Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-09-08


high ground north OF the city in pipe or conduit
under pressure without a reservoir Col Caseys
plan was to lay a 4s-inch cast-iron pipe from the
distributing reservoir to Capitol HILL and not tap
IL until IL had reached Capitol Hill.
A SEA ISLAND KING.
Colony Of Convicts Discovered by the
AlbatrOss.
AN ISLAND IN THE PACIFIC FAR FROM THE TRACK OF
TRApE-How THE PEOPLE ARE GovRRNED-AN-
OTHER CRUsoE-ALONE ON DISTANT IsLAND-How
HE LIVED.
The United States Fish Commission steamer Al
batross sailed from washington last November
for Alaska TO search out deep-sea secrets She is
now sailing down again, and making investiga-
ton OF the cod and halibut fisheries OF the Pacific
the wealth OF which has heretofore been unknown.
Prof. Lee, OF Bowdoin College, Maine who was Of
the scientific corps on board, left the steamer at
San Francisco on the way up. He shipped large
number OF specimens they had collected on the
voyage, and then came East. A STAR reporter
found him at the old armory building unpacking,
asserting, and arranging a great variety Of odd
specimens OF the fish family which had been taken
from the mysterious depths, and packed away
in jars or alcohol The AlpatrosS was on a
cruise of research and exploration. Not FASTENED
by the competition OF trade, and sailing out OF the
paths OF commerce, the scientists on board had an
strange things. or course, their main purpose was
TO learn more Of the fishes OF the sea and in this
direction their study was very successful They
lett the Norfolk navy-yard late In November. AT
the West Indies they did some fishing in hopes OF
finding the winter hauntS of the blue fish, and,
while not finding what they sought, their expert
ence was far from embarrassing. OF the cost OF
Brazil they made line OF soundings for the Hy-
geographic ONCE and then fastened around to the
and profit. Prot. Lee had many interesting things
to tell about the trip. aside from the scientific
details. Out OF the track OF commerce, near
the equator they came across "Sea Island King ~
who rules with despotic power, and at another
place discovered Robinson tTusoe.
1--WE found curious colony living far from all
detailed some OF their interesting experiences
along both coasts. 1--WE sailed out OF the regular
track and visited the Galapagos Islands. On the
largest OF these we found our colony. The island
is between six and seven hundred miles from the
mainland OF Ecuador, almost under the equator.
II IS walled in with high volcanic rocks and Is very
d1Mcult OF access.
MINIATURE KINGDOM.
Years ago there was a convict colony planted on
one OF these Islands by Ecuador, but the convicts
revOlted killed the governor and made their escape
on schooners belonging to the colony. Since then
all the Islands have been uninhabited. except the
Chatham where We landed. Behind the high
walls OF rock we found fertile country 10 high
state OF cultivation. The island was Inhabited by
about hundred and fifty people, governed by q
He made no claim to sovereignty, but his control
seems as absolute as II he were ruler OF all Russia,
and there are some Of the same dangers surround
ing him. Ills subjects are conv1cts from Ecuador.
Years ago this man, governor king, or taSkmaster,
as he may be called-waS engaged In gathering
orchilla, kind OF moss, which is very valuable in
the manufacture OF dyes. He got rich in this busi-
ness, but lost his fortune through the government
OF Ecuador. Probably upoL this claim he asked
the government for and was granted the Island OF
conditions being that he should receive convicts
sent by the government to the island; This was
now an odd little world Of their own out in the Pa
cifc cut or from the rest OF civilization by hun
dreds OF miles OF ocean. Only few times in many
schooners which are owned by the governor OF the
colony, and the Inhabitants have no means OF es-
cape. IL cannot be considered highly moral or
progressive community, though the governor him.
self Is shrewd and progressive man.
HIS SUBJECTS
are an odd and rather unprepOssessng lot Of peO-
pie. Most OF them are natives OF Ecuador, some Of
them probably half-Indian. The governor told me
that he had one fullblOoded British subject and he
curiosity with the sight Of the blacklist negro
ever saw. He spoke English and insisted that he
was an Englishman. asked where he was born,
and he said at St Helena The incident afforded
some amusement.
There was one English woman there. She was
only about twenty-five years old, with blue eyes
specimen one Is apt to run across.
The Inhabitants are about equally divided
between the sexes l could not discover
that there was any religion or that any
marriage ceremony was recognized. They
appeared to pair or in rather an tndiscriminate
fashion, and TO live free from restraint further
than such is necessary to get the proper amount
OF work out of them. They have an abundance of
food, and in that climate 1t Is not necessary to
They are Of the criminal classes OF a backward
race OF people. You can Judge from that some
thing or their character.
THE GOVERNOR
is the only one who knows anything Of the world.
He has Travelled considerably, can speak English
after fashion, and keeps up within six months of
the times In conversation he shows q pretty
clear knowledge OF affairs IN Europe and America.
He was especially interested In the political affairs
OF the old world, and had clear insight to the
motives OF friendship or hostility between the
great nations; as TO what might bring about q
European war and what It might result In. AS q
other mOnarchs OF the world. However, he does
not claim an independent Kingdom. He acknowl-
edges dependence upon Ecuador; but presume
there is no one to question his doing just as he
pleases. He executes the law In his own way, and
while do not think he Is especially tyrannIcaL
On ass
standing army for his protection. His house is
considerable Of s sSructure: occupying an emf
as we approached the island.
THE coNvIcTs.
The interior OF the island, as have said, was
fertile, but almost inaccessible on account OF the
wall OF volcanic rocks. When he first took DOS
session Of the island he put the convicts at work
to cut road through the interior from the only
place where there could be port, and had q sub
stantial house built The frst story OF the house
is In part devoted 10 storage, his dwelling being
above, but the most important feature Is the
dungeon. When we were on the island ten
prisoners Of state were confined there. Seven OF
them were cOnspirators and three were counter
letters The legal currency OF the colony Is made
Of sheet lead, with its value, the name Of the
governor and OF the island rudely stamped upon
Il, The three c0unterfeiters had undertaken TO
make some OF this for themselves ana had done it
80 well that three pieces had been passed npon the
awaited them. The other prisoners were the ring.
leaders OF conspiracy against the governors lite,
which had been discovered only short time before
we arrived. They have their FESTIVE seasons when
there is dancing, drinking and 1easting II was on
festivity that the governors life was to be taken
Nearly all the Inhabitants perhaps, were par
ty to the conspiracy, their idea being 70
take possession Of the island and to set
up q government Of their own, or to capture the
cape with the "natton's treasure" They were be-
trayed and the rngleaders captured The prison
In which they were confined was made OF wood.
bound with iron, with strong bolts and padlocks.
door night and day with drawn swordA 90 that e..
cane was impossible. We could not learn Den.
nitely what punishment awaited them; but the
governor said he could make no further use Of
them, and intimated that he would send them on
one OF the smaller and more distant islandA with
some food and few rude implements 70 aaGdsl
them in working out livelihood
| TIE OTHER mIANpG
None Of the other Islands are inhabited, butdon,
keyA horseA pigs and cattle have been ieft on
them In former yeaD BY convict colonies that
aftnrward teraa extinct and fheaa anfma N h. ~