LIBBEY, Clarence Joseph
LIBBEY, (Libby) Clarence Joseph (1872-1928), seventh of ten children and second son of Captain Charles Libbey, Clarence was only five when his father committed suicide. Clarence grew up to become a well known seaman in his own right. He had hunted sea otters with captains Vasquez and Nidever, was captain of a schooner which delivered mail and supplies to the Waters family on San Miguel Island in 1888. He was also the captain of the schooner Santa Cruz for a time. When Ira Eaton made arrangements to go to San Nicolas Island with Clarence Libbey in 1905 to fish lobster, Margaret Eaton declared Clarence Libbey and Frank Nidever “two of the oldest and best fishermen; high men in the fishing game.” During this trip, Frank and Clarence told Ira Eaton about their experiences while hunting seal and otter in Japanese waters. [Eaton 1980: 21].
In 1913, Clarence Libbey, 40, married Mary Alice Malone, 17, daughter of Ada Russell, caretaker with her husband, John, of San Miguel Island. On July 6, 1928, Clarence Libbey took his own life with a gun in the same room in which his wife, Mary Alice Malone, had killed their 5 month old son, Clarence John Libbey, and then herself more than ten years earlier on May 24, 1915. He is buried in Santa Barbara Cemetery.
In the News~
August 10, 1872 [SBT]: “Born. Libbey — in Santa Barbara August 2, 1872, the wife of C. Libbey, of a son.”
December 10, 1892 [LAT/SB]: “The owners of the schooner Ruby received a telephone message Thursday night from San Pedro announcing the wreck of the schooner on San Clemente Island. No particulars were given, further than that the boat was a total loss. The schooner was a small, two-masted vessel, and was owned by Thomas Clark and E. P. Stevens of this city. The Ruby had gone to San Clemente Island after a cargo of shells, and it is supposed that she ran against a rock. There were three men aboard: Clarence Libbey in command; E. P. Stevens, one of the owners, and a seaman. No one was hurt. The schooner was valued at $1500 and was not insured.”
December 18, 1892 [LAT/SB]: “Mr. Stevens, upon arriving at San Pedro from San Clemente, after his own vessel, the Ruby, was wrecked, chartered the schooner San Mateo of that place, and brought his load of 300 sacks of shells, arriving here Friday evening. The San Mateo is a boat schooner rigged about the same size as the Ruby. Messrs. Stevens and Clark have purchased the vessel, and sent Captain Libbey and young Nidever down to San Pedro where the transfer of ownership will be made. They will bring the vessel back, and it will be run in the island trade by the new owners.”
December 14, 1892 [LAT/SB]: “Latest news from the wreck of the schooner Ruby of this place, at San Clemente Island, goes to show that the vessel was a total loss and that Mr. Stevens, one of the owners, came near losing his life. When the Ruby reached the island, although the storm had abated, there was a heavy swell on. Mr. Stevens and two men had remained on the island from the last trip to gather shells for another load. The Ruby anchored a safe distance off shore, and Clarence Libbey, the master, and young Nidever, after making everything safe, went ashore in the small boat. Soon afterward the swell was so heavy as to break the anchor chain, and the vessel began drifting ashore. Stevens, Libbey and Nidever took the small boat and went on board to try to save the vessel. This they would have done, getting sails up at once, had she not struck a sunken rock which broke a hole in her bottom, when she sank. Stevens, who could not swim, took refuge in the rigging, while Libbey and Nidever swam ashore with a fish line. He was under water much of the time, and had imbibed considerable sea water, but after awhile was as good as new again, but with a keen realization of the danger he had just passed through. After resting completely the three men took an otter boat, and by rowing and sailing made their way in the open boat, first to San Nicolas Island, then to San Pedro where Mr. Stevens chartered another vessel and went back after the men left on San Clemente, together with their effects and the shells gathered. They are expected in Santa Barbara in a few days.”
November 17, 1898 [LAT/SB]: “The yacht Olita, in charge of Captain Libbey, went down to San Pedro today, to be overhauled.”
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.”
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.”
April 7, 1905 [SBMP]: “Diver tries to raise engines: Roswell Emmons locates wreckage of the sloop Pride, but fails to raise it... It is expected that Clarence Libbey and Fred Wales will dive today.”
April 11, 1905 [SBMP]: “After spending the larger part of four days in diving to the bottom of the ocean midway between the two wharves, Roswell Emmons, Fred Wales and Clarence Libbey at last succeeded in fastening four heavy chains to the engine of the sloop Pride which was wrecked last month...”
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.”
October 1905: “At the end of October Ira went to bring Clarence Libbey and Frank Nidever back from San Nicolas Island. They had seventeen hundred pounds of crawfish, three tons of abalone and four tons of shells. They also had found some good pearls in the abalones which they could sell for two or three hundred dollars…” [Eaton Diary of a Sea Captain’s Wife p. 26]
November 1, 1905 [SBMP]: “The launch Irene arrived yesterday morning from San Nicolas Island with a cargo of several tons of abalone shells and meat, which were procured by Clarence Libbey and Frank Nidever during the last few weeks. They will now engage in the craw-fishing business for the San Pedro Canneries.”
April 25, 1906 [SBMP]: “Diving for Abalones. Japanese fishermen are threatening industry... Recently Japanese fishermen in the employ of several of the large companies have been taking the large abalones from water up to ten fathoms deep by sending down expert divers with complete diving apparatus... C. J. Libbey and Frank Nidever, two of the best known abalone men on the coast, returned recently from a trip to San Miguel Island with an alarming story of conditions existing there. 'If something isn't done to stop this diving for abalones,' said Libbey, 'there won't be any left in the channel. A couple of years ago anyone who understood the business could make a good living from an abalone camp, but now no one has a chance with Jap divers. The worst part is that the breeding abalones are the ones they get in deep water, and it won't be long before the whole supply is gone. Santa Cruz is cleaned out already, and there are only a few left on San Miguel.' Libbey and Nidever says that G. F. McGuire, owner of the powerboat Peerless, has a crew of ten Japs working for him at San Miguel, and that the San Pedro Cannery Company had the schooner Bolinas with A full crew of divers at work.”
June 8, 1906 [SBMP]: “Ira Eaton returned yesterday from a long pleasure cruise up the coast in his launch Irene. He was accompanied by Frank Nidever and Clarence Libbey. They started for Del Monte, but turned back after hugging the coast for a distance of 160 miles. They were eight days on the water and report having had a very pleasant trip.”
June 2, 1908 [SBMP]: “Three local men narrowly escaped starvation on San Nicolas Island a few days ago, owing to the thoughtlessness or greed of a party of surveyors from San Pedro. Three weeks ago the power schooner sailed from here [Santa Barbara] with C. J. Libbey, Charles Hansen and Frank Nidever on an abalone fishing trip. The trio placed their store of provisions and spare clothing in an old shack near the shore and then made camp about six miles inland where there was fresh water. Before they had time to remove their supplies thither, the schooner Edith from San Pedro carrying Thomas Howland of San Clemente Island Company and a party of surveyors reached the island. Landing, they found the fishermen’s' cache and believing it to be an abandoned store, removed the contents to the schooner, even taking some of Hansen's clothing. The schooner was still anchored in the little harbor when the fishermen returned to the shack for food supplies, and found the Howland party.”
July 22, 1908 [SBI]: “…Captain Nidever said today that he did not believe the Anubis can be saved, although Captain Von Salzen is hopeful… Captain Nidever and his seal hunters, including J. W. Shively, Roy Arnold, Clarence Libbey, and Charles Hansen, were camped at Otter Harbor, that in clear weather is within plain sight of the wreck…”
January 9, 1909 [SBMP]: “According to Captain Gilbert of the power schooner Baltic which arrived here from Santa Cruz Island, there has been considerable trouble among the craw fishermen of the islands for some days, and shooting scrapes have been reported. He brought over two wounded men, one with a bullet that entered his cheek and passed out the back of his neck, and the other, Julius Valdez, slipped on a rock, it was stated, and so hurt himself. The man with the bullet wound was attended by a local physician. ‘Valdez slipped and fell on a rock,’ said Captain Gilbert last night, ‘and when we arrived at his camp where he was in company with Frank Nidever and Ira Eaton, we had to take him aboard and bring him here for medical treatment.’ He is at his home. There has been a good deal of stealing from the traps of the craw fishermen, and the latter are guarding their traps with weapons. It is dangerous for any one to approach these camps from the water, for fear of being shot. ‘We went into the camp of Clarence Levy [Libbey] and Charles Hansen on Tuesday, and Levy fired at us with a rifle as we sailed in. He said it was merely a salute, but the bullets flew mighty close. When we got to Prisoners’ Harbor, we found a man with a bullet wound in his cheek, the bullet having come out of the back of his neck. He said he shot himself, but I don’t know whether this was right or not. He was a fellow named Bill, and I think his last name was Johnson.’ He was attended by a doctor here. He was a partner of Joe Warnell, and after he was shot, Warnell went over to the camp of Joe Morales and the two got into a skiff and went to Prisoners’ Harbor. As they approached the shore, they say, they were fired at by some Italian fishermen on shore, who used rifles. The bullets struck the boat. They continued on to the shore, however, and made arrangements for bringing over the wounded man. We got there on Wednesday, took the wounded man on board, and started for home. The weather there was pretty bad and the sea ran high, but we had to come over with those two fellows, and so we ran for it. There are about forty camps on the island of from one to three men each, and they are all armed.”
January 9, 1909 [LAT/SB]: “War declared by fishermen. Rifles used at Santa Cruz Island camps. Trouble is due to alleged stealing of crawfish… According to reports brought in by the schooner Baltic today, craw fishermen on Santa Cruz Island are at war. The trouble is due to the alleged stealing of crawfish from traps… On the way to the camp of Clarence Libbey and Charles Hanson, Tuesday, we were fired upon by Libbey, who used a rifle…”
In 1910, Libbey was reported camping at Lady’s Harbor.
January 20, 1911 [SBMP]: “According to reports brought yesterday from the Channel Islands, they failed to receive any benefits from the recent rains that saved the season for the mainland farmers and cattlemen. The rainfall on Santa Rosa Island was less than half an inch; while about a quarter of an inch was reported on Santa Cruz, with scarcely none on the west end. These reports were brought over by Captains Nidever and Libby of island boats…”
November 11, 1913 [SBMP]: “The launch Iris, from San Pedro, was driven ashore at San Miguel Island Saturday, according to information received yesterday from Clarence Libbey, who arrived from the island. The boat was about 36 feet long. She is a total wreck. The Iris was engaged in the crawfish business. The members of her crew were ashore when the blow came, but they made an ineffectual effort to get to her to save her from the rocks.”
November 18, 1913 [SBMP]: “Loses boat but wins bride on island. Clarence Libbey, shipwrecked on San Miguel Island, will wed daughter of keeper. Real romance with nautical flavor across channel yesterday. From San Miguel Island comes a tale of shipwreck and love, how a stranded mariner, who lost boat and all on a rock isolated coast, found shelter in the home of the island keeper, and then won the heart of the house. Next Sunday in this city, wedding bells will ring for Clarence Libbey and Miss Mary Russell; and that happiness will be the sequel of the romance is the assurance that comes from folks who know them both. Early in September, Libbey, who has been engaged in fishing and boating about the island for several years, was tossed upon the ragged edge of San Miguel during a sudden blow. His launch was wrecked. He lost everything, barely managing to escape with his life. He knew this island, and started to walk to the ranch house, which was on the side of the isle opposite from where he landed, and several miles away. Superintendent and Mrs. John Russell gave the shipwrecked mariner welcome, and spread before him tempting food. The daughter assisted in these gentle ministrations. When Libbey left on the first boat that touched at San Miguel Island, he had won the young lady’s heart. Miss Russell came to Santa Barbara several days ago to prepare for the wedding, and yesterday her mother arrived from the island on the Charm, and will be here until after the ceremony. ”
November 25, 1913 [SBMP]: “Clarence J. Libbey and Mary Alice Malone were married Sunday [November 23, 1913] at No. 421 West de la Guerra Street, Judge Jacob G. Shoup officiating. Mr. Libbey and Miss Malone met on San Miguel Island when Libbey was shipwrecked there some time ago. Miss Malone is the daughter of Mrs. Russell, wife of the superintendent of the island. Mrs. Russell returned to the island yesterday on the launch Charm. ”
February 24, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton left for San Miguel Island in the Sea Wolf last evening. He will return tomorrow, bringing Mrs. Russell, wife of the superintendent of the island, who will visit her daughter, Mrs. Clarence Libbey, for some time, the latter’s husband being confined to his home by sickness.”
May 24, 1915 [SBDNI]: “’May 24th, 1915. Half past ten. Clarence Libbey, Dear Sir — Now who has got the baby? I should worry over all your threats now that we’re both gone. Go and carry out your threats if you need to. Now it won’t do any good because you won’t have any baby anyway. I tried to be good but its no use. I am better dead with my baby. I hope to meet you soon because you won’t get better.’ Writing the above farewell note to her husband, Mrs. Clarence H. [J.] Libbey of 200 Gray Avenue, this morning shot her year-old infant through the head, and then turning the revolver on herself committed suicide. She died almost instantly, while the infant passed away at St. Francis hospital two hours later. The tragedy was discovered by the young [?] husband. The crying of the infant, as it lay mortally wounded in its little cradle, had attracted the attention of Mrs. Charles Libbey, mother of the husband. He was returning from town and stopped into his mother’s home, which occupies the front of the lot on which his home stands, and she called his attention to the crying child. He first attempted to enter his home by the front door, and found it locked. He then climbed through a window, and entering the bedroom was horrified to see his wife’s form prostrate on the floor. He rushed from the place, and from his mother’s home the quick call for doctors and the police was sent. When Chief Ross arrived, he found the dead woman where she had fallen, the revolver lying across her breast, still clutched by nerveless fingers. First attention was given to the infant, but the efforts to save its life were in vain. Every indication showed that the woman had hurriedly executed her awful pain after completing the note, which was scrawled in pencil on notepaper. She had then thrust it into the pocket of her big apron, and it is presumed went direct to where the infant lay asleep in its cradle, and fired the fatal shot into its head. She stepped a few feet away, and probably seated herself on the floor to fire the shot that almost instantly snuffed out her life. Mrs. Libbey is said to have been born on San Miguel Island. Her father, a man named Malone, died there several years ago. Her mother later married a man named Russell, and two years ago the deceased, who is said to have seldom visited the mainland, was married to Clarence Libbey, who met her on his fishing trips. Mrs. Russell is in a Los Angeles hospital, and her husband had only a short time ago been discharged from St. Francis Hospital where he underwent a serious operation. It is believed that these troubles weighed on her mind, and the fretfulness of both added to her unhappiness. Last night she had an altercation with her husband, and took to heart his quick remarks. Going to the home of relatives she declared at that time she would end her life, but she would take her infant with her. This morning early she went to the home of a sister-in-law, Mrs. E. Mullenary, at 222 East Montecito Street, and during the absence of the family, secured the weapon with which she committed the rash deed. Her remarks had not been taken seriously, either by her husband or his relatives. The bodies of both mother and babe have been removed to the McDermott undertaking establishment, and coroner Ruiz has taken charge of the case. No preparations for the funeral have been completed. Libbey is much broken up over the tragedy.”
May 25, 1915 [SBMP]: “Mrs. Mary Libbey takes life of babe and commits suicide. The wife of Clarence J. Libbey was 18 years old and a native of Iowa, coming here with her father A. Malone, who became employed on San Miguel Island. The girl spent her years there until eighteen months ago, coming to Santa Barbara to marry Libbey, who as a fisherman, met the girl. Their married life had not been a happy one... [Libbey] is 45 and she was about 18. The latter was the daughter of Mrs. Russell, whose husband is employed by Captain Waters on San Miguel Island... Clarence Libbey, husband of the deceased, testified as to the wife's mental characteristics, saying that she was of a nervous excitable nature and very prone to brooding over her affairs...”
May 26, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Lying side by side in death, the little boy’s tiny body nestling in the arms of his mother, Mrs. Clarence Libbey and her five month-old son, Clarence John Libbey, were laid to rest this afternoon in Santa Barbara cemetery, three days after the young wife killed herself and her baby while fearing her husband intended to take the child away from her. Both bodies lay in a white casket, the mother’s arm gently clasping the form of her little son. The funeral was held from the home of Mrs. Delia Mullenary, 222 East Montecito Street, a sister-in-law of Mrs. Libbey. Reverend Warren D. More, Dr. D., pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, read the beautiful words of the burial service. The casket was almost hidden in masses of flowers. The funeral, which was held at 2 o’clock this afternoon, was private, only the husband, Clarence Libbey, the family, and a few intimate friends being present. Mrs. Libbey’s mother, Mrs. Russell, and Mrs. Andrew C. Nebbia, a sister of the husband, attended from Los Angeles. The pallbearers were chosen from among friends of the family. Charles McDermott, as funeral director, had charge of arrangements.”
March 15, 1917 [SBMP]: “Fears are felt for safety of Flier. Report of loss off Santa Monica turns attention to local sloop. Some anxiety is felt in the local shipping circles for the safety of Captain Charles Hansen and his auxiliary sloop Flier, with three men on board. This grows out of the report of a craft with three men being reported lost off Santa Monica in a gale last Saturday evening. Captain Hansen and his craft were at Santa Cruz Island last week and it was the intention to sail for San Diego Saturday morning. Captain Frank Nidever, who returned from the islands yesterday, says he saw Hansen at Pelican Bay during the morning, and that Hansen then said he would wait until the weather was more favorable. But nothing has been heard of the Flier since then, and the Captain may have decided to continue on. In case he left before noon he could have reached a point off Santa Monica by evening. One of the men on the Flier was Clarence Libbey and the third an old sailor, known here as Ben.”
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...”
May 13, 1918 [SCICo]: An island superintendent’s report discussed three mysterious fires which were believed to have been intentionally set near Pelican Bay, and it was noted: “There are only three or four men that would have any interest in burning us out... Clarence Libbey would do it without any scruples.”
February 20, 1923 [SCICo]: The captain’s log of the schooner Santa Cruz records “Libbey found Newton.” In 1923 after a storm, Libbey found the bodies of fellow fishermen Isaac Newton and Big Jerry Shively off the east end of Santa Cruz Island.
