The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1872-07-05

quakes, pulverized by frosts, lashed
by fierce tempests.
It's mountains are only of moderate
height, but are capped eternslly with
snow.
Its vegetation is limited to a few
dwarfish plants, including some
MOSES, 3 species of lichen, coarse
grass, n plant resembling small
cabbage, and sort of cress.
Its winds are raw and piercing, its
summers cold and frosty, its waters
those OF the Polar Circle.
The interior of the island is occu
pied by immense boggy swamps
where the ground sinks at every step.
The rains in DISSOLUTION are almost
incessant, in their season, and the ISL
and is accordingly veined with nu-
merous 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 is one Of almost constant snow.
The fogs of that ghastly region are
well worthy of the rains, beng of a
cloud-like density, and lowering
almost continually over the whole
face of the island.
The sun of DISSOLUTION is usually
hidden by canopy of lead-colored
clouds, and appears, On the rare oc-
casion when it is visible, scarcely
brighter than the moon in other lati-
tudes. AS to the moon itself, and the
stars, the clouds and the fogs rarely
permit them to betray their exis-
tence.
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
DISSOLUTION has done something to re-
pair the stsrility 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 is known, has ever lived there, save
as is now 10 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 Chil-
ders drew near to the island of Desc
luton, shaping her course toward its
northernmost bay, called by Captain
Cook Christmas Hsrbor.
a fair breeze was blowing from the
north, and the ship was carrying
every stitch Of her canvas, including
studding-sails.
Her crew-both watches-were
busy about the deck, and her pas
sengers-a score in number-had
gathered in groups, mostly forward,
and were gazing with great interest
upon the wild, rugged shores before
them, so far as the fog suspended up
on 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 squall
ten days previously, and every soul
aboard OF her having been since that
date upon short allowance.
Upon the quarterback stood Capt.
Luke Pedder, looking unusually hap
py, with Will. Hawley beside him.
81 mean to get our water aboard
before dark, Captain Pedder, and 30
avoid losing 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
only in the New York Ledger,
which is now ready for sale at all the
book stores and news-depots. Ask
for the number dated July 13, and
in it you will get the continuation of
the story from the place where it
leaves off here.