River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-11-20
From Chambers journal.
TWO GERMAN CRUS0ES.

Ill lut Alldublc, hDDuJ DlluWhY ne
tween the coast Of South America and
the Cape of Good Hope, in 36 degrees
6 south latitude, lies the island of Iris
tan da Cunha, with two lesser islands in
its neighborhood. The Challenger, II.
NJ. ship, commanded by Captain Mares,
now on scientific expedition, reached
Tristan ia Cunha late at night, on the
l4th of October, 1879. Next morning
a landing was effected, and the
island, whic1is nineteen or twenty miles
IN circumference, was found to have =
settlement of eighty souls i'll all. The
history of this little colony is curious
In 1916 IA company of British artillery
was stationed ON the island, with view
to keep watch ON Napoleon Bonaparte,
then in captivity at st. Helena. 1t
seems almost ridiculous To have taken
this precaution, for st. Helena is about
thirteen hundred IN les distant, and one
would think the gut I'd could have been
Of no avail. Perhaps it was thought
that in the various mad schemes to res
cue Napoleon, Tristan da Cunha might
have been made base of operations
When the illustrious captive died in
1921, the British soldiers were with
drawn, leaving only Corporal of the
name of Glass. with one or two com
panions, to take charge of the small fort
that had been erected.
From his name, we should suppose
that Glass was a Scotchman. At all
events, he cleverly adapted himself to
his position. The land being fertile, he
set to work cultivating potatoes. cab
bages, and other vegetables, bred goats
and pigs, and made business of sell
ing these vegetables and animal pro-
ducts to captains of ships who, in pass
ing, stood in need of fresh provisions.
Known as Governor Glass, he became n
man of note in the South Atlantic.
The settlement over which he bore sway
throve apace. In 1899 it amounted to
twenty seven persons-seven men, six
and fourteen children. They
had three hundred acres of land i'm til
lage, and extensive pastures, with sew
enty head of cattle, a hundred sheep,
and innumerable goats, pigs and poultry
soa thriving concern, though a little
-htary. In due course, Governor
Glass died, but 1.-THE settlement continued,
and still continues, presenting one of
the many examples of the success at
tending English colonization, ON how
ever small and unassisted a scale.
Since the decease of Glass there has
been no recognized chief. The oldest
man nj present, Peter Green, is at the
head of affairs. When ships touch at
tba leland Dafor N ofs % enolrao,na,, a,,I
salesman. There are now more stock
in trade to work upon than in earlier
times, for the cattle have increased to
six hundred, and there is an equal mum
Der of sheep. As ships can generally
exchange quantities of teas, sugar,
flour, and other articles, for produce of
the island, pretty brisk trade in the
way of barter is carried ON. The island
ers also have some commercial negotia.
tons with the Cape Of Good Hope,
where they find market for their wool.
II was at this thriving little settle.
ment, rs had been said, that the Chal-
lenger arrived in the course of its cruise.
The account of what was seen and
learned on the occasion, has been given
by Captain Davis in the Geographical
Magazine august, 1879, and is SO in
teresting, as regards the rescue of two
Germans, named Stoltcnhufi, from one
of the islands of the group, that we feel
pleasure in condensing IL for the benefit
of our readers.
In 1870, the younger of the two Ger
maus, q tailor, had been wrecked. and
with some companions was treated hos.
pitably at Tristan da Cunah. Taken
off by u ship, he was brought 10 Europe;
but finding his family ruined 10y the
war, he determined 10 return, bringing
his elderly brother with him. The two
brothers accordingly carried ont their
resolution Of trying 10 reach and settle
in the small English colony.
Z" At st. Helena, proceeds the nara.
tive "they expended their little stock
of money ON an outfit suited b. their
life, and among other necessaries be-
came the owners of an old whale-boat,
the best they could get for the money at
their disposal. and in November. 1871,
embarked with all their treasures for
Tristan lie Cunha. in the American
whaler. Fava. Captain Mander On the
passage, the captain. for some unex.
plainable reason. worked so strongly on
the minds of his passengers as to per.
suade them "a land on Inaccessible Is
land. instead Of the one they were
hound Ia Captain Mnndpr described