Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island
Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, a large harbor directly west of Prisoners’ Harbor, is the most popular anchorage on the island. The place name appears on the June 1882 U.S. Coast Survey map Pacific Coast from Santa Monica to Point Conception, including the Santa Barbara Channel, California, J.E. Hilgard, Superintendent.
From 1910 to 1937, the Santa Cruz Island Company leased Pelican Bay to Ira Eaton. Eaton’s brochure “Pelican Bay Camp” advertised the sportsman’s paradise for wild boar hunting and sword fishing three hours from Santa Barbara for the nominal fee of $10. In addition, the American plan included “excellent meals and comfortable cabins” for an additional $5 a day with three days advance reservations required. Boat transportation available Saturdays at 9:00 from Santa Barbara. This place name appears on the Santa Cruz Island Sheet C topographic map.
Vessels lost at Pelican Bay include: Maryland (1927); Kinkajou (1930s); Sea Lion (1956);
» Ira K. Eaton; Allan G. Fraser; West Coast Fishing Company
Island Collections~
Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island
- Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island
Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, c. 1927 
Pelican Bay, 1927 
Pelican Bay Camp, Santa Cruz Island, 1928 
Ira Eaton's Pelican Bay Camp, Santa Cruz Island
In the News~
May 12, 1899 [SFCall]: “The trial of Peter Lind, charged with having crawfish in his possession and thus violating the State law, after having occupied the attention of Justice Wheaton for three days was given to the jury, which agreed to disagree, standing six to six. Many interesting points of law were brought out in the trial and the old dispute as to the waters surrounding Santa Cruz and the other islands of Santa Barbara channel was again brought up. The defense claimed that these waters are not within the jurisdiction of the State of California., for while its jurisdiction extends three English miles from the mainland it takes in the islands and nothing else, not even the waters surrounding them. Perhaps the argument of the defense which had the greatest affect upon the jury was that the law did not intend to reach the fishermen themselves, but that they were only acting as employees of the San Pedro Canning Company, and as the law provides means for reaching the corporation itself it is the one to be punished for the infringement of the law, as the fishermen, who had no means of communication with the mainland for two months, were ignorant of the law itself. Peter Lind belonged belonged to the camp which was seized some time ago. He was arrested at a small inlet on the northeast side of Santa Cruz Island known as Pelican Bay. This particular part of the island is very rough and during the greater part of the year it is impossible to reach it by water. For this reason and on account of the great numbers of crawfish that are found there the camp was so located by the San Pedro Company. The men from this camp were caught loading on board the Lizzie Belle W, the 25-ton schooner which is in the employ of the canning factory, several crates of fish, several tons in all, and not only were the fishermen themselves put under arrest, but also the captain, mate and engineer of the schooner. The officer's sloop, the Olita, was anchored in Pelican Bay, and they rode across the channel with their prisoners in the Lizzie Belle W. The trial of John Osterman began today. He belongs to another camp, and is case was considered a stronger one for the prosecution than that of those arrested in the Pelican Bay camp, for in the one instance the crawfish were found in their possession and in the other they were caught in the act by Officer W. W. Hopkins. Hopkins had been lying in wait for these men for several days, in the hopes of catching them at their work. While it is thought that these men will not be found guilty, yet it is known that these arrests will virtually compel the San Pedro Canning Company factory to close its doors for several months, until the open season, when crawfish can again be had. At the time of the different arrests fifteen or twenty tons of crawfish were liberated. Over sixty talesmen were examined today in the Osterman case, but only ten jurors were sworn. The case may take two or three days more.”
December 5, 1901 [LAT/SB]: “San Francisco capitalists recently bought concessions from the Santa Cruz Island Company to put up a cannery on the west end of that island, and are now building temporary quarters for this industry. The company proposes to can abalone, crawfish, sardines, rock cod, and all other fish that may be found in the waters there. Agents of the company were in this city a few days ago to engage fishermen to gather abalones.”
December 19, 1901 [SBMP]: “The gasoline schooner Santa Cruz left at 5 o'clock last evening with 4000 feet of lumber for the Western Coast Fishing Company who are erecting a cannery on the island.”
January 18, 1902 [LAT/SB]: “A large force of men left for Santa Cruz Island to go to work on the crawfish cannery to be erected on the east side of the island.”
January 26, 1902 [SBMP]: “The gasoline schooner Santa Cruz sailed last evening for Santa Cruz Island with 2000 feet of lumber for the fish cannery company stationed at the island.”
February 11, 1902 [LAT/SB]: “The schooner Peerless arrived from Santa Cruz Island today with a cargo of canned crawfish, packed by the West Coast Fish Company, which recently opened a canning factory on the island. This is the first shipment of canned crawfish made by the company, and opens a new industry on the island. Crawfish have been canned heretofore in this city, but not until the establishment of this new cannery has the industry ever been carried on on any of the islands in the Santa Barbara Channel.”
March 12, 1902 [SBMP]: “The gasoline launch Peerless arrived from Santa Cruz Island yesterday with news of a drowning. The man whose life was lost [August Ericson], employed by the West Coast Fishing Company, whose cannery is located on the island.”
April 24, 1902 [LAT]: “The schooner Restless left for Santa Cruz Island at noon yesterday with a lot of Chinese, who are employed by the canning company to gather abalones and assist in the cannery.”
May 27, 1902 [SBMP]: “The report comes from Santa Cruz Island that the fish cannery company in excavating for the new cannery at Pelican Bay has unearthed some very valuable Indian relics. In addition to skeletons and the more common relics of the lost race, two stone hatchets remarkably well-formed were discovered. Captain Merry of Hueneme, who returned from the island Saturday in his sloop yacht Daisy, brought with him from Pelican Bay a well-preserved Indian skull, with teeth intact. The cannery was formerly located at Scorpion Harbor, but conditions are considered more favorable in the new location. A power hoist will be put in, and with the deep water immediately below the cliff it will be possible to discharge the cargoes of the fishing boaters without transferring to the skiffs. This will mean a great savings in time.”
May 27, 1902 [SBMP]: “The West Coast Fish Cannery was formerly located at Scorpion Harbor, but conditions are considered more favorable in the new location [Pelican Bay].”
June 4, 1902 [SBMP]: “The launch Peerless left yesterday for Santa Cruz Island with 3000 feet of lumber for the West Coast Fishing Company's new cannery.”
June 23, 1903 [SBMP]: “A number of capitalists, headed by Allan G. Fraser, has secured a long-term lease upon a section of Santa Cruz Island and will proceed at once to erect a hotel, a tent city, and a number of cottages and auxiliary buildings... Mr. Fraser for several years has been prominently identified with the fish packing business in the north. His attention was attracted to the possibilities for a successful summer and winter resort on Santa Cruz Island several weeks ago while visiting this city... Mr. Fraser states that although the hotel cannot be finished in several months, provision will be made for the accommodation of guests within three weeks or a month by the erection of a large number of substantial tents and small buildings... A powerboat capable of carrying between 75 and 100 passengers has been secured and will be brought to Santa Barbara as soon as needed... About two months ago Mr. Fraser, accompanied by Mr. Potter, went over to Santa Cruz Island in the power schooner Peerless to meet with Mr. F[rederic] Caire...”
June 23, 1903 [LAT/SB]: “Hotel on Santa Cruz Island. A party of Los Angeles and San Francisco capitalists is about to build a hotel on Santa Cruz Island in the Santa Barbara Channel, twenty-eight miles west of this city. General plans which have just been adopted provide for a large hotel, a tent city and a number of cottages, the construction of which is to be commenced at once. Tents are to be put up to accommodate visitors by the middle of July. It is proposed to make the island an all-the-year-round resort, and there is unlimited capital behind the scheme, which is to be carried out on a grand scale. Allan G. Frazer, a prominent fish packer of San Francisco, is leading the spirit of the enterprise. A lease on a large part of the island has just been secured by the company from the owners for a long term. A large powerboat has been secured to make regular trips between Santa Barbara and the island.”
August 12, 1903 [LAT]: “Santa Cruz Island off Santa Barbara was visited Saturday by Milo M. Potter… accompanied by Allan G. Frazier, agent for the Caire brothers of San Francisco, owners of the island. The trip was made for the purpose of inspecting the most attractive portions of Santa Cruz Island with a view to leasing it and developing a fine seaside resort at Pelican Bay and other attractive nooks where the game fish of the south coast run riot in the waters… The San Francisco merchants and fish canners controlling the island have made known their willingness to lease it to the Potter Hotel Company for a tern of years for resort purposes, and the final decision waits upon the decision of the next meeting of the directors of the latter…”
August 17, 1903 [SBI]: “The crawfish season opened satisfactorily to those who trap them for the market. Although the season has been open but three days, thousands of crawfish, many of which are of immense size and fine quality, have been brought to this city from the islands for shipment to San Francisco and Los Angeles. It is understood the crawfish cannery that has been conducted for several seasons by Allen G. Frasier at Dick’s Harbor [Pelican Bay], will not be operated this season, for various reasons, and nearly all of those that are caught will have to be shipped to the coast cities for immediate use. The fishermen of commerce do not view the outlook with very high favor as they anticipate a glutting of the market and consequent low prices.”
October 13, 1903 [SBI]: “Santa Cruz Island resort reality of the near future. Work has commenced on improvements, and soon the charms of this rare insular gem will be open to the world. At last arrangements have been concluded in the long-hoped-for project of making Santa Cruz Island what nature plainly intended it for—the most delightful pleasure resort on the Pacific coast. Allan G. Fraser, who for several months past has been preparing plans for the great undertaking, today informed a representative of The Independent that his preparations were now completed for a start in the new enterprise. Indeed, for a week past half a dozen men have been at work building a new wharf, and six more men will be taken to the island by Mr. Fraser tomorrow to aid in this work, which is necessarily the first step in the improvements to be made on the island. The next work to be done will be the construction of twelve or fifteen handsome and commodious cottages and a large dining hall, the buildings to constitute a composite hotel of a very superior grade, the idea being to cater to an ultra-exclusive patronage, a deal of which is ‘in sight’ even now. Golf links will be laid out, the land being admirably adapted to the requirements of this popular game, and generous provision in other features of sport will be made for the patrons of the resort… Mr. Fraser states that work upon the contemplated improvements will be pushed with vigor from now on, and that the time for receiving guests of the resort will not be later than December 1…”
October 30, 1903 [OC]: “Island resort on Santa Cruz Island. Santa Cruz Island is really to become another Catalina according to a Santa Barbara correspondent to the Los Angeles Herald, who writes:
- ‘On Santa Cruz Island a heavy wharf has been completed as a landing to a proposed new resort to be built at once across the channel. Work on the wharf ended last night and carpenters will at once begin the erection of five large cottages and a centrally located hall, café and amusement building. Capital from Los Angeles and other southern points is interested and it is said that several Potter Hotel company directors are stockholders. This place will be built within the next two months and will probably be open before the first of January. The hotel will accommodate several hundred people. The matter of transportation across the Santa Barbara channel is one that will easily be solved. About December 1, a steamer with a capacity of forty persons will be put on for regular runs. Later a 200-passsenger vessel will make the trip. Captain Douglas White of the yacht Ramona has been asked to give his advice in the matter of the selection of the vessels and is now in San Francisco with an eye out for steamers. As the popularity of the island grows the size of the hotel will be increased, and with the splendid fishing of the island banks within a few minutes ‘ tow of the 50 x 75 pontoon landing soon to be built, it will not be long before additions will have to be made. The capital back of the enterprise is not limited and those backing it propose to make a second Catalina of Santa Cruz.”
November 26, 1903 [SBI]: “Yesterday Captain Jim Gardner took Allen G. Fraser, four carpenters and two laborers over to Santa Cruz Island on the power launch Frances. The men are to work on four new cottages, the materials for which were taken over yesterday by the gasoline schooner Santa Cruz.”
November 27, 1903 [SBMP]: “The Santa Cruz schooner took over a load of material Wednesday for the construction of cottages at the new resort on the island which Allan G. Fraser is promoting. Mr. Fraser and four carpenters went over in the Frances yesterday. The resort will be open for business as soon as the tourist season sets in, although it will not be complete.”
March 16, 1904 [SBMP]: “Work on the summer resort is progressing rapidly, a number of men being employed. The cottages are about finished. They stand at the edge of a beautiful pine and live oak grove. In front of them a lovely strip of grassy lawn slopes down to the edge of the cliffs overhanging the sea. On clear nights the Santa Barbara light house and the lights from the Potter Hotel can be seen very plainly although they are 24 miles distant.”
April 1, 1904 [SBI]: “The sloop Pride came over from the islands last evening with a load of abalones.”
April 7, 1904 [SBI]: “The power sloop Pride sailed for Pelican Bay this morning with four men who are guests of the Arlington Hotel, and who expect to spend several days in the enjoyment of the beauties and wonders of Santa Cruz Island.”
April 10, 1904 [SBMP]: “Resort completed. Santa Cruz Island cottages are now ready for occupancy. The Pelican Bay camp is open to the public at last. The cottages under construction have all been completed, and the hotel also.”
April 12, 1904 [SBI]: “Pelican Bay resort open for business in small way. Allan G. Fraser, who has been working for a long time past at preparations for a pleasure resort at Pelican Bay on Santa Cruz Island, reports that matters are now in such shape that small parties can be comfortably accommodated. Mr. Fraser has secured the gasoline sloop Pride, one of the finest small boats in the island passenger traffic until enlarged facilities at the island shall make feasible the entertainment of people in large numbers, and larger vessel will be available when it is required. The Pride, in command of Captain Prescott, is a delightful boat in which to travel, and she can carry twenty-five passengers in comfort. An experienced boatman who has been engaged at Catalina Island for several years has been secured for the new resort, to which he will bring within a few days a small fleet of pleasure craft, including a number of glass-bottom boats for the exploration of the marine gardens of the Santa Cruz Island coast—pronounced the finest in the world. It will not be long now before the completion of a number of comfortable cottages and a large dining room at Pelican Bay, and then the resort will soon be opened for ‘big business.’ Since the Pride was put into commission in this service, a number of small parties have gone over to inspect the new resort, and all have returned to the mainland filled with enthusiastic delight over the beauties of the island whose charms are as yet known only to a comparative few, but which are now happily destined to be known and enjoyed by the multitude and to figure as another great attraction for Santa Barbara.”
April 15, 1904 [SBI]: “This morning Allan G. Fraser returned to Pelican Bay on Santa Cruz Island, in the power sloop Pride, with a party of guests of the Potter Hotel. They will briefly explore the more important of the natural attractions of the island and return to the mainland after a couple of days at that charming resort.”
April 16, 1904 [The Ojai]: “The Pelican Bay camp, Santa Cruz Island, is opened to the public at last. The cottages under construction have all been completed, and the hotel also. Professor Thacher and a party of his students were the first to sign the register and are having a very pleasant time exploring the island, fishing and trapping the foxes, which are numerous...”
April 21, 1904 [SBMP]: “Walter Ayers of Duluth spends night in mountains. When Mr. Ayers arrived on Friday afternoon. he was very anxious to kill one of the boars which are quite numerous on the island... the guide lost the trail [to Pelican Bay.] At 9:00 P.M. they could plainly hear the waves breaking against the rocks and knew that they were at the edge of the cliffs. They fired a few shots and got an answer, three toots of the Pride's whistle. But when at 10:00 no one had appeared, the guide built a fire and made a couple pine bough couches beside it and there the two men remained until morning.”
April 23, 1904 [The Ojai]: “For years the Santa Barbara Islands have loomed up mysteriously and attractively out in the ocean off Ventura, but they have been generally impossible to visit. Now they are open to the public and a party of Thacher School boys spent Easter time, parts of seven days at Santa Cruz Island, and enjoyed themselves exceedingly. Pelican Bay Camp, kept by Mr. Allan G. Fraser, was their headquarters. He has secured exclusive camping from the Caire estate and is disposed to be quite liberal in his entertainment of his guests. He has fished about the islands for three years and so knows the attractions of the place. He has sleeping rooms in the main building and also in cottages, but expects many to camp on the various beaches. The schooner Pride takes passengers to and from the island, either from Ventura or Santa Barbara...”
April 28, 1904 [SBMP]: “The sloop Pride arrived yesterday afternoon with a party from Pelican Bay Inn, Santa Cruz Island. Captain Prescott reports fine fishing on the other side of the channel.”
May 4, 1904 [SBMP]: “The power yacht Pride arrived yesterday from Pelican Bay camp, Santa Cruz Island, after a pleasant trip across the channel. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley C. Mason, Mrs. Jane Adam, Miss Rosa Porter and Arza Porter were passengers. The party spent a week at Pelican Inn and report a most enjoyable time.”
June 8, 1904 [SBMP]: “Mr. Allan G. Fraser, the Santa Cruz Island promoter, was in Santa Barbara yesterday on his return from San Francisco. While in San Francisco, Mr. Fraser made arrangements for a new passenger boat which will soon arrive here and will make daily trips to and from the islands. [It] will no doubt largely increase the patronage of Pelican Bay. Accommodations on the island are being enlarged and perfected to meet the demands of as many people as the boats will bring over. Besides Pelican Inn, a number of small cottages have been built, and tents are being put up. The Pride will make regular trips [to Pelican Bay] until the larger [passenger boat] is ready for service.”
June 22, 1904 [SBMP]: “Allan G. Fraser, promoter of the Santa Cruz Island pleasure resort who recently erected a number of cottages at Pelican Bay, is pleased with the outlook for summer business at his island resort. He expects that after regular communication is established between Santa Cruz and the mainland, many visitors and residents will take the opportunity of spending a few days on the other side of the channel. At present there is no regular means of transportation. The schooner is being used for carrying supplies and not particularly adapted to the passenger business...”
July 6, 1904 [SBMP]: “A jolly party of young people from this city spend Sunday and Monday at Pelican Inn on Santa Cruz Island...”
August 5, 1904 [OC]: “The Santa Barbara Independent has the following account of the opening of a new resort on Santa Cruz Island just across the channel from Santa Barbara, which if carried out with the proper energy, will soon become a close rival of Avalon and Catalina: ‘Allen G. Fraser, promoter and proprietor of the new pleasure resort at Pelican Bay, on Santa Cruz Island, has returned from Chicago, whither he went on business connected with the ultimate development of his plans for an extensive enterprise in its line. ‘Pelican Bay is now ready to receive visitors. Already a good many people have visited the new resort, and all have been delighted with the manifold charms of the spot so lavishly favored by nature…’ A dozen comfortable cottages have been built, together with a main building containing a large dining room and eight or ten bedrooms. Visitors to the island may live in the cottages and take their meals in the big dining room or secure camping privileges in other of many desirable spots on the beaches or in the pine and oak trees on the hillsides. There is an abundance of excellent water on the island. The little power yacht Pride will convey passengers to and from the island…”
August 7, 1904 [SBMP]: “Allan Fraser's Pride left yesterday for Pelican Bay with a number of passengers for that island resort.”
August 24, 1904 [SBMP]: “The power yacht Pride left yesterday for Pelican Bay, the popular resort on Santa Cruz Island, carrying the largest number of passengers that have thus far gone over in one boat. Besides a number of Santa Barbara citizens, there was a party of 10 people from the Potter Hotel. The Pelican Inn is now doing a rushing business, and the small dwelling houses are also filling up very fast. There is plenty of amusement on the island to keep the people interested.”
August 26, 1904 [SBMP]: “Allan Fraser, the manager of Pelican Inn on Santa Cruz Island, is determined to keep that island in its most primitive state, and not allow the visitors to mar the natural beauty of the place or to destroy the wild animals, birds and seals that inhabit the shores of the island. He believes that the most attractive features of the place are the vast number of seals and numerous wild birds that live along the shore, and he will not permit any one to use a gun there or destroy these natural inhabitants. Mr. Fraser has leased the landing privilege of the island from the Santa Cruz Island Company, and is conducting a tourist resort there with a hotel and a number of small tent houses for the accommodation of those who visit the island. He has chartered a boat, the Pride, which makes regular trips to and from the island three times a week, carrying passengers to his Pelican Bay resort. It has been a custom for other boats to land passengers on different parts of the island for hunting, fishing and other purposes. But now Mr. Fraser declares that no one shall be landed there except by his permission. Mr. Fraser stated to a Press reporter yesterday that he had notified several of his boatmen who have been accustomed to land parties there that no further infringement of his privileges there would be tolerated, and if the warning was not heeded he would take other more stringent steps to enforce the rule. Seal hunters have been accustomed to go there at any time for seals, and this also will be forbidden. The seals have been driven from the most attractive parts of the island by tourists and hunters, and some of the tamer ones have been shot right in Pelican Bay. Other wild fowls have also been killed, but Mr. Fraser will not permit any further shooting on the island.”
August 28, 1904 [SBMP]: “The sloop Pride sailed yesterday morning for Santa Cruz Island with a dozen passengers for the island summer resort. A Sunday excursion to Pelican Bay is being planned by Mr. Fraser to come off next week, at which time a number of people from this city can go over and back in one day.”
August 31, 1904 [SBMP]: “The power yacht Pride will make regular trips to and from Pelican Bay on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays of each week leaving here at 8:00 o'clock A.M. and leaving Pelican Bay on return trip at 3 o'clock P.M. Parties wishing to visit the beautiful islands may obtain all particulars and information by applying to F. M. Whitney, 717-1/2 State Street. The Pride is the only boat allowed to land parties anywhere on the island, and parties crossing the channel in other boats will be charged full price for landing or else not allowed to land at all. Allan G. Fraser, Lessee.”
September 18, 1904 [SBMP]: “A party of about twenty young people of this city will leave this morning at 6 o'clock on the steamer Pride and will spend the entire day on Santa Cruz Island. The popularity of the Pelican Bay resort is increasing daily, and more people are making the trip to the island than ever before... Dinner will be taken at Pelican Bay Hotel...”
October 29, 1904 [SBMP]: “The auxiliary schooner Santa Cruz is now at San Pedro being repaired in dry dock. It will be changed from a freight schooner to a passenger boat and will be employed after its return from San Pedro in carrying passengers to and from Pelican Bay Inn on Santa Cruz Island.”
June 20, 1905 [SBMP]: “Gem of island is Santa Cruz... Mr. Lowe was piloted to the various points of interest on the island of Santa Cruz by Captain Merry of the Vishnu, the trip across the channel being made last Saturday and the entire day of Sunday being given to the examination of the various points of greater interest... The mountains back of Pelican Bay and Prisoners’ Harbor are densely covered by the forests, some of the trees being immense... It was in this locality, at Pelican Bay, that the Frazer Resort was established a year ago, and the failure of this attempt at popularizing the island with the tourist has been said to be the case for present stringent instructions from Mr. Caire, the owner, restricting privileges of visitors...”
July 12, 1905 [SBMP]: “Captain Haron Rock of Montecito, Frank Knott of New York and Cameron Rogers enjoyed a pleasant fishing trip on the channel on Monday. They made the trip in Ira Eaton’s Irene... They brought back a large catch of fish and report fish to be biting very freely off Santa Cruz Island from Pelican Bay to Quava Valdez. A large whale and a swordfish were sighted on the trip.”
August 13, 1907 [SBMP]: “Two camping parties go to the island today with Captain Henry Short in the launch Charm. Ed Stevens and family go to Ladies Harbor for two weeks. Mr. and Mrs. Parker and their three children of Santa Monica, J. L. Barker and Miss Ella M. Peck go to Pelican Bay.”
June 16, 1909 [SBMP]: “The crew of the Baltic, which returned from Santa Cruz Island yesterday, brought the report that the Charm, Captain Short, went ashore at Pelican Bay yesterday morning, smashing in her side and damaging her to a serious extent. It is reported that the Charm, while anchored, either broke or fouled her anchor chains and went onto the rocks. It could not be learned last night whether anyone was on the boat at the time of the accident, or whether it had yet been pulled off the rocks. Captain Short, accompanied by Captain Waters, left last Sunday for San Miguel Island with a cargo of general merchandise, intending to stop at Santa Cruz on his return trip.”
June 25, 1909 [SBMP]: “Captain Short returned from San Miguel Island yesterday in the Charm, and expressed great surprise when he learned that he had been reported wrecked at Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island. Captain Short emphatically stated that he had not been near Pelican Bay on this trip and could not see how the crew of the Baltic could have circulated such a report...”
September 2, 1909 [LAT/VC]: “The gasoline yacht Anacapa, sixty hours overdue from the islands, came into port this morning. She was delayed at Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz, by stress of weather. Captain Bay Webster of the Anacapa reports terrific blows from the west have prevailed in the Santa Barbara Channel ever since Sunday. Having twenty passengers, including a number of women, in his party, he hesitated to risk the high seas. Monday, however, he did attempt the passage, on promise of what seemed better weather, but once fairly at sea, the waves increased tremendously in size and the captain deemed it safer to put back into Pelican Bay. The party was somewhat short of provisions and some wild hogs, shot on Santa Cruz Island, proved useful.”
May 6, 1911 [SBI]: “One of the weekend festivities planned by a party of young people is a trip to Santa Cruz Island. Each will provide his own bedding and lunch. The party will leave at 7:30 in the launch Charm, and after a moonlight trip across the channel, will camp for the night at Pelican Bay. Tomorrow they will visit the Painted Cave, cruising up the coast, will take pictures of the island, the cave, and seal rocks, returning tomorrow night. The party will be chaperoned by Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Hamilton.”
August 21, 1911 [LAT]: “Frank Hay’s yacht Windsome is spending a few days at Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, before returning south.”
September 1, 1911 [SBMP]: “The Asahai Fishing Company of Los Angeles will this week move its camp from Scorpion to Pelican Harbor, and expects to start on the crawfish September 15.”
January 7, 1912 [SHR/75]: “A party of Los Angeles sportsmen intends to spend some time at the islands... They will go to Pine Forks on Pelican Bay where they will hunt boars and wild turkeys...”
June 13, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captains Henry Short and Ira Eaton, owners of the power launches Charm and Gussie M, respectively, have just concluded arrangements for a consolidation of their interests for the island excursion business during the summer and fall, and expect to do a lively business in carrying ocean pleasure seekers to the different island harbors. These well-known channel navigators will establish a very complete camp at Pelican Bay, one of the finest resorts on the island shore, and here they will provide meals and sleeping accommodations for those who do not care to be bothered with the carrying of provisions and bedding. Mussel bakes and fish dinners will be furnished guests regularly, and a great specialty will be made of abalone chowder and fritters after July 1, when the open season begins for that prized mollusk… The first excursion under this arrangement will occur next Sunday, when both the boats named will go to Pelican Bay for a grand dedication of the new island camp.”
June 13, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captains Henry Short and Ira Eaton are about to establish a new camp at Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, for the summer months. Tents, meals and other necessities of camp life will be provided. Pleasure seekers will be conveyed to the island in the two launches, the Charm and the Gussie M. Captain Vasquez some time ago established a camp hotel at Fry’s Harbor, and has been taking parties over to the island regularly on the launch, Otter.”
June 15, 1913 [SBMP]: “The Gussie M and the Charm will today carry a large party of Santa Barbara people to Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, for a cruise, picnic and fishing trip. The dinner will be furnished by the proprietors of the camp. Skiffs will be available for fishing, and all this for round-trip has been offered, for this occasion, for $1.25 per passenger. This is a special charge, however, and is not expected to be repeated. The boats get away at early hours.”
June 16, 1913 [SBDN]: “The island camp at Pelican Bay recently established by Captains Short and Eaton was given a rousing opening yesterday by a party of something over fifty men, who went to the island in the Charm and Gussie M. A fine dinner was served, and the excursionists passed the day at fishing, mussel gathering, bathing and exploring the hills and canyons of this beautiful island resort.”
June 23, 1913 [SBDN]: “One of the largest island parties that has visited Santa Cruz Island for years was taken to Pelican Bay yesterday by the Gussie M and the Charm, the excursionists numbering eighty-eight. A big dinner was served at the island camp. The day was spent by the party in fishing, exploring the canyons and picnic delights in general.”
June 24, 1913 [SBMP]: “…The Gussie M, under the direction of Captain Ira Eaton, was taking a large excursion to Eaton’s camp at Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, to spend the day… The fifty-two passengers who made the trip on the Gussie M were joined at Pelican Bay by forty more who went over with Captain Short on the Charm. A chicken dinner and fish chowder was prepared by Mrs. Eaton and was much enjoyed. Many enjoyed a jaunt over the hills…”
June 27, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton has made preparations for another Sunday excursion on the Gussie M to Pelican Bay next Sunday, the boat to leave the wharf at 1 o’clock A.M., thus arriving at the island at an hour that admits of along day at the resort. A sheep barbecue will be served, with fish chowder and mussels as added attractions to the picnic bill of fare.”
July 2, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton took Earl Miller and the two Doulton boys to Pelican Bay yesterday in the Gussie M. They will establish a camp there where they will be joined by a number of people July 5.”
July 2, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton goes to Pelican Bay tomorrow morning in the Gussie M, taking over a lot of new tents and furniture to complete his camp for the summer season, for which a large patronage is already in sight.”
July 3, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton’s Gussie M will leave tonight for the islands with a party being organized by Fred Bebout. They will remain at Pelican Bay over the fourth.”
July 4, 1913 [OC]: “Abalone season on plentiful supply… The abalone season opens today and fishermen are preparing to bring in large hauls of this shellfish. The abalone will abound this season in different nests about the island, known to experienced fishers, and the camps at Pelican Bay and Frye’s Harbor will be ready to serve this delicacy to their patrons in large quantities… Tents at the camp at Pelican Bay will be up by next week.”
July 5, 1913 [SBDN]: Captain Eaton’s powerboat, the Gussie M, is kept on the move day and night, during these holiday times, in carrying passengers to and from the camp at Pelican Bay. There are two parties there now, numbering about fifty people in all, who will return to the mainland tomorrow, and another party will leave tomorrow morning. Eaton’s other powerboat, the Sampan, has been pressed into the passenger service for the rush season, filling out its time on the island shore in taking out fishing parties and carrying the patrons of the camp on little side trips for a view of the interesting points of coastline scenery.”
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 14, 1913 [SBDN]: “The Miller-Doulton party, in camp at Pelican Bay, has an ideally complete camp, and the original plan for a two-weeks stay on the island will probably be amended in the way of an extension of time. After a few departures from the party’s ranks during the last few days, the gay company now numbers sixteen.”
July 14, 1913 [SBDN]: “Mr. and Mrs. H. T. James returned last evening from a week’s gypsying at Santa Cruz Island. They started out in a small boat an upper harbor and slowly worked down the coast, camping at a new harbor each evening, until they reached their last objective point, Pelican Bay. They had a delightful outing, during which they got plenty of fish, mussels and abalones. They returned to the mainland in the Gussie M.”
July 25, 1913 [SBDN]: “The Miller-Doulton party, in camp at Pelican Bay for the past three weeks, will pull up stakes tomorrow morning and return to the mainland. The members of the company all express regret at leaving the scene of their round of island pleasures.”
July 26, 1913 [SBDN]: “Captain Ira Eaton returned from the islands in the Gussie M this morning and will take a crowd of passengers back to his camp at Pelican Bay tomorrow. The boat leaves the wharf at 1 o’clock A.M.”
August 7, 1913 [SBDN]: “The yacht Siwash is at Pelican Bay now with a number of Los Angeles yacht enthusiasts. The Siwash was entered in the regatta held here last August.”
August 29, 1913 [SBMP]: “Samuel C. Pinkham and E. P. Stevens returned yesterday with Captain Ira Eaton on the Gussie M from Pelican Bay, where they have been camping for ten days, enjoying the opportunity to view the marine gardens and explore the island forest, caves and canyons.”
September 12, 1913 [SBMP]: “The sloop yacht Yankee, Captain Miller of the Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon, of San Francisco Bay, arrived here last evening from Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, where she has been for some weeks. The Yankee came south in June, and has been in this vicinity ever since. She will leave here in a day or two for San Francisco.”
September 13, 1913 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton will leave in a few days for San Francisco to place an order for a new powerboat to be used next season for the increasing island traffic. The craft will be 45 or 50 feet in length, and will have twin screws, in order that the time between Santa Barbara and the islands may be shortened. He expects to make a regular run from this city to Pelican Bay in one hour and fifty minutes. The boat will be the latest word in shipbuilding, and will be larger than any vessel now in use for passenger business in this vicinity. Captain Eaton’s camp in Pelican Bay will break up this week, and Mrs. Eaton will return here Saturday for the winter. He looks for a great season next year, as a camping place is rapidly spreading up and down the coast. Yesterday he brought over three live seals for Captain George M. McGuire.”
December 13, 1913 [SBMP]: “The launch Gussie M, Captain Ira Eaton, arrived during the day from Pelican Bay, having had a comparatively smooth passage.”
March 13, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton returned from Santa Cruz Island yesterday in the Gussie M, bringing home Harry Colman and Sol Gerow, who, with Eaton, formed a hunting party for wild hogs. The party ran into a drove of eleven of the fierce brutes in the vicinity of Pelican Bay and shot two of the young ones, the only ones desirable for their meat...”
March 13, 1914 [SBMP]: “A party of five boys from the Dean School at Montecito, accompanied by one of their teachers, is reveling in the delights of Pelican Bay on Santa Cruz Island. They went over in the Otter Friday morning and will return to the mainland tomorrow.”
April 6, 1914 [SBMP]: “Elks to make island excursion on May 17. The Elks have completed arrangements for the island excursion that they have been anticipating with much pleasure for a long time past. The date for the event has been fixed for Sunday, May 17, and the big steamer Santa Clara has been chartered for the trip. About 200 people are expected to compose the party. Pelican Bay will be the objective point…”
May 16, 1914 [SBDNI]: “A trip to Santa Cruz Island in the steamer Santa Clara, Captain Jassen commanding; a fish ‘ghobini’ to be served at Pelican Bay; a cruise about the group of islands in the big steamer and home at 6:30 tomorrow night — this is the royal programme which the Best People on Earth, i.e. the B.P. O. Elks of this county and Ventura have mapped out for Sunday…”
June 20, 1914 [SBMP]: “The Sea Wolf will take a large party to Pelican Bay tonight, and another tomorrow morning. It will keep Captain Eaton and his fine boat on the jump to handle the two crowds over Sunday, but he has done the same thing many a time before, and is now better equipped than ever for that sort of business.”
June 30, 1914 [SBMP]: “The Sea Wolf came back from Pelican Bay Sunday evening with a party of members of the Manhattan Club, and others, taken across the channel the night before. There were thirty of these excursionists, and they reported a happy outing. Several of the party went out fishing on Sunday, and they caught 52 fine fish — cabrillo, rockbass, sheepshead, rock cod, etc.”
June 30, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton goers to Pelican Bay with his powerboat, Sea Wolf, this morning, to take over lumber for a dancing floor at that resort. The floor will be twenty-two feet square, and it will be greatly appreciated by the island campers and visitors who went to dance to the added music of the ocean waves.”
July 1, 1914 [SBDNI]: “4th of July Sea Wolf excursions. 8-mile trip on the channel around the buoy and back Saturday, July 4th. Leaves wharf at 1:00 P.M. and every hour thereafter. Fare 25¢. Sunday island excursion leaves Stearn’s Wharf for Pelican Bay 8:00 A.M., Sunday, July 5. Returning 6:00 P.M. A glorious trip across the dancing channel. Round trip fare $2.00. Special island excursion leaves wharf Friday, July 3 at 7:00 P.M. returning Sunday evening, July 5. A splendid two days’ outing, round trip fare. $2.00. Tickets on sale at Mosher & Freeze store, 722 State St., or at the boat at wharf. Captain Ira K. Eaton, owner.”
July 4, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Pelican Bay in his powerboat, Sea Wolf, at noon yesterday, to add his handsome craft to the marine pageant that is expected to be such an important feature this evening, in the big celebration. Mrs. Eaton and her daughter, Vera, returned with the Captain for the Fourth of July festivities.”
July 9, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton is at the island with the Sea Wolf, hunting seals for Captain George McGuire. The boat is scheduled for an excursion voyage to Pelican Bay on Wednesday of each week, but she was not in port yesterday, and it is supposed the omission was caused by Eaton’s delay insuring the big game of the deep that he went out to seek.”
July 9, 1914 [SBDNI]: “Mr. and Mrs. George W. Downing with Mr. and Mrs. John Grocott leave with their families next Sunday for a 10-days outing on Santa Cruz Island. They make the trip to Pelican Bay on the Sea Wolf, Captain Ira Eaton’s new power launch. Lieutenant Downing will take his famed dogs along for the trip.”
July 11, 1914 [SBMP]: “Tonight Ira Eaton will take a party of twenty-eight to Pelican Bay in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, to camp for a week, and tomorrow morning he will take about as many for a two week stay in camp at the same popular resort.”
July 12, 1914 [SBMP]: “Two excursions will go to Santa Cruz Island this morning, the Sea Wolf taking one of them to Pelican Bay and the Otter the other to Fry’s Harbor. The former party will contain a number of people who are to camp on the island for several days.”
July 12, 1914 [SBMP]: “Mr. And Mrs. John Matthews and their son, of San Pedro, are at Pelican Bay in their beautiful power launch, Meteor, in which they visited the islands every summer two or three times. This is one of the largest launches coming to these waters, and it is fitted and furnished on a very luxurious scale.”
July 12, 1914 [SBMP]: “Howard Wright of Pasadena, a prominent attorney and owner of the racing yacht Siwash, is at Pelican Bay with his handsome craft, accompanied by his son and half a dozen other Stanford students…”
July 13, 1914 [SBDNI]: “The Sea Wolf, Captain Ira Eaton’s new pleasure launch, left this morning with a party of three for Eaton’s camp at Pelican Bay.”
July 17, 1914 [SBMP]: “Mr. Brewer, proprietor and head master of St. Matthew’s school at San Mateo, who is spending the summer at San Ysidro, will take a party of eight of his friends at Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf this morning to spend a couple of days at that popular island resort.”
July 22, 1914 [SBMP]: “Yesterday morning Captain Ira Eaton returned from Pelican Bay on the Sea Wolf. He reported a very successful and enjoyable excursion from Ventura the preceding day, the party numbering 125 and making the stop for dinner at Pelican Bay. The voyagers came up from Ventura by the steamer Eureka and the Sea Wolf, which later craft went down to that city last Sunday night to take overflow from the Eureka whose passenger limit is 100.”
July 30, 1914 [SBDNI]: “A party of young people is planning a trip to Painted Cave and Pelican Bay on Sunday. They will leave early in the morning with Captain Eaton in the Sea Wolf and will return Sunday evening… Four of the young men in the party form a quartet, and the music will be a feature of the trip…”
August 1, 1914 [SBMP]: “C. E. Smith and Dick Seaton, members of the San Diego Yacht Club, are at Pelican Bay…”
August 1, 1914 [SBMP]: “G. C. Stanson of the San Francisco Chronicle art department is spending some time on Santa Cruz Island making sketches for use in his paper. He is enraptured with the natural beauties of the island, and has already secured some very fine bit of scenery for his easel. Mr. Stanson came over to the mainland from Pelican Bay yesterday, but he will return to the island for more material.”
August 1, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton’s powerboat, the Sea Wolf, is chartered for tomorrow by a party of thirty people who will spend five or six hours in the enjoyment of the beauties of Pelican Bay.”
August 2, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton went to Ventura yesterday and arranged to take thirty people on the Sea Wolf from that city to Pelican Bay tomorrow, these being the excess of the number going by the full complements of 100 passengers from Ventura to the same island resort.”
August 3, 1914 [SBMP]: “Reduce expense of island excursion. Eureka trip, including incidentals to be 50 cents cheaper. E. J. Gourley and Harry Smith, who have ran a couple of excursions to the island by the steamer Eureka, and with decided success, are planning to continue the business along better lines than before. Heretofore the fare for the round trip by steamer has been $2, the price of the big fish dinner at Pelican Bay 50 cents, and the fare on the side trip 50 cents, making a total charge of $3 for the days outing for those who enjoyed all these features… By an arrangement just concluded with Captain Eaton, who manages the camp at Pelican Bay, and owns, besides the Sea Wolf, two other powerboats and several skiffs and a glass-bottom boat, at the popular island resort names, an excursion rate of $2.50 to cover all items enumerated... Dinner will be served about noon, after which the visitors will be taken to the Painted Cave...”
August 4, 1914 [SBMP]: “The steamer Eureka from San Francisco, arrived in port at an early hour yesterday… and then proceeded to Ventura to take an excursion party of 100 people to Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island…”
August 8, 1914 [SBMP]: “The powerboat Sea Wolf, Captain Ira Eaton, came in from the islands yesterday morning and will return to Pelican Bay today, so that the captain can receive the members of the South Coast Yacht Club…”
August 8, 1914 [SBMP]: “Increasing interest is felt in the excursion to Santa Cruz Island on the steamer Eureka next Monday morning, and as the accommodations are limited to 100 passengers, it will be well for those who want to go on this voyage to secure their tickets as early as possible… The Eureka will leave Stern’s Wharf on this excursion at 8 o’clock and sail direct to Pelican Bay, arriving there in time for a good view of the beauties of that harbor before the serving of a fish and chowder dinner at Eaton’s camp...”
August 9, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned in the Sea Wolf from Pelican Bay yesterday afternoon bringing back a party he had taken over the preceding day… Next Tuesday is also the time for the coming of the crowd of Stanford students, the party numbering twenty-five, for ten days camping at Pelican Bay. The Sea Wolf leaves the wharf at 7 o’clock this morning for the regular Sunday excursion to Pelican Bay…”
August 12, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain ‘Scotty’ Cunningham came over from Pelican Bay in his powerboat, the Sampan, yesterday morning, bringing over a few campers who have been reveling in the delights of island life for some time past, and reporting well and happy all who are now encamped at the bay… The yacht Siwash, Captain Howard Wright, has returned from San Pedro. Captain Wright, who is a Stanford man, is accompanied by several of his college chums for a reunion at Pelican Bay for ten or fifteen days, the whole merry party of collegians numbering twenty-eight.”
August 16, 1914 [SBMP]: “Tomorrow the steamer Eureka will take another excursion party from Ventura to Pelican Bay. The visitors will have their dinner at Captain Eaton’s camp and return to their homes in the evening.”
August 16, 1914 [SBMP]: “Mr. And Mrs. Frank M. Whitney have returned from their camp at Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, where they spent ten days in happy enjoyment of the island charms. For years past this has been a prized feature in the Whitney summer program, and there are none who know better how to organize and conduct an island camp.”
August 16, 1914 [LAT]: “Coast Yacht Club, Friar’s Harbor, Santa Cruz Island. August 12. With eleven yachts and some sixty-off yachtsmen aboard, anchored at this little harbor, the summer cruise of the South Coast Yacht Club proved a big success… while the Siwash is at Pelican Bay…”
August 17, 1914 [SBMP]: “Yesterday Ira Eaton went to Ventura in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, to take a party of excursionists to his camp at Pelican Bay. These will be thirty people who had applied for passage aboard the steamer Eureka to the same island harbor today, but who could not be accommodated on account of the Eureka’s passenger limit. The party, numbering 130 people in all, will have dinner at the bay and return to Ventura this evening.”
August 23, 1914 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton came in from San Miguel Island yesterday morning with four seals to fill an order that Captain George McGuire has from an eastern zoo. After he delivered his catch, Eaton left with his boat for Ventura, where he has a charter that will keep him for several days at the command of a party of veterans who will go to Pelican Bay to enjoy camp life on the island.”
August 25, 1914 [SBMP]: “Sea Wolf returns. Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Pelican Bay yesterday, bringing back from the island several campers who have been reveling in the charms of that beautiful region…”
August 28, 1914 [OC]: “The Sea Wolf, Captain Eaton’s boat, will carry an excursion from Hueneme to Santa Cruz Island next Sunday. The start will be made at 8 o’clock. The boat will stop at Santa Cruz for dinner. The trip around the island will include all the interesting spots, including Pelican Bay. Reservations for the trip can be made now at the Courier office. Tickets for the trip, including dinner, are $2.”
September 18, 1914 [OC]: “The launch Sea Wolf made its last trip for the season. About 37 went to the Santa Cruz Island landing at Pelican Bay. Everyone had a good time. Those going from Hueneme were Miss Lina Crowe, Duron Kier, Mrs. Alvina Arnold, Henry Kier, Mr. and Mrs. Onas Whitted, Albert Eastman, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Cruickshank, Olav Mjos, F. W. Stansfield.”
February 24, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Rather than sell fish at a loss, local professional fishermen are planning to organize a cooperative fish drying plant, by which they hope to dispose of their surplus catches whenever the market is overstocked and prices are down to a figure too low to sell fish at any profit. Captain Ira K. Eaton is the originator of the project, and plans to establish a fish-drying factory at his camp in Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, the center of the fishing industry around the islands. Mr. Eaton has secured an old Maine fisherman who is an expert at drying fish, and the plant’s output will be sold at San Pedro, and in the Los Angeles markets.”
March 9, 1915 [SBMP]: “Eaton after seals. Captain Ira K. Eaton left for Santa Cruz Island Sunday noon after seals for Captain George M. McGuire. Eaton is expected to take on Scotty Cunningham and Charles Larson at Pelican Bay to aid him in his expedition.”
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.”
March 30, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned yesterday from Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, where he had taken E. P. Stevens and another man who will camp at the bay for a week of fishing and enjoyment of the other attractions of this famous island resort.”
April 6, 1915 [SBMP]: “Herman Norden of Paris... went on the Sea Wolf... The party was disappointed at not being able to enter Painted Cave on account of rough water, but the excursionists found much to enjoy at Valdez Cave, Pelican Bay and Prisoners’ Harbor...”
April 9, 1915 [SBDNI]: “That the pleasures of the channel waters and the beauties and wonders of the islands should be employed more systematically for the benefit of Santa Barbara is the opinion of those who made the trip to the islands Wednesday… aboard Captain Eaton’s boat Sea Wolf. They skirted the coast of the island, visited the big cave and had lunch at Valdez Harbor. The other beauty spots visited were Painted Cave, the Ruby Rock, La Canada, Cueva Valdez, Arch Rock, Ladies Harbor, Dick’s Harbor, Mussel Rocks, the Orizaba, Twin Harbors and Pelican Bay. The party climbed the mountains back of Pelican Bay and gathered many wild flowers there…”
April 11, 1915 [SBMP]: “About 20 members of The Hikers went to Santa Cruz Island last night on Captain Eaton's boat, the Sea Wolf, to spend a long Sunday exploring the beauties of Pelican Bay and other picturesque parts of the island.”
April 13, 1915 [SBMP]: “An island party made up mostly of members of the Hikers Club, went to Pelican Bay in Captain Eaton's boat, the Sea Wolf, last Saturday night...”
April 17, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Going over on what was intended merely as a three day fishing trip, a group of Montecito and Santa Barbara millionaires became so enthusiastic over Santa Cruz Island, that they have picked out a camp site at Pelican Bay, and will establish a camp there this summer, instead of going thousands of miles to find a less satisfactory vacation resort. Those making the trip were F. W. Leadbetter, of this city and Seattle; W. H. Bartlett, of Middle Road, Montecito; Mr. Munn, and Mr. Tripp, also of Montecito. The party returned last night after passing three days cruising around the island, personally conducted by Captain Ira K. Eaton in his power launch Sea Wolf. After visiting two or three places on the island, the beauty and restfulness of the isle so delighted the visitors, that on reaching Pelicann Bay they told Captain Eaton they would look no further, but would make camp there this summer, instead of going away to the far places of the earth to seek rest and outdoor recreation. Incidentally, the combined wealth of the four men runs into seven figures, and two of them, Mr. Leadbetter and Mr. Bartlett, own half of the stock in the Hot Springs Club. Captain Eaton and his helpers were given $10 tips at the trip’s conclusion, in addition to being well-paid for their services.”
April 20, 1915 [SBMP]: “A party organized by Crockett Hammer, one of the clerks in the post office, went to Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, in the Sea Wolf last Sunday morning, and spent a very happy day in exploring the beauties of that popular resort. There were eighteen in the party and all enjoyed the outing exceedingly. The merrymakers arrived home in the early evening.”
May 12, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Camping parties for Santa Cruz Island planned. Otter will carry first crowd of season tomorrow from Carpinteria… Tomorrow afternoon the Otter will carry a party of Cate School Carpinteria, pupils and teachers, to Pelican Bay…”
May 13, 1915 [SBMP]: “The powerboat Otter will be a busy craft for the latter part of this week. Tomorrow she will take a party of twenty-five of the pupils and teachers of the Cate School of Carpinteria to Pelican Bay to camp there until Sunday. Friday morning a party of about twenty-five students of the State Normal School will go over to Fry’s Harbor on the Otter, and will have the use of the boat for that day and the next for cruises around the island and the wreck of the Aggi, off the northwest coast of Santa Rosa Island. The Pelican Bay party will be brought home by the boat Sunday forenoon, and the busy craft will then return to Fry’s Harbor for the campers who are there, and who will arrive home on the mainland some time that night.”
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…”
June 7, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Pelican Bay Camp is to open within the next two weeks. This is the word passed out this morning by Captain Ira Eaton. Another bit of news is that Captain Eaton is now negotiating for a bigger powerboat to make special Sunday excursions to the island. He expects to make a specialty of these Sunday trips. The boat he has in view, and for which a deal will be closed shortly, is licensed to carry 150 passengers, but Captain Eaton expects to make 110 its limit, so that there will be no crowding, and all making the trip will have a good time without the least suggestion of inconvenience. Today Captain Eaton put a crew of painters to work on the Sea Wolf, getting it brightened up for the opening of the summer season. It will require about two weeks to complete the painting of the boat.”
June 11, 1915 [SBMP]: “This morning Captain Ira K. Eaton will take a party of Potter Hotel guests in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, to Pelican Bay for the day. The visitors, who have never yet seen the beautiful Santa Cruz Island, anticipate a happy experience at this charming resort.”
June 15, 1915 [SBMP]: “This morning Captain Ira K. Eaton will go to Pelican Bay in his power beat, the Sea Wolf, to fit up his camp there for the summer. He will make some good improvements in the main camp houses and put twelve tents at once and get things in order to erect more as fast as they shall be required to handle the excursion business, which he expects to be much larger this year than ever before.”
June 16, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton went to Pelican Bay in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, yesterday morning to set up his camp there. He will return today or tomorrow.”
June 17, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned yesterday morning in the Sea Wolf from Pelican Bay, where he is re-establishing his island camp for the summer. He says that he will have this year the best and most complete camp that has ever been known on Santa Cruz Island, and that he has several reservations already by Santa Barbara and Montecito parties that demand only the best of accommodations.”
June 18, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton left sometime yesterday morning for Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf. He will return sometime tomorrow, and at midnight he will take aboard an outing party of twenty-five men, most of them employees of Hunt Mercantile Company, who will go to Eaton’s camp at Pelican Bay on a fishing expedition. The party will return home Sunday evening.”
June 18, 1915 [SBMP]: “Fishing at the islands is said to be very good now. Captain Ira Eaton reports that last Wednesday he caught four fine yellowtail opposite Pelican Bay after a few minutes of trolling. This variety is one of the gamiest fish in these waters, and is the delight of the deep sea angler. It is, moreover, of the finest quality for the table. These fish, it is reported, are running strong in the island waters.”
June 18, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton is a busy man these days. He is at Pelican Bay today, and tomorrow night will take to that part of Santa Cruz Island in his boat Sea Wolf, a party of Hunt Mercantile Company men employees and others, for a fishing trip there.”
July 1, 1915 [SBMP]: “Fred Hamilton is organizing an island party for the 4th of July, to leave Saturday morning at 6:30 in the Sea Wolf for Valdez Harbor… Early Monday morning the party will visit the seal rookeries in China Harbor, after will come luncheon at Captain Eaton's camp at Pelican Bay, with the return voyage scheduled to enable the excursionists to arrive home early enough Monday afternoon to see at least a good part of the patriotic celebration on the mainland.”
July 7, 1915 [SBDNI]: “Mrs. John R. Dugan and three women friends left this morning on the Sea Wolf, bound for a weeks’ outing at Pelican Bay.”
July 21, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday, and this morning he will take to that popular island resort a party of fifteen Montecito people who will spend a couple of days there, returning to the mainland tomorrow night. Captain Eaton has recently bought a small power-boat which will be used on the island shores for trolling. It is twenty-eight feet long, and with eight-foot beam, and it is said to be admirably adapted to the purpose for which it is intended. The boat, which was bought in Ventura, will be brought to Santa Barbara next Monday, and taken from here to Pelican Bay.”
July 21, 1915 [SBMP]: “The lure of outdoor life coupled with the fascination of camp life is coaxing a party of pleasure seekers off to Santa Cruz Island today. Mr. And Mrs. William Frew, Mr. And Mrs. Felton Elkins, Mr. And Mrs. Walter Filer, Mrs. William Miller Graham, Mrs. Rachel Frazier and Joseph G. Colman make up a merry little party that will spend the remainder of the week in camp at Pelican Bay.”
June 22, 1915 [SBMP]: “The party taken over to Pelican Bay last Saturday night in the Sea Wolf, numbering twenty-five men who are among the employees of the Hunt Mercantile Company and the California Market, returned shortly after 6 o’clock last Sunday evening, and reported a very good time, including a number of fish and the gathering of all the mussels that the party wanted to eat and carry home. The water was pretty rough on the homeward voyage, and probably if there had been any women aboard, they would have been seasick. As it was, well, at any rate there is no mention in the log of the Sea Wolf of anything of this kind.”
June 27, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton left yesterday morning for Pelican Bay with a party of Montecito people who will camp there for a week.”
June 30, 1915 [SBMP]: “Sea Wolf returns. Captain Ira K. Eaton returned yesterday morning from Pelican Bay, to which resort he took last Saturday, the family of George Owen Knapp and Joseph G. Colman, Jr., for a camping sojourn at the bay. The captain says that the campers are having the happiest kind of time, and that they have made some notable catches of fish during the past two or three days. They expect to return to their homes next Saturday.”
July 1, 1915 [SBMP]: “Fred Hamilton is organizing an island party for the 4th of July, to leave Saturday morning at 6:30 in the Sea Wolf for Valdez Harbor. Most of the party will be from Carpinteria, but there will also be quite a number of people from this city. It is expected that about thirty-five will join this outing. The Painted Cave will be visited, and the night's camp will be made at Valdez. Early Monday morning the party will visit the seal rookeries in China Harbor, after will come luncheon at Captain Eaton's camp at Pelican Bay, with the return voyage scheduled to enable the excursionists to arrive home early enough Monday afternoon to see at least a good part of the patriotic celebration on the mainland.”
July 1, 1915 [SBMP]: “George Owen Knapp, who came over from Pelican Bay last Tuesday to bring friends on the mainland a lot of fish that the Knapp-Colman party had caught at the bay, returned to the island camp in the same boat yesterday, taking with him a half a dozen friends whom he wanted to share the joys of the island camp. This party had expected to return home next Saturday, but all the people in it are having such a delightful time that they may conclude to prolong the stay somewhat.”
July 7, 1915 [SBMP]: “This morning, Mrs. John R. Dugan, accompanied by three lady friends, will go to Pelican Bay on the Sea Wolf to camp for a week at that charming island resort.”
July 7, 1915 [SBMP]: “Mrs. Ernest L. Thayer and her son, who are spending the summer at the Miramar, have gone to Santa Cruz Island for a stay at the tent city of Pelican Bay.”
July 9, 1915 [SBMP]: “Scotty Cunningham returned to Pelican Bay in his powerboat, the Sampan, last night, after spending his Fourth of July holiday on the mainland. He and his neat little craft took an active part in the marine pageant last Monday night, carrying in the parade the brilliantly illuminated device of the Manhattan Club.”
July 17, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton, skipper of the powerboat Sea Wolf, and proprietor of the popular island resort at Pelican Bay on Santa Cruz Island, is about to inaugurate a new feature in his island operation. The captain has recently been presented by Mr. Cowles, superintendent of the Fithian Ranch, with twenty young carrier pigeons, and he will soon have a pigeon messenger service between Pelican Bay and the mainland. He has already started the training of one pair, and he thinks the birds will be able to work the full distance of the channel's width within two or three weeks. Other birds will be put in training as fast as they reach the right age and strength, and it will not be long before all of them will be able to meet all demands upon them for the peculiar service to which they are bred.”
July 21, 1915 [SBMP]: “The lure of outdoor life coupled with the fascination of camp life is coaxing a party of pleasure seekers off to Santa Cruz Island today. Mr. and Mrs. William Frew, Mr. and Mrs. Felton Elkins, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Filer, Mrs. William Miller Graham, Mrs. Rachel Frazier and Joseph Colman make up a merry little party that will spend the remainder of the week in camp at Pelican Bay.”
July 21, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday, and this morning he will take to that popular resort a party of fifteen Montecito people who will spend a couple of days there, returning to the mainland tomorrow night. Captain Eaton has recently bought a small powerboat which will be used on the island shores for trolling. It is twenty-eight feet long, and with eight-foot beam, and is said to be admirably adopted to the purpose for which it is intended. The boat, which was bought in Ventura, will be brought to Santa Barbara next Monday, and taken from here to Pelican Bay.”
July 25, 1915 [SBMP]: “Last evening Captain Ira K. Eaton left for Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, in the Sea Wolf, with a party of thirty people intent on spending a long Sunday enjoying the charms of that popular resort...”
July 27, 1915 [SBMP]: “George A. Batchelder, W.A. Brackenridge and R.H. Gaud were passengers on the Sea Wolf for Pelican Bay last Sunday morning and have planned to spend the week at that beautiful island resort in the pleasant pastime of angling and exploring the different harbors on the island shore.”
July 28, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned to Pelican Bay yesterday morning in the Sea Wolf, and with his newest addition to his fleet, the Seal, in tow…
August 1, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton will take a party of excursionists to Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf this morning...”
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 3, 1915 [SBMP]: “Last Sunday morning the Sea Wolf took a party of campers to Pelican Bay...”
August 3, 1915 [SBMP]: “This fish yarn seems quite possible. Mariners stake whale claim then Captain Eaton jumps it. When George A. Batchelder, W. A. Brackenridge and R. H. Gaud went to Pelican Bay on a fishing trip a week ago, they declared when they came home they would have a big catch to report. They came home yesterday noon, and sure enough, they had that big catch story with them. They caught a whale, and a big one too. Last Saturday as Messrs. Batchelder and Gaud were out fishing in a small boat at a point about a mile up the coast from Pelican Bay, they discovered a huge object floating on the surface of the water, and soon discovered that it was a dead whale…”
August 4, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton leaves for Pelican Bay this morning with a party of campers who will spend a week or more at that charming island resort. The passenger list includes people from Montecito and Santa Paula.”
August 17, 1915 [SBMP]: “George Spencer Westcott and John William Barnhaus returned home Sunday after a two week's stay on a camping trip on the island at Pelican Bay.”
August 22, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton took a party of campers to Pelican Bay last Friday morning and returned to the mainland last night to take another party to the bay this morning to spend Sunday.”
August 23, 1915 [SBDNI]: “… The fishing fleet came up to establish headquarters at Pelican Bay, but finding no sardines and anchovies there to use for bait they moved down to Smugglers Cove, where bait was plentiful. Mr. Reynolds, who returned yesterday from two weeks camping with Captain Eaton at his summer resort at Pelican Bay, said this morning that albacore was not the only fish extremely plentiful at the islands just now. He in company with a few others from the camp caught 200 pounds of rock cod in a little over an hour one day and 300 pounds in about the same time another day.”
August 24, 1915 [SBMP]: “John P. Smith, E. H. Hunt and his two sons, Ernest and Percy, and J. S. Reynolds of Santa Barbara; Spencer Westcott of Carpinteria and Professor McGinty of Chicago, returned Saturday evening from a week of camping and fishing at Pelican Bay. They had a delightful time and caught all of the fish that they wanted to take out of the water.”
August 26, 1915 [SBMP]: “Yesterday morning the powerboat Sea Wolf came over from Pelican Bay, bringing back to the mainland a fishing party composed of Dr. and Mrs. Oliver Dwight Norton, Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Rives and E. Warren Runyon, all of Montecito. The anglers spent two days at the bay, and they reported a delightful time, with excellent sport with rod and reel. They brought some sixty-five large fish of different varieties, including rock bass, rock cod, cabrillo, yellowtail and the special prize of the expedition, three tunitas.”
August 31, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton took a camping party in the Sea Wolf to Pelican Bay last Sunday morning.”
September 12, 1915 [SBMP]: “This morning the Sea Wolf will take a small party of Miramar people to Pelican Bay for two or three days of camping. Captain Eaton has a number of charters for the near future, and has been persuaded to defer for a few weeks the closing of his excursion season to go into fishing traffic.”
September 14, 1915 [SBMP]: “Last Sunday the Otter took a party of sixteen people to Fry’s Harbor for the day. All had a fine time on the island. The Sea Wolf took over a small party of campers, who will put in a few days at beautiful Pelican Bay.”
September 16, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton went to Pelican Bay with the Sea Wolf yesterday morning, taking over to that popular island resort a small party for a few days’ camping.”
October 27, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday morning for supplies for his camp of Universal actors who are at work on the island shores... The Sea Wolf returned to the island yesterday afternoon.”
October 29, 1915 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned on the Sea Wolf yesterday afternoon from the camp of Universal actors at Pelican Bay, the company having been engaged there and at other points along the island shores...”
November 6, 1915 [SBMP]: “Sunday evening Captain Ira K. Eaton returned in the Sea Wolf from the camp at Pelican Bay, which had been the headquarters of Henry Otto’s company of Universal actors for nineteen days during the production of Undine, a great marine photoplay. Seven members of the company, the last detachment of the party, came back to the mainland on this trip and returned to their homes in Los Angeles by train.”
January 6, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton came over from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday morning, bringing 1,100 pounds of whitefish... His camp at Pelican Bay will be largely augmented in the capacity of an improved order, and his transportation facilities will be increased materially. In fact, the captain declares that he is going after the business, and that he will equip himself to take good care of all that comes his way.”
January 6, 1916 [SBDN]: “One thousand one hundred pounds of whitefish were brought here yesterday from Pelican Bay by Captain Ira Eaton. The captain reports that things are very quiet on the island now, but that he is preparing to start the island travel early this year and will fit up to handle more island travelers than ever before.”
January 20, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton, who came over from Pelican Bay last Monday in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, with a good catch of fish, leaves for the island caves this morning in search of seals, he having an order for eleven of the amphibians [sic] for Captain George M. McGuire. The seals are for a trainer in London, but the buyer receives and pays for them in New York, Captain McGuire declining to take chances on the depredations of German submarines.”
January 21, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton, who for several years past has done the most of the island excursion business from this port, is preparing for larger operations this coming season. The captain's camp at Pelican Bay will be greatly enlarged and otherwise improved, and to meet the increase in demand for transportation that has naturally come with Captain Eaton's satisfactory management of his excursion business, he has arranged with Frank Pasquel of San Pedro, owner of the fine new powerboat Panama, to cooperate with him in business this season...”
January 25, 1916 [SBMP]: “Santa Cruz Island seals going to London. George McGuire to ship eleven for professional trainer. Yesterday morning Captain Ira Eaton came over from Pelican Bay with eleven seals caught in the island caves for Captain George W. McGuire...”
January 29, 1916 [SBMP]: “This morning Captain Ira K. Eaton will return to Pelican Bay in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf. In the early part of next week the captain will take his craft to San Pedro to have installed in her a new engine of forty horse power, an increase of ten horse power over the engine now in use…”
March 29, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton goes to Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf this morning to take a small party of Potter Hotel guests.”
March 29, 1916 [SBMP]: “The moving picture actors who have been camping at Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island for the past week, will finish their labors this week and return to the southern city. Mr. Pollard was for a long time connected with the American Film Company in this city, and he has many friends here. His company at work on the island numbers twenty-five men and women.”
April 5, 1916 [SBDN]: “Thirty people with the Fox Film Company of Los Angeles will arrive here tomorrow on their way to Santa Cruz Island where they will take some moving pictures. They will make Pelican Bay their headquarters. Santa Cruz Island is becoming a Mecca for moving picture people who find the scenery there an excellent background for pictures of many types. The Pollards, who have been on the island for several weeks taking pictures, have returned.”
April 9, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton goes to Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf this morning to take over Harry Pollard's camp ten extra people to assist in Pollard's production of the photoplay on which he and his big company are engaged on the island, The Pearl of Paradise...”
April 13, 1916 [SBMP]: “Pelican Bay, Captain Ira K. Eaton's Santa Cruz Island camp, is just now the center of great activity in the moving pictures business...”
April 16, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Eaton came from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday to bring over seven members of the Fox Company of moving picture actors now on the island working on the photoplay, The Game of Hearts. These are actors who have finished their part in the play and they have left for their homes in Los Angeles. The others of the company will remain on the island for another week or more.”
April 16, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Eaton came from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday to bring over seven members of the Fox Company of moving picture actors now on the island working on the photoplay, The Game of Hearts... ”
April 20, 1916 [SBMP]: “Yesterday Captain Ira K. Eaton came over from Pelican Bay with a number of Flying A actors who had just finished their work on scenes for the play, The Secret of the Submarine...”
April 22, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain George Gourley and a number of the American Film Company actors came over from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday after the finish of a very exciting set of scenes for the play, The Secret of the Submarine. These scenes included the special work of J. Keith, a famous surf swimmer, and a most notable feature was the blowing up with dynamite of a house built on a high cliff for the purpose of destruction. This detail illustrated in a forceful manner the liberal expenditure of labor and money by the American Film Company in the production of scenes of intensely interesting realism. The carrying of the lumber for the erection of that house on its elevated position was in itself a big task, but there is no limit in work or cost on an American picture that promises a satisfactory hit. The blowing up of this house was pronounced by those who saw it one of the most remarkable scenes they had ever witnessed.”
April 28, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton went to Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday morning, taking a dozens pupils of the Thacher School, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Thacher, for a short stay in camp on the island.”
May 2, 1916 [SBMP]: “Yesterday afternoon Captain Ira K. Eaton came over from San Miguel Island in the Sea Wolf, bringing Captain Waters and a force of sheep shearers who have been working there for several weeks making the spring clip. Captain Eaton returned to Pelican Bay a few days later to hunt for seals for Captain George M. McGuire, his order being twenty seals… Island Camp Plans: Captain Ira K. Eaton, who was on the mainland a few hours yesterday afternoon, announced that he was about to proceed in the reorganization of his camp at Pelican Bay. He will open it for the season on June 1, and by that time he will have things in better shape than ever before for the accommodation of pleasure seekers. He has recently bought at Catalina Island a new powerboat for the use of small fishing parties, and will add a number of tents for the accommodation of guests. A larger boat than the Sea Wolf is also to be added to the Eaton fleet, and the captain will be fully equipped to handle a much larger business this season than ever before. He expects a big island excursion business for this summer, and declares that he will be in shape to manage it in every detail and in a manner satisfactory to all concerned.”
May 12, 1916 [SBMP]: “A Montecito party has chartered Captain Eaton's Sea Wolf for all of the following week. The party will camp at Pelican Bay and use the boat for fishing excursions and trips up and down and around the island shores during the stay at that charming resort.”
May 26, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton leaves today for San Pedro, where he has bought a small powerboat that he will use at his Pelican Bay camp for trolling. It will accommodate four or five people comfortably for this purpose, and will be a great convenience to the patrons of the beautiful island resort who are fond of fishing. It is said to be a good little boat with a ten horse-power engine. Captain Eaton will sail it to his island port himself, and will probably be here with it about next Monday.”
June 3, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton came over from the islands in his powerboat, Sea Wolf, last evening with eight fine seals taken in the island caves for Captain George M. McGuire... He will bring to the mainland tomorrow a party of four Miramar people who have been at bay camp for the past two weeks. On the following Sunday the Sea Wolf will resume its regular Sunday excursions to the islands, the captain having made unusually good arrangements at Pelican Bay for handling the excursion and camping business this season.”
June 16, 1916 [SBMP]: “This morning Captain Ira K. Eaton left for Pelican Bay in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, with a lot of lumber and other materials for the building of a store house there, the idea being to establish and operate a general store for the accommodation of campers and others on the island. The captain has his camp in better shape than ever before to handle a large number of outing parties, of which he has made reservations for many. He has twenty-four tents, all comfortably furnished, and is preparing to pipe water to the camp from the excellent spring 1000 feet away, at the foot of the canyon. A new pump has been bought for the pumping of the water, and it will be operated with a gasoline engine that will fill a tank on the bluff.”
June 28, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton went to Pelican Bay in his powerboat, Sea Wolf, yesterday morning, taking a party of Montecito men bent on a fishing cruise. The captain reports very good fishing in the island waters now… The Eaton camp at Pelican Bay is in better shape this year than ever before…”
July 9, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from the island in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf, yesterday morning, with two seals for Captain McGuire. Captain Eaton will this morning resume his regular Sunday excursion to Pelican Bay. For this trip he will take over about twenty passengers who will have dinner at the island camp and return to the mainland in the evening.”
July 27, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton came over from Pelican Bay yesterday bringing a small party of Montecito people who had been enjoying the island for several days. The captain returns to the bay this morning and will come back to the mainland to take over a large party Saturday morning.”
August 2, 1916 [SBMP]: “Yesterday Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Santa Cruz Island in the Sea Wolf, and this morning he will take over to Pelican Bay for the day a party of guests of Miramar and the Potter Hotel.”
August 3, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton came over from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf yesterday and will return there this morning with another party of campers…”
August 18, 1916 [SBMP]: “George A. Batchelder, R. H. Gaud and two young Brackenridge lads from Pasadena are at Pelican Bay in the thick of an angling tournament in which, it is reported, each one of the party is beating the others all hollow at catching fish. The fishermen have two of Captain Gourley’s Whitehall boats fitted with detachable motors, and word came over yesterday evening that in these two boats, in the forenoon trolling, the anglers caught fourteen barracuda, three yellowtail and eight bass.”
August 27, 1916 [SBMP]: “This morning Captain Eaton will take to Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf a party of forty people who will spend the day at that charming island resort and return to the mainland this evening.”
August 29, 1916 [SBMP]: “Thirty-nine people were taken over to Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf by Captain Eaton last Sunday morning. After a delightful day spent at the beautiful island resort, the party returned to the mainland in the evening, all happy over their day’s outing.”
September 3, 1916 [SBMP]: “Terrier keeps long vigil over dead. Wesley Thompson accidentally killed in island canyon. Lying prone on the ground in a canyon at Pelican Bay at the base of a high cliff, the body of Wesley Thompson was found yesterday shortly after noon by Captain Ira Eaton, who had, just a few minutes before, arrived at the bay resort with a small party, including Mrs. Eaton... Under Coroner Ruiz’s instructions the captain will leave in the Sea Wolf this morning for Pelican Bay to bring back the body for an inquest…”
September 5, 1916 [SBMP]: “The coroner’s inquest on the remains of Wesley Thompson, who was found dead in a canyon at Pelican Bay… The remains were brought over in the Sea Wolf Sunday afternoon, and they were buried in Santa Barbara Cemetery yesterday…”
September 12, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Santa Cruz Island last Sunday evening, bringing over George T. Coles, superintendent of the Fithian Ranch, and his two sons, who had been spending ten days at Pelican Bay, and five sea lions for Captain George M. McGuire… Captain Eaton will take a private party over to Pelican Bay in his boat this morning for a stay of a week at that beautiful island resort.”
October 1, 1916 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton came over from Pelican Bay yesterday morning in his powerboat, the Sea Wolf. He had just returned from San Pedro where he took his craft for some minor repairs and for a decided improvement in the way of a new six-inch ironwood keel which skipper Eaton says will operate to make the boat far steadier in the water.”
October 12, 1916 [SBMP]: “Early yesterday afternoon Captain Ira K. Eaton left for Santa Cruz Island in the Sea Wolf with a commission for the capture of sixteen seals for Captain George M. McGuire. Captain Eaton was accompanied by his wife and his regular sealing crew, and they will make their camp at Pelican Bay...”
February 9, 1917 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton came over from the islands in the Sea Wolf yesterday morning with 2700 pounds of rock cod. After landing his load he at once started on his return to Pelican Bay for another load of fish, expecting to return to the mainland tomorrow.”
May 26, 1917 [SBMP]: “Yesterday morning Captain Ira K. Eaton returned from Pelican Bay in the Sea Wolf, bringing over 15 members of Director Sturgis' company of American Film actors who had spent five days on the island and had worked a great deal of the picturesque island coast for a new picture show in the making, most of the scenes being laid between Valdez Cave and Pelican Bay.”
May 26, 1917 [SBDN]: “Captain Ira Eaton, skipper of the Sea Wolf, returned to Santa Barbara yesterday with a company of moving picture actors from the American studios who have been spending the past five days on Santa Cruz Island taking scenes for a screen production. The rugged coastline from Valdez Cave to Pelican Bay was used in the various locations. Captain Eaton expects to take a company of 30 from the Universal Studios in Los Angeles to the island tomorrow. The diversities of scenery make the place an ideal rendezvous for the various movie companies and several different directors have made plans for visiting the place this summer.”
June 17, 1917 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira Eaton came over from Pelican Bay yesterday afternoon accompanied by F. J. Leary, business manager of the Universal Film Company, who has a company of nearly 70 people on the island engaged on a big marine picture. The trip to the mainland was for the purpose of allowing Mr. Leary to get his headquarters on the wire for a report of progress and to give the commissary department of the island camp a replenishment. The captain and his passenger list and cargo will return to the camp this morning.”
July 17, 1917 [SBMP]: “Myron R. Bergen, for the past ten years well known in this city as an upholsterer, was found drowned at Pelican Bay Sunday morning, and thus far the cause is enshrouded in mystery. A week ago last Sunday Mr. Bergen went to Pelican Bay with Captain Ira Eaton in the Sea Wolf. Staying ashore during the day, at night he slept in the cabin of the boat, with men who constituted the crew, the captain sleeping ashore. Mr. Bergen went to bed Tuesday night, but the next morning he was not aboard. Captain Eaton concluded that the missing man had gone ashore during the night and walked to Fry's Harbor, as he said he would go there when Captain Eaton returned to Santa Barbara. Following the plan already made, Captain Eaton returned to the mainland Wednesday and then made the voyage to San Miguel Island, returning home Sunday. Yesterday he again went to Pelican Bay, arriving there at 1:30 P.M. On his arrival he learned from Captain George Nidever, whom he had left as a caretaker at the Pelican Bay camp, that the body had been found floating in the kelp near the boat landing the preceding morning...”
July 17, 1917 [SBDN]: “At three o’clock this afternoon, the coroner returned from Santa Cruz Island with the body of Myron R. Bergen, who met his death there by drowning. The coroner’s jury, which met at the island today, returned a verdict of accidental drowning… Coroner A. M. Ruiz and L. E. Gagnier, undertaker, went at five o’clock this morning to Santa Cruz Island, to inquire into the death of Myron R. Bergen, well known upholsterer, whose body was found Sunday by Captain George Nidever, floating in the ocean at Pelican Bay. Mr. Bergen had been missing since Tuesday of last week. He had gone to the island to camp for a vacation with Captain Ira Eaton, and had spent his days ashore and his nights on Eaton’s powerboat, the Sea Wolf, until last Tuesday, when he disappeared. As Bergen had talked of walking to Friar’s Harbor, Captain Eaton supposed he had started on that jaunt, and thought nothing more of the matter. Mr. Bergen was well acquainted with the island. Captain Eaton arrived at Pelican Bay from this city yesterday afternoon at 1:30, and was told by Captain Nidever of the finding of the body. He at once put back to Santa Barbara to notify Coroner Ruiz. Because of the lateness of the hour of his arrival, the return to the island with the coroner and undertaker was not made until daybreak today. Mr. Bergen was a good swimmer and fond of the ocean. It is believed his death came through a sudden cramp while in the water alone...”
July 29, 1917 [SBMP]: “Captain Ira K. Eaton goes to Santa Cruz Island in the Sea Wolf again this morning to take over a party of ten people who will have a four-days’ camp at Cueva Valdez, by many thought the most beautiful spot on this island shore so famous for its beauty spots. The captain has several island parties that he will take across the channel this week, some of them to be entertained at his Pelican Bay resort, which is becoming more and more popular all the time…”
September 24, 1917 [SBDN]: “Kelp beds are proving veritable gold mines on Santa Cruz Island for a number of young men, according to news brought from the island by members of a big Sunday excursion, who returned last night. It was explained to the excursionists that six young fellows have discovered the potash values in kelp, and are burning the kelp on the island beach, gathering up the ashes, and extracting 45 percent potash, which it is stated, is netting them an average of $45 a day. They harvest the kelp from rowboats, dry it on the sands, and set the dry kelp heaps afire. Their activities, it is reported, have attracted interests which are now seeking to curtail their work, as an effort will be made to drive them from the island. It is stated that the kelp beds are close in shore, and more densely matted than the beds of kelp that line the channel just off Santa Barbara. As the kelp belongs to the government, and the boys are said not to have a license to harvest it, the excursionists do not believe their activities will be long continued. Among the excursionists who made the trip in the Sea Wolf with Captain Ira Eaton were Mr. and Mrs. Knapp, Mrs. O. R. Sayar, Mrs. Harry Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. Reed, Miss Yates, Sidney Lingham, Dr. H. C. Sexton, two sons of Dr. Goodrich, and several friends with Mr. De Ponce. Three whales were sighted, spouting vigorously. The excursionists made Pelican Bay, where a son of the late Senator Bard is entertaining friends.”
May 11, 1918 [SBMP]: “The forest fire on Santa Cruz Island was believed to still be burning last night, as there had been no abatement at 9 o'clock in the morning when the schooner Santa Cruz left there. The fire was in the big pines near Pelican Bay, and fanned by the heavy wind of the last two days it was sweeping in the direction of Prisoners’ Harbor. No fear of property loss is entertained. The schooner went over to Pelican Bay but nothing could be done.”
August 20, 1918 [SBDN]: “Vitagraph players to the number of twenty-five will motor up from Los Angeles this morning, and immediately proceed to Santa Cruz Island with Captain Ira Eaton. For a week they will operate from Pelican Harbor under the direction of Paul Hurst.”
October 2, 1918 [SBMP]: “Mr. and Mrs. G. M. Glover have returned from chaperoning a party of 20 to Santa Cruz Island. The start was made early Sunday morning in the commodious Sea Wolf… Pelican Bay was the landing place, and a garden filled with vegetables of all kinds indicated that the soil is remarkable fertile… The party enjoyed a fish dinner prepared by Captain Eaton and his men…”
March 6, 1919 [SBDN]: “Mrs. Ira K. Eaton sailed for Santa Cruz Island this morning in the Sea Wolf, going to prepare camp at Pelican Bay for a party of 30 members of the Fox Film Company, who are coming up from Los Angeles to spend a week or more filming pictures.”
May 20, 1919 [SBDN]: “Carrier pigeons as a means of communication between the Channel Islands and the mainland will soon become common, as large numbers of birds are now being trained for that purpose. At present the only means of communication is by boat, the installation of a woreless system having been halted during the war by government order. Captain Ira Eaton has a flock of forty or fifty pigeons at his camp on Santa Cruz Island which are the birds that are being used. Eighteen of the young squabs are to be brought over to the mainland and trained from the Belvedere within a few weeks. It is expected that they will make the thirty mile trip across the channel easily within half an hour, so that at any time messages may be dispatched quickly. They are now being used between Pelican Bay and Valdez on the island.”
July 16, 1919 [SBDNI]: “A dozen Belvedere guests yesterday visited Santa Cruz Island aboard Captain Ira Eaton’s boat, the Sea Wolf. The party toured the coast of the island and spent much time at the Painted Cave. Two of the party, Miss Lillian Genth and Miss A. B. Seigher, of the Genth Studios, New York, remained at Pelican Bay to sketch for a week.”
September 7, 1919 [SBMP]: “Nature Study Club explores beauty spots of Santa Cruz Island, by C. M. Glover… The head of the Nature Club is not usually keen for the study of nature, howbeit, he became interested in submarine gardens as soon as the Sea Wolf left her mooring… The Painted Cave of fairy grotto toward the west end of Santa Cruz Island was the first stop… Rounding a rocky promontory into Pelican Bay a scene of rare beauty was set before the visitors… the yacht Caprice with white sails set tugged at her moorings, while her crew of merry makers dived from her decks… The facilites of Captain Eaton’s culinary department were talk to the utmost… ”
November 18, 1919 [SBMP]: “Three small buildings belonging to Captain Ira Eaton and located in Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, were destroyed by fire Thursday afternoon, according to word brought over from the island yesterday. The buildings contained several hundred dollars worth of bedding and food supplies besides material used by moving picture companies. It is believed that Captain Eaton will rebuild again in the near future. He had gone over to the island with a party from Carpinteria which had gone over to hunt wild geese. They brought back 50 of the fowls.”
Thursday, September 21, 1922 [SBMP]: “Fishermen will aid big cruise. Five boats coming from Port San Luis for trip to Santa Cruz [Island] and barbecue September 30. Five boats of Larco Brothers fishing fleet, now operating off port San Luis, will steam to Santa Barbara on Saturday, September 30, to aid in conveying the 250 men invited to participate in the cruise October 1 to Santa Cruz Island and the barbecue at Pelican Bay, in the interests of a protected harbor for Santa Barbara. The boats, as announced yesterday by the special committee of the yacht club in charge of arrangements for the outing are: the Seal, Captain Jules Valdez; Ladinan E., Captain Muchattee; Larco Brothers, Captain Sebastian Castenola [Castagnola]; Eagle, Captain Frank Nidever; and North America, Captain J. Nocti...”
February 18, 1923 [SBMP]: “Fear felt for fishing vessel. Another Larco boat with two Santa Barbara men missing for week. Failure of the fishing boat, O.K., commanded by Captain Jerry Shiveley, to return to port after an absence of a week is causing some apprehension along the waterfront, it became known yesterday. At the offices of Larco Brothers, owners of the O.K., it was said yesterday that ‘Big Jerry,’ as Captain Shiveley is known among fishermen, put out from here a week ago yesterday with the rest of the Larco fleet to search for the ill-fated Eagle in which Captain Frank E. Nidever is believed to have gone to his death. At Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, he picked up Isaac Newton, employed at Captain Ira Eaton’s camp, and sailed away. That was the last seen of either Shiveley, Newton, or the O.K. Frank Larco said the failure of Captain Shiveley to report was incomprehensible as there had been no storm in the channel since his disappearance. He said no search had begun for the O.K. and it was possible that it was lying safely at anchor, though possibly disabled, in some bay or inlet on the windward side of the islands. A later report from the Larco offices indicated Frank Larco might begin a tour of the islands in search of the missing fishing smack today.”
July 1924: Captain Eaton runs excursions aboard Sea Wolf to Santa Cruz Island every Sunday at 7 A.M. returning at 7 P.M. A b-b-q will be served on the island. Tickets available the Anacapa Hotel.
September 24, 1924 [SBMP]: “Among the many residents of Santa Barbara and Montecito who have been enjoying cruising in the channel and visiting the islands these balmy days of Indian summer are Mr. and Mrs. Lionel Armstrong, Mr. and Mrs. John Miller, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. John Callory and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hall, who recently returned from a week’s outing at Captain Ira Eaton’s camp at Pelican Bay.”
October 15, 1924 [SBMP]: “Director Chester Bennett and a cast of 100 members of the Famous Players-Lasky company, will sail for Santa Cruz Island next Saturday to film a large portion of Peter Pan, Sir James Barrie’s stage play, it was learned yesterday. In the place of Maude Adams, who made the play one of the best known on the stage a decade ago, 17-year-old Betty Bronson, a new star in the moving pictures, will play the title rols. Santa Cruz Island was selected as the location for the picture after a long search because of its unusual settings and unsurpassed scenery. The company will make its headquarters at Eaton’s Camp, Pelican Bay, during the filming of the picture.”
April 23, 1928 [SBMP]: “Captain Frank Couzens of the tug Williams, has not had his schedule interrupted during the past week of heavy winds in the channel and has kept up with the regular schedule of delivery of rock for the breakwater. During the same time, Captain Ira K. Eaton made a trip from San Pedro to Pelican Bay in the Roncador, 35-foot boat, passing Scorpion Harbor.”
October 23, 1923 [letter, on file at SCIF]: “Captain Ira Eaton, West Guiterrez Street, Santa Barbara, California. S.S. Cuba Dear Sir, I enclose herewith Agreement of Sale, in duplicate, in connection with the sale of the above wreck. Kindly sign these and return the original to me keeping the duplicate copy for your own files. On receipt of this Agreement, duly signed, I will send you a Bill of Sale. Yours faithfully, W. R. K[illegible]. Lloyd;s Agency, 246 Battery Street, San Francisco.”
November 19, 1956 [SBNP]: “The local Sea Scout cruiser Sea Lion sank in 25 fathoms of water at 11:06 A.M. today, approximately one mile west of Pelican Bay at Santa Cruz Island, after salvage efforts by the Coast Guard failed. However, the six persons stranded yesterday when the 24-foot vessel went on the rocks at Santa Cruz Island were taken off the beach and were on their way to the harbor this afternoon...”
February 18, 1984: the Freedom, a 29-foot sailboat sank west of Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island. The four people aboard made it safely to the island's shore, where they were later picked up by the Coast Guard's Point Judith.
