The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-04
nrFE ON nASoNoN ISLAND,

 An Inhabited Dot in the ocean of Which Little Is Known-People Black as Crows Ruled by an Opera Bouiie Gov ernor-surprlsing Skill in Boarding Moving Vessels From Canoes.
 (From tho Boston Daily Globe,)
 Out on the blue bosom of the south Atlantic ocean, in latitude one degree twenty-four minutes south. longitude five degrees thirty eight minutes east, lies little island, chartered and known to explorers, surveyors and others whose business is on the great deep, but of the existence of which large proportion of the worlds population Is unaware. Years ago this Island of An nobon was inhabited by fierce, mur- derous and thievish race, but, lying out of the track of the fleets that navigated that part of the globe, it was hardly ever sighted and even more rarely vis!- ted.
 In the beginning of this century an English merchant ship called at the is- land to procure fresh water Hardly had the anchor plunged into the spark ling waters when the decks became filled with horde of dusky natives, who had swarmed over the rail from canoes alongside. While the crew stood amazed at the rush of blacks, a shout was given by one who appeared in authority, and an instant later the natives, throwing themselves upon the helpless whites, massacred the entire crew. The dusky murderers next cut the cable and lowed the vessel to the beach, where, after having sacked her, they destroyed her by fire. Fortunate ly that part of the craft bearing the name and home port escaped the flames, and was seen later by the crew of a vessel that made the port. This vessel got away from the island With out loss of life, the natives, though hos tile, being evidently afraid to attack the vessel which had a numerous and Well- armed crew.
 Other proof of the massacre and burning having been obtained, old Eng land, with praiseworthy alacrity, sent a powerful ship of war to the island. Arrived there, she moored and poured broadside after broadside into the will lage, knocking 1t into fragments, killing many of the inhabitants and sending the remainder scampering pell-mell into the forest. Landing a strong force, the commander summoned the frightened chiefs to his presence, told them the cause of the chastisement, and promised to infiict no further pun ishment if the natives desisted from their murderous practices. He assured them, however, that repetition of their cruel work would bring fleet whose crews would destroy every inhab itant of the island The terrified blacks promised good behavior, and since that day no sailor has been molested when at Annobon.
 Annobon Island is twelve miles in cir conference, lies eighty-four miles south of the equator, about one hun dred and ninety miles west of Cape Lo- peg, west coast of Africa, and four hum dred miles or more northwest of the Congo river The inhabitants are, with the exception of two Spanish priests, all people of color. Not a. mulatto or other person of mixed blood is to be found on the island none but race as black as night, which, though almost entirely cut off from communication with the outer world, has, in the brief occasional visits of craft to Annobon, exhibited many pleasing qualities and shown a desire to learn of and accommodate themselves to the customs and usages of civilized races. Their habits are simple Courts of justice are unknown. A murder has not been committed there in years. Brawls occur occasionally, but these are terminated quickly by the application of a staff yielded by the governor to the bodies of the disturbers of the peace, and quietude once more prevails The governor is vested with power to suppress all disturbances in this manner by voice of the people.
 About six years ago Portugal and Spain disputed as to which should lay claim to the island. Prior to that time no claim of ownership of the island had been advanced by any power, but dur ing the years 1889 and 1890 Spain sent four Roman Catholic priests to reside at Annobon and convert the population to that faith, and now asserts her sov- ereignty. Within a, year after gaining the island two of the priests died of the dread African fever, and Captain Josh ua Winslow of the Provincetown whal- ing schooner Agate, who gave the facts relating to this strange land and people presented here, died near the island of the same sickness in July, 1894 The older portion of the population does not take kindly to the Roman Catholic doc- Urine. They prefer the Protestant reli- zion. The fact of their having been on board ship when Sunday services were being conducted by Protestant whale- men explains the source of knowledge they have of Methodism. The Spanish priests, however, are gradually gaining the affections of the islanders by gifts of clothing and cooked food, things to which the simple blacks are unused. Their offers to clothe and feed the chil- dren, if they be permitted to teach them and unite the adults in marriage by the rights of the Roman Catholic church, are being accepted in some cases.
 Before the arrival of the missionaries the marriage ceremony was exceeding ly simple. The islander selected the woman that pleased him, called her wife, and the couple were to all intents and purposes united. Divorces, how ever, occurred frequently, If hus- band found his partner not quite to his liking he simply turned her away, and thus ended their married life Polyga- my was practiced as a rule.
 The island is controlled by governor chosen by the people from among them selves. His term of office is not deter