Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-08-10
NARROWED ON
AN ISLAND.
BY M. QUAD.
Copyright. 1900, by c. u. Lewis.

Copyright. 1900. by c. Il. Lewis.
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If you had u chart before you, you
would see that Wakes island IL a bit
OF dot In the Pacific ocean, lying a
little south of the regular sailing route
between Honolulu and Yokohama.
Now and then II Is sighted by steamer
or sailing vessel making the passage.
but the great mn Jority pass II by 200
miles TO the north. The traders call
there occasionally for water or fuel,
but as there are no inhabitants there
can be no trade, II Is an island three
miles long by one and half broad.
and It was thrown to the surface by an
earthquake. There IL but one spot
where landing can be made even In
the calmest weather, as Its shores are
rocky and rise to a height Of from 80
to 100 feet. Much Of the island IL
wooded. and powders lie about every
whc"c and 1t Ii probably one Of the
lot It spots In the universe. For
some reason which no one can explain
NO birds are ever found there, nor IL
there any animal life. The only living
things are land crabs. and they are Of
such size and flerceness that traders
have had to flee before them.
| In the year 1861 the bark Restless
sailed out OF san Francisco on voy.
age to Japan and China. She had just
been purchased by a man named Rob-
ert WestaIl, who was little known, but
had suddenly made lot OF money, and
the cargo wns also mostly his. lie
went with his ship, and fate befell
him which reads stranger than fiction
OF the sea. He was landsman, know
ing nothing Of ships and sailors. and II
TRANSFERRED that the captain he selected
was q thoroughly bad man. while the
mate was little better. II was proba-
bly, the captains idea from the outset
to get possession OF the ship, but West.
alPs suspicious were not aroused until
after they had called at Honolulu and
resumed the voyage. Then he over
heard observations among the crew
which alarmed him. and he went to
the captain with his statements. He
was told without any beating around
the bush that the bark was to change
hands. He was TO be marOoned on
Wakes Island. and she was to pursue
her voyage as captain and crew decid-
ed. 1t was one man against Is, and
of course he WAS helpless. Neither
threats nor promises had the slightest
effect. and when he stOrmed he was
cautioned to hold his temper. or he
would be set afioat In q small boat to
perish Of thirst aud starvation. When
the island was finally reached, West
all was ordered into boat to be rowed
ashore. Not pound Of provisions or
an extra article OF clothing was to 90
with him. He was not even to have
the means OF klndling q FIRE Rendered
desperate by the situation, he made
fight for II. but was soon knocked
nenseless by the blow Of n capstHn bar,
and while In that condition was rowed
ashore and dumped on the beach. When
he recovered consciousness. the Rest
less was sailing away and was already
miles distant.
Jules Verne has told how sailor
cast awny on desert island almost
naked managed To live almost lIxu.
riously and provide for his every want.
The difference between Imagination
and reality was exemplihed Ia West
alrs case lie tried for days and days
TO produce lire by rubbing dry sticks
together. but lie never succeeded. lie
constructed II hut IN the woods, but his
food consisted Of shellfsh, roots and
wild fruits. and there was no way to
replace his clothing. He soon found
fresh water aud he also made the dis
cOvery that the spot seemed accursed
Of all living things except the land
crabs. Az II rule these lonthsome crea-
lures did not bother him during day
light. but as soon M the sun went
down they swarmed over the whole
island They were gigantic IN size,
and his only way Of escaping them
was to climb tree IIe built plat.
form among the limbs ten feet from
the earth. ana every night during his
long stay he resorted TO II. About once
month. generally at midday. the
crabs would swarm by the million and
hold possession Of the island for two
or three hours At such times the
noise made by their claws AZ they
passed over rock and soil was almost
deafenIng and gave him great scare.
While the man speedily recovered from
Abe blow on the head given him on
ehipboard, his lonely situation soon
began TO tell on his mind, One day.
at the end Of three months. ho found
that he had forgotten his own name.
1t was two hours before II came TO
him. and then, fearful that II might
go out OF his mind for good, he carved
his Initials on the bnrk OF tree with
3 sharp stone. After making the cir
cult Of the island three or four times
he settled down near the landing place.
and every day for weeks and months
and years he hoped that some trader
would put In or some ship send In her
boat Traders did call on three or four
occasions, but he missed them Once
he was asleep IN the tree top; again
he WAS H. ON n third occasion the
crabs were out In such numbers that
the trader grew afraid and put OF az
soon as he had touched.
You will wonder how man could
have lived for n month m Westall lived
for three years For eight months
there was n species Of wild fruit some.
thing like a plum Now and then a
nsh wns left by the tide for him To cap.
ture. but he had 10 ont them raw.
There were oysters and mussels aud
llmpets clinglng TO the rocks. but after
awhile he could hardly force himself
to swallow them. In six months his
boots were gone and his clothing was Ia
tatters. and as the days dragged away