Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-09-15


Harriu2 ton on One of the :" Undts-
covered" Galapagos.
From the New York Sun.l
John Ross, a veteran seaman, who is
lodging at the Frankfort House, says
that he sailed from Liverpool in June,
1858. in the schooner Belle Hope. 1t
was represented to him that the craft on
which he signed articles was going out
as a tender to a whaling ship, which
would be found awaiting their arrival at
Honolulu. On reaching Honolulu the
ship they expected to meet had sailed,
bBt not without leaving instructions in
what latitude she could be found, and
ordered the tender to proceed at once to
the rendezvous.
After adding to their stock of provis-
ions, and making some necessary repairs,
they bore away for the South Pacific.
When they reached the place appointed
for meeting the ship, nothing could be
seen of her, and the captain, after cruis-
ing about for several days, concluded to
return to Honolulu. When but few
! leaguea ON their return voyage one of
the compasses was found entirely out OF
order and the other worked very inaccu-
rately. Thus they were reduced to as
Economical observations, and being over
taken by storm, they we're wrecked on
an unknown shore. The captain, Ross,
and three of the crew, reaciSd land.
The others, seven in number, were
drowned. The rest of the narrator S
story had perhaps better be related in
his own words. He says;
When we got on shore things looked
pretty blue. We were almost naked, and
we hadn't saved single thing from the
wreck. However, the land appeared to
be exceedingly fertile, and we saw, as
soon as sa we're able so walk any dis
tance from the tcgt, that there were
tropical fruits in abundance, and CO.
piops supply of fresh water. Aith0agh
we were nearly worn down by hard work
ON the vessel daring the days Of storm
we had passed Through, still we soon
began to pick up, but
THE CAPTAIN DIED ON THE FIRST NIGAT
on shore. He had been sick for some
time and the shock of being wrecked
proved too 4gab for him. The rest of
us were as strong and hearty as ever in
four or five days We didn't assg any
clothes, for the weather was warm and
pleasant, Before exploring the inferior,
we scratched 9sF names upon piece OF
bark. adding that we we're wrecked
sailors, and putting down when We vSplG
be back. This memorandum we left by
our flagstaff, so thar it might be seen
should any one come on shore,
We left early in the morning, expect
ing to be gone two days. We had no
fear of being lost, as the country was
open, apd we could easily determine the
course we weEe travelling by prominent
landmarks. We did n1t Gee any sign of
human work until the close Of tae first
day. when, to our astonishment, we came
out OF ths goods into beautifully cul-
tivated field of tobEeeo, Everything so
closely resembled what ! had seen in
Havana, that | almost imagined myself
in Cuba. At any rate, we felt confident
that we had ssthipg to fear from the
proprietor Of the land, wLleyer he might
bs, we travelled only short distence
over the Gold when we came in sight Of
a house, built sesy much like planters
residences-two stories high, with fat
roof and wide verand=h. Our Joy hsEdly
knew bounds as we approached the
dwelling, and saw several people en-
gagged in different occupations about the
premises. When we arrived at the
house we were met by the owner, who
received us kindly and listened atten-
lively to our story. We found him
.t- AN AMERICAN GENTLEMAN,
who, from long residence in the tropics,
had grown to look very much like a Mex
lean. The negro servants gave ps food
and clothing. We then naturally began
to inquire where we were, and in what
part Of the world we bad been cast away
I'VE asked our host few questions con-
cerning our whereabouts, but were SUP
prised to find him uncommunicauve. At
last he said that our case would be made
known to the authorities, and that we
should know before noon the next day
what they would do with us. We began
to think we had got into strange coun-
try, and we hardly knew what 10 make
Of it. We we're given beds in the house,
and on the. next morning we we're taken
to a town about five miles distant. There
we're not many houses in the place, and
the majority Of them seemed to be used
for public business. We saw about one
hundred people, who had undoubtedly
been informed of our arrival, for they
soon began 10 assemble near large
building which seemed 10 be used as a
town hall Here the gentleman IN whose
charge we were addressed them, telling
them our story. Amer some private con
versation between several prominent
.naunhare of the assembly We Were IN
formed that we had been wrecked on one
of the Galapagos Islands. and that We
could remain and abide by the rnles Of
THE COMMUNITY THAT OWNED THE ISLAND;
or, if we did not choose to do this, when
an opportunity afforded we should be set
upon the South American coast to shift
for ourselves. Il was also intimated to
us that VT need ask no question:; that
the longer we remained on the island the
more we would learn from our asso-
ciates.
The meeting breke up almost immedi-