The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-06-21
TRISTAN ISLAND.
FACT AND ROMANCE OF THE MOST UN-
KNOWN SPOT OF EARTH.


Thirteen hundred miles south of st. !
Helena, aud fifteen hundred miles west of I
the Cape of Good Hope, and nearly on a
line between the Cape of Good Hope and
Cape Horn, lies Tristan De Cunha, or
Trisdiau D'Acunha, a cluster of three
volcanic islands, the largest of which gives
the name to the group. The other two are
the Inaccessible Island and the Nightiu-
gale Island. The group received its name
from a Portuguese navigator, who discover
ed it in 1906. inaccessible Island lies
about eighteen miles southwest from
Tristan, and Nightingale Island twenty
miles south. The largest Island is the on
ly one permanently Inhabited and is prob
ably the most isolated and remote Of all
the abodes of men. 1t is nearly circular,
and contains about forty square miles.
On the NORTH side it rises abruptly to an
elevation of about a Thousand feet, and
from the summit Of the cliffs the land rises
te a conical peak, 1926 feet high. The
surface consists of abrupt ridges covered
with bushes, with deep raviues and chasms
between. The Summit IS a crater five
hundred yards wide, aud filled with water.
On the northwest side of the island is
narrow plaia, some hundred and fifty feet
above the level Of the sea, with excellent
soil aud iu high state of cultivation.
Here lives the famous Glass colony.
There had been residents Gu the island
off and on at various times, beginning IN
/ 1898 when Capt. Patten, from Philadel-
| phia, settled there for six months. When
| Napoleon was confinrd at St. HeleEa in
1917 the British took possession OF the
| island, and maintained guard there
/ The next year the guard was Withdrawn,
/ but a corporal of artillery, by the name of
( Glass. with his wife and two soldiers who
were induced TO join him were allowed TO
~ fI.n fSl0
! beeu constantly inhabited. In 1923 the
] little settlement uumbered seventeen per
| sons of whom three were women. DIX
! wears later Capt. Morrell visited the island
| in the L. S. ship Antarctic, aud the colony
! comprised then twenty seven families, ana
they were able to supply passing SHIPS WIN
! bullocks, cows. sheep aud pigs ana lesh
| vegetables and milk in any quantity, III
| 1896 there was population OF torty Two
ON the island, and in 1852 Capt. Denham
| visited the group of islands and tristan
! nonulation then mum bered eighty 1Ve. ne
| described 'the young men and young wo-
/ men as partakiug of the mulatto caste,
wives of the first settlers being natives OF
Cane of Good Hope and St. Helena JuC 'ne 9
! children of the second generation ne wouiu
term handsome bruuettes, OF sGrikihgiy
fine figure" Before Capt Denham' visit
the great majority of the population had
been males. but as time vent on, ana a
new generation sprang up, the young men
in the adventurous spirit of life found theiI
island home qnet, and they had departeu'
seeking more stirring occupation eiSe
where. Accordingly, in 1852, the woman
were considerably in the MAJORITY
Glass has long held the title oil governor
He was a Scotchman, and seems 10 nave
been man of sound principle, OF Rrea
energy and industry, and to have acqufeu
i'm a remarkable degree the c"nhdeEce
the little community. Their minister, N!r
Taylor. wrote an account OF the llttIe soc,e
ty. which was published in lS5O. he spok'
in the highest terms of the morai c''ai ho
ter of his flock, going so far as 10 say 1nS S
Le conId find no vice to contend WIN
They had no formal governments ana
!. thew had no rum, government was les
raeGed Whatever disputes they na'
$ we're settled by fisticuffs, with by-stander
nrasent TO secure fair play. Gov. Glas
]. | died in 1873. the year after Capt. Denham
! visit and was succeeded by sort OF tac'
: consent, by Green who had martie0 Vn
+ Glass daughters. la lSoI' tue Cuinto,
: Edinburg visited Tristan, III Tue a1 ~
n and in honor Of his royal hIgunoes' hg|.s -, -
h chief settlement was named: Sixteen -, ,
. dren had been born since the oeP ~. 's =,
Mr.. Taylor, aud the colony lnsOeSu -
ing out. as Mr.. Taylor feared h"t Hsaa '"Ne,
e new start, the population having i"0,
!. from forty seven to elghty ySsA' I
seems to be about the norman hgure,
? $40. the island had a populalloh % s'A,
u of which thirty-fve were chllureu ""O'
i | ten years of age. Cu.I1anosr