The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-05-01
Pages 9 to 12.


 eight degrees to fifty-five degrees and the lowest being forty degrees in the winter. The best season is from De- cember to March. Though there is much rain and many cloudy days, on the whole the climate is exceedingly healthful and conducive to longevity. There Is but one species of tree growing on the island in addition to variety of prickly undergrowth. Birds are fairly numerous, the finch, thrush and tern, with the water hen and petrel, the pen guins and albatross, constituting the other living creatures besides the peo- pie.
 The additions to the inhabitants made by an occasional sailor, ship wrecked or deserted, did not disturb the calm tenor of general existence, but the sons of William, now gaining manhood, evidently did not look with relish on the prospect of succeeding to their fathers sovereignty nor feel it would be compensation for entire abstention from the joys of civilization. However, they did not form their resolution to leave until after they had acquainted him with their determination. He ac- quiesced most philosophically, gave them good advice and some of his mon- ey, and when the next whaler came to Tristan DAcunha the boys shipped be- fore the mast They were active, in- dustrious, of exceedingly fine physique, and gentle, yet firm, courtesy of man. ner which did not belle the stanch, 1,,-o, -o their characters. They were universal ly liked and rapidly rose from one place of responsibility to another Both in English and American whaling the Glasses were leading captains Cap- tain R. H. Glass of New London, Conn, who died few years ago, owner of the Francis Allyn, was a grandson of Will liam and one of the handsomest and most agreeable of men.
 William Glass did not long sur- vive after the departure of his sons, though the date of his death Is uncer- tain. His death left very comfortable fortune to be divided with strict impar- tiality among his children. He was far from having the enormous wealth at tributed to him or the number of wives. According to the history of the family he had but one white and one native wife after the formers death. His daughters, who were remarkably hand some women, left Tristan D'Acunha and went to Cape Town, where they were eventually married to whaling captains
 The other dwellers remained, and in 1886 there were ninety-seven persons in Edinburgh. Captain Joseph J. Fuller of the Francis Allyn visited Tristan D'Acunha a few years ago, his business being with one of the exiles, and took away with him the impression that nothing would induce the hearty and robust band to abandon the primitive ease of this life for the galling re- straints of civilization. It was not be- cause they had not had opportunity to contrast both phases of life, for the man whom he went to seek. Andrew Higgins was a New Londoner who had deliberately eschewed ambition and home ties for the sake of the existence down in the dull dreariness of the south Atlantic. The community is industri- ous, and cultivates Its little arabic area, the women and children, it must be confessed, doing more than their share. They make all their own clothing, but the demands of fashion in thirty-seven degrees south latitude are not exigent. Neither the Bond street tailor nor the Paris dressmaker, nor the theology of, Moody or Abbott disturb their serenity. They subscribe to no religion, though there is no organism.
 Some years ago Andrew Higgins was master of good New London ship, the Phoenix, owned by N. & w. w. Bill lings. He was very young man when he attained the responsible place of captain, and justified the faith reposed in him till about 1850, when cruising in the south Atlantic for sperm and whale oil he touched at Tristan D'Acunha and succumbed to its mystic spell. He was like a man bereft of all the sailors sturdy ambitions and energy. He re- sisted the appeals of officers and men, | the remonstrances of home, and, turn- ing his ship over to the first mate, cast his lot with the islanders. The Phoe- nix made some very good voyages after l f1lSRluS dUduuUUtu ttnO lAdly ended her career as one of the stone fleet sunk In Charleston harbor in 1861 for the purpose of keeping the Confed- crate vessels in.
 Embassies have been frequently sent to MT. Higgins, soliciting his return or attention to his property interests in New London, but without effect. Like the rush of the hero of Locksley Hall his life has been, and that he has reared his savage brood the snap shots of Captain Fuller bear witness. Strange to say, he is not the only New Englander who has forsaken the tradi- tions of Puritan religion and industry, for the oldest man on Tristan is a na- tive of Norwich. Connecticut, however, has kept remarkably silent about her double distinction.
 When Captain Fuller was there a few years ago he found the people of Edin- burgh more inclined to regard them- selves as sufficient unto themselves. They rarely made excursions to St. He- lena or Cape Town, though they had ample means to do so. A trusty depu-