The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
TOLD OF THE FALKLANDS.
a BRITIsH COLONY THAT MAS AN
oVERFLo WING POPULATION.
Several Times Abandoned Because They
Were Bleak and Barren, tho islands
Proved 60 ne Ideal sheep Ranches. and
Now che People Observation-Disclosures

N"N
Now the People Fiourish-Pecuiiaritie
In one respect the English colony known
rs the Falkland Islands is the most remark
able portion OF the Americas. In spite OF
the facts that the islands are treeless; that
the climate Ia not only bleak but ia 30 cold
as 10 prevent all kinds of agriculture save
only dollhouse gardening; that the islands
nre located where communication with the
rest Of the world 10 impeded by natural diff
%culties, here alone Of all tho regions Of the
Americas has man nourished so well that
the population has filled the country TO a
point where a surplus 10 produced that must
emigrate.
Readers of the old-time books OF travel,
especially Of the narratives Of Davis, Haw-
kins, and Bougainvillo, will recall the fact
that Davis discovered the group Of islands
lying about 300 miles east Of the Strait Of
Magellan in the year 1892. Soon after that
Hawklns made q considerable exploration OF
the group. In the eyes OF the explorers Of
that day the group was worthless.
Eventually Bougainville, the first French
commander who circumnavigated the globe,
made an ATTEMPT to found u French colony
on these islands. This was IN 1894. The
fact that Capt. John Byron had hoisted earlier
In the year the British flag there and fred a
salute In its honor as q sign that he had
taken possession Of the group for George ILL.,,
did not trouble Bougqinville, but three years
later the islands wefe abandoned TO Spain
as a part Of Spanish South America. The
French had not prospered as settlers in that
bleak climate, but II It had been known that
gold In paying quantities could by found in
the sands of the TERRA del Fuego and even
of New Years Island. Off the north coast
Of Staten Island, there is 10 telling what
would have been the result Of the French
colonization scheme.
The Spaniards hoisted their flag on April
1, 1867, at what is now called Port Stan
ley. and In the same year the English set
tied at Port Egmont. In ITO the Spanish
with a man-of-war and 1900 troops drove
the English away, but q year later were
competed 70 apologize and pay for their
deed, SO the English were left in possession
In 1774, when they rave 1t up because the
islands we're thought to be nr. worth holding.
Thereafter the islands remained unoccu-
pied save for the, birds and beasts OF the sea
and certain horses and cattle that ran wild
after the settlers went away, until 1890,
when the Buenos Ayres Government sent a
colony that reoccupied the Islands, the seal
ard whale fisheries having become meantime
of some consequence. The Argentines would
have remained in peaceable possession until
this time, very likely, but for an offence
against Uncle Sam. Some Yankee whalers
were found in the islands by the Spanish
American authorities. and not only wero
rant, but the crews were enslaved and held
until the facts came to the ears OF Uncle
down there and shot the shnckles off the
enslaved seamen, 30 to speak, and drove the
Argentine 4S,. colony u out of the group:
iish Colony was planted a. there 81 which hfS AP be-
ne nf aaA,1G md yuhn1Aa ma %
slowly growing commerce around the Horn
"a commerce that sent a ship to the Islands
the tRs cslo"y to to- h hcRf'f cn. OCCASIONALLY enabled
A. TnE sus told In an article on the sheep
tempt to, make The Islands Ian ,'" a great ssG, e Cattle ss,
.anch failed. but when sheep were introduced
sSas' s 'SFfy hs Sfa been asG 9o shs{ fl f'q Gaiiiorn.s Me sRo
settled Sc 4 sna and the p frame w aTpand ,hs Horn E;
hafbo!, and but E brief sail from the Wild
that could make any repairs to a ship return.
ing from Cap, Horn, and prices were placed
around the shops. a village Of mechanics and
sh Aeeordins sn TO ' Ma. T (. n. R 4 tfiHFdlssi4 fcrner-
ly a Government official there. who has re-
i fsln1ldS df rs tSe S ses !, n,HsseGR eog T@nGitt8n M Sf the
zine. this is a remarkable, village. A single
street runs along the beach on the south side
and has at one end the Government build.
iippgs s in, II a field some acres in extent. and at
Last" The houses, are built of wood and
iron: There are three churches
are, two public schools. one Catholic school
and a private school. There, are two hotels,
good revenue is derived. for beer is largely
consumed. and not much blame attaches to
collected from Of the houses after
Il Is noted that the Episcopal CHURCH Is
after = former rs structure had been destroyed
swa lSfS' P Psat IS Gf th fes natural tSwn w faei ri Of t iasr isii
ands, but some of tho weather. people of
in the group that Is named Darwin.
Is neither, church, nor schoolhouse, nor any
other public highway than the sea. The
small, and tho area Of land lit Tor pasture is
estimated at 5000 square miles. Every foot
af iai' ls sss G from tI ,he a up; MSst Of i IS i hsld
Is divided into, sections of 5000 acres, and
any one can hold as many Of these as mis-
lumber Of islands are held by indiyiduais
live k9biRRson Crnsoe fashion: or At best
On the larger islands the holdings range from
900 acres up, and each holder, living alone
IS il he lived on an anus Island. 4 t "a isP' over
he island is by horseback alone. There is
" onp Nictleu NtlliClc uulSlic u fOEl Olhu-
ey. There being. no roads, and the land be-
ng divided ty wire fences, a traveller, whom
any. island, must needs employ q
guide to find the gate.
OF course, since tho houses are 30 far
save only such as their parents
I've character: They learn to herd and
nd sell, Il; to Guy SUPPLIES at The store
the trade Of the island is practically tho
heir surplus money IN tie Government
ayinEs bank; Most Of the boys learn, in
TO this, 10 handle the sloops. and =
mall schooners that are found In large i
numbers there.
All the available land having been occu- ;
the gradual Increase OF the population ,
inds no place to occupy. In, consequences,
he Young people go away to the unoccupied 4
nnds OF Patagonia and TERRA del Fuego, :
aking as an inheritance the surplus sheep :
4 their parents, for the sheep have increased
lntil all the pasture Is occupied. [
The scenery of the islands Is at once barren I
nd picturesque. Grass makes them green,
there Is not a tree in the group. Every
tempt to cultivate trees, even the rugged
ceches OF TERRA del Fuego, has failed.
NIA