The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-07-03

ouakes. pulvcrizcd by irosis, iaslled
and wasted by fierce tennpests
Its mountains are only OF mod
crate height, but are capped eternaily
with snow.
Its vegetation is limited to few
dwariish plants, including some
mosses. a species of lichen, coarse
prass. plant resembling a small cab
bare. and sort of cress.
Its winds are raw and piercing. its
summers cold and frosty, its winters
those of the Polar Circles.
The interior of the island is occu-
pied by immense boggy swamps
where the ground sinks at every step.
The rains in Desolation are almost
incessant, in their season, and the is
land is accordingly yeincd with nu-
mcrous torrents of fresh water, some
of which have worn out of the solid
rock tremendous cavities and gullies.
| The only other season than that of
the rains i one of almost constant
snow.
The fogs of that ghastly region are
well worthy of the rains, being of Il
cloud-like density, aud lowering al
most continually over the whole face
of the island.
The sun of peSDlation is usually
hidden by canopy Of lcad-colored
clouds, and appears, on the rare occa-
sions when it is visible, scarcely
brighter than the moon in other lati-
tudcs. As Ia the moon itself, and
the stars, the clouds and fogs rarely
permit them to betray their existence
No fish worthy of note, not even
fishes Of prey, abound in the adjacent
waters, by reason, perhaps, of their
containing poisonous minerals, or
deadly exhalations from the volcanic
fires beneath them.
Yet the dark grim sea inclosing
DesOlation has done something TO re-
pair the steriity of the island
Penguins, ducks, gulls, c0rmorants
and other marine birds are plentiful
in some of its harbors.
Seals also abound.
Strange and terrible land
Not a single human being, SO far as
is known. has evA lived there, save
as is now to be recorded in these
pages.
Near the middle of a duh afternoon
some eleven weeks later than the date
of the preceding events, the good
ship Flying ChiIders drew near TO
the island of Desolation, shaping her
course toward its nOrthmost bay, cali
ed by Capt. Cook Christmas Harbor
4 fair breeze was blowing from the
north, and the ship was carrying every
stitch of her canvas, including stud
ing sails.
Her crcw-both watches-were
busy about the deck, and the passen-
gers-a score in number had gath
cred in groups, mostly forward, and
were gazing with great interest upon
the wild, rugged shores before them,
so far as the fog suspended upon
those shores permitted them to be
come visible.
The ship had come here for water,
nearly all her water casks having
been stove or started during the squall
ten days previously, and every soul
aboard of her having been since that
date upon short allowance.
Upon the quarter deck stood Capt.
Luke Peddler, looking unusually hap
pv, with VIII. Hawley beside him
II mean to get our water aboard
before dark, Captain Peddler, and so
avoid losing a night here said the
young executive, totally unconscious
of the plot TO leave him alone on the
desolate island, and Of the extraordi-
nary adventures which were before
him. The strange events that hap
pened there, and indeed the whole
of this thrilling story, will be found
in the New York Ledger, which is
now ready and for sale at all the
bookstores and news-depots Ask
for the number dated July 18th, and
in it YOU will get the continuation of
the. story from the place where it
leaves off