Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-07-05

cut In two by couple of large bays but
these two divisions are unequal in size, the
northern peninsula being much larger than
the southern.
It's c6ast line is wildly broken and Jagged,
It's ihnumetable CULTS being long and narrow,
and Its promontories are correspondingly
sharp and slender, reaching out into the
oceah like fingers.
Tie body Of the island indeed resembles
that Of some huge monster Of the antedilu-
vian world, even as its capes and headlands
resemble such monsters unsightly limbs
and claws.
A more terrific solitude than this isle Of
Desolation does hot exist upon Dur wrecked
p1dnet,
Neither the SHOWS Of Himalaya nor the
sands of Sahara can outvie its terrors.
No inhabitant is there, not even savage
no house, no tree, no shrub, no fence nor
road no field nor garden, no horse, no dog
not even snake or q wolf
Lone, blasted and barren, IL looks like the
skeleton of a land that has perished.
It may indeed be that Desolation is the
relc-the surviving fragment-of acontlnent
that went down here countless ages ago,
with hosts Of inhabitants, in some vast con-
yulsion of nature.
1t has certainly undergone dreadful vista
tions been rent by earthquakes, pulverized
by frost, lashed and wasted by fierce tenn
pests,
but are capped eternally with snow.
It's vegetation Is limited to a few dwarfish
plants, including some MOSES, species of
liehen, coarse grass, plant resembling a
small cabbage, and sort of cress
1t winds are raw and piercing, its summers
cold and frosty, its winters those Of the Polar
Circles.
The interior of the island is occupied by
immense boggy swamps, where the ground
sinks ct every step,
The rains in Desolation are almost inees-
SAINT, In their season, and the island is ac-
| cordingly veined with numerous torrents of
fresh water, some Of which have worn out of
the solid rock tremendous cavities and gull
lies. The only other season than that of the
rains is one Of almost constant snow.
The fogs of that ghastly region are well
worthy of the rains, being of q cloud-like
density, and lowering almost continually
over the whole face Of the island.
The sun of Desolation is usually hidden by
a canopy of lead -colored clouds, and appears,
on the rare occasions when it is visible,
scarcely brighter than the moon in other
latitudes. AS to 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 rea-
son, perhaps, of their containing poisonous
minerals, or deadly eXhalations from the vol
canic fires beneath them.
Yet the dark grim sea inclosing Desolation
has done something to repair the sterility OF
the island.
Penguins, ducks, gulls, cormorants and
other marine birds are plentiful in some Of
| its harbors.
Seals also abound.
Strange and terrible land
Not single human being, so far as il
known, has ever lived there, save as is now
to be recorded in these pages.
Near the middle of dull, dismal afternoon
some eleven weeks later than the date of the
preceding events, the good ship Flying Chl
| ders drew near to the island of Desolation
shaDing her course toward its northernmost
bay, called by Captain Cook Christmas Har
! Dor.
A fair breeze was blowing from the north
and the ship was carrying every stitch Of hel
canvas, including studdng-sails.
Her crew-both watches-were busy about
| the deck, and her passengcrs-a score in mum
ber-had gathered in groups, mostly for
ward, and were gazing with great interest
| upon the wild, rugged shores before them
so far as the fog suspended upon thost
shores permitted them to become visible.
The ship had come here for water, nearly
all her water casks having been stove o.
started during a squall ten days previously
and every soul aboard of her having beer
| since that date upon short allowance.
| Upon the quarterback stood Capt. LUX,
Pedder, looking unusually happy, with viii
Hawley beside him.
81 mean to get our water aboard befor,
dark, Captain Pedder, and so avoid losing
night here" said the young executive, total,
unconscious of the plot to leave him aloni
on the desolate island and of the extraor
| dinary adventures which were before him
The strange events that happened there, an,
indeed the whole of this thrilling story, will
! be found only in the New York Ledger, whicl
| is now ready and for sale at all the book
stores and news-depots. Ask for the mum
bGr dated July 13, and in it you will get tn
continuation Of the story from the plac
where 1t leaves off here.