Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-06-13

Pitcairn Island, that remote and least
visited of the inhabited South Pacific
island has lately been put in pleasant
communication with San Francisco
through the agency of some shipwrecked
sailors. who were kindly cared for by
/ its people. The romantic story of how
the little isle was peopled by the mutt
neers of the British ship Bounty ninety
years ago has been told in widely-cir-
culated, charming narratives, and this
| glimpse of the present life of the island
ers afforded by the San Francisco Balie-
tin is quite idyllic. 1t says: The reports
given by the wrecked sailors of the
/ simple honesty of the islanders, of their
purity of character and industry. awak-
ened considerable interest in them
among the merchants i'm this city. who
contributed considerable quantity of
useful articles which were sent them
by different vessels. Among the cap
tains who Were particularly interested
in helping these interesting and pecu-
liarly situated people was Captain
Scribner, OF the ship st. John, who ar
rived again at this port recently. Capt.
Scribner never fails to heave to when
passing Pitcairn island for the purpose
of leaving a few words with his isolated
friends, who in turn have in him the
only communication with the outside
world.
This people. Numbering now about
eighty-seven) are without law or money,
governed, if such a term may be used,
or. perhaps, more properly led, by Mr..
Young, who acts as their leader,
preacher, and schoolmaster, and in all
things requiring arbitration or decision
is recognized as the high tribunal.
While the goods which We're sent from
San Francisco were being packed,
twelve year old daughter of one of our
merchants, James b. Stetson, thought
she would send some articles to some
little girl of the same age. So she
packed a box containing some dolls,
pictures, fancy articles, etc., and her
photograph in letter, and directed the
box ''To any girl about twelve years of
age on the Pitcairn Island" In the
letter she gave the number of school
children, churches, inhabitants, etc, of
the city. all of which was astonishing
to the young islanders. The thing was
nearly forgotten, when quite recently,
this little girl received a package of
four letters from her Pitcairn friends.
IL appears that vessel bound for Liv-
erpoOl passed near the island. and the
letters were sent on board and by the
captain placed i'm the post office at Liver
pool, which in due time reached San
Francisco. The letters were well
written, and would compare favorably
with those of girls of the same age
among US. One was from Sarah r.
Young, aged nine years: one from
Sarah Emily Ne. Coy aged eleven years
one from Amelia Ann Mccoy. aged
nine years, The. letters coptain the
warmest expressions of gratitude that
any one i'm the great unknown world
should think of them i'm such manner.
They write that they have gathered a
box CT oranges in hope that some pass
ing vessel would stops so that they might
put it aboard TO send as a slight reward
for the Kindness. They describe their
schoOlhouse-which they use for church
purposes also,-they say they are very
proud and thankful for the organ which |
was sent them from San Francisco, and !