The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-25

ty-four and is one Of the tiniest OF Great
Britain's many small colonies.
Once a year the British government
sends off ship to the island. Just why
this should be done is not quite clear.
A yearly mail service is quite unneces-
sary, for although the sixty-four inhabit
ants are British subjects. they never re-
ceive any mail. They lead a solitary
existence, knowing nothing OF the great
world beyond their shores and caring
less.
The last visit to the island, which is en-
tirely out of the track of vessels, was
made last November by her majesty's
ship Widgeon, under command of Lieu
tenant A F. Quincy. The special object
of the visit was to convey to the island
ers a whaling boat, which was supplied
by the admiralty
Upon his return Lieutenant Quincy
made the following report to the colonial
Office:
The total population is now sixty-four,
composed of eighteen adult males, nine
teen women, fifteen boys and twelve
girls. The island Is capable Of affording
pasturage for some 800 head OF cattle,
and as there are now between 500 and 600
cattle on the island, as well as 800 sheep.
the inhabitants are anxious to dispose Of
their surplus stock.
eft is suggested that a ship might be
! chartered to take the cattle away, and
her cargo could be advantageously sup
plemented by loading guano from the
neighboring islets. The labor for such a
purpose would. It is stated. be readily
/ found by the inhabitants of Tristan d.
Acunha.
1.-The wants of the islanders are very
| few. but there appears 70 be a dearth of
vegetable seeds, and a supply. especially
| Of cabbage. onions, broccoli and cauli-
| flower seeds would be very acceptable"
Some time ago, for some reason or
other. the King of Italy sent a donation
of 5000 for distribution among the inhao-
itantsr. A gentleman named Cane who
had visited the island. commenting on
this fact, wrote a letter to the London
Graphic, which throws additional light
upon these strange islanders. He said IN
part:
at may not be generally known, but
it is none the less a fact. that money is
Of no value to these people. When was
there, in 1884. I offered money in ex-
change for their curiosites, but 1t was
politely declined. They had no use for
it. they said. On the other hand, arti-
cles of clothing. such as wooden under
vests and socks, suited to the rigor of
the climate, were received with the ut
most apprecia ton.
ae ,{oy,
found difficulty in obtaining tobacco,
and this. I gathered, was the chief hard
ship of their lives. Tbs islanders, may
say. are in want of no books. Few Of
them can read. and those who can have
literature enough for all their require
ments. It is to be hoped that any do
nations generously made to succor these
hardy people will be applied IN a manner
which keeps in view their real necessi- |
ties
The island of Tristan d'Acunha, which !
has been described as the loneliest Brit |
ish possession on the face Of the globe, |
well bears out its reputation. It is a |
mountainous place, the highest peak ris- |
ing to an altitude of S,236 feet above the /
sea level The head man. of the island /
known as the governor. is a picturesque
old fellow named Peter William Green.
He was shipwrecked over sixty years
ago, and when his shipmates were finally |
taken off, the kindness which he had ex-
perienced at the hands of these islanders
led him to remain behind and cast his |
lot with them.
He was afterward married to one of
u.
came 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 office he
has occupied ever since He is known TO
be over 50 years old. bit is hale and Wig
orous. His administration of primitive
justice has won him the esteem and re-
spect of his followers.
The island was discovered by the Por-
tuguese in 1905, and was named after the
commander OF the expedition It was oc-
cupied by American sealers from 1880 to
1911, and in 1917 formal possession was
taken by the British. A company of
British artillery was stationed there for
the purpose OF keeping a watch on Ma
poleon, at that time a prisoner on the
island Of St Helena.
On the death of Napoleon the TROOPS
were Withdrawn. with the exception OF
Corporal Glass and two companions who.
with some whaling men, were the found
ers OF the present settlement Property
is practically held in common. There IS
no strong drink and no crime. and the
islanders are healthy and long lived.
There are two adjacent islands, known
as Nightingale Island and Inaccessible
Island. The latter for several years har-
bored two Germans. brothers. named
Stoltenhoff. who passed a Robinson Cru
soc existence there
Vancouver,( B. c., April 23.-Accord!ng
10 advices brought here today on the
steamer Warrimoo from Honolulu. the
sensational story that the American flag 4
was 10 be hoisted ever Honluiu IS without
foundation The Hawaiian Gazette. the
official government paper. under Gate OF
April l5,publIshes denials by United States
Minister Sewall. Admiral Miller ard Pres
ideut Dole, who say the story IS absurd
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