The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1893-10-11
IN A PACIFIC EDEN.
NrNErY-SIX RESIDENTS ON A SMALL
ISLAND.


The Smallest Civilized Government On
Earth--An Interesting Story fold
by One of the Tnhabitt nts.
Henry A. Bell, citizen of the small
est vllized government on earth, nd
who halls from the most diminutive cap
ital city in existence, arrived recently at
San Francisco, says the Examiner of that
place. from Albert Island, small speck
of land that rises out of the southern
seas in the vicinity of the MarquesaS
group. Bell, VINO is a strong, swarthy-
looking Englshman, about As years of
age, willingly told of the strange little
island where he makes his home.
'Albert Island" he said, els only
about five miles by three in size, and
although [ have lived on it for over
twenty wears its attractions have just as
strong hold on me as they had at first.
Tt is a typical isle of Oceanica, and OF It's
beauties one never tires There is
population of just ninety-siX souls, and
the government is paternal in form and
administered By Richard Wright. In 1871
the manager of a Nottingham lace com
pany discovered shortage of 1000
pounds in cash, 1t appeared that the
money had been boldly taken from the
vaults on the night before pay day.
GAS Mr. Wright was the cashier and
had all keys to the vault in which the
money vas kept, suspicion at once fast
ened itself on him. He was accused OF
the crime, but protested that he was not
gilUy. The circumstances We're all
strongly against him, however, and he
was arrested, tried, found guilty and SEN
fenced to seven years Imprisonment at
hard labor. Even his own relatives be
lieved him guilty. His mother died
broken hearted because of the disgrace,
and his wife cruelty abandoned him to
his fate and refused to hear from him
again.
eighteen months after his term be-
can the money was found wedged, 40
one knows how, between the metal
sheetings OF the vault, and Wright was al
once pardoned. BY the death If his
mother some time before his release he
had come into a fortune on which he
could have lived the remainder OF his
DAYS in comparative luxury without do
inc a stroke of labor. He settled the
greater portion of this upon his wife, but
refused to have any further relations
with her. He left England for Australia
a broken hearted man From = trader
b. learned of the existence of Albert Is
land. and resolved to there establish his
home.
VIE sent for few families who were
tenants of his mothers estates, and with
them he repaired to the seagirt refuge.
Every family is provided with a comfort
able cottage, and almost everything re-
ouired for domestic use is produced on
the Island The trading vessels supply
all that is necessary outside of this, and,
besides, they leave behind handsome
sums 0f coin every year in exchange for
surplusproducts of the place, OF course,
every one has an occasional desire % see
the outside world, and all are at liberty
to 90 and come as they please.
''But they rarely take advantage Of thsi
liberty, and those who go abroad always
hasten back. We call tie little settle
ment around Mr.. Wright's comfortable
residence Alberta. Mr. Wright settles
all disputes,\an we lead a very Arcadian
life. Although we are SO far away from
the scenes OF civilization we are not lack
ING In all the good things Of this adj
vanced age Our homes are supplied
with pianos fine furniture, books and pc
riodicals and we are living very costly.
| am on my way\to Scotland, and as soon
as nv business here has been dispatched
/ shall hurry home to the little South
Sea Island"