Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1890-12-19
A PACIFIC PARADISE.

A PACIFIC PARADISE.
In the year 1859 an Englishman
who had been a resident of New Zea-
land for ten years suddenly blossomed
out as an inspired leader of men. His
name was Benjamin Marks, and he
was anything but educated and re-
fined. His idea was to secure power
and place for himself, but he was so
good at assembling that no one mis-
trusted this until too late. BY visions,
prophecies and downright lying he in
! duced siXty-tiye people to set out with
him in search of paradise on earth.
A brig called the True Blue carried
the crowd away, and | was an appren-
tice on the brig. She had come out
from England several years before,
and had been sailing between New
Zealand and some of the islands to the
north. The day we left Poverty Bay
was ID years old, and a stout lad for
my age.
The first stop we made was at Sun
lay Island, which then had about 500
inhabitants. There was neither law,
order nor decency among them, but
Marks managed to keep this fact from
his people. From trading schooner
there he got such information as in
duced him to change the course to the
.ortheast, and we bore away for the
Paumotu group. This group takes in,
large and small, about 20OO islands,
and includes the Marquesa, Society
and Cook islands. 1t is on direct
cast and west line between Brazil and
Australia, and is from five to thirty
degrees south of the equator.
We had. six weeks sailing after
leaving Sunday Island, and there were
frequent quarrels among the elect.
Many would have returned if possible,
and had not Marks possessed a peculiar
personal magnetism the troubles would
have Teen more disastrous. One morn
ing we sighted land dead ahead, and
before noon the people had forgotten
all their differences and were happy
again. The island is down on the
newer charts as Tubai, but for many
years was known as Paradise. We
came up with it at about o'clock. and
Marks and others were rowed ashore
for visit of inspection.
The island is thirteen miles long by
seven broad, but mile or SO at either
end is low and swampy and covered
at high water. There is also large
marsh on the eastern shore. After a
day and a half spent in prospecting
Marks decided that the island would
do. 1t was finely wooded, had many
springs and creeks, and the land grad
ually rose to plateau high and dry.
Lying so near the equator, there was
scarce need of clothing, and winter
would be known only by three or four
s~>se-r.4 's.in.
1t took us about q week to discharge
cargo and get ready to sail, as some
of the sailors lent hand 10 help build
temporary shelters for the people.
When the ship had been cleared and
everything was ready for saying good
by, the captain of the brig, whose
name was Dartwood, who had been
reasonably kind to me, ordered me
into the yawl with another of the
crew to pull him ashore to deliver a
bundle which had been forgotten. !
noticed that the boat had her mast and
sail lying in her, but this fact had no
significance TO me just then. The
people had settled on the rising
ground, a mile from the landing, and
as we reached the shore / was instruct
ed to carry the bundle to the settlement.
| started off very briskly, and in the
course of twenty minutes placed the
bundle in Marks hands. No sooner
had turned TO so than / was rough
ly seized, thrown, and my ankles and
hands securely lashed. Upon demand
ing an explanation, Marks replied:
al gave the Captain IS for you, and
you belong to me. 1t is no use to
raise a row. If you behave yourself
YOU shall be well treated; if not, you
will get badly handled"
at once proceeded to raise a row
with my voice, reviling the whole
band after fo'castle fashion, but they
turned to and beat me until | was
forced to cry for mercy.
The only object Marks could have
had in buying me was to make me his
slave and drudge. The Captain did
actually sell me for rs note, as al
legged, and in after years, when | got
him into court in Wellington, it cost
him F5OO IN settle matters. A fter he
ing licked into silence, realized that
my best way was to endure what l
could not cure. The brig had gone,
and if | did not take hold with some
show of spirit Marks would make lie
uncomfortable. l expressed sorrow at
my conduct, promised to do better,
and was united and put to work.