Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1853-09-07


The account of "Pitcairn's Island' was almost
too marvellous for belief, but we have just met a
description given by Capt Gibson--whose won.
Iderful escape from dungeon in the island of ya-
va we published lately-of the very curious island
Of Tristan d'Acunho, a mere rock in the Southern
Ocean. Capt G.-says: "a. lEt
The island is situated about midway between
the Cape of Good Hope and Caps Horn. In the
year 1911, the British frigate Pandora struck on a
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, preparatory getting the ship
off the rocks, took advantage of the confusion at
tendant thereon, and secreted himself on the is
land, and the ship sailed without him. Glass re-
maned here three years, subsisting, in the mean
time, on the feshofgo which here abound, and
also on shell-fsh and roots. By the expiration of
this time he had succeeded in constructinga boat
from drift timber and other materials, and proceed.
ed with cargo of goat skins to the Cape of Good
Hope, some 1000 miles distant. The time which
he selected for his departure in this frail craft
during the prevalence o the westerly Winds He
accomplished his perilous voyage in safety.
After short residence at Cape Town, he mar
ried the widow of a soldier who had died at the
Cape; and with his wife and negro man returned
to his solitary island again. taking with him vari.
Gus implements, seeds, arms, and ammunition, to-
gether with other necessaries, which were liberal.
ly furnished him by the merchants of Cape Town.
Here the good couple carried out the injunction of
"increase and multiply" 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 old man,c In compliance
with law that he had made that "ro son-in-law
of his should leave the island," settled down, and
proved as prolific as did the original couple, SO
that the population now amounts to eighty-four
children, grand-chldren and great-grand-child-
rem. The old Patriarch, Glass, is now 80 years
of age and as hale and strong youth of 90; In
deed, he says he means to live for so years longer
and, SO far aspersonal appearance would warrant
the judgment, he will keep his word.
A remarkable fact should here be mentioned,
that since the island has first been settled by Glass;
death has never visited one of its inhabitants 7'
The amount of land at present available for.
cultivation on the island is mereastrip of about
$50 acres, which is entirely devoted to the cult.
vation of potatoes and other esculents. Bot, as
The spade sused, and every attention paid to en-
rching the land it is even now capable Of furnish
ing support to about 5000 persons; and their is no
doubt that in the course of a few years large
tracts of other land on the side of the mountain
will be brought in productive state. esN
The island is an extinct volcano, rising almost
l 100 feet above the level of the sea. TIE edges
Of the crater of this volcanic mountain are eter.
nally covered with snow. Within the crater Is a
lake of pure fresh water, about one
third of mile in diameter. This lake is fed by
the melted SHOWS, and it overfows in several tor
rents and cascades down the sides Of the noun
tain, supplying the inhabitants of the island and
ships which sometimes touch there, with excel.
lent water. The lake sometimes abounds with
very peculiar kind of fish, of excellent flavor, and
otally unlike any other species found in the sur
rounding ocean, that their origin is an interest
ing subject for the investigation of the ichthyolo~
gist. aVs
Capt Gibson staid at this island for three days
and only left it and its interesting inhabitants
sooner than he wished from compulsion, as dan.
gerous storm was brewing, and the coast afforded
no safe anchorage. The grand-daughters Of old
Glass described as remarkable for their health
md beauty, and it would not be strange If many
more adventurous Yankees should be inclined to.
settle there and marry into this patrarchal frater-
lity. The women are equally expert with the
nen in the rifle, fishing rod, and oar, and find no
difficulty in finding husbands, for whom they make
excellent wives. With the men Of the original
stock, however, the case is different, as women
Ire not in the habit of going"a whaling; there
ore no women come to the island. We are in
ormed that there are now about nineteen young
nen who would feel under great obligations to
ome charitable Mrs. Farnham. So. =. s-f.r, ,-...
One of the young men took his fathers boat
ind with two of his cousins proceeded TO the.
coast of Africa, and made bold to introduce him.
elf to an interesting young Caffre woman, who,
lot being affected with any of the punctilious Of
civilized life, readily accompanied him home. By
Ter he has three interesting children, and she
makes him an excellent wife. She is described
IS of bright brown complexion, thin Tipped, with
inc straight nose. most interesting cast of counte-
lance, and slender, agile figure. She has resdi-
y acquired the English language, and speaks it
With remarkable fiuency. .... f..s,r ..,,,..
COULDN'T Do 1T.-The Cleveland HeraIds tells
he following. Of course it's true; r.l asi
"Recently, upon the cars running out Of Cieve-
and, lady was peddling tracts, playing female
n The tract which eroroa.aJ L..