The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-14

One spot ON Earth where Money Has.
No yalue-The Hardy Ruler.
New York Herald.


Did you ever hear OF a place whero1
money was useless? Well. there is such 81
place. 1t Is the island of Tristan a. Acunhal
in the South Atlantic. about midway bel
tween the Cape OF Good Hope and they
South American coast. But you mustnscf
jump TO the conclusion that money has mol
value there because the island Is uninhah-l
tied. 1t has population of sixty-four.s
and Is the tinlest of Great Britains many3
small colonies. Once a year the BritishS
government sends OFF ship to the island.e
Just why this is done Is not quite clears
A yearly mail service is quite unnecesSafy.y
for although the sixty-four Inhabitants ara
British subjects they never receive any
mail. They lead solitary existence.
knowing nothing of the great world be-
yond their shores and caring less. The
last visit to the island. which is entirely
out OF the track OF vessels. was made laatl
November by III. NJ. s. Widgeon, UNDER
command of Lieut.. a. F.. Quincy The
special object OF the visit was to convey tol
the islanders whaling boat which was
supplied by the admiralty. Upon his res
turn Lieut.. Quincy made the following re--
port 10 the colonial office:
The total population Is now sixty-fours
composed of eighteen adult males, niue-s
teen women. fifteen boys and twelve girIa{
The island Is capable OF affording paatur.
age for ssme 500 head OF cattle and, a.
there are now between SOC and 800 cattle on
the island. as well as 600 sheep, the inhahs-.
tants are anxious TO dispose OF their SURE
plus stock. It Is suggested that a shin
might be chartered to take the cattia
away. and her cargo could be advantage
ously supplemented by loading guano from
the neighhoring isIets. The labor Tor s,ich
purpose would, II Is stated, be readily
found by the Inhabitants of Tristan
d'Acunha. The wants OF the islanders are
few, hut there appears TO be dearth on
vegetable seeds. and a supply. especially1
or cabbage, broccoli. onions and cauIts
flower seeds would be very acceptable"
Some time ago. for some reason or other
the king OF Italy sent donation OF $40
for distribution among the inhabitants A.
gentleman named Cane. VINO had visited
the Island. commenting on this fact, wrote
letter 10 the London Graphic, which
throws an additional light upon these
strange islanders. lie said In part
Money fs of no value TO these people
When ] was there. In 1854. offered money
In exchange for their curiossfies, but ie.
was politely but firmly declined They hadf
no use for II, they said. On the other hand.s
articles OF clothing. such as wooden us1der-s
vests and socks. suited to the rigor OF thok
climate. were received with the utmoxtH
appreciation. AT the time of which speakt
they found q difficulty in obtaining tobac- Z
CO. and this, I gathered was the chiefs
hardship of their lives. The islanders z
may say. are In no waEt OF books. Few or
tffs;sn can read. and those who can havo1
literature enough for all their requires
ments.
Tho Island of Tristan dAcunhs, which,,
has been described Ms the icneiiest Brftishf
possession on the face CT the globe wejf1
bears out its reputation. III IL n nnount-Y
ainous place. the highest peak rising 70 aus
altitude OF S.255 feet above the sea level
The head man. OF the island known as.
the governor, is a picturesque old feilowat
named Peter William Green. He was ship.
wrecked over sixty years ago. and when
his ehipmates were taken Off the kindnega1
which he had experienced at the hands of
the islanders led him TO remain behind ands
cast has los With them. tie WAS afserward
married 20 one OF the women OF The island
SO great became his popularity that upon
the death of the then governor, William
Glass. In 1853. the islanders unanimously
elected Peter to fill his place, and this Of
nee he has occupied ever since He ~
known 20 be over ~ years old but is halss
and vigorous. His administration OF prim-
tive Justice has won him the respect and
esteem ~ his followers.
TIE island WAS discovered by the porfu-
guese in 1866. and WAS named after tho
commander Of the expedition. II was oc~
eupied by American sealers from 1890 10
1911 and in 1877 formal possession was taxi
en- BY the British. A company Of British
artillery was stationed there for the pir-
pose OF keeping a watch on Napo con. az
that time a prisoner on the Island OF 81.
Helena On the death Of Napoleon tho
trGo.rs were withdraw. wlta the excep-
ton of Corporal Glass and two compan-
lens who. with some whaling men. vera
the founders Of the present settlement.
Property IL practically held in common.
There IL 70 strong drink and no crime. and
the islanders are healthy ard ions-iived.
There are two adjacent isletx. known az
Nightingale Island and Inaccessible island
The latter fefssFeyeraI years llarbored two
Germans brothers, named StoIfenhoff
who rassed 4 Robinson crusoc existence
there
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