The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-09
AN OCEANIC HIrCHING-Posr.
Romantic History from Pitcairn Island and
the People Who Live There.


the People Who Live There.
San Francisco Chronicle.
The latest news from Pitcairn island
comes to the world by the ship British
India, which stopped there on her way
from Sanaxang to Puget sounds and which
has Just arrived at Seattle. This dot IN
the Pacific. which has history almost as
i.iand now 1sS SUPPORTS
population of1S5. Pitcairn is about three
members OF the POlynesian Archipelago, it
has no coral reef. but rises abruptly from
the depths. with steep and rugged cliffs of
dark hasaItIc lava. Vegetation is luxuri
ant. and the wavy forest can be seen dis
tinctly by vessel far ct sea.
The island was unlnhabited when dis
covered by Carteret in 1867, though the
presence of stone axes. sculptured stone
pillars, and also skeletons. indicated previ-
Gus occupation. In April. 1889. @ mutiny
broke out on the Bounty, then carrying
young bread-fruit trees from Tahiti to the
West Indies. The mutineers set the officers
adrift III boat, and took the Bounty first
to Tahiti. Then nine of the mutt
twelve Polynesian women. sailed to
Pitcairn and burned their vessel. They
turned the beautiful island INTO n hell of
treachery, drunkenness and madness. By
$500 all the men were dead except one. who
succeeded in training up the new geuera-
ton to more of virtue than the fathers had
possessed. At intervals of ten and fifteen
years vessels would touch at the place. and
ind the strange little colony, whose men,
bers had scarcely any know led &c of the out
side world. In 1880 the eIghty-seven inhab-
itants moved TO Tahiti. but, not liking tho
climate nor the morals, returned To their old
home. In ayear or two crazy adventurer.
Joshua Hill, appeared amongst them and,
claiming government authority, tyranniZed
over them until he was removed by an En-
eiish man-of- war in 1858. Eighteen years
later the whole pODula alton. sixty -four mar
ried persons and l34 children. were landed
on Norfolk island. leaving Pitcairn TO the
occupancy of goats and cattle. Two men
came back with their families in 1858. and
@ few others followed them. After twenty
years the population had again increased
to ninety, and 1t has grown steadily ever
since.
Captain Lines, of the British India SAYS
"All now living on the island were born
there. except one old man. He was one of
o shlDwrecked crew. and when his CON-
rades lett by passing vessel he begged 10
stay. as he had fallen in love with one Of
the women. whom he subsequently, mar
ried. All of the inhabitants now have a
dusky complexion, due TO the Polynesiau
blood In their veins There are eight prin-
cipal families. with a regular governor
named Young. They have q good school,
and are fairly well educated. Their Ian
guage is n tolerably correct English with
the addition of some PolynesIGn words
THE people are very religious, belonging
TO the sect known as the Seven h-day Adj
yentIsts.' Since none of them smoke or
drink. and since their habits are extremely
simple. both men and women are very
hardy.
The tropical and semI-tropical fruits
grow in abundance. and there are plenty of
fowls. goats and sheep"
Captain Lines and his crew were enter
tanned very Hospitality al the island, and
when he left he was presented with
large quantity of supplies. He brought
good many letters. addressed to former
members of the colony, who have gone
forth 10 seek their fortune in the world.