The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-08-04
THURSDAY ISLAND.
Torres Strait. south pacI6c ocean.

Torres Strait. South Paclhc OceHn.
Have You ever heard Of Thursday is-
land? 1t is the metropolis OF the pearl
fishing industry OF the Pacific ocean. The
seas about Ii are spotted with banks of
pearl oysters ana hundreds OF divers are
always moving about through them. They
bring back tons of valuable shells aud Of
ten pearls OF great price. Already millions
of dollars worth OF shells and pearls have
been gathered. and stul there are fortunes
IN sight The same business Is going ON
OF the coast Of Western Australia, whore
S500,OOo worth of shells are annually
raised and where some shells are found
worth $1,000 q ton. pearl discovered
there few years ago sold for $500 and
COO
On Thursday Island.
But first let me tell you Just where
Thursday island IS and OF my strange trip
to H. II you will take your map OF the
Pacific ocean yon VIII see, just north u
Australia. the enormous island OF New
Guinea, which Is, not counting Australia.
the largest island of the world. II Is
about 1900 miles long and in places more
than 400 miles long. This great mass
lies within eighty miles OF Australia and
the strait between the two y spotted
WITH Islands and coral reefs There are
hundreds OF islands, some inhabited by
strange tribes others mere coral rocks
jrttng out OF the sea and others hair
for every day OF the week. There Is a
Sunday Island, Monday island. a Tues
day island and a Thursday island WIZ n
We came Into the harPor we We're. told
that we must 20 to Fridny island for
quarantine. and we sailed by other Islands
later on before we came TO Thursday is
Thursday island commands Torres
strait. The British government l. build ng
rlson on hill back of the harbor, II
hAs siX-inch guns already mounted, and
Il expects 10 establish a big eoaling sta
ton here to aid " in defending Its possen
sions In this part OF the world.
Thursday island Is one " the smallest
in the strait, but owing To- Us excellent
going through. vessels Of any Size can an
ehor in fs waters and be safe and the
result Is thar aii me steamers S,,, which 60
There are also steamers for japan, China,
the philippines and other parts OF asa.
az wsa as mesa sse ss, IN sSa S Du anu
Through its commerce aud the pearl
fisheries "a considerable town has grown
hundrcd buildings and the Queensland gov.
efnncnt which controls tue Island has
number OF pnbllc Offices, such as a. court
house. a customs house, q post and t s,h
biggest house of the town IL that ~ the
governor, standing on little NIL ~ one
are the barracks. great two-storN buildings
WITH galleries around them, looking not
unlike our second class seaside hotels. Ia
front OF the town two piers have been
luiIt out into the harlior for the accom-
mossntion az the smaller steamers. aud
bacl of these are the warehouses anu
stores The town has six hotels aud
thiet or four churches It's lnnabitants
come from all parts OF the Pacinc a.
van step on the wharf you are surroundsd
by Representatives Of all nations OF ihe
Fae Efst There are brown mel nncs
men and yellow men. There are Fllpinon
Japanese, Chinese. East Indians. tiJlnh-
and Phpauns More than half q the p"pu
lation Is semi-snvnge. aud nlnong ht
ltn,lfing population are pearl div 10, beael
roIrners and beche de mer hsherm Of al
coiorr and rapes-
The Great Barrier Reef
In coming from Thursday Island from
Brisbane, Queensland, had one Of inc
wonderful trips 81 the world The mosi
OF the way was Inside the Great Barrier
reef. which Is made ailogetbes % coral
sappose you coald construct wall oi
coral from noston % TIE Misessippi river
~ so that The length % Il weu,d. e q
.caSf 100 miles SuppoSe the Nati :" ne
fffnm ten IL seventy miles vide anu ~
ee nlade entirely n cpfAi, feN insfstN's'
~"