The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-07
Co. . rristan p,Acunha.

IFron the London Leader1
For the first time in two years the lit
tie English colony on the island OF Iris
tan D'Acunha is TO receive news of the
outside world
The Penguin. a ship belonging 70 Daw-
son & Co. OF Nos 9 and 10 Pancras Lane
E c. is to take out trading expedition
70 the neighborlng ISLANDS ABOUT the mid
die Of April and VIII make a call at IT'S
tan with mails. parcels and such articles
Of luxury as charitable people feel in
clined to send.
The island used to be regularly visited
by Her Majesty's ships of war. But its
position-befween Africa and South Amer
lea forty-fve days steam from England
made the journey q very expensive one.
especially now steam alone is used On cur
Sailing vessels. toe. once made It
place of call. but the increase OF steam
ships has robbed the Island of this means
OF comInunlcaIlon- 20 II comes ABOUT
that only By a chance commercial ven
ture. SHAH we be able TO obtain tidings
OF the little community.
Small as the population is, 1t has been
steadily growing In 1917. when the Brit
ish garrison was Withdrawn. Corporal
Glass, his wife and family. and two other
men. were the only inhabitants left be-
hind In 1875 there we're seven men and
two women Recruited from various
shipWrecks, these had increased IN lsa3
TO eightv-fOur but dwIudled to sixty-four
in 1876. Of whom the females. considerably
exceeded the males
In chat with Captain Dawson. who is
organizing the expedition. and knows the
Tristan group OF Islands well, q Leader
representative learned some very curious
facts.
one Of the things most needed By the
inhabitants Is rat poison The ordinary
English rodent was acclinated there ear
ly in the century, probably by following
his usual practice Of deserving a sinking
ship Since then the tribe has thriven
10 such an extent that the cats talSo Ell
glShl. instead OF keeping down the rats,
exist only on suTleraIlee rom the NeEIllln-
Among the cargo CT the Penguin VIII be
four OF i've male pussies- and IL Is hoped
that the feline species may be improved.
There are plenty OF cattle on the island
and in the mild climate grapes. apples
and plun1s are grown But the inhabi-
clothing. and among their greatest needs
are looms and sewing machines
Everything is shared Out proportion
atelv among The different families Of
whom there are sixteen. and the people
do not care 10 take anything that can not
be so divided
other things OF which they stand II
need are -four. chocolate. tea biscuit. SUI
gar. flannel and serge. gunpowder. nails
I strong furniture and grindstones-
The Penguin viii bring news If old Pc
ter Green the sO-cailed governor ct tbs
I island is still alive Most Of the inha bi
( tants are descended from or connected
/ with him In 1896 Her Majesty sent hin
J her portrait. with which the patriarch
was delighted He would now be ninety
] three years old
/ The physical health Of the islanders Is
robust During 1856 there was no sick
ness but their mental abilities are sad
/ IL waning. ships are frightened at oul
I appearance in the boats. they complain
/ ed 70 the captain OF the NidgeOn in 1885
( religion who can act as doctor and school
master as we'll
f As il happens a clergyman is going GU
/ upon the Penguin fer holiday