go on the Gussie M with Captain Vasquez. They will go to Pine Forks on Pelican Bay where they will hunt boars and wild turkeys... L. H. Lipmen will head the expedition.”
January 17, 1912 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, with E. C. Overman and a Los Angeles friend aboard, left yesterday on a seal hunting expedition to the islands.”
January 18, 1912 [SBMP]: “Broken machinery delayed the start of the Gussie M on its cruise about the islands in quest of seal. Captain Vasquez expects to have repairs completed today.”
January 25, 1912 [SBMP]: “A large consignment of seals and sea lions is to be shipped by February 1 to European countries from this city, the order having been received by Captain George M. McGuire several weeks ago. Captain McGuire, who has supplied the great majority of trained seals and sea lions that now perform throughout the world, immediately engaged Captain Vasquez of the Gussie M, to secure the seals for him. Captain Vasquez went to the southerly side of Santa Rosa Island, but owing to the heavy rolling sea caused by storms in the north, he was unable to capture any...”
February 24, 1912 [SBI]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez has again returned from Santa Cruz Island with his gasoline launch, the Gussie M, with another hard luck story of his futile quest for sea lions. Over a month ago Captain George M. McGuire received orders for twenty-five sea lions, destined for zoos, menageries and public parks in the eastern cities and in Europe. Immediately he out the order into the hands of his live-wire partner, Captain Vasquez, and every day and night thereafter the latter has been ‘on the job’ in the effort to capture the frisky and elusive amphibians…”
February 25, 1912 [SBMP]: “After having been camped a month at Fry’s Harbor seeking to fill an order of 23 seals, Captain Vasquez of the Gussie M arrived here yesterday for supplies. The sea has been so rough that it has been impossible to even hunt. The Captain will return there within a day or two to resume the effort. Crossing the channel the Gussie M lost a blade off her propeller, but was able to make port with an improvised sail.”
March 8, 1912 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez returned from the islands yesterday afternoon in his launch Gussie M, bringing 120 sacks of abalone shells and 15 sacks of their meat.”
April 7, 1912 [SBMP]: “Harpooning whales new sport in the channel is now inaugurated. John Borden, John Towne and Harry Scott will leave today on a most novel hunting trip. With a harpoon gun they expect to get something in the whale or shark line. The trio will operate about Santa Cruz Island where they intend to spend a couple months camping. Mr. Borden recently procured a harpoon gun such as is now used in whaling. The gun, which has a two inch bore and fires a harpoon about five feet long, has been mounted on the bow of the Gussie M, Captain Vasquez in command... The start will be made at 3 o’clock this afternoon, the party first going to Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, where they will establish camp. Several ladies will accompany the valiant hunters, and will remain in camp while the big sport is on.”
April 11, 1912 [SBMP]: “Whale hunters driven from camp by rain. John Borden and his friends returned yesterday afternoon from Santa Cruz Island where they had been camping since Sunday. They were driven home by the continued rain which made camp life [at Fry’s Harbor] not quite so comfortable as it would have been under drier conditions. Mr. Borden went equipped for whale hunting, having a modern outfit consisting of harpoon gun and other paraphernalia, the Gussie M, Captain Vasquez being engaged for the cruise. One whale was sighted, and strenuous efforts were made to bag the mammal, but the harpoon missed the mark. The sport will be renewed, however, when weather conditions are more favorable.”
April 23, 1912 [SBI]: “Whales in Santa Barbara Channel are safe until next season. John Borden, Captain Fremon, A. Arey and Captain Vasquez have given up whale hunting for this season. Captain Arey has returned to his home in Camden, Maine. Mr. Borden will leave for Chicago in a few days.”
April 24, 1912 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez left early this morning on the Gussie M for the islands where he will hunt seal. The seals are already ordered by eastern and European companies.”
May 12, 1912 [SBMP]: “Mrs. William Miller Graham and a party of friends are planning an island trip for Tuesday on the launch Gussie M, Captain Vasquez.”
May 19, 1912 [SBMP]: “The pupils of Miramar school spent the week-end at Santa Cruz Island, making the trip with Captain Vasquez in the Gussie M.”
May 20, 1912 [SBI]: “Pupils of the Miramar school spent Saturday and Sunday on Santa Cruz Island. They made the trip with Captain Vasquez in the Gussie M.”
June 18, 1912 [SBI]: “William H. Clifford, president of the Pacific Coast Motion Picture Company and D. Daniels, manager of the company, returned Monday from the islands where they have been with Captain Vasquez in his boat, Gussie M, taking pictures of seals. While on this last trip they took over 2,000 feet of films. They have completed a series of pictures which show the seal from its babyhood to the time it is captured by the hunter. Three trips to the islands have been necessary to get the films.”
June 21, 1912 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, leaves early this morning with a party of Arlington guests on a two days trip around Santa Cruz Island. The nights will be spent at Fry’s Harbor.”
July 1-July 3, 1912: [The Mackey Expedition manuscript, UCSB Davidson Library]: Vasquez with Gussie M took a party staying at the San Ysidro Ranch to Fry's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. The party consisted of:
- Edward M. Mackey
- William Augustus Brewer [(1866-1928); Golden Gate National Cemetery]
- Wheaton Hale Brewer [(1897-1959), age 15 at the time of this trip; Golden Gate National Cemetery]
- Keith Johnston
- Rosaline Vasquez, Skipper
- Fred Williams (Shorty), first mate
- Nick (not Nicholas) Bermudas, “the Indian” deckhand
July 21, 1912 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, left for Santa Cruz Island at 10:30 o’clock last night and in an hour returned to the wharf with a load of sick folks who were glad to touch terra firma again. Twenty-five persons, about half of whom were women, had been planning for several days for the much-talked-about island trip. The voyage over was to be made at night, and after a rest on the beach there would be a cruise to various points of interest on the island. But by the time the Gussie M was two miles from shore, the spirit of hilarity had left many of the party. The sea was becoming more choppy as the craft drew away from the lea of the land, and as the weather was from the northwest, Captain Vasquez knew conditions would become worse. There was no danger, but the old mariner knows the channel waters so well that he could prophecy anything but a pleasant time for his passengers. The unpleasant time had already come to some and they were not a bit disappointed when the captain decided to return to port.”
June 21, 1912 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez of the Gussie M sailed this morning for the islands with a handsome gold watch presented to him by the manager of the Pacific Coast Moving Picture Company. The company has for the last six months used Captain Vasquez’s boat to carry its picture-making machines to and around the islands while pictures of seals and island scenery were being taken. The manager considers the pictures among the best yet procured and presented the watch as proof of the value he placed on the Captain’s part of the work.”
July 21, 1912 [SBMP]: “W. H. Kraft and other members of the party of Chihuahuans in Santa Barbara, will visit Santa Cruz Island Tuesday, making the trip with Captain Vasquez on the Gussie M.”
July 24, 1912 [SBMP]: “Many parties camping on Santa Cruz and Anacapa during summer… The Gussie M, Captain Vasquez, left here yesterday with a party from the Chihuahua colony that is summering here, while the civil trouble in Mexico is being settled. They are making only a brief visit to Santa Cruz.”
August 13, 1912 [SBMP]: “Island party safely returns as relatives become alarmed. Disabled engine causes Charm to wait at Valdez for a tow… Knowing that something was wrong, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, accompanied by Nathan Bents and C. A. Edwards and others left for the island yesterday on the Gussie M. They arrived at Cueva Valdez at 3 o’clock, a short time before a rowboat arrived from Fry’s Harbor with provisions. At the time, the party did not know, but another night would have to be passed at Valdez with the Charm in tow. The Gussie M started for the mainland at 4 o’clock arriving here at 10:00 o’clock. Some of the passengers had been transferred to the Gussie M, but upon arriving here were landed by rowboat…”
September 11, 1912 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, leaves this morning for Santa Cruz Island to fill an order for seals.”
September 15, 1912 [SBMP]: “...Mr. Borden left early this morning in Captain Vasquez's launch, the Gussie M, and was accompanied by a friend from Chicago.”
November 23, 1912 [SBMP]: “…The same swell, it may be imagined, has been even more effective in the outer channel, and around the islands. It has kept Captain Vasquez from filling an order for live seals. He returned yesterday in the Gussie M after several days of fruitless efforts.”
November 23, 1912 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez returned from the islands Friday afternoon in the Gussie M, without the five seals for which he started out more than a week ago. The weather about the islands has been so rough that seal hunting was impracticable.”
December 7, 1912 [SBI]: “Captain Vasquez has returned from his seal hunt around Santa Cruz Island without bringing back any seals and without seeing Jack London, who is said to be cruising in his yacht about that vicinity. Vasquez reports rough weather about the Channel Islands.”
December 26, 1912 [SBI]: “After being in the water almost 10 days, the body of Charles Linn who was in the employ of Colice Vasquez, was found floating far out beyond the kelp this morning by some Italian fishermen. Saturday night, December 18, Linn left the wharf in a small boat while there was a stiff breeze blowing, to board the Gussie M launch, which he was taking care of for Vasquez. On Monday afternoon Vasquez began to make inquiries for Linn, saying that there had been no light on the Gussie M the night before. Further investigation failed to reveal anything concerning Linn’s whereabouts and it was not until 10 o’clock this morning that it was known whether he was drowned or had left without notice.”
December 26, 1912 [SBI]: “The Gussie M, Captain Rosaline[Vasquez], left today for a three days cruise among the islands. Judge Overman is one of those making the trip and he expects to return with a good load of crawfish.”
1913. Otter was 40-foot boat built by Mr. Garbutt for Captain Vasquez in 1913. Margaret Eaton reported: “Captain Colis Vasquez’s new boat the Otter brought 80 people to our new Pelican Bay Camp. Colis came ashore to visit as usual, but I told him he just came to show off his new uniform. He looked like an admiral... with a real captain’s cap with Otter in letters an inch high and a captain’s insignia on top. It was bought and paid for by a man lousy with money.” [Eaton 1980. p. 190-194].
1913: “The Tent City, Santa Cruz Island. The Otter. At the beautiful Friar's (Frye's Harbor). With tents to sleep in; with board floors; beds and bedding of the best and the cleanest. Amid venerable oaks, beside a running brook, on the seashore. Table supplied with the best of material, always well cooked. Rates $2.50/day. The round trip made in 2 1/2 hours, each way; on a strong, fast boat captained by one of the best sailors on the Pacific Coast, Captain Vasquez, keen of eye, always one ahead of the next thing that COULD happen. The Otter may be chartered for moonlight excursions, for fishing parties, or for cruising amid the lovely Channel Islands. Information at 730 State Street. Home telephone 51.” [Advertisement in Monograph on the Old Franciscan Mission, Pacific Coast Publishing Company, 1913].
January 4, 1913 [SCICo Letter Books]: “Replying to your letter in regard to permission to camp, etc., we would charge you $5.00 per month, a very reasonable rate we think, and one which you can very easily afford to pay. Wherever you may be camping, you will be authorized to put off anybody trespassing on the premises.”
January 7, 1913 [SBMP]: “Permanent camp for summer at Fry’s Harbor. Captain R. Vasquez has obtained from the owners of Santa Cruz Island, exclusive privileges for camping during the summer, and it is his intention to establish a permanent camp at Fry’s Harbor, with tents and other conveniences which will be rented at stipulated prices. Captain Vasquez will bring a new powerboat here from San Pedro within a few weeks, which he says will be quite the finest thing in the channel. It will be devoted to taking passengers to and from the camp at Fry’s Harbor. The new boat will be over 41 feet in length and will have 35-horse-power Imperial engines.”
January 8, 1913 [SCICo Letter Books]: “Some time ago R. Vasquez asked us for permission to camp as we have told you before, and we told him we would charge him $5.00 per month for each camp he established. As you can see from the enclosed card he is willing to accept our terms, and you may arrange with them so that the collection may be made at the Island whenever due. This will give you an excuse for watching him closely as well as other campers who may be around there.”
January 31, 1913 [SBMP]: “Frank A. Garbutt, the millionaire yachtsman and oil king of Los Angeles, whose Skidbladnir has been a familiar sight in the channel every summer for some years, will build a fifty-foot boat for Captain Rosaline Vasquez, who has been in command of the Gussie M during recent seasons, and who is one of the best known mariners on the coast. The new craft, the name of which is not yet decided, will be built by the Fulton Company at San Pedro and will be ready for service in May. It will be used exclusively for island passenger traffic, in connection with Captain Vasquez’s exclusive privileges on Santa Cruz Island and will be quite the finest boat ever offered for public use in these waters. It is about 15 feet longer than the Gussie M, and will have two cabins, one for ladies and one for gentlemen, two toilets, eight berths and facilities for carrying about 40 passengers. The yacht will be equipped with fifty horse-powered Imperial engines, and will be complete and attractive in every way. The boat will cost more than $50,000. Mr. Garbutt is prominently identified with the Union Oil Company.”
January 13, 1913 [SBDN]: “Corlise Vasquez, captain of the Gussie M, has ordered a new $5000 boat which will carry forty passengers and will be fitted with two cabins, eight baths and two toilets and 50 horse power imperial engines. Captain Vasquez will use this new boat to carry pleasure seekers to and from Santa Cruz Island where he has secured exclusive privileges for a pleasure camp.”
April 8, 1913 [SCICo Letter Books]: “We thank you very much for your letter and will be satisfied to wait until you can make arrangements for paying us the rent. In regard to that matter about which you sent us a newspaper extract – We wish to say it does not worry us very much as it is a matter which has been thrashed over again and again. When the time comes, which will not be in the very distant future, Mr. Eaton will be induced to change his determination: he will see it is better to walk off than to squat.” The newspaper article referred to would have been that of March 30, 1913, Santa Barbara Morning Press.
April 16, 1913 [SBMP]: “Frank A. Garbutt and Captain Rosaline Vasquez’ Otter ready for sea. Captain Rosaline Vasquez will bring his new excursion boat, the Otter, to Santa Barbara next Tuesday. The Otter is expected to popularize the island trip among the Santa Barbara people… Three Los Angeles parties have already engaged the Otter for summer dates, Captain Vasquez specifying that they shall come to Santa Barbara to make the start to the island, for Santa Barbara will be the Otter’s home port… The Otter will make her trial trip from San Pedro to Catalina Island next Sunday, with a party of Los Angeles officials and newspaper men as guests of Captain Vasquez and of Frank A. Garbutt, the well-known yachtsman, owner of the Skinbladnir, who is capitalizing the Otter venture.”
April 18, 1913 [LAT]: “Santa Barbara. Catalina has another rival. Santa Cruz Island is to be developed. Frank Garbutt of Los Angeles builds fine excursion boat and the vessel will make daily trips from Santa Barbara. That Santa Cruz Island will vie with Catalina for attracting camping parties is promised by Frank A. Garbutt, the wealthy commodore of Los Angeles, who has had built one of the finest and best-equipped little excursion boat on the coast. The craft is to be known as the Otter, having been built in San Pedro. It will arrive here next Tuesday in charge of Captain Vasquez. It is the intention of the owner to have the boat make daily trips from Santa Barbara to Santa Cruz Island, one of the most picturesque islands in the world, and it is expected that when the season opens, the trip will be very popular. There are many people in Santa Barbara who were born and raised here, who have never been to the Channel Islands because of lack of transportation, and with the Otter in the business, their long-cherished hope may be realized. The new boat is 52-feet long, has a beam of 12.9 feet, and six feet draught. Her engines are 55-horse-power and in addition there is a full set of sails, giving her the equipment of a yacht. The arrangement for the comfort of passengers is unusual. There are fourteen Pullman berths and a seating capacity of sixty. She will make the trip to the island in two hours”
April 30, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez returned last evening from Los Angeles, reporting that there had been a delay in applying the finishing touches to his new 52-foot powerboat, the Otter, which he expects to use this summer in passenger business between Santa Barbara and the island. He feels quite certain that he will be able to bring the Otter here next Monday.”
May 14, 1913 [SBMP]: “The first step toward making Santa Cruz Island the Catalina of Santa Barbara has been taken by Frank Garbutt of Los Angeles and captain Rosaline Vasquez. Mr. Garbutt has built a gasoline yacht, Otter, for regular service between Santa Barbara and the island, and she is now in the channel under the command of Captain Vasquez. Concession rights for the establishment of a camp hotel on the island have been obtained from the Caire family of San Francisco, owners of the island, and the work of putting up the tents and making a resort at the hotel site will be started immediately. When it is done, the Otter will be put on a regular schedule to carry parties to and from the island. It means that the beautiful island on the other side of the channel, with its fine harbors, good fishing and hunt water will be made accessible to the general public. With the exploitation of the island, the men behind the project believe Santa Cruz will be to Santa Barbara and its tourists what Catalina is to Los Angeles. The Otter is a substantial, seaworthy craft 52-feet in length and with a passenger capacity of fifty, and she is driven by a 55-horse-power, six-cylinder engine and has a speed of ten miles an hour. It is planned to make the trip to the island in two hours and a half. The Otter has sleeping accommodations for fifteen and is fitted with men’s and women’s cabins. She was designed particularly for this service by Matt J. Walsh and built by Fulton and Woodley of San Pedro.”
May 15, 1913 [SBMP]: “Garbutt’s new boat proves a boon to those who love the channel. The island camp to be established at Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz, will be ready for business May 24. The Otter, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, will then make daily trips. The passage can be easily made in two hours. Yesterday the Otter was out on the channel with a party including Mrs. Brackenridge, Gaud, Chrisholm, Duffy, McComber and others, and all were greatly pleased with the experience.”
May 20, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain RosalineVasquez will leave today in his new power yacht Otter for Santa Cruz Island to establish the summer camp which he will maintain at Fry’s Harbor. The equipment has just been received. Sunday he brought over eight seals for H. A. Rogers.”
May 21, 1913 [SBDN]: “Santa Barbarans and tourists visiting here, who desire to make the trip to the beautiful Santa Cruz Island now have the opportunity. Captain Vasquez, who recently brought the steam launch Otter to Santa Barbara for service between this city and the island, has installed a camp hotel at Frye’s Harbor and is ready to accommodate a considerable number of visitors at the hotel. More tents arrived today and Captain Vasquez will have them up in a few days. The site of the camp hotel is ideal, with plenty of fresh running water nearby. Those who wish to make the trip to the island can make arrangement at the local Santa Fe office. As soon as he has his entire camp up and when the business warrants it, Captain Vasquez intends to run the Otter on a regular schedule to and from the island.”
May 25, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez of the steamer Otter will take a party of Los Angeles people to his tent city camp on Santa Cruz Island this morning. His party includes Big Otto, the manager of Selig Motion Pictures, Animal Farm of Eastlake Park, Los Angeles, also Lazard H. Lippman and son of Los Angeles. They will remain on the island camping for a week or more.”
May 31, 1913 [SBDN]: “The yacht Otter will leave tomorrow morning for the islands with a small party of eastern people. The Otter is the safest and fastest yacht that has ever been in the channel trade. Captain Colice Vasquez is in charge. There will be room for a number of more passengers. Captain Vasquez wishes it understood that he will be able to take others tomorrow, if they will be at the commercial wharf at 7:30 in the morning. A telephone call to 51 home phone, will be answered by a party who can give full information. The fare is $2.00 a round trip, including dinner on the island.”
June 2, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Vasquez, in the yacht Otter, made a trip to the islands yesterday with a party of eastern and local excursionists. A pleasant time was spent on the island and all were most enthusiastic over the trip. Another trip will be made next Sunday and a special fish dinner will be prepared on the island by an expert Italian cook. Parties wishing to make the trip can get information from phone 51.”
June 10, 1913 [SBMP]: “Nearly fifty persons were aboard the yacht Otter as it crossed the channel Sunday. The day was spent fishing and enjoying all of the pleasures afforded by ‘Camp Vasquez’ at Fry’s Harbor. The real feature of the day was the exceptionally large and excellent dinner and clambake. The boat returned in the evening and no sickness or discomfort was felt by any of the party during the entire cruise. Captain Vasquez will leave this morning with a number of teachers and students of the Gamble School for a three day outing on the island.”
June 13, 1913 [SBMP]: “Armed to teeth pirate gang hides on island. Sheriff Nat Stewart, Immigration Inspector Edward P. Morse and a number of deputies from the sheriff’s office will sail at 3 o’clock this morning on the swift new power yacht, the Otter, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, in hopes of capturing a band of alleged pirates, whose rendezvous has been located in an isolated cove on the south side of Santa Cruz Island. So far as known, the party sought numbers three men, two of whom are charged with stealing the salmon fishing boat Antioch from Benicia, on San Francisco Bay, on the night of April 29th. The third member is known as ‘Shorty’ Williams, and he is supposed to be implicated in the theft of the launch Witch from this port last September…”
June 13, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Vasquez will run a special excursion to Santa Cruz Island Sunday in his new boat, the Otter, which it is expected will be taken advantage of by a large number of pleasure seekers. The excursionists will take in the marine garden, the painted cave, seal rocks, and submarine caves and other points of special interest about the island. The dinner served on the island at Fry’s Harbor will be a typical seafood dinner of fish, abalone and mussels.”
June 13, 1913 [LAT]: “Hunt pirates on Santa Cruz. Sheriff and posse start on nautical expedition… Armed to the teeth, Sheriff Nat Stewart and a posse of deputies left Santa Barbara at a late hour tonight on a chartered boat for Santa Cruz Island where they expect a deadly comb at with a trio of pirates. The report of the pirates cruising on the channel was received this afternoon by local fishermen, who declared they had conversed with them… Captain Colice Vasquez at the helm…”
June 14, 1913 [SBMP]: “Many Santa Barbarans are planning to enjoy the trip to Santa Cruz Island in the Otter, for which excursion many tempting offers are given in addition to the trip. ‘Camp Vasquez’ is gaining popularity very rapidly with its visitors, and by mid-summer it is expected to have developed into quite a city. The dinners, which are included in the Sunday excursion of the Otter, are another very agreeable feature of the day’s outing.”
June 15, 1913 [LAT]: “Officers patrol Channel Islands searching for pirate who follows them in and loots their boat. When Sheriff Nat Stewart, accompanied by Immigration officer Morse and a posse of half a dozen deputies, arrived in Santa Barbara last night after a fruitless search of the Channel Islands for the pirates who are alleged to have stolen several boats and other plunder along the coast, little did he think that the bold, bad men were pursuing them. As a matter of fact the pirates were close on the trail of the officers and when the latter deserted their boat, the Otter, the pirates went aboard, stole a $50 compass from her and tried to get away with the boat. That they failed is due to the fact that Captain Vasquez of the Otter, had disconnected the mechanical parts of the engine and it was impossible to get her underway…”
June 17, 1913 [SBMP]: “The power yacht Otter today will take a quantity of lumber to Camp Vasquez at Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, to be used as flooring for tents.”
June 23, 1913 [SBDN]: “The Otter, the strong and speedy new launch which Captain Rosaline Vasquez purchased and brought here a few months ago, was washed ashore about 10:30 o’clock last night and is now lying, stranded, high and dry, on the sands in front of the Potter Hotel. Captain Vasquez said this morning that he was thoroughly convinced that the affair is the work of one or more of his enemies. There is no doubt in his mind that they came up in a row boat last night, pulled in a part of the chain by which his boat was moored and sawed it off. Five fathoms of the mooring chain are gone and it was of such strength and had stood such severe tests that there is no possibility that it could have broken when the sea was perfectly smooth as it was last night. It is believed that the perpetrators of this outrage are the same persons who, about a week ago, boarded the Otter, stole from it a $50 compass, together with a large supply of gasoline and tried to make away with the boat. Captain Vasquez has slight clues to the criminals and believes that he will be able to hunt them down. Captain Vasquez returned about 6:30 o’clock last night from Santa Cruz Island with a large party of excursionists. After the party had disembarked, he moored the boat west of the commercial pier and stationed A. Cozzani on board to keep watch during the night. About 8:10, Cozzani, thinking that he was of no special use on board the boat, left and went up town to play pool. It was about 10 o’clock that a street car conductor on the boulevard saw the light on the boat mast near shore and went down, to find the Otter stranded on the shore where it had been washed up at the very high tide. Captain Vasquez was phoned to, but the tide had gone down too much to relaunch the boat when he got there. This morning the water was several feet below the boat, and it will be necessary to wait for the high tide, which comes about 8:45 o’clock tonight, before an effort can be made to replace the launch in the water. No damage was done to the ship, which is one of the strongest boats of its kind on the coast, and it withstood admirably the severe knocking around that it got last night. Captain Vasquez has appealed to the police for aid in finding the men who committed the deed.”
July 2, 1913 [SBMP]: “H. J. Boyle of the Potter will pilot a party of hotel guests on a cruise to Santa Cruz Island today aboard the launch Otter, Captain Vasquez. This is the first venture in what will become a regular feature of the hotel.”
July 4, 1913 [OC]: “…Excursions to the islands are becoming so popular that local launch owners are having a hard time to accommodate the demand. Yesterday Captains Eaton and Short took over a party of about 40 in the two launches Gussie M, and Charm, while Captain Vasquez took over a large party in the Otter…”
July 7, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Vasquez left last night with his launch, the Otter, for San Pedro. The launch will be repainted and overhauled within a few days, and be returned the latter part of this week. The boat made its regular Sunday excursion trip to the islands yesterday, taking over a large crowd to Fry’s Harbor, where dinner was served to the company.”
July 11, 1913 [SBMP]: “Frank Garbutt’s yacht Skidbladnir sailed yesterday for the islands, after having spent a few hours in port. Mr. Garbutt, who capitalized the Vasquez summer camp at Santa Cruz Island, and the passenger launch Otter, is looking over the arrangements for handling the summer crowds, and also enjoying his annual cruise in these waters.”
July 11, 1913 [SBMP]: “Miss Isabel Pierce and Thomas Del Valle of island camping party drown when boat capsizes. Sobered by the first marine tragedy in many years, Santa Barbara talked of little else than the drowning on Friday of Miss Isabel Pierce, 16, daughter of A.M. Pierce, 1629 Garden Street, and of Thomas Del Valle, 19, son of Henry Del Valle, 25 East Ortega Street, who perished after a long struggle in the channel waters on the north coast of Santa Cruz Island Friday morning… Captain Henry Short returned from the island yesterday afternoon with those of the party who remained in camp at Quava Valdez, after Rosaline Vasquez left for the mainland Saturday night with Del Valle’s body and the first news of the tragedy… The party went to the island a week ago Saturday and pitched their tents at Quava Valdez, or Valdez Cave, on the north shore of Santa Cruz Island and about a mile west of Frye’s Harbor… On Friday morning Mrs. Whitcomb, Miss Whitcomb, Eugene Whitcomb, Miss Lober, Miss Isabel Pierce, James Clark, Thomas Del Valle and Mrs. White left in a flat-bottomed otter boat for Frye’s Habor, intending to row down the coast… The boat was about half a mile east of the camp and nearly one mile from shore when without warning from what seemed a smooth sea, a large roller crested just as it hit the boat and broke over the gunwhale, filling the boat almost full of water and creating an instant panic among most of those on board. Several of the occupants at once jumped into the water and the boat capsized, throwing all of the party into the ocean…”
July 13, 1913 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M, Ira Eaton, sailed at 1 A.M. today for Pelican Bay, with a small party. The Otter, Captain Vasquez, will sail today for Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, with a party of tourists.”
July 15, 1913 [SBDN]: “About twenty persons from Carpinteria will leave tomorrow morning on Captain Vasquez’s launch, the Otter, for an all day cruise around the islands. Thursday morning a large party from Miramar will be taken over to the islands on the Otter. All of the island boats are now in great demand by tourists and town people who desire to see the islands go on camping expeditions.”
July 18, 1913 [SBDN]: “The teachers and a number of students at the summer school of the State Normal, have chartered the launch Otter, run by Captain Vasquez, and will spend tomorrow on an excursion to the islands. At the islands a big clam bake will be enjoyed by the party. Miss Elliott of the Normal will have charge of the excursion.”
July 21, 1913 [SCICo Letter BOoks]: “Since the last payment you made for the rent of your camp at Fry's Harbor we have not heard from you nor have we any notice from our Superintendent that he has received the rent money at any time. We therefore call your attention to the fact that no rent having been paid for any time since February 28th, we must insist that you make a settlement at once according to the terms of the agreement we made with you.”
July 27, 1913 [SBMP]: “The Santa Cruz Island camps have become very popular, and boats cross daily. At the Vasquez camp at Fry’s Harbor, there is a compliment of four employees always on duty for the accommodation of the crowds, they being chef, waiter, guide and boatman. The Otter, the Vasquez boat, has made one or two trips from the mainland to island daily for the past two weeks… The trip to Santa Cruz Island can be made very comfortable in two and a half hours in the Otter, which is a staunch, well-built boat, and adequate for all the immediate business. The round-trip fare is $2 and chartered by the day $30. It takes about seven hours to make complete circles of the island, which would leave considerable time for trolling in a day’s trip…”
August 12, 1913 [SCICo Letter Books]: “We enclose receipt for the Twenty Dollars ($20.00) which you have just sent us in payment of rent to the end of August. We would prefer that you make a remittance every other month as this would really be more convenient for us. We hope you insist upon people not taking over firearms so there may be no chance of their shooting sheep or causing any other accident or damage which might be regretted.”August 16, 1913 [SBDN]: “Mr. and Mrs. Windsor Soule, Mrs. Soule’s father, Lockwood deForest, and a party of about fifteen left this morning for Friar’s Harbor on the launch Otter. The company will spend Sunday on the island and will return early Monday morning to this city. Captain Gourley will take campers on a fishing expedition near the islands today. Sunday, Captain Vasquez will take over a large party of excursionists, including a number of delegates to the electrical convention at the Potter Hotel.”
August 19, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez took a party of 14 carpenter people to the camp at Fry’s Harbor Sunday. They will remain there a week. Several other parties are camping at the island. The yachts Skinbladnir and Seafarer were both anchored in Fry’s Harbor yesterday.”
September 4, 1913 [SBDN]: “Seventeen members of the Flying A company went to Santa Cruz Island with Captain Vasquez this morning leaving the commercial wharf at 7:30. Calamity Ann’s Dream, one of the interesting series in which Miss Lester figures prominently, will be worked out and will furnish one of the most amusing numbers of the series. Great difficulty was encountered in persuading Jack, the burro, to enter into the game of a trip on the briny deep and a still greater difficulty was anticipated in getting him to land on the other side. Among the players to make the trip were Miss Lester, Jack Richardson, Mr. Von Meter, Miss Rich, Mrs. Coxen, Mr. Johnston, the director, and Mr. Overbaugh, the cameraman. The party is expected home this evening if all goes well and the work is complete.”
September 15, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Vasquez took a lively party of picnickers to Santa Cruz Island yesterday, returning home at 6 o’clock in the evening after a delightful day and splendid trip in the channel. Those who enjoyed the trip were Charles Rowland, Charles Woods, S. A. Baldridge, Miss Pearl Cooper, Miss Ada Earlway, Miss Ora Burch, Mrs. Eva Romero, and George Edgby, Al Roder, W. Brady, Kenneth Darling, C. Horland, O. Vaughan, R. W. Vaughan, S. E. Vaughan and H. C. Pratt.”
September 24, 1913 [SBDN]: “… Mr. Caire arrived here last night and registered at the Raffour House. He came south to take charge of the floating of the schooner Santa Cruz, which is aground off the Rincon. He left this morning with Captain Vasquez aboard the Otter for the stranded vessel. A thorough investigation will be made, with a view of deciding what steps to take to float the schooner. A tug has been chartered at San Pedro for the work. Captain Vasquez reported to Mr. Caire that while the keel of the Santa Cruz is going, that the vessel is not breaking to pieces, and could be saved. He stated that the beach is sandy where the Santa Cruz rests, though there may be rocks beneath her hull. Captain Vasquez does not regard her condition as precarious.”
October 4, 1913 [SBDN]: “Mr. and Mrs. J. Langdon Irvin of Montecito, W. R. Edwards, Mrs. John Codman, and Mr. and Mrs. Thompson left this morning on the Otter, Captain Vasquez in command, for a cruise of Santa Cruz Island. The Otter had been specially outfitted by Captain Vasquez for fishing…”
November 23, 1913 [SBMP]: “J. R. Swan, a well-known Los Angeles broker, formerly district agent for the Remington Typewriter Company, is a guest at the Arlington. He will leave today or tomorrow with Captain Rosaline Vasquez on the Otter, for Santa Rosa Island on a hunting trip.”
December 6, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez will open the camping season at Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, April 1st. The island will be more popular than ever. A San Pedro school with sixty boys, will camp at Fry’s during June.”
December 8, 1913 [SBDN]: “Fishermen have been asked to keep a lookout while at the islands for any trace of Gus Gustafson, and aged man who is believed to have been blown out to sea from San Pedro. It is feared that he may have been drowned, though there is a possibility that he may have drifted before the wind and managed to reach the Santa Barbara islands. A search of Santa Catalina and San Clemente islands, off San Pedro, have just been completed without result. Captain Vasquez went to Santa Cruz Island yesterday, and will probably reconnoiter the various bays, while several fishing boats will search San Miguel, Anacapa and Santa Rosa. Gustafson is an old sailor. For years he has lived in a deserted boathouse at San Pedro, earning a living by fishing. He was last seen Friday morning rowing to sea. Shortly afterward a high wind, blowing in a northerly direction developed, and it reasoned that if his boat remained afloat, it would have been blown toward the Santa Barbara islands, though it may have come ashore somewhere along the coast.”
December 10, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Vasquez arrived this afternoon from Santa Cruz Island bringing seven seals for eastern shipment. The animals are selected and represent a very high grade seal. Some will be shipped from New York to Germany, and all will be trained as performers.”
December 12, 1913 [SBMP]: “Heavy swell does mischief at front; Vessels endangered. The highest ground swells in many months were running yesterday… The power yacht Otter would have smashed into the wharf near the passenger gangway but for the timely assistance rendered by Captain G. W. Gourley in his launch Vamoose. The Otter was anchored about 200 yards southwest of the wharf, but the heavy swell caused her to drag. Captain Gourley found that the anchor had fouled. He towed the Otter to the winter anchorage in the lee of the heavy kelp beds. Captain Vasquez, master of the Otter, was in Los Angeles at the time of the threatened catastrophe.”
December 12, 1913 [SBDN]: “Brilliant holly berries from Santa Cruz Island will decorate the homes of Los Angeles and Pasadena families for the Yuletide season. Captain Vasquez sails for the islands tomorrow morning to gather five tons of holly for one of the largest florists of Los Angeles. He returned from there this afternoon after completing a contract, and at once begins the collection of the holly. There is great care needed in harvesting the crop. The holly must not be picked when damp with fog or dew, but must be absolutely dry. After is has been gathered, Captain Vasquez will do it up into bales, and, loading the brilliant herbage upon the Otter, he will return to Santa Barbara and ship his festive cargo direct to Los Angeles. This shipment, it is said, will be the first of its kind from the Santa Barbara islands, and opens a new industry, which promises to become of large importance. The island holly is particularly brilliant and large. Specimens shown to the experts have aroused admiration, and the reputation acquired by the samples, which have found their way to Los Angeles attracted the big dealer with whom Captain Vasquez has just closed a contract. The shipment to Los Angeles, will prove another means of attracting attention to Santa Barbara and to the islands, as every spray sold will go out under the label ‘Santa Barbara Island Holly.’”
December 18, 1913 [SBMP]: “The development of a new industry on the Channel Islands is proven by the receipt yesterday of a consignment of walnuts and almonds from Santa Cruz Island. There were 85 bags of English walnuts and 20 bags of almonds, the product of the Caire orchards. The nuts are of good quality. They were brought across on Captain Vasquez boat, the Otter.”
January 13, 1914 [SBDNI]: “The schooner Santa Cruz, which was reported so badly damaged that repairs were thought useless, proves to be in splendid condition, and will return to Santa Barbara in April, and re-enter the island trade for the summer. Captain Vasquez this morning returned from San Pedro in the Otter bringing this news of the Santa Cruz. The repairs have been very extensive, much of the old planking having been replaced with new timbering, and the work of overhauling the vessel will probably not be completed for a month or two, but when she returns to the water she will be one of the swiftest boats afloat. The owners are now thinking of installing a 40-horse Imperial engine, and in many other ways improving her.”
February 4, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Captain Vasquez with the launch Otter is at Santa Cruz Island after a consignment of seals for Herbert Rogers.”
February 11, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Captain Vasquez of the launch Otter arrived here this morning from San Miguel Island where he witnessed the release of the British oil tanker Pectan from the sand bar. The vessel pulled herself from the bar without the aid of any of the vessels standing by, and proceeded north to have her hull thoroughly inspected before returning to Port San Luis for loading. Captain Vasquez reports that the feed on San Miguel is fast being buried beneath drifting sand. The once green island is now a white, bleak stretch of sand eight miles long and a mile and a half wide, with only a few green patches where the grass yet exists. Captain Waters of this city, with his brother John Waters, are on the island looking after the 3,000 sheep he has there. It is very likely the sheep will be removed. Captain Vasquez leaves tonight in the Otter to bring back Captain Waters and his brother to this city. Speaking of the Channel Islands Captain Vasquez says they were never more beautiful than now. The early rains have brought out the grass, until the entire Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa are carpeted with greenery, and even Anacapa shows a deep vernal hue in the distance. An early summer is predicted, and in anticipation of the heated term in the interior of the state coming much sooner than usual, Captain Vasquez is preparing to open his camp on Santa Cruz Island April 1.”
February 18, 1914 [SCICo Letter Books]: “We have rented you a camping place on Santa Cruz Island for your exclusive use and benefit. This means that you have the right to eject from your camp or the immediate vicinity any objectionable character or anybody whose presence you do not desire. Since you are a Deputy Sheriff duly appointed, we hereby authorize you to report to us any trespassing by objectionable people of which you may become aware, and to take whatever measures you think proper for the protection of our property.” Signed by AJC for “Trustees of the Santa Cruz Island Co.”
February 22, 1914 [SBMP]: “The launches Gussie M, Captain Ira Eaton, and the Otter, Captain Rosaline Vasquez, arrived from the islands yesterday, reporting quiet weather on the north side of the archipelago, the islands protecting the sea against the southeast blow. Both boats brought several live seals, and Captain Eaton had several hundred pounds of crawfish.”
March 3, 1914 [SBMP]: “The powerboat Otter, Captain Vasquez, goes to Santa Cruz Island today to take some workmen to the Caire Ranch and take over and bring back mail. Then Captain Vasquez will go on a seal hunt to secure twelve of the species to fill an order received by Herbert Rogers.”
March 3, 1914 [SBMP]: “A party of a dozen men, intent on the royal sport of boar hunting, went to Santa Cruz Island on the Sampan with Captain Scotty Cunningham last Saturday night, expecting to return home the following evening. When midnight came with no tidings from the valiant nimrods, their wives and children and certain others became very anxious over their fate, and when a new day dawned with no sign of their return, visions of all sorts of disaster from shipwreck to death from boar tusks, arose among the half-frenzied watchers. At 10 o’clock A.M. yesterday, Captain Vasquez was dispatched in the Otter to search the waters of Old Ocean for the missing huntsmen. He had not far to look, for he ran into them at a point eight miles from the Santa Barbara shore. All was well with the hunters, and their only reason for not returning to the mainland on their original schedule was the fact that they had too much sense to set out in a small boat in water so rough that it would inevitably have swamped their little craft.”
March 12, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez goes to Santa Cruz Island in the Otter today for a good dozen live seals from the island caves.”
March 21, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Eight fine specimens of island seals were brought to Santa Barbara from Santa Cruz Island this morning by Captain Vasquez of the launch Otter, and will be shipped to Buffalo, where they will be trained. This makes 16 seals Captain Vasquez has brought in this week. Among the lot received this morning was one immense bull seal, savage as a tiger, and ready to fight at the motion of a finger.”
March 22, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, who returned from Santa Cruz Island last Friday night with eight seals for Herbert Rogers, left at six P.M. yesterday with twenty members of the Flying A Company for Valdez Cave, where the party will spend Sunday, returning this evening.”
March 24, 1914 [SBMP]: “The powerboat Otter, Captain Vasquez, went to Prisoners’ Harbor yesterday with a cargo of lumber for the Caire estate, to be used in various repairs.”
March 26, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez takes a party of ten men, laborers, to the Caire ranch to Prisoners’ Harbor today on the Otter. He will return to the mainland this evening.”
March 29, 1914 [SBMP]: “Fred Hamilton has organized for today a big party to go to Santa Cruz Island on the Otter, Captain Vasquez. The company, which will include both men and women, will number about thirty-five people. Most members of the newly organized Rod and Reel Club will be in the party, and they expect to bring home a lot of fish. The party will make the dinner camp at Valdez, by many thought to be the most beautiful harbor on the island, and will visit several other points of interest, returning to the mainland in the evening.”
April 3, 1914 [SBMP]: “Otter to be given spring overhauling… Tonight Captain Vasquez is taking his powerboat, the Otter, to San Pedro to give her a new dress of paint and otherwise fit her for the opening of the new season at his camp at Fry's Harbor, which is set for the 15th inst. The captain is making arrangements for a material increase in facilities for taking care of island visitors. He will bring from San Pedro two small powerboats to serve as auxiliaries to the Otter in carrying passengers out on fishing trips and to and from the many beautiful spots on the island shore. These boats will accommodate about eight passengers and will make a speed of eight knots an hour. They will be about 27 feet in length and with six-foot beam.”
April 4, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez left for San Pedro with his powerboat, the Otter, yesterday afternoon to have the craft thoroughly overhauled for the coming season in the island transportation business.”
April 14, 1914 [SBDNI]: “The launch Otter is just one year old today, and in honor of the occasion Captain Vasquez has the staunch vessel elaborately decorated with flags. Captain Vasquez takes a crowd of Miramar guests to the islands Saturday.”
April 18, 1914 [SBDNI]: “The launch Otter, in charge of Captain Vasquez, left this morning for Santa Cruz Island with a large party of Miramar people, who chartered the boat for the day.”
April 19, 1914 [SBMP]: “A large party of guests of the Miramar Hotel went to Santa Cruz Island yesterday morning with Captain Vasquez on the Otter, returning to the mainland in the early evening.”
April 20, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Captain George Nidever, former commander of the power schooner Santa Cruz, will be in charge of the resort at Fry’s Harbor on Santa Cruz Island this summer. This morning Captain Vasquez retained Captain Nidever for the position, and he sailed with the Otter for the island, carrying the final cargo of camping equipment. Captain Vasquez has now opened the camp for the summer. He expects a big patronage, having popularized the camp last summer as never before. A large number of Los Angeles and Pasadena people have already made reservations for June, July and August.”
April 21, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, who went to Fry’s Harbor in the Otter yesterday, took along a lot of equipment for his camp, with the men to install it. He says that his camp will be of fully double the capacity of last years, and that it will be improved in several important features. George Nidever is to have charge of the camp this year. As soon as Captain Vasquez gets the camp plans started, he will set out for the island caves in the hunt for seals, he having an order for ten.”
April 24, 1914 [SBMP]: “This morning Captain Rosaline Vasquez will take to his Fry’s Harbor camp in the Otter with 25 boys from the Miramar School, accompanied by two of their teachers, for a two-day frolic on the island…”
April 28, 1914 [SBMP]: “Dean School of boys marooned. Otherwise they are having a fine time at Prisoners’ Harbor. A score or more of the boys from the Dean School at Montecito, who went to Prisoners’ Harbor in the Otter last Friday afternoon, to stay until Sunday afternoon, are still at that charming spot. The high wind that has prevailed for the past three days has roughened the surface of the channel… Captain Vasquez came over from the island yesterday and reported the boys well, comfortable and happy…”
April 30, 1914 [SBDNI]: “The schooner Santa Cruz, after being long expected from San Pedro, arrived on her maiden trip since her disaster on the Rincon reef, this morning. She has all her old familiar lines, no outward change being noticeable. The biggest alteration is the installation of a new and powerful engine. She will resume her freight carrying to Santa Cruz Island. This relieves Captain Vasquez of the Otter, from the freighting business, and henceforth the Otter will devote its time to the passenger traffic.”
May 27, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, in from the islands yesterday, reports great improvements in his camp at Fry’s Harbor. He says the camp facilities are about to double what they were last summer, and in better shape in every particular. The captain declares that the outlook for the island excursions and camping parties was never so good as it is for the coming summer.”
August 5, 1914 [SBDNI]: “The launch Otter sailed to Santa Cruz Island this morning with a big party of campers of Captain Vasquez camp at Fry’s Harbor.”
August 14, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Le Roy and Lionel Armstrong, prominent society people of Santa Barbara, who have taken cottages at Montecito for the summer, leave tomorrow on Captain Vasquez yacht, the Otter, for a cruise about the Santa Barbara islands, with a party of friends. They have chartered the yacht for the day, and a merry outing is anticipated, with stops at many romantic nooks.”
August 16, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez took a party of campers to Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, yesterday morning in the Otter.”
August 20, 1914 [SBDNI]: “The launch Otter left early this morning with a party for Santa Cruz Island. The Otter returned from the islands Sunday. Captain Vasquez is having an unusually busy summer.”
August 24, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Captain Vasquez sailed this morning for Santa Cruz Island on the Otter with members of the Flying A, who go to take scenes not obtainable elsewhere. They particularly wish to secure the romantic waterfall pictures. There are a number of highly effective waterfalls on the island, which will make splendid setting for stories which the Flying A is to film. It is also stated that they will film a Robinson Crusoe skit while away.”
September 15, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Numerous Santa Barbarans are camping at Santa Cruz Island this week. Captain Vasquez took a large party over the first of the week.”
September 19, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Thirty members of the Quorum Literary Society left early this morning aboard the launch Otter with Captain Rosaline Vasquez for Santa Cruz Island. The party took with them provisions for a large picnic…”
September 28, 1914 [SBDNI]: “W. A. Brackenridge, Windsor Soule and John Whittemore have returned from an outing at Captain Vasquez’ camp on Santa Cruz Island. They had great sport aboard the launch Otter, fishing for the big deep sea fish and landing three tuna.”
October 26, 1914 [SBDNI]: “To shoot wild boars and hunt fish for a few days, ten young men from the Santa Barbara motion picture company left yesterday in the powerboat Otter, Captain Vasquez, for Santa Cruz Island, to be gone part of this week. A party of eight trained nurses took the ride across the channel, returning with the boat in the afternoon.”
November 3, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Movie people are now very busy filming Santa Barbara scenery. Everyone was extremely busy at the Flying A studio last week… After passing four or five days at Santa Cruz Island last week, Director Scott R. Beal, Assistant Director Everitt Shallenberger, and several other notables of the Santa Barbara studio, are back on the job again… Captain Vasquez of the powerboat Otter took the movie men over, and treated them right royally, virtually turning over to them the key to his camp…”
December 5, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Thrilling experience of film folk on island trip. Hurled from their feet by blasts of wind of almost cyclonic fury, while attempting to take pictures on the highest peak of Santa Cruz Island; forced to walk tied together with ropes for safety, along a narrow goat path, with a cliff of 1000 feet dropping sheer below them and darkness approaching, in order to regain their camp; and as a climax seeing one of their men nearly drowned when he fell overboard in a gale and was rescued by Captain Rosaline Vasquez, the lives of director Harry Pollard, Margarita Fischer and other players of the American feature company of the Flying A were endangered recently while they were on the island taking most of the exterior scenes of The Quest, a four-reel production, the initial one produced by Mr. Pollard’s company. Mr. Pollard today said the accident, which nearly cost the life of one of the men, occurred just as the powerboat Otter, of which Rosaline Vasquez is the captain, was preparing to return to the mainland with the players. A gale came up, and the sail gear became tangled in the propeller. Lonnie Marago, one of the cowboys employed in the company, climbed out on a spar and tried to free it. The boat was rolling and pitching in the heavy swell, and in one of the lurches, Marago lost his grip and fell overboard. He disappeared beneath the waves. Captain Vasquez hauled him out of the water from under the boat just in time… The company passed two weeks on the island, and nearly fifteen persons were needed to take the 125 scenes…”
December 7, 1914 [LAT/SB]: “…On the voyage to Santa Barbara one member was thrown overboard by the plunging of their launch in a wild sea, and was only saved from death by the heroism of Captain Rosaline Vasquez, who leaped into the angry water to the rescue… The party had gone to the island for a two weeks stay… Vasquez was at the wheel. Seizing his first mate he shoved him to the wheel, and then leaped into the sea…”
December 17, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Three tons of holly will be taken from Santa Cruz Island to Los Angeles this year by Captain Rosaline Vasquez. Captain Vasquez reports that the island crop of holly is extra good this year. He will take his boatload of Christmas decorations to Los Angeles in a few days. Captain Vasquez does not expect to bring any island holly to Santa Barbara this year.”
January 23, 1915 [SBDN]: “A jitney sea craft is the latest innovation coming to Santa Barbara. Captain Vasquez of the Otter is having a speedboat built to put on between here and Santa Cruz Island, which will make the trip in an hour and a half, and he proposes to cut the fare to 50 cents… The craft is to be named Sea Jitney. It will be fitted out in the most approved fashion for sea travel, and pass the most thorough inspection. The captain says that it is to follow the latest lines of construction, with an engine that burns one-quarter the fuel used by the ordinary gasoline launch.”
February 7, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez reported yesterday he had arranged for a good, big powerboat to meet the requirements of his island excursion business for the coming season. He says that the boat is fifty feet in length; that she is fitted in good shape for the business in hand, and is able to accommodate fishing parties at his camp at the island.”
February 18, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Captain Vasquez of the Otter is planning to have a big summer colony at his camp on Santa Cruz Island. Mr. Vasquez has been in Los Angeles looking after the work on his new launch, the Sea Jitney, and while there received many inquiries from people wanting to know when the camp would open. ‘Santa Cruz is going to be a busy island this summer,’ said the captain. ‘With thousands of more people on the coast than have been here before, the island traffic will increase steadily, and from the number of reservations I have already received, the camp will be a lively place, eclipsing anything we have known heretofore.’ Captain Vasquez regards the islands as Santa Barbara’s biggest asset, as little developed as the city’s industrial possibilities. The island owners had been figuring on a big hotel for Santa Cruz, but while these plans are not abandoned by a long way, they believe that the population of the state does not yet justify such an expenditure.”
March 22, 1915 [SBMP]: “The power launch Peerless, that was one of the fortunate to escape the recent storm, sailed to the islands yesterday for a load of crawfish. Captain Vasquez had intended to take out a party of pleasure seekers, but the plan was abandoned before the boat set sail, and the pleasure trip will be made at a later date.”
May 6, 1915 [SBDNI]: “The powerboat Otter is to renew its run between Santa Barbara and the islands. Bernard Hilbing, formerly of San Francisco, arrived here last evening to take the management of the business of Frank Garbutt, owner. Captain Vasquez will be the sailing master, and Mr. Hilbing assumes charge of the bookings, of the financial end. The Otter will be thoroughly renovated, and put in first class shape for the summer. When she again resumes her run she will be one of the most attractive boats in this section, and it will be the aim of the manager to keep her spick and span; the very last word in cleanliness. ‘We look forward to a very prosperous summer,’ said Mr. Hilbing today, ‘and are going to keep the Otter bright as a dollar, and attractive to ocean excursionists. We believe the island run will be more than ever popular. Santa Barbara is to have an all summer crowd of visitors, and there will be few of these who will not want to take a trip, besides the demands of residents who are fascinated with the island cruise will give a heavy business for all boat owners.’”
May 6, 1915 [SBMP]: “Bernard Hilbing, formerly of Los Angeles, has come to Santa Barbara to engage in the island excursion business. Mr. Hilbing has secured from Frank Garbutt of Los Angeles the powerboat Otter for the purposes in view, and he and Captain Vasquez came up from San Pedro last Tuesday night in that craft, which is well and favorably known here through her operations in the same line last year. Captain Vasquez will again be in command of the boat as sailing master.”
May 6, 1915 [?]: Captain Vasquez “took a party of enterprising Flying A employees in the Otter to take pictures around the wrecked Aggie. So rough was the channel with huge white caps showing angrily beyond the protecting shelter of the Mesa that the captain had to steer his craft directly up the coast to Naples, then tack and make the island diagonally, instead of making straight a straight line from this city.”
May 8, 1915 [SCICo]: “Mr. R. Vasquez, Santa Barbara, Calif. Dear Sir: We are informed that you have failed to pay for rent for the use of Fry’s Harbor and we note from the Santa Barbara Press that Mr. Bernard Hilbing has secured the Otter for the island excursion business, possibly with the object of landing parties at Fry’s Harbor. Now it becomes necessary for us to advise you that before any consideration will be given the privilege of renting Fry’s Harbor, we must have the rent which you are owing. Besides, as we have not made any agreement with Mr. Bernard Hilbing, he will not be allowed to bring excursionists to Santa Cruz Island, unless he makes previous arrangements with the Santa Cruz Island Company. You will favor us by advising Mr. Hilbing to this effect. Very truly yours, The Santa Cruz Island Company, AJC.” [Arthur J. Caire]
May 8, 1915 [SCICo]: “Mr. Frank Garbutt, Los Angeles, Calif. Dear Sir: For your information we enclose herewith a copy of letter which we are sending to Mr. R. Vasquez of Santa Barbara. The letter explains itself and our object in sending you a copy is to call your attention to this matter in case Mr. Bernard Hibling [Hilbing] has made any arrangement in the chartering or leasing of your boat Otter for the purpose of bringing excursionists to Fry’s Harbor or any other harbor of Santa Cruz Island. Kindly take notice of our letter to Mr. Vasquez. We remain Yours truly, The Santa Cruz Island Co., AJC.”
May 8, 1915 [SCICo]: “Mr. B[ernard] Hiblings [Hilbing]. Santa Barbara, Cal. Dear Sir, Here below we mention the conditions under which we can rent you the camping privileges of Fry’s Harbor on Santa Cruz Island, since R. Vasquez has failed to pay and rent and has no more rights at that place. For the next six months on pay rent of a monthly rental of Five Dollars ($5.00). You will have exclusive rights at that place mentioned, of establishing a camp for entertaining visitors; after that time we will discuss the terms under which the privilege may be extended. We will insist upon a strict compliance with the following rules:
- — no cutting down of trees or carrying away of ferns or other plants;
- — no Indian relics to be taken away;
- — no fire arms to be discharged on the island;
- — no damage or change of any kind to be allowed.
This contract is made with you personally and even if you are supported by Mr. Garbutt, we will not consider him as having any rights other than those which we are giving you. All permanent improvements to remain our property at the expiration of the contract. By paying the first month’s rent now, you will be considered as having accepted the proposition made by us. Yours truly, The Santa Cruz Island Company, A. J. Caire.”
May 10, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Returning with a 250 pound wild boar, one of the veterans of the wild hog tribe on Santa Cruz Island, a party of Flying A employees came back late yesterday from the island, their hunt having been highly successful. The old tusker they brought back is the largest shot on the island this year to date, and when alive must have stood as high as a big Newfoundland dog. The movie men made the trip in the Otter, Captain Vasquez’s boat.”
May 13, 1915 [SBDNI]: “A merry party of students from the Cate School, Carpinteria, left this afternoon in the powerboat Otter for Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island. The youngsters and several teachers will remain on the island until Sunday afternoon at 1 o’clock. They took along a good supply of old clothes, groceries, blankets, and other necessities for a camping trip. Captain R. Vasquez was in charge of the voyagers.”
May 14, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Cate School boys on Santa Cruz Island. Santa Cruz Island is being explored thoroughly and delightedly today by a happy party of boy students from the Cate School, Carpinteria, who are enjoying the delights of camping out at Pelican Bay. The youngsters left here yesterday on the Otter, in charge of Captain R. Vasquez…”
May 20, 1915 [SBDNI]: “A party of students from the Gring School of Montecito, will enjoy a three-day outing to Santa Cruz Island, leaving tomorrow in the powerboat Otter, Captain R. Vasquez, master. The boys will leave here tomorrow morning at 8:30, taking camping equipment and provisions, and will stay on the island until Sunday afternoon. There will be nine boys in the party, under the leadership of Principal R. B. Gring of the school.”
May 22, 1915 [SBDNI]: “With 29 persons signed up for the trip, the powerboat Otter will leave here at 8 o’clock tomorrow morning from Stearn’s Wharf, to pass the day at Santa Cruz Island. Captain R. Vasquez will be in charge, and B. Hilbing, business agent of the boat, believes that the weekly excursions the boat will take over every Sunday after tomorrow, will be a big help in exploiting the charms of the island, and enabling Santa Barbarans to realize how beautiful its scenery really is.”
May 24, 1915 [SBDNI]: “A merry party of 34 men and women, including a number of tourists, yesterday took advantage of the first summer excursion of the season, to visit Fry’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island, in the powerboat Otter. The run was made in two hours and three quarters…”
May 31, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Carrying a party of 20 excursionists to Santa Cruz Island, the powerboat Otter left today in charge of Captain R. Vasquez, to explore the beauty of the isle, Fry’s Harbor, Painted Cave, Cueva Valdez, Seal Rocks, and other points of interest were visited.”
June 1, 1915 [SBDNI]: “In order to make use of the island’s unsurpassed scenery as backgrounds for a photoplay, the Kalem Film Company of Los Angeles, today made arrangements with B. Hilbing, business agent of the powerboat Otter, to take a party of motion picture artists to Santa Cruz Island a week from today. The movie people will make the newly-established camp at Fry’s Harbor their headquarters.”
June 1, 1915 [SBDNI]: “A party consisting of a dozen Hotel Potter guests, will leave tomorrow in the powerboat Otter, to visit Painted Cave, Fry’s Harbor, and Prisoners’ Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. Captain R. Vasquez, master of the boat, will be in charge.”
June 11, 1915 [SBDN]: “Facilities for island visits are increasing. Growing popularity of island retreats leads to number of powerboats. Better and ample facilities for visiting Santa Cruz and the other Channel Islands, famed throughout the world for their natural beauty, will be offered to Santa Barbarans by July 1, than ever before. Early next week, Captain Ira K. Eaton expects to conclude negotiations for a magnificent passenger vessel, the finest and largest ever carrying passengers to the islands from this port… At the present time, there is only one boat, the Otter, Captain R. Vasquez, engaged in the passenger-carrying business between this city and the islands…”
June 29, 1915 [SBDNI]: “The forty Flying A employees who went to the islands Sunday aboard the powerboat Otter, report that they had the finest cruise possible. The party left at 9:30 in the evening and enjoyed a beautiful moonlight voyage to the islands. The voyagers had a good rest at the camp, and were up early in the morning for a splendid breakfast served on camp tables decorated with flowers and ferns. During the day Painted Cave, Ladies Harbor, Valdez, and a number of other interesting places about the island were visited. Fishing, rowing and swimming were enjoyed by the party. A splendid barbecue was arranged for the evening. The boat started home with its crown about 3:30 in the afternoon and landed here on Sunday evening at 6 o’clock. Every member of the big party praised manager B. Hilbing and Captain Rosaline Vasquez for the management of the trip. Those who went were…”
June 30, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Holiday excursion to Santa Cruz Island by fast power schooner Otter. Captain R. Vasquez, Master. Saturday July 3rd, leaving Stearn’s Wharf at 7 P.M., Sunday July 4th leaving Stearn’s Wharf at 8 A.M. Round trip fare, $2. Good for return either July 4th or Juy 5th. Tickets on sale: Santa Fe Ticket office, 812 State Street or Ruiz Drug Store, 729 State Street. Special trips on week days. For particulars see B. Hilbing, agent, 812 State Street.”
June 30, 1915 [SBDNI]: “The remainder of this week and the rest of next will keep Captain R. Vasquez and business agent B. Hilbing of the Otter more than busy, so that they will not have much time to observe July 4th. Friday night the Otter will carry a big party of Normal School students, men and women, numbering 40 persons, from this city to Valdez Harbor, leaving here at 12:30 P.M. Friday, and returning here early Tuesday morning in time for them to resume their day. Saturday evening a good-sized party will board the boat for the islands, a portion of the voyagers having Fry’s Harbor as their destination, and the remainder going to Ladies’ Harbor. The Fry’s Harbor party will return Sunday, and the others the following day. Sunday morning the Otter will cross the Channel again, leaving Stearn’s Wharf at 8 o’clock, carrying another sizable party across to the magic isle, and bringing part of them back Sunday evening. The rest will camp out until Monday evening.”
July 2, 1915 [SBMP]: “Holiday excursion to Santa Cruz Island by fast power schooner Otter, Captain R. Vasquez, master, Saturday July 3rd leaving Stearn’s Wharf at 7 P.M., Sunday, July 4th leaving Stearn’s Wharf at 8 A.M. Round trip fare $2. Good for return either July 4th or July 5th.”
July 3, 1915 [SBMP]: “Carrying a party of 25 excursionists to Santa Cruz Island, the powerboat Otter will leave Stearn’s Wharf at 7 o’clock this evening for a Fourth of July excursion across the channel. The passengers will be taken to three of the island's most picturesque camping sites, Fry's Harbor, Ladies' Harbor and Valdez Cave. Some of the campers will return tomorrow night, while the others will remain on the mystic isle until Monday afternoon. The Otter will lead the water pageant Monday night, towing a fleet of handsomely illuminated small water craft.”
July 25, 1915 [SBMP]: “The powerboat Otter, Captain Vasquez, will take an excursion party of twenty people to Fry's Harbor this morning, leaving the commercial wharf at 8 o'clock and returning to the mainland in the evening.”
July 26, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Captain Vasquez took to Santa Cruz Island yesterday a party of 20 people, who, after enjoying the day, returned last evening. The powerboat Otter made a very swift run. Fishing off the island is said to be very good now.”
July 27, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Captain Vasquez of the Otter will take a big crowd of excursionists to the island Thursday, another Friday, and on Saturday a party of 15 will go. One party goes to the south side of Santa Cruz Island for a fishing trip. Captain Vasquez reports fishing off the island very good. His camp is a merry place night and day, being splendidly patronized.”
August 2, 1915 [SBDNI]: “The Otter took a merry crowd of excursionists to Santa Cruz Island yesterday. The trip proved most enjoyable. Captain Vasquez states that there is now very good fishing at Pelican Bay.”
August 10, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Captain Vasquez went to Santa Cruz Island on the Otter this morning with a party of ten from Santa Barbara. They will spend two days fishing and hunting.”
October 1, 1915 [SBMP]: “... Last Wednesday, Mr. More organized a small party of his commercial cronies for a fishing cruise around the island waters. The party, including beside Mr. More, B. F. Zimmer of Chicago and F. H. Leonhardt, B. T. Flack and P. S. Schleussner of New York, chartered the powerboat Otter and went out with Captain Vasquez for big fish. They got them...”
February 9, 1916 [SBDN]: “Word comes from San Diego that Captain Vasquez, formerly master of the power boat Otter, is under the care of surgeons at San Diego, having been badly injured in a collision with an automobile.”
February 23, 1916 [SBDN]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, of the launch Otter, was brought home from Los Angeles this morning on the steamer Roanoke, having somewhat recovered from the injuries he suffered a month ago in an automobile accident at San Diego. The injury affected his spine, and he is partially paralyzed from his waist down. The doctors look for his completed recovery.”
March 15, 1916 [SBDP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, who was sereiously hurt while riding in an auto stage from Los Angeles to San Diego, is reported to be slowly recovering at his home, 623 East Haley Street. The injury suffered by the popular seaman has so affected his hip that his recovery will be slow and painful and it is very possible that he will be permanently lame.”
March 21, 1916 [SBDP]: “Captain R. Vasquez, who was injured in an automobile accident at San Diego some weeks ago, is reported from his home here to be recovering steadily, and it is believed he will be completely recovered within a short time. The injury produced paralysis, but this is gradually disappearing, it is said. Captain Vasquez hopes to be on duty shortly, and start plans for reopening his summer camp on Santa Cruz Island.”
March 24, 1916 [SBDN]: “Development of the camping possibilities on Santa Cruz Island are expected to take on extensive activity this summer. It is reported that Los Angeles interests are making inquiries concerning long concessions, and if suitable arrangements can be made it is said they will not only put up a very modern lodge of 100 or more rooms, but also install a camp with water piped to each tent, and the tents floored and furnished. Besides this, it is stated, if the lodge is built, a federal license for a wireless station will be secured, and the proprietors will have a news bulletin board on which the events of the world will be recorded fresh from the ticker, and a pleasure wharf will be built, where passengers can effect an easy landing without the surf boat gliding, now necessary. The rapid growth of Santa Barbara is said to be one of the reasons why large interests are now looking to the islands. The men planning all this development want a lease running 50 years at least. They propose to pay well for it, if they can have exclusive resort privileges. Even should this very pretentious scheme not develop this summer, Captain Ira Eaton will have a larger camp, it is said, and add materially to the comforts and convenience of the place, which he has made famous, besides which Captain Vasquez also hopes to open his camp. It is expected neither of these camps will open before June, through Captain Eaton may be induced by the demand to open up earlier.”
July 19, 1917 [SBDN]: “A party of hunters who returned to the mainland today with several seals reported that for the first time in several years it was possible to capture seals in the big cavern on the western end of Santa Cruz Island. The capture of seals there was also notable because two women were present and saw the men take the seals with the nets. The women were Mrs. Gertrude Gray Wabel of Olmsted Falls, Ohio and Miss Nell L. Moley of Cleveland who are visiting Mrs. F. C. Hayman of Santa Barbara Street. The sealing party headed by Captain Vasquez passed Fry’s Harbor several days ago when a party of which the two women were members was at the harbor. Through Captain George Gourley, who was in charge of the tourists, the seal hunters agreed to take those who wished to see the seals caught and the two women were the only women to volunteer…”
September 2, 1917 [SBMP]: “A jolly island party returned yesterday morning from a weeks’ camping at Fry’s Harbor... The party was taken over to the island by Captain Rosaline Vasquez in his powerboat the Mary B., which was chartered for the whole week...”
September 4, 1917 [SCICo]: “On September 3rd we gave notice on Ramon Romo et al at Hazard; Rosaline Vasquez et al at Fry’s Harbor; and Frank Nidever at Orizaba. What is the next move? We will serve Willows, Coches Prietos and Blue Banks on September 4th and Middle Banks, Yellowbanks and San Pedro Point on the 5th.”
September 6, 1917 [SCICo]: “...We also expect trouble with Rosaline Vasquez at Fry's and Juan Vasquez at Dick's...”
September 15, 1917 [SCICo]: “Rosaline Vasquez at Fry's refuses to move, so attempts at force or intimidation was attempted, and from what we hear, believe that he instructed his men to submit to a forced removal in order to test the matter in court. We will have to get rid of Vasquez at Fry's, otherwise they [the other fishermen] will refuse to pay rent.”
September 16, 1917 [SCICo]: “We expect trouble with Rosaline Vasquez at Fry's.”
October 24, 1917 In the Superior Court of the County of Santa Barbara, State of California. Santa Cruz Island Company, a corporation, Plaintiff, against Rosaline Vasquez, Defendant… having failed to appear… That during the absence of said plaintiff, the defendant unlawfully entered upon said land and took possession of the same and particularly took possession of that part thereof known as Fry’s Harbor…”
November 9, 1917 [SCICo]: “[Rosaline] Vasquez has moved from Fry's to Dick's, and we are serving him with another notice. Vasquez has been in the tourist business all season, and up to a month ago, Fry's has been filled with his people. He used Eaton's buildings and equipment, and when Eaton argued with him, he told him to clear out... Since writing the above, Carrigan and a vaquero name Hughston have returned from a visit to Dick's and Fry's. In riding down into Dick's they heard a shot and hurried down as fast as they could. They got on the beach just in time to see Vasquez's boat the Mary B pulling out of the harbor with a sheep lying over the stern. Some of the crew were in sight, however. Vasquez must have seen them coming as the camp was evidently left in a hurry as evidenced by the fire burning and the grub left to take care of itself.”
December 20, 1917 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez left yesterday morning for Santa Cruz Island having a load of fish for the local market.”
December 20, 1917 [SBDN]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez is expected in from Santa Cruz Island Friday morning with a boat load of fish.”
January 12, 1918 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez returned from the islands yesterday in his powerboat, the Mary B, bringing from the island fishing camps a load of crawfish. The captain reports a three-day’s nor’easter at the islands, very rough winds and waves, through which the fishermen lost many of their crawfish traps and much other gear. All of this season the crawfish have been scarce, but good prices have prevailed, the fishermen now getting for his catch 18 cents a pound — considerably more than ever before.”
January 22, 1918 [SCICo]: “Eaton is asking for a reduction in rent. He states that the prospects for this season are very poor. Also that Vasquez deprived him of Fry's Harbor last year and is still occupying Dick's and that Vasquez brought campers to the Island and has apparently the same intention this year, which deprives him of considerable income. He intimated that if Vasquez, Webster and others are allowed to bring camping parties to the Island without molestation that there is no reason for him to pay rent for a privilege used by others. We will have to find some other means of ridding the Island of trespassers than the Unlawful Detainer. If Vasquez brings a camping party to Dick's for two weeks, we serve him with notice to vacate and 30 days must elapse before the case can be brought to trial. In the meantime the party has had their trip and left, and if the case did come up for trial it would be thrown out of court. The next trip he lands his people at Fry's or Lady's or some other place and the whole performance must be repeated without results. We do not believe that the law would permit a trespasser to locate on the Hope Ranch and then move his camp every 2 or 3 weeks with infinity.”
April 5, 1918 [SBMP]: “Captain Vasquez’s Mary B returned from Dick’s Harbor yesterday with ten large sea lions, the first to be brought over from the islands in many months. They will be sent east and tamed for an animal show.”
May 9, 1918 [SBMP]: “Clarence Libbey, Captain Rosaline Vasquez and George W. Coats testified to the character of the plaintiff [Edith Waters] while on the island and each told of the work she was required to do and also as to how roughly her foster father [Captain Waters] treated her...”
February 17, 1919 [SBDN]: “Mary B, Captain Rosaline Vasquez’ small fishing power boat was completely wrecked among the rocks of Santa Cruz Island one day last week, according to news received here today. Vasquez was on a fishing trip, when a squall suddenly sprang up, and one comber smashed the rudder of the Mary B, the next breaker carrying the vessel among the rocks, where it was ground to atoms. He and his men escaped in the small boat. The Mary B was valued at $2500, it is said. She has been in these waters for several years.”
March 12, 1919 [SCICo]: “The only other men in Santa Barbara that it would be possible to obtain [as schooner captain] are: Frank Nidever, Rosalino Vasquez and Jack Carrillo.”
June 21, 1919 [SBMP]: “The Estrella, a new addition to the channel fleet of fishing boats, was launched yesterday, and is now at anchor alongside the pier, awaiting the finishing touches to her cabin before ready for operation. The launch is owned by C. Vasquez and a Santa Barbara product.”
July 22, 1919 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez of the launch Estrella, arrived at the pier yesterday with the vanguard of a camping trip that has been sojourning at Fry’s Habor, Santa Cruz Island, for the past week. On the passenger list were also three young seals captured by Vasquez with the help of the campers. Among those who landed yesterday were Dr. W. S. Hicks, city health officer George Norris, the latter a former Santa Barbara boy who has been living in Arizona for a number of years… Those of the party who remained at the camp, with the expectation of returning Thursday, are J. Kimberly, F. Mandeville, Oscar Fitch and John McCaughey. The report that came with the arrival of the Estrella as to the fishing at the islands was a rosy one. According to the vacationers it was a common occurrence to land three or four good bass on one line.”
November 7, 1919 [SBMP]: “When the schooner owned by Captain Vasquez was pounded to pieces by the waves on Anacapa Island Monday, Dr. Harold Sidebotham and members of his party figured in a thrilling scene, several sections of which could be used for an up-to-the-minute scenario. While en route this way, the steering gear on the Vasquez boat jammed. With a heavy sea running, the little craft was carried rapidly to her doom. When with in a few feet of the rocks, Captain Vasquez shouted to his passengers, urging them to take to the small boats. This was done with alacrity. Then came the big smash. The schooner doubled like a broken twig and sank. In the meantime, Dr. Sidebotham and his party pulled on the oars and following the directions of Captain Vasquez finally made a little cove on the other side of the island, where a smooth, rolling beach gave them a chance to land with safety. Then one of the real hardships was encountered. Not a scrap of food had been saved. No water cask had been thrown overboard, and in every sense those who had escaped a watery grave were marooned. In this predicament each individual did his best to attract attention from the mainland. The spasmodic joys occasioned by De Foe’s account of one Robinson Crusoe, who caught fish with his bare hands and slaughtered goats by hurling rocks down on them from great cliffs, were mentally pictured, but this did not help matters in the least, as everyone was getting hungry and there was no bacon in the haversack. Along toward nightfall a gasoline launch chugged along about three miles out. Signals were flashed in the wind, a fire used as a beacon, and much to the castaways glee the captain of the craft finally turned his weathered eye in the direction of Anacapa, shifted his course, and picked up those who did not care to go in for a day’s exploring on a rocky island.”
June 11, 1920 [SBMP]: “Captain Rosaline Vasquez, aged 53, of 623 East Haley Street, died suddenly Wednesday night from paralysis of the heart while off Smugglers Bay on Santa Cruz Island in his fishing launch. He had left Santa Barbara the previous morning with two employees for the islands apparently in good health, and his death came without a moment's warning. For the past few years Captain Vasquez has been employed by Captain McGuire in hunting seals on the shore of the island. Neither of the fishermen who were with Captain Vasquez at the time of his death knew much about operating a powerboat, and they made no attempt to return to the mainland Wednesday night, but waited for daylight... Captain Vasquez was widely known along the coast, and has the record of saving many lives in the local harbor.”
June 28, 1920 [SCICo]: “It was true that Captain Vasquez died somewhere around Smugglers Cove.”
