Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-16
THEIR SEA GIRT UTOPIA.
Strange Circumstances That Led to
the Making OF a south Sea COmmu unity

Strange Circumstances That Led to
the Making OF a South Sea Community
From the San Francisco Examiner.
Henry A. Bell is citizen Of the smallest
civilized government on earth and halls
from the most diminutive capital city in
existence. He is from Albert Island. a
small speck of land that rises out Of the
southern seas in the vicinity of the Mar
Quesas group. The traveller who bears this
distinction is at the Ahlborn House. prepar-
atory to taking his departure for Noting
ham, England, where he was born and
whence he departed twenty years ago to
follow the fortunes and Share the exile Of
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, lis only about
five miles by three in size, and although
have lived on 1t for over twenty years it's
attractions have just as strong a hold on
me as they had at first. 1t is a typical isle
of Oceanica, and of its beauties one never
tires. There is population Of just ninety
six souls. and the government is paternal
in form and administered by Richard
Wright.
"How We came to settle there and exile
ourselves from the civilized world is a story
that tells Of the wrongs which are ofttimes
inflicted upon the innocent by circumstan-
tial evidence. In ISL the manager of q
Nottingham lace company discovered a
shortage of Fl 90 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
however, and he was arrested tried found
guilty. and sentenced to seven years i'm
prisonment at hard labor.
Even his own relatives believed him
guilty. His mother died broken hearted be-
cause of the disgrace, and his wife cruelty
abandoned him to his fate and refused to
hear from him again. Eighteen months
after his term Of imprisonment began some
lace companys office found the missing
e, 900. The amount was in notes, which in
some inexplicable manner had got wedged
between the metal sheetings Of the vault
or course Wrights innocence was shown
at once, and in justice to those who were
80 active to secure his conviction II must be
said that they left no stone unturned to
secure his pardon and proclaim his inno-
cence. 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 in
jury had been wrought that could not be
repaired.
"By the death Of his mother he had come
into a fortune on which he could have lived
the remainder Of his days in comparative
luxury, without doing a stroke of labor.
He settled the greater portion Of this ubon
his wife, but refused to have any further
relations with her. He left England for
Australia a broken-hearted man. From a
trader he learned Of the existence of Albert
Island, and resolved TO there establish his
home. He sent for few families who were
tenants of his mothers estates. and with
them he repaired to the sea gfrt refuge.
Every family is provided with a comfortabIe
cottage, and almost everything required for
domestic use is produced on the island The
trading vessels supply all that is necessary
outside of this. and. besides. they leave be-
hind handsome sums of coin every wear
In exchange for the surplus products of
the place. OF course every enc has an 90
casonal desire to see the outside world. and
all are at liberty to go and come as thew
please. But they rarely take advantage Of
this liberty, and those who 90 abroad al
ways hasten back.
I'VE call the little settlement around Mr.
Wright's comfortable residence Alberta
Mr.. Wright settles all disputes and we
lead a very Arcadian life. Although we are
so far away from the center of civilizatio
we are not lacking in all of the good things
of this advanced age. Our homes are sun
piled with pianos. fine furniture books ana
periodicals. and We are living very coziIy
II am on my way to Scotland, and as soon
as my business there has been dispatched
l shall hurry home to the little South Sea
Island"