Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-20
CAPTAIN GIBSON.


When, in May last, at the instance of friend
who had not long before returned from residence in
Southern Asia, we brought to the notice Of the pub
lie the unjust and protracted imprisonment Of our
countryman, WALTER M. GIBSON, by the Dutch
authorities OF Java we had little idea that we should
so soon hear OF his escape from his dungeon, and
still less that we should in the course of three
months have the pleasure of seeing and conversing
with him, as we have had during the last two days.
Capt. q. arrived in Washington on Friday to lay
his injuries before our Government We find him
highly intelligent, and one of the most gentlemanly
persons In presence and manners that we have seen
in any walk of life. From his extensive know
ledge OF the great islands of Southern Asia, Suma-
ira, Java &C., and those of other seas his CONVEX
sation Is highly interesting. We find in New
York paper the annexed account, which Captain G..
has given of the very curious island of Tristan
a. Acaaha, mere rock in the great Southern ocean,
which Capt Z. visited in the course of his voyage
The peculiar history of the settlement of this iso-
lated rock has obtained for it the name of another
Ptcairn's Island" Capt G. says:
This island is situated about midway between the
Cape OF Good Hope and Cape Horn. In the year 1911
the British rgate Pandora struck on ledge of rocks
near this island on her return home from Bengal laden
with troops One of their number Sergeant Glass; while
the troops we're being landed preparatory getting the
ship Oh the rocks took advantage of the confusion atten
dant thereof and secreted himself the island and the
ship sailed without him. Glass remained here three
years. subsstng in the time the flesh of goats
which here abound and also shellfsh and BY
the expiration OF this time he had succeeded in construct
ing o. boat from drift timber and other materials and
proceeded with cargo Of goat skins the Cape of Good
Hope, some 900 miles distant. The time which he
selected for hisdeparture in this fra craft during
the prevalence Of the westerly winds. He accomplished
his perous voyage in safety.
After short residence at Cape Town he married the
widow of soldir who had died at the Cape and with
his wife and negro returned to his solitary island
again. taking with him various implements, Seeds arms
and ammunition together with other necessaries which
literally furnished him by the merchants Of Cape
Town. Here the good couple carried out the injunction
of increase ndImultipy" The result of their mar
rage daughters, who in the of time,
married to men from American whaers who occa-
sonally touched at the island These sons-inaw of the
old man, in compliance with law that he had made that
" no son-in-law his should leave the island, settled
down. and proved prolific did the original couple
that the population amounts to eightyfour children
grandchildren aad greatgrand children. The old Pa
rarch Glass; is 81 years Of age, and hale and
strong youth 90 indeed, he says he to live
for 80 years longer and far personal appearance
would warrant the judgment, he will keep his word
remarkable fact should here be mentioned that since
the island has first been settled by Glass death has
visited one of its inhabitants,
The amount of land at present available for cultiva-
ton the island is strip of about $50 acres,
which is entirely devoted to the cultivation of potatoes
other But spade and
attention paid to enriching the land it capa
BILE of furnishing support to about 500 persons and
there is doubt but that in the of few years
large other land the side of the mountain will
be broughttnto productive state.
The island is extinct volcano, rising almost 100
feet above the level Of the The edges of the crater
of this volcanic mountain eernay covered with
Within the crater is magnificent lake Of pure fresh
water, about onethird of mile in diameter. This lake
is fed by the melted SHOWS and it oyerfows in several
torrents and cascades down the sides of the mountain
supplying the inhabitants of the island and ships which
sometimes ouch there with excellent water The lake
sometimes abounds with very peculiar kind of fish, of
excellent favor, and totally unlike any other species
found in the surrounding ocean, that their origin is
interesting subject for the investigation OF the ichthy-
ologist
Capt Gibson stad at this island for three days. and
only left it and its interesting inhabitants sooner than
he wished from compulson, dangerous storm was
brewing, and the afforded safe anchorage The
granddaughters of old Glass described remarkable
for their health and beauty and would not be strange
if many adventurous Yankees should be inclined to
settle there and marry into this patrarchal fraternity
The women equally expert with the in the use
OF the rifle fishing rod, and CAR and find difficulty in
obtaining husbands for whom they make excellent wives
With the Of the original stock however, the
different, as women not in the habit Of going ga
whaling; therefore no women come to the island. w
informed that there now about nineteen youn
men who would feel under great obligations to SOM
charitable Mrs. Farnham.
One of the young took his fathers boat and with
two Of his cousins proceeded the coast of Africa
made bold to introduce himself to an interesting young
Care woman who, not being affected with any of the
punctios Of civilized fe readily accompanied him home
BY her he has three interesting children and she makes
him excellent wife. She is described of bright
brown complexion thin-lipped with f straight nose,
most interesting cast of countenance and slender agile
figure She has readily acquired the English language,
and speaks IL with remarkable fuency.
APPALLING srArIsrrcs-The New York papers are
nubebn tho statistics of railroad accidents during the