Possibly related to the article “Desert Island’s Repute is Grim, San Nicolas Tragedy Carries on Bloody History, Life on Channel Island Ever Bleak and Perilous, Sheep Tender’s Family Sole Inhabitants Now.” Los Angeles Times, 18 May 1930. The article states: “A desert island of cruel history … San Nicolas Island … again has lived up to its ill-omened reputation with the conviction and sentence last week of 18-year-old Milton Prentice for the murder of Steve Semerenko, a fisherman, who was thought to have been stealing sheep from the island’s flocks. … It is not only the quarrel between the fishermen and shepherds but more of a contest between the island and those brave enough to attempt to subdue it, to which interest attaches. … all stockmen on the islands are quite willing to give … but the story of the shepherds is that the fishermen are not content with one mutton but continue shooting … The first Indian inhabitants undoubtedly led an equally isolated and difficult existence … In 1830 a lone Indian woman was left on the island when the mission fathers from Santa Barbara sent an expedition to rescue the survivors who had escaped the raids of the Russians. This woman was in turn taken from the island in 1852, but died shortly after her rescue. The island remained unoccupied then for years wielding its evil influence only in the occasional wreck of a schooner or fishing boat until taken over for sheep ranching--with its destiny of native warfare and murder to be continued in the grim battles of a sheep rustlers’ war.”
Rocky area on San Nicolas Island, with wooden frame and water level pole on rock formations at left, man in overalls and cap in right background, sandy area in left foreground
Possibly related to the article “Desert Island’s Repute is Grim, San Nicolas Tragedy Carries on Bloody History, Life on Channel Island Ever Bleak and Perilous, Sheep Tender’s Family Sole Inhabitants Now.” Los Angeles Times, 18 May 1930. The article states: “A desert island of cruel history … San Nicolas Island … again has lived up to its ill-omened reputation with the conviction and sentence last week of 18-year-old Milton Prentice for the murder of Steve Semerenko, a fisherman, who was thought to have been stealing sheep from the island’s flocks. … It is not only the quarrel between the fishermen and shepherds but more of a contest between the island and those brave enough to attempt to subdue it, to which interest attaches. … all stockmen on the islands are quite willing to give … but the story of the shepherds is that the fishermen are not content with one mutton but continue shooting … The first Indian inhabitants undoubtedly led an equally isolated and difficult existence … In 1830 a lone Indian woman was left on the island when the mission fathers from Santa Barbara sent an expedition to rescue the survivors who had escaped the raids of the Russians. This woman was in turn taken from the island in 1852, but died shortly after her rescue. The island remained unoccupied then for years wielding its evil influence only in the occasional wreck of a schooner or fishing boat until taken over for sheep ranching--with its destiny of native warfare and murder to be continued in the grim battles of a sheep rustlers’ war.”
Possibly related to the article “Desert Island’s Repute is Grim, San Nicolas Tragedy Carries on Bloody History, Life on Channel Island Ever Bleak and Perilous, Sheep Tender’s Family Sole Inhabitants Now.” Los Angeles Times, 18 May 1930. The article states: “A desert island of cruel history … San Nicolas Island … again has lived up to its ill-omened reputation with the conviction and sentence last week of 18-year-old Milton Prentice for the murder of Steve Semerenko, a fisherman, who was thought to have been stealing sheep from the island’s flocks. … It is not only the quarrel between the fishermen and shepherds but more of a contest between the island and those brave enough to attempt to subdue it, to which interest attaches. … all stockmen on the islands are quite willing to give … but the story of the shepherds is that the fishermen are not content with one mutton but continue shooting … The first Indian inhabitants undoubtedly led an equally isolated and difficult existence … In 1830 a lone Indian woman was left on the island when the mission fathers from Santa Barbara sent an expedition to rescue the survivors who had escaped the raids of the Russians. This woman was in turn taken from the island in 1852, but died shortly after her rescue. The island remained unoccupied then for years wielding its evil influence only in the occasional wreck of a schooner or fishing boat until taken over for sheep ranching--with its destiny of native warfare and murder to be continued in the grim battles of a sheep rustlers’ war.”
![San Nicolas Island, [1930?]](https://iiif.library.ucla.edu/iiif/2/ark%3A%2F21198%2Fzz002db0bq/full/!200,200/0/default.jpg)
![San Nicolas Island, [1930?]](https://iiif.library.ucla.edu/iiif/2/ark%3A%2F21198%2Fzz002db0c7/full/!200,200/0/default.jpg)
![San Nicolas Island, [1930?]](https://iiif.library.ucla.edu/iiif/2/ark%3A%2F21198%2Fzz002db0f8/full/!200,200/0/default.jpg)
![San Nicolas Island, [1930?]](https://iiif.library.ucla.edu/iiif/2/ark%3A%2F21198%2Fzz002db0dr/full/!200,200/0/default.jpg)