Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-12-04
A DREAD MLAION.

sides thrODben WIN new lile.
We flung the stars and stripes to the
breeze with conscious feeling that they
brought us protection. and we did not
know whether We were among friends or
enemies.
a cruising vessel Of n nondescript APP
pcnrance, sailing across our bow, salutcd
us by flying the American colors In nc
acknowledgement Of our ensign. Tho bark
bore the name Sarah at her hgurehead.
"WhAt lund, slri" askedbur first mate,
touching his hat TO his superior officer.
"We are in the locality Of Van Dieman's
Land. But this island Is not down on our
chart. II Is not one OF the penal colonies.
They are speaking usP
"ship ahoy What ship are you"
"Ths Dolphin, from New York, bound
for Tasmania, Captain Jennings In COM
mand. We want wood aud water. Can
we make a landingW
The answer to this being favorable, we
ran the Dolphin into the harhor and an
chored her. Tho flag Of every nation under
tue sun seemed floating from the water
craft which skirted the island.
"This beats me, " said our captain, who
was a Yankee "simpson, come forred. "
"Aye, aye, dr.
''I.ook at these boats. Is this the nau-
teal bazar OF nil nationsi"
~ don't know the place, SIR"
"Do you notice anything peculiar in the
construction OF those boats. SIMPSON,
"Lopsidcd, sir"
As we came % close quarters we were
welcomed by the captain OF the boat that
had at first challenged us and cordially in
yited 10 come on shore
Although an eNiled and unfortunate
people, you will find VA hospituble," he
said. 'The only thing we must demand
is an inspection Of your belongings. There
are certain weapons you cannot be permit
ted 20 retain"
Tho captain, mate and several of the
sailors carried firearms. These they were
about 10 remove when 20 our great sur
prise the captain Of tho Sarah said:
keep thom. They arc not objection
able weapons.
wondered what he would call objec-
tlonable-a outlass or gatling gun.
The crew OF tho Sarah all resembled
thor captain in the absence of one impor
tant feature. We snw now why every
thing was built either lopsided or at di-
verse angles
We were inst approaching the shore and
could see there men moving about as If In
| expectation Of our coming. They were all
distinguished by the snme popularity of
feature IA tho captain OF the Sarah and
her crew
We found strange colony Of outlandish
but most interesting people, with many
singular Htreets and quaint methods OF
architecture.
All the men were types Of the same
class. One feature was missing und that
most important one. There was not a
man In the community who possessed two
eyes.
In some tho right eye was gone, in 9th
ers tho left. These strange people had
once possessed two eyes, but one Ind been
eliminated, leaving an unslghtly wound
We found them hospitahle and kind
but all their Views OF life were narrowed
and distorted. There were members o
every European country on the globe, ant
Wa noticed that the popularity Of one eye
was confined to adults, and those mostly
men The women and children enjoyeC
the use of both optics.
We staid several days, enjoying the hos
pitality Of this strange city Of refuge, HnS
were embarked on the Dolphin, rcndy L
leave when our host, the captain Of Ia,
Sarah, who had proved himself thorough
good fellow, said, with quilzical lool
In one eye;
81 suppose you arc wondering wha
weapon is forbidden In colony wher
knives and pistols can be freely carried
= | viii tell YOU Those have name
arc weapons Of tleiCuse. All men are jus
titled in carrying them. But we scare
all newcomers for q weapon OF oifcnse-
cruel, savage monster. Tho prohibitc
/ weapon Is tho fatal, the perildious, Ga
! | deadly umbrella
San umbrellayn echoed the captain {
: nmnzcment.
] "Eyen 80 Through the cruel manipul4
ton Of that weapon we nre communit
Of eXilcs, Once we had two eyes, ever
y man OF us, like you and your crew here
{ although we come from widely sep,
r rated lands we are all tarred-l mea
+ scarred--with the snme stick--the I'M
8 brelln stick -rocklessly thrust into ou
{, visual orbs by the hand OF n passing won
g an, Determined that we would not sacr
Zee the other eve, we founded this colony
+ where no umbrella will ever intrude, e
q all baggage Is 30 closely inspected thai
/. will be impossible to smuggle one il
y The only death penalty our laws have e
Is tablishcd IA for the crime OF carrying u
n umbrella In our streets. This is our su
4, history
=" The anchor of the Dolphin was on 4
deck, and we nll shook hands over Il
il gunwalo with our departing host, WI
4 brought his one eye TO bear upon MS IN
/, focus Of kindly regret at our departure,
IL However, tho prospect Of the oalami
x was made more endurnblc by the fort
q nate gale which blew up the "Islaud
y Refuge. Detroit FREQ Press