Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-31
THEY LIVE ON SHEEP.
Falkland Islanders Have No Other
Trade Than Farming Them.
A LARGE ENGLISH ENTERPRISE.
Dreary Patches Of Land Famous the World
Over for Barrenness.
WRECKING AS A PAYING BUSINESS

Ao'-1lne was, some generations ago, Which
these islands were more talked about than
perhaps any other portion of the earth's
surface. But since the Dutch, French,
Spanish, South American and United States
Governments have, one by one in turns, re-
signed all claims to the archipelago which
Great Britain now holds in peaceable pos
session, the world has so far forgotten the
subject that to-day many otherwise we'll
posted persons would be puzzled to tell you
at moments notice on which side Of the
globe the Falklsnds are located.
The group, which includes more than 200
islands, lies about 800 miles due east from
the Atlantic entrance to the Straits of
Magellan. So low and barren are they, re-
sembling in color cold oceans gray and
melancholy waste" that they are not visible
at little distance Running close to shore
we.see no trees or shrubs, nor even under
brush-nothing but gray sand and brownish
grass; and feel sharp, cutting, constant
land breeze, like that experienced in the
North on clustering March days, only in
fnitely colder and more goose-dimpling and
wrinkle-producing.
Yarns About Falkland Zephyrs.
Passengers who have been in these parts
before fall to telling one another amazing
yarns about the Falkland winds, most of
which may be taken with many grains of
allowance A tall Briton, determined not
to be outdone, asserts that he has actually
seen sheep, whole droves of them, picked
up bodily by gentle Falkland zephyr and
transported to another island; and hints
that he refrained from telling more marvel
GUS truths because of the looks of incredullty
which he discerned upon some of our faces.
Another Falklander resents with indigna-
tion somebody's statement regarding the
barrenness of the islands, and boastfully de-
clares that there is a tree in Stanley (the
only one in the archipelago), and an apple
tree at that, which last year bore i've
apples, each nearly as large as walnut
Stanley Harbor is one of the most COM
pletely land-locked in the world, having an
opening hardly 600 feet across. In the fore
ground are several ships, stuck fast on
sand bars, dismantled and slowly decaying.
Two or three English and German vessels
are taking on wool, tsllow and sheepskins,
the cargoes being brought alongside in
huge, old-fashioned freight hulks. Crafts of
various sorts float French, Argentian and
Chilean flags; but, search as you may, no
stars and stripes can be seen, for Uncle
Sam banner is almost unknown in this
locality.
Big Graveyard for Little Town.
Unfortunately for cheerfulness, the most
conspicuous object in the landscape is
cemetery, disproportionately large COM
opposite the landing and filled with forest
of black and white wooden crosses. This
being free port, we escape many Of the
tedious formalities that prevail in other
places, and get ashore in what seems an
incredibly short time after our Spanish
American experiences. The town, which
contains about 700 inhabitants, consist prin-
cipally of two macadamized streets, each
mile long, running parallel with the har-
Dor. The houses are of wood, or undressed
stone, mostly of one-story and none more
than two, all with roofs of galvanized iron.
Every house of any pretensions has its
little conservatory in front and green
houses in the rear, because neither
fruits, flowers nor vegetables can be grown
out of doors here on account Of the eternal
clouds of smoke, belched from the Chin
neys as peat and coal must be burned every
day in the year to keep people passably
comfortable. The most conspicuous build
ing in Stanley is q very odd one, of cut
brownstone, with tall clock tower in the
center and wings on each side of it-one
wing doing duty as church, the other as a
schoolhouse.
The Islanders subsist on Sheep.
The handsomest private residence
square two-storied brick one-belongs to
the director of the falkland Islands Sheep
Farming Company" the corporation which
has given to the archipelago all the import
ance it possesses. The company's big wsre-
houses, wherein are stored the island farm
er's wool, tallow and sheepskins, are
grouped along the jetties and form village
by themselves.
The English Governor occupies distant
cottage of gray stone; and both the barracks
and the Governors casa are defended by
several nine-pounders. The decidedly
English expression of Stanley becomes in
tensifed more and more on closer acquaint-
ance. Take the shop signs for example,
Here is one that reads millinery, Drapery
& Haberdashery Store, to H. r. III. the Prince
of Wales. Another enormous sign-board in
forms passers-by in large letters that within
is q "store," it being evidently taken for
granted that everybody understands the
word to mean a depot for all manner of
from hams to hair switches.
Among several inns OF the good old English
5tyle-bar maids and all-are the STANLEY
Arms" the Red Bull" the "Glo5e Tavern"
and the "Rose Hotel"
Industries of the eArchipelago.
In 1851 a company was formed in London |
and Incorporated by Royal charter the pres
ent falkland Island Sheep Farming Com |
pany," for the purpose of turning to greater |
account the herds of wild cattle that roam |
the islands and the enormous extent of |
sheep ranges. An interest was purchased |
for 500 900, and the company's headquarters |
we're established at Stanley, while their |
grazing and boiling down operations were |
carried on in various places all over the |
The development of this un- |
necessitated the establishment Of |
stores and workshops at the seat of Colonial |
Government, and now ships can be repaired |
md provided at Stanley at less cost and in |
much better shape than at any other South |
American port-a matter OF great import |
lnce, considering that much more injury is
annually done to vessels that round Cape
Horn than in any other part of the world.
A novel industry in which many Falkland
ISLANDERS find employment is the rescuing |
# wrecked vessels and their crews. Not
nat there is any regular Hfe-sav1ng service,
main tanned by individuals or the Govern
nent but as in other out-ofthe way sections
# stormy coasts there are those who make
business OF wrecking for plunder. Here
,art1es keep schooners in constant readiness
o go out at a moments notice whenever
hip or schooner is sighted with broken
nasts and other evidence of a losing con-
lict with Cape Horn gales, with offers of
from motives of unmixed
but for good round rate Of
which generally completes
he ruin of the victims BY wrecking them
financially. FANNIE B. WARD.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF YOUTH.