Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-10-12
MISCE LII A n Y.
From BlGckpood's .Maga=ine.
THE PARADISE IN THE PACIFIC.
(ContiRued)
THE PASTOR OF PITCAIRN.

Not quite four monthS-viz. on the 10th No
yember lS25-belore the death OF the island pa
triarch, there arrived at Pitcairn 4 TCm; rkable
man. destined to be his successor in the confidence
affection, and government Of that little communi
ty He seemed really TO have been marked out
for the post by Providence, The person here spo-
ken of bears the by no means arlStOcratIc name OF
GEORGE HUM NoBBs lie was born in this
country in l799; went to sen at the early age of
eleven wears, when he became mldshlpman in
the British navy. lie afterwards held commis-
sion in the Chilian navy, under the present Earl
of Dundonald (then Lord COchrane,I and In con-
sequence of his services became lieutenant. He
was at length, after gallant aud desperate con-
fict with Spanish gun-brlg, taken prisoner by
the troops of the piratical Spanish general Bene-
vedeis, who was very iend ncarnate uf cruelty.
He shot all his prisoners except Lieutenant Nobbs
aud three English seamen, all four OF whom lay
under sentence of DEATH and in hourly expectation
of being shot. for three weeks during which
Lieutenant Nobbs daily saw his fellOw-priSoners
led out to DEATH and heard the reports Of the mus
kets from which they suffered. This monster
Benevedeis would invite the captive officers to an
ELEGANT entertainment Immediately after which
he would have them marched into the courtyard,
and shot-their host standing at the window to
enioy the spectacle Such was the man at whose
mercy poor Lieutenant Nobbs lay three weeks !;
at the end OF which he was suddenly and unac-
eountably exchanged for prisoner; Beneyedels
himself being soon after taken prisoner. sentenced
to death, tied TO the tail or mule, 50 dragged to
the Palace Square. and there hanged. After ma
nv adventures aud much dangerous service, Mr..
Nobbs Quilted Chill, and returned to Eugland in
1929. in a vessel which had touched at Pitcairn.
The captain gave such description OF the happl-
ness of the little community, that Mr.. NObbS be-
came irresisibly impelled to 90 and settle there,
anxious only to pass the remainder OF his days IN
peace and usefulness among his fellow creatures.
Early in 1926, having then been four times round
the world, he quilted England, with the intention
of gong to Pitcairn. lie went by way Of the
Cane Of Good Hope, India. and Australia, and at
lenoth reached CallaO, in Peru, where he met the
owner of launch, who agreed To accompany him
in il 10 Pitcairn, provided Mr. NobbS would tit her
ont This was done; and these two persons-as
if emuous of the feat OF Bligh and his companions
went alone in this frail launch to Ptcairna voy-
ape of three thousand five hundred miles, which
they ACCOMPLISHED in fOrty-twO dayS-arrvng IN
November 1928. Soon after their arrival the ow-
ner died the launch was hauled ashore, and her
materials used to build house Tor Mr. NObos
Old Adams, on hearing his errand aud his mo-
tives, and doubtless beginning to be apprehenslve
for those from whom death must s0on release HIM
self, received him with kindness, and he became
a sort of schoolmaster in the island On the death
Of Adams in the March Of the ensuing year, Nj.
Nobbs continued at his post and soon succeeded
in establishing himself in the affections of the peo
pie, then only slxy-eghi IN number serving them