The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-06-08
An Isle In the South Pacific,


are citizens of the United States, and
the island is as much a part OF this
country's domain as is Iowa or Mas
sachusetts. 1t is tiny spot of land,
only $50 acres, but it is the home of
thriving Am erican community, the de-
scendants Of Eli Jennings, Yankee
trader, who took possession of the
island in the name of the United States
in 1853, ran up the American flag, and
ever after made it his home. An
American man-of-war formally signal
lied its accession to the Union, and the
American government granted to Jen-
nings title to the property under the
laws controlling the distribution of pub
lie lands. The name of the island is
"Swain's Island" 1t is also known as
"Gente Hermosa," Spanish designa-
ton meaning "beautiful people," 1t
lies in latitude eleven degrees south
and longitude ITO degrees west, and
northwest of Samoa.
The little dot of land was first discov-
cred about 300 years ago by the Spanish
admiral, De Mendoza, who named it
after his patron saint and placed it on
his charts, but did not attempt to land.
Eleven years later another Spanish
| AN'AbobOi iSoloSONOlCO tnC lblduu dDu
made a landing. He found it peopled
by savage tribe, who gave him a fierce
resistance and killed many of his men.
These they cooked and forced the sur
vivors of the invaders to eat The
Spaniards finally got away, having re-
named the place Gente Hermosa, which
certainly was very amiable of them,
after the treatment they received. The
| litt1a ofn1l rua nj a1nnn Of hot
1910, when an expedition from the
United States found it and gave it the
name of SWANS island. Ten years
later trading schooner sighted the reef
and made landing in order to trade
with the natives. But they found no
livig soul within its borders. All over
the island were the skeletons of its
former inhabitants, but not one re-
NAMED to tell what scourge had swept
away its population.
Three years later Eli Jennings,
bringing with him Samoan bride and
a few Samoan servants, settled upon
the little spot of land, and made upon
it home for himself and his descend
ants. His bride was Samoan prin-
cess, who had been educated by the
missionaries. Their children were al
most white and were very intelligent,
and the patriarch of the island saw 10
it that they were all well educated AS
these children grew up trips to the
neighborjng islands and TO New Zea-
land won for them white husbands and
wives, so that the population is now al
most entirely white.
The shores of the island are precip-
itous coral reef, except single landing
which is not easily found, 80 it is very
rare that strangers enter it's harbor
But the captain of San Francisco
trading schooner on his last trip through
the South seas spent week upon the
island, where he was entertained most
heartily by those South Pacific Ameri-
cans. He has recently returned to San
Francisco, and he gives very enthusi-
astic account of the life which these
people live in their ocean-surrounded
home. He says that they have pros
pered and live in commodious houses,
surrounded by the comforts and refine
ments of civilization. They have books
and musical instruments, and they read
and study and take keen interest in
the progress of the world from which
they are 30 far removed. They have a
neat church in which they hold fire.
quent religious exercises, and in every
family prayers are said twice day, as
they have been ever since Eli Jennings
first hoisted the stars and stripes over
the island forty-6ve years ago.
Eli Jennings was skilled mechanic,
shrewd trader, and an energetic Yam
kee, and from the time he landed the
signs of civilized thrift began to APP
pear and constantly increased. The
land was fertile and there was a lagoon
of clear, fresh water in the center of
the island. Cocoanut butter and copra
commanded high prices from the trad
ing vessels and Eli Jennings planted
thousands of additional cocoanut trees.
He was soon wealthy man, and with
his money he brought to his isolated
island home the Injuries of modern
life. He invested in New Zealand
property, which is now yielding div-
dends to his descendants. He stocked
the island with fine poultry and domes-
tic animals, and he sent abroad for
seeds to plant in his vegetable gardens.
The browning achievement of his life
was the building of a fine 70.ton
schooner, which he sent with a cargo
to Auckland, New Zealand, where she
was properly rugged and coppered.
She became quite famous in the South
seas for her speed and the perfection of
her naval architecture.
Eli Jennings died 20 years ago, but
the New England blood still lives in
the veins of his defendants, and they
carry on the affairs of the island with the
same sturdy principles and the same
progressive thrift which brought pros
perity to the founder of their clan. The
trading captain who spent week in
enjoyment of their hospitality says they
are robust in health, of splendid ply
sique, and are of handsome appear
ance, so that the old Spanish name of
the island, Beautiful People, is very
appropriate. He says, to, that, rain or
shine, storms or fair weather, the stars
and stripes are constantly fluttering
from the high staff in front of the
house which was Eli jennings resi-
dence, where the flag has waved every
day since Jennings first landed.-New
| YORK SIM