Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-08-01

A more terrific solitude than thus isle OF Desc
lation does not exist upon our wrecked planet.
Neither the SHOWS OF Himalaya nor the sands
OF Sahara can outvie It's terrors.
No lDhabitant is there not even savsge-no
house, no tree, bo shrub, no fence nor road, no
field nor garden, no horse, no dog-not even
snake or wolf.
Lone, blasted and barren, it looks like the
skeleton Of land that has perished.
It may indeed be that Desoiation is the relic
the surviving fragment-of continent that
went down here ages ago, with hosts OF lnhaDl-
tants, in some vast conyulsion OF nature.
1t has certainly undergone dreadful vista
tions been rent by earthquakes, pulver1zed oy
frosts, lashed and wasted by fierce tempests;
It's mountains are only OF moderate height,
but are capped eternally with snow. ,-a.,
It's vegetation is limited to a few dwarnsh
plants, including some moses, species OF
ichen, coarse grass, q plant resembling q
small cabbage, and sort Of cress.
It's winds are raw and piercing, 1t summers
cold and frosty, its winters those OF the Polar
Circles.
The interior Of the island is occupied by i'm
mense boggy swamps, where the ground sinks
at every step.
The rains in Desolation are almost incessant,
in their season, and the island is accordingly
veined with numerous 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 CHASTITY region are well
worthy of the rains, being OF q cloud-llke den
sty 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, scarce
ly 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
ensteuce.
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 sterilty OF
the island.
Peguins, ducks, gulls, cormorants and other
marine birds are plentiful in some OF It's har-
bors.
Seals also abound.
Strange and terrible land!
Not single human being, 80 far as is known,
has ever lived there, save as IL. now to be re-
corded 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 Ctilders
drew near to the island OF Desolatlon, Shaping
her course toward its northernmost bay, called
by Captain Cook, Christmas Harbor.
A fair breeze was blowing from the North,
and the ship was carrying every stltch OF her
canvas, including stud1ing-saIls.
Der crew-both watches were busy about
the deck, and her passengers-a score in num-
ber-had gathered in groups, mostly forward,
and were gazing with great interest upon the
wild. rugged shores before them, 80 far as the
fog suspended upon those shores permitted
! them to become visible.
The ship had come here for water, nearly all
her water casks having been slove or started
during squall ten davs previously, and every
| soul aboard OF her having been since that date
upon short allowance.
| Upon the quarterback stood Capt. Luke
Pedder, looking unusually happy, with Will
Hawley beside him.
"I mean to get our water aboard before
dark, Captain Pedder, and 80 AVOID losing a
night here" said the young executive, totally
| unconscious Of the plot to leave him alone or
the desolate island, and Of the extraordinary
adventures which wereE before him. The
strange events that happened there, and indeed
the whole of this thrilling story, will be founc
only in the New York Ledger, which is nov
ready and for sale at all the bookstores ant
news-depots Ask for the number dated Jal!
13, and In it you will get the continuation OF thu
| story from tie place where it leaves of here.