Evening star., 1896-12-17
rITraIRN.s PRESIDENT HERE.
The Chief Executive of a south Sen
Republic Visits the Unfted States.

From the San Francisco Examiner.
The captain and the crew of the mission
airy brig Pitcairn were received at the Sew
enth Day Adventist colony in Oakland last
night. The Pitcairn has just returned from
her fifth annual cruise among the islands
in the South sea. Capt. J. E. Graham and
his crew sailed out of Oakland harbor on
May -. He has made the rounds of the
mission stations and has explored new
fields. The brig has gone into winter quar-
ters.
An interesting official came up the Pit
cairn in the person of ]. r. Mccoy prssi-
dent Of Pitcairn Island. He is the ruler of
that little colony away down south. and his
word is law. President Mccoy has 130 sub
ject, under him. who are ruled by a par
Lament of seven men. These men are
erected every year, and they select the pres
ident. Besides being president, Mr.. Mccoy
is chief of the department of justice. and
passes on all cases where there is a con-
troversy. All his subjects are Adventists
Everything on the island is carried on by
the cooperative plan. The president was
born on the island. and has been chosen
ruler Tor several years. When the mission
ary brig landed at Pitcairn President Nc
Coy. who is engaged in missionary work.
lett affairs of state in charge of the vice
president and made the tour of the islands
with Capt Graham. 1t was his intention
to land at the New Hebrides or the Santa
Cruz Islands and establish a mission there
among the natives. and then work his way
back to his old home. 1t was learned how
ever, that the wild men of the South sea
still consider white people an excellent ar
ticle of diet, so President Mccoy postponed
his stay one year.
President Mccoy found that the king still
reigns on Palmerston Island. and all his
subjects are members of the royal family
In explaining his discovery on this island
MIR. Mccoy tells an interesting story. The
nd iG 1n- n li-.o
and is very lonely. The Pitcairn dropped
anchor and a party was sent ashore TO ex-
plore the island They had been on land
but a short time when President Mccoy
met the king. who announced that he was
the ruler of the island. He is full-blocdei
white man. and. what was more aston;sh-
ing to the explorers. they found that every
body on the island could speak the English
language. The king was found TO be a
hale and hearty, jolly. good fellow and his
subjects were all prosperous. They titled
the. sUil and are self-sustaining people
There were forty-hve men. women and
children on the roll subjects of the king
and this included everybody on the island
Strange 70 say.-erery subject is related to
the ruler.
The story of how this old fellow came to
rule on this island is a queer one" said
President Mccoy today. Il have the story
from his own lips. Many years ago he left
his home in England and knocked about
the world as a sailor. Finally he deserted
his ship and took refuge one of the
islands where there were a few natives
He learned the language and became a
great favorite with the people One day he
selected two native women for his wives
and with them he located on Palmerstou
Island. They were the first Inhabitants of
the island, so far as know. The old sailor
went to raising cocoanuts His sons grew
UP and they wanted wives. Their father
fitted up small vessel. and away these
sons went to the nearest island and got
themselves wives. The population of the
island commenced to increase very rapidly.
until now of the forty-live inhabitants
every one is related to the sailor king
Down in Pitcairn, where I preside as
president and chief of the department of
justice, everything goes along smoothly 1t
is the ideal way for people to live. for it is
case of everybody for his neighbor Our
parliament of seven make the laws and
elect president. There is no salaried office
on the island In fact. We do not deal in
money and there is no circulating medium