The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1896-08-28
ATRuE STORY OF THE ST. KlLDA
ISLAND.


The New Orleans P~icayune Of Satu-
day, Aug. stll, published an account OF
the interesting voyage Of the steam
ship County Of York, whereby while
on a voyage from Philadelphia to Lii
ban, Russia, with a cargo OF locomo-
tives and tenders, the captain Jour old
friend), George NJ. Maddrell, vas the
means OF saving the crew OF the U. S.
schooner Shecpscot Of Wascasset,
Maine, and also provided succor To
the inhabitants Of the Island Of st.
Kilda, a peculiar and interesting peo-
pie residing on this lonely rock out in
the Atlantic ocean in latitude 81 deg.
i6 min. N, longitude Sdeg. "a min. W.
The captain, being at Scranton re.
Gently on business connected with his
vessel. a reporter for the DEMOCRAT
STAR interviewed him, and obtained
the following additional particulars
and details OF the voyage, knowing it
would be of interest to our readers, as
Captain Maddrcll is well-knOwn at
Scranton, Moss Point and Pascag0ula.
The captain said he was obliged to
bring the shipwrecked crew to Rus
STA, which was the cause OF much red
tape, as the Russian authorities at
Liban did not know what TO classify
| them. They were not members Of the
crew nor were they passengers. How
ever, the U. S. consular agency took
charge OF them, provided them with
suitable clothing and had them sent
on ito Rotterdam, where they were
transferred to the New York steamer.
Referring to the Island OF st. Kilda
the captain said he was unable to say
when 1t was first inhabited, but
thought probably about the time thu
M%aylower reached the American con
tinent.
The Inhabitants have always beer
considered a healthy, moral and piou
class of people, strict Presbyterians
their pastor being Judge, doctor
schoolmaster and governor OF tn
island, and vas loved by his flock.
But about nine years ago a passin
vessel reported that the inhabitant
had boycotted the pastor, would no
attend kirk, and that the little CON
. munity Of twenty.seven persons IA
that tine) were split up into two fat
IS tions. The British government sen
off a revenue cutter to ascertain tn
, cause Of their grievance, which crt
+, ted much surprise to the people OF til
mainland, as they always cOnsidere
o that the St. Kildans we're devoted t
IL their pastor. After a little while til
cutter returned with the fOllowin
j. story, which proves that since til
d time of Helen Of Troy, a woman wa
the cause OF it.
At this time Pastor Mckay ha
~ been among his people for u numbt
D OF years, and had won their love an
respect, but being either a bacllel(
1t or a widower he was obliged TO keep
re h%ousekceper, a most attractive youn
lady and a st. Kildan. One of tt
u young men fell desperately in 10y
- with her and the courtship was Ca
ried on for some time, when for son
reason or other the courtship droI
ped. Soon after the said young ma
commenced to court another damse
e and after six months of new cour
Of ship applied to the pastor to be ma
ut ried. At first the pastor gave h
ct consent, but soon after, being int
1T enced by his h%ousekceper 1.-THE discar
ed woman) he withdrew his consel
and would not marry the couple. !
W this time the inhabitants were high
o. indignant, as they considered tue pa
It. tor had no right to be influenced
'rS his housekeepcr and refused to after
kirk or have the minister to deci
a any cases OF dispute.
TO- When the cutter returned, Pas.
an Mckay resigned his post, and accol
til panied by his housekeeper, took
his residence on the mainland. He
~ still living and is occasionally visit
.,v by some of his pupils.
Upon the resignation OF Pastor NJ
Kay, Pastor Fetters took up t
y. charge, married the couple, restor
." peace to the island and has lived
harmony with his flock. He Is NJ
teaching the younger generation he
I'll to read and speak English.
When the boat came of, we foul
them quite a superior class of peOp
their compilations being perfect
clear, their skins being almost tran
og parent. Only n a able TO spec
bi- English land he could do SO fairly we
50 by giving him a few minutes to c.
al lect his thoughts and form sentence
MS He told us he had been reared BY Il
late pastor, Mckay, who taught hi
ke to speak and read English, and a
nj piled to III for any old newspapers ,
might have to spare, and We gatherl
up quite a pile, but the majority
ia them were Philadelphia Records, wi
one or two DEMoCRAT-STARS and
few Biloxi Heralds, that had been IL
- warded to me at Philadelphia by Il
!" Hon. j. Il. Mccormick, OF Biloxi. III
" st. Kildans stated that the last vess
they saw was In August last; and thu
" asked for some provisions, as they wei
!" getting short. We gave them som,
and as each article was handed dow
into the boat, it was q pleasure to Sc
s. how their eyes frightened and tn
u smiles come over their faccs psnn,