The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1881-08-05
THE srORY OF THE PITCAIRN
shSAANDKRs.

THE sroRY OF THE PITCAIRN
ISLANDERS. ~-.--.
Qaesn Vietoria has presented them
with . fine organ. Admiral Robinson.
ef II n Opal. having been cennis-
stoned 70 transpo't It TO the lone island
from San Frsncisc,. Meanwhile, some
Of the good San FranciseAss, lsarninR
the ships destination, sent TO the Pit
cairnerS vsrioas presents on their own
account The ship arrived ct night
and ths lAnding was difficult on account
Of the surf and the shst Ks. and the slop-
ing banks made slippery By . recent
rain. But wading out to tn. boat
throagb the breakers. the sturdy ISL
anders bore the royal gift on their
shoulders TO the church, where the
whole population had assembled. Very
properly, God Sase the Queen was
the first tune sung. and probably it was
never rendered more heartily than by
these her simple but loyal SUBJECTS in
the tar off Pacific. Hymns and anthems
followed, and to late hour the music
Of the new organ mingled With the surf
roar OF the many sounding SEA- !" =
But who are the .Pitcairners,' and
where ia their island home. and whence
learned they the song Of sslvstions In
the year 1879. in mid-ocean, near Ts-
hiii. the crew Of the English ship
Bounty raised . mutiny against their
tyrsnnical oaptain aud bis mate. They
piAosd thsss officers and the few sailors
who were loyal to them in an oi~li boat
and set them adrift, aud iro., tnHs time
they were never heard from The mu-
tineers. finally reduced to eleven by de,
sertions at Tahiti. out at the same time
reinforced by several nstivss. come Of
whom were women. landed on solitary
island in eastern Poly nssia. early in the
year 1880. This island, but nine miles
In ciroumferencs. had been discovered
by Captain Cook, and WAS known as
Pitcairn Island. Putting into little
bay on the northern side. the mutineers
dismantled the ship. aud Carried ashore
ell stores and all available material
taken from the vessel itself. and then
burned the hulk to the waters edge, to
prevent its leading TO their detection.
Probably more wicked and despe-
rate company was never known than
these people. Within Ave or six years
their leader and oil OF bis comrades,
except one. had died. mostly by violent
deaths. growing out OF their jealousies
aud quarrels. Most of the native men
also had perished. leaving q colony com.
posed almost wholly of women and
youth Of both sexes, and small children.
With these, however. one OF the orig
inal aailors was left. And be not only
changed his mama. but he experienced
. wonderful. change Of character. From
having been criminal with the rest.
he became sn earnest Christian, and
when he saw himself left alone. with
this new generation all looking 10 him
for instructiou, he seemed to rise with
the responsibilities laid upon him. He
became their teacher. preacher. guide,
and fosterfather. In addition to his
own children. Of whom he had several.
be adopted many Of the sons and daugh-
tiers Of his former comrades.
Having Bibles and some degree of
religious knowledge. he trained up
these young pecple,iBs so exemplary .
msnnsr tLst vhsn sftsrward thsir lid.
ing place vas discovered, they constit-
tinted ~ virtuous and trulv religious a
commuuity a. oould be found anywhere
in Rnyland. For twenty wears the
Rr,tisS pub,ie had known nothing OF
the fate Of the ship Bounty and its
| mutineers. but in lsOS An American
sh;n captain discovered the Pitcairn
Islsnd oaIony. and revos..d il 20 the
Rritish Govsroment Iulsl& an Eng.
li.h vessel visited the place. and found
John Adam. formerly Alexsnder Smith,
still sliy,. snd enioyine ehe rssuect OF
,he whole colony. ~ l T9Fs3'
Othsr Enslssk vee,ols visited the irl-
and snbseo onentlv. and ali gave favor
shls sooouats of u chsrsctef Of tbs
r.onle.
A degree OF snthuiissm sprsur up in
Enelard eoncsruiux shis strssee mis-
sionary colony, Rrsster perhaps thar
any community which has been hones