San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-23
PARADISE ISLAND.

In the year 1859 an Englishman who had
been a resident of New Zealand for ten
years suddenly blossomed out as an in
spired leader of men. His name was Ben
jamin Marks, and he was anything but
educated and refined. His idea was to Sc
cure power and place for himself, but he
was so good at assembling that no one
mistrusted this until too late BY visions.
prophecies and downright lying he induced
siXty-five 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 apprentice 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 Is years old, and stout lad for my
age.
The first stop we made was at Sunday
Island, which then had about 500 inhabit-
ants. 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 infor-
nation asinduced him to change the course
to the northeast, and we bore away for the
Paumotu group This group takes in,
large and small, about 1000 islands, and
includes the Marquesa, Society and Cook
islands. 1t is on direct east and west line
between Brazil and Australia, and is from
to 80 dogs. 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 peculiar personal mag
netism the troubles would have been more
disastrous. One morning 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 day and half spent in
prospecting Marks decided that the island
would do. 1t was finely wooded, had many
springs and creeks, and the land gradually
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 weeks of rain
1t took us about week to discharge
cargo and get ready to sail, as some of the
sailors lent hand to help build temporary
shelter 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 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 instructed 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 tc
go than | was roughly seized, thrown
down and my ankles and hands securely
lashed. Upon demanding an explanation
Marks replied
II gave the captain e5 for you, and YOU
belong to me. 1t is no use to raise row.
If you behave yourself you shall be well
died"
/ 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 l 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 81 note, as alleged, and in after years
when / got him into court in Wellington
it cost him $500 to settle matters. After
being licked into silence realized that my
best way was to endure what / could not
cure. The brig had gone, and if did not
take hold with some show of spirit Marks
would make life uncomfortable. / expressed
sorrow ut my conduct, promised to do bet
ter, and was united and put to work
All the houses were to be erected on one
line, facing the south. That of Marks had
already been begun. 1t was the summer
season there, and one could lie out at night
without the least ipIN,n t,scS ,. \ certain
number were to work at the houses while
Others cleared land and planted crops, and
even theNhildren years old had tasks al
lotted them. While all were busy no one
had time for regrets, and 1 think it was
fully six weeks before | received hint
that all was not satisfactory. Every hut
was now completed and the crops planted,
but the people had come to see that they
were simply to make an easy living. They
had no use for manners, dress, education
or money. While they had no taxes to pay
or laws to Cypress them, they had no deeds
to the lahd and whatever Marks said must
be obeyed. He did not take on autocratic
power. until all necessary work had been
accomplished. Then he proceeded to show
himself in his true spirit. He was to be