Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1853-09-07
Captain GibsOn's Escape from
Java.

LIS Hai oti'0 10 eAcceuiDSiy interesting
in the incidents it gives regarding to is
lands Of the southern Pacific, and Ma
lays. Capt. Gibson purchased the war
schooner Flirt of the U. S. Government,
and sailed from New York in May,
1851 He went first to Cape dc Verde,
thence to Pernambuco. In the latter
place, hearing that some property once
belonging TO his uncle was in the hands
of the British Government at Calcutta,
and that it might be reclaimed by visit
TO Singapore, he resolved TO proceed
thither. On his way, he visited the lit
tie island of Tristaie d. .Achsmha, about
midway between the Cape of Good
Hope and Cape Horn, in the South Pa
cifc, and in about 40 south latitude
The history of this island is interesting,
Some OF the facts are as follows:
''In the year 1911 the British frigate
Pandora struck or ledge of rocks near
this island, on her return home from
Bengal, laden with troops. One
of their number, Sergeant Glass, while
the troops were being landed preparato-
ry TO getting the ship off the rocks,
took advantage of the confusion and Sc
GREETED himself on the island, and the
ship sailed without him. Glass remain
ed here three years, subsisting in the
meantime on the flesh of goats which a
bounded, and also on shell-fsh and
roots. BY the expiration of this time
he had succeeded in constructing boat
from drift timber, and other materials
and proceeded with a cargo of goat
skins TO the Cape of Good Hope, some
| l 600 miles distant. The time which
he selected for his journey, was during
the prevalence of the westerly winds
He accomplished his perious voyage in
safety. After Il short residence at Cape
Town, he married the widow of Sell
der who had died at the Cape; and with
his wife and negro man, returned TO
his solitary island again, taking with him
various implements, seeds, arms and
ammunition, together with other neces-
saries, which were literally furnished
him by the merchants Of Cape Town.
Here the good couple carried out the in
junction Of 'increase and multiply. p
The result of their marriage was seven
daughters; who, in the course OF time
were married to men from American
whalers, who occasionally touched at the
island. These sons-in-law Of the .olC
man, in compliance with law he had
made, that "no son-in-law of his should
leave the island" settled down and pro-
we'd as prolific as did the original couple
so that the population now amounts te
cighty-four children, grand children ant
great grand children. The old Patri
arch Glass is now 80 years of age, ant
as hale ard strong as youth Of 20 +; in
! deed he says no means 10 live 80 year:
longer, and so far as personal appearance
would warrant the judgement, he vii
keep his word. A remarkable fact
should here be mentioned, that since tn,
island was first settled by Glass, deatl
has never visited one Of its inhabi
tantS.
The amount of land on the island, a
walls able for cultivation is about 25O a
ores, and is now capable Of supportin.
500 persons. Its formation is distan
volcano, rising about | 900 feet abov,
the level of the sea. The edges of era
ter are covered with perpetual snow
and within the crater is a lake of fresl
water.
The grand daughters of old Glass ar,
described as remarkable for their heal
thy beauty. They shoot and fish will
their husbands. The young men, abou
10 in number, would be very grateful
for an invoice of wives. One of the
young men, not having letters of intro.
duction to the fashionables of Cap.
Town, took his fathers boat, and with
two Of his cousins, proceeded to The
coast of Africa, and made bold to intro.
duce himself TO all interesting young
Caffre woman, who not being affected
with any of the punctilios of civilized
life, readily accompanied him home
By her, he has three interesting chill
dren, and she makes him an excelIen
wife. She is described as of ligh
brown complexion, thin Tipped, with
nne straight nose, most interesting caste
of countenance, and slender figure
. She has readily acquired the English
language, and speaks it with remarkabl,
: tluency.
Thence Capt. Gibson proceeded OF
his way, touching at several islands O
the Indian archipelago, still, however
steadily progressing towards the por
Of her destination. But in passing
through the straits of Banca, she was
forced to come to anchor in the Road.
of Mintok. The island of Banca is eel
ebrated for its tin mines, which yielo
an annual revenue OF 100000. The
President, Mr.. ScEaap, expressed him
self happy to see Mr.. g., and urged
him to stay awhile, which he did, and
afterwards proceeked 10 the Fort of Pa
lembang, in the interior of Sumatra.-
The President treacherously supplied
Capt. G.. with Malay servant, spy Of
his own, and sent letters to the Presi-
dent of Palembang, denouncins the Cap
tain as an intriguing American spy
Captain Gibson was however received
with great apparent impressment, and
remained month, making several ex-
cursions into the interior Of the island
when he visited the native princes Of