The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-10-07
THEIR SEA GRIT UTOPIA.
Strange Circun stances That Led
TO the Making of a South
Sea Community.

| dlninutlve capital city IN exist
ence. He is from Albert island, g.
small speck of land that rises out
of the Marquesas group. The
traveller who bears this distinction
is at the Ahlborn House, prepare
tory to taking his departure for
Nottingham, England, where he
was born and whence he departed
twenty years ago TO follow the for
tunes and share the exile of a
friend who was accused and found
guilty Of a crime that he never
committed.
Bell, who is a strong, swarthy
looking Englishman, about forty
eight years of age, willingly told of
the little island where he makes
his home.
albert island" he said, SIS
only about five miles by three in
size, and although 1 have lived on
it for over twenty years its attrac-
tons have just as strong a hold on
me az they had at first. 1t is a
typical isle of Oceanica, and of its
beauties one never tires. There is
a population of just ninety-six
souls, and the government is pat
ernal in form and administered by
Richard Wright.
How we came to settle there
and exile ourselves from the civil
izsd world is a story that tells of
the wrongs which are ofttimes in
fiicted upon the innocent 81 cir
cumstantial evidence. In 1871 the
manager of a Nottingham lace
company discovered a shortage of
$1,000 in the cash. 1t appeared
that the money had been boldly
taken from the vaults on the night
before pay day. AS Mr.. Wright
was the cashier, and had all the
keys to the vault in which the
money was kept, suspicion at once
fastened itself on him. He was
accused Of the crime, but protested
that he was not guilty. The cir
cumstances were strongly against
him, however, and he was arrested,
tried, found guilty, and sentenced
to seven years imprisonment at
hard labor.
even his own relatives believed
him guilty. His mother died
broken-hearted because of the dis
grace, and his wife cruelty aban-
doned him to his fate and refused
to hear from him again. Eighteen
after his term of imprison-
ment began some workmen while
the vaults in the lace
office found the missing
$1,000. The amount was in notes,
which in some inexplicable manner
had got wedged between the metal
sheetings of the vault. Of course
Mr.. Wright's innocence was shown
at once, and in justice to those who |
were so active to secure his convic-
ton, it must be said that they left |
no stone unturned to secure his |
pardon and proclaim his innocence.
He was promptly pardoned, but the
pardon came too late. He was a
changed man. Though glad that !
his innocence was established, he |
was conscious that an injury had |
been wrought that could not be
repaired.
"By the death of his mother he
had come into fortune on which
be could have lived the remainder
Of his days in comparative luxury, |
without doing stroke of labor.
He settled the greater portion of !
his upon his wife, but refused to
have any further relations with
ner. He left for Australia broken
hearted man. From a trader he
learned of the existence of Albert
Island, and resolved there to estab-
ish his home. He sent for few
families who were tenants of his
mothers estates, and with them he
repaired to the sea grit refuge.
Every family is provided with
cottage, and almost
everything required for domestic
use is produced on the island. The
vessels supply all that is
necessary outside of this, and, be-
sides, they leave Denlnd handsome
sums of coin every year in exchange
for the surplus products of the
place. Of course every one has an
occasional desire to see the outside
world, and all are at liberty to go
and come as they please. But they
rarely take advantage of this lib
srty, and those who go abroad al
ways hasten back.
I'VE call the little settlement
around Mr.. Wright's comfortable
residence Alberta. Mr.. Wright set
les all disputes, and we lead a
very Arcadian life. Although we
are so far away from the center of
civilization, we are not lacking in
all of the good things of this adj
vanced age. Our homes are sup
piled with pianos, fine furniture,
books and periodicals, and we are
living very costly.
II am on my way to Scotland, |
and as soon as my business there
has been dispatched, [ shall hurry
home to the little South Sea ISL
and. IS. F. Examiner.