The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-05-08
aNiRssIa ROBINSON CxUs0r


Landing) from an IriShman who,
many years ago, resided on this Is
land for long time, the sole inhab-
liant, except when runaway sailor
or two would join him. His history
as far as it is known, was that of a
very daring reckless and strange be-
ing. lie had belonged to several
ships along the coasts, and was in
many of the revolutionary rows 50
: common in Chill, Peru, Columbia,
&c. At last he formed one Of the
crew of a whale ship which was
cruising round those Islands. The
captain of her having a great deal of
trouble with him, he having formed
several plots to mutiny and take the
ship, and there being no feeling of
, security so long as he was on board,
, he was landed at the southern eX-
, trcmity Of Albemarlc Island. Here
water being scarce, he was near
, furnishing, and would have died from
=. the want of it but that he squeezed
the juice out of prickly pear and
cabbage tree. This was a substitute
which saved his life. As to food, he
had plenty of doves and terrapin or
land turtle, which is excellent. AZ
ter some months the captain of an
American whale ship humanely took
him off, and landed him at his own
request, on Charles Island, with
, which he was familiar, and which he
knew possessed plenty fine water
from springs. He was landed on the
beach in question from which there
is a complete natural and beautiful
avenue up to the mountains, and
nearly at the summit Of these is a
spot Of excellent land of four or five
acres, nearl y surrounded by high
hills; in fact, there is only one pass
into it. On this spot he erected his
house or hut, and had a great deal
of it under cultivation, so much so
that he had quantity of vegetables,
such as sweet potatoes, pumpkins,
Indian corn, melons, with plenty of
fish and poultry. These he sold for
years to the shipping. lie also dug
a well on his farm, and, though on
! high land, at a moderate depth he
found a good supply of fine water.
| understand his chief dress con-
sisted of seal skin cap over his red
bushy hair, red flannel shirt, and
a pair Of red flannel drawers, with
sealskin moccassins on lis feet. He
never went without lis gun, par,ic-
.uiariy when he had those rmaways
with him; neither did he sleep two
nights in tie same place. He knew
every cave and secret spot on the
island, and occasionally used them
for dormitories. Now, it is strange
circumstance, and yet fact, that
this man, when any Of these runaway
sailors resided on this island would
enforce subsection, and actually com
pei them to work his farm for him.
They were soon glad to separate
from HIM, by joining, on any terms,
the first ship that came in.
lie was often greatly blamed
! though, | believe unjusty) for in
ducmS sailors to leave their ships,
and IN one instance he suffered for
It, An English whale ship put in
there, and two of the crew who had
been severely treated ON board, took
to the bush, and Pat was blamed for
harboring them. Capt. Bunker, who
commanded tins ship, invited him on
board, and IN ignorance Of what had
occurred, or the men leaving, he ac-
ceptcd the invitation.
AS soon as he came on board he
was tied up, and severely logged,
then handcuiled, and landed on the
beach to die or to live as he might,
win ms hands last, and no one to
loose HIM. 1t was murderouS, bru-
tai act, IN this rnlhanIy captain. The
snip sailed the next day, and left
nm to his tate.
Fat, however, was not to die in