Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-22
FALKL AND ISLANDS
As Seen by Mr.. Peppers
E yes.
WHY HE WENT ASHORE
TO CALL AT THE CONSULATE,
WHERE OLD GLORY WAS FLYING.
Interesting Description Of Port STAN
ley, Its People and the Trade
Of the Islands.
Why HE WENT ASHORE
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
PORT STANLEY, Falkland Islands,

July u, 1915.
This South Atlantic island community
does not often see Americans. Scotch
shrewdness and English doggedness make
its people. They like to be in touch with
the rest of the world, which means to
them Great Britain. Chile and Patagonia,
but not the United States.
The keen islanders when they made the
contract with the steamship company for
the steamers between Liverpool and VAL
paraiso to take on and leave off monthly
mail stipulated that the vessels should re-
main not less than six hours Of daylight.
They did not mean to be sighted by ships
which would crawl in through the crooked
entrance to the spacious harbor. barely
dropping anchor, grab the mail sacks and
bales of wool and steam out again. 1t all
might be done within an hour, but since
SIX hours are compulsory these are usually
stretched into full day, and Port Stanley
has the benefit of social intercourse and
some passing trade in refreshments, stamps
and post cards. Steamer day is busy one
Tor the smiling postmistress. because Falk-
land Islands stamps and post cards, duly
Cancelled in the local office, are looked upon
as raritieS. Every one comes ashore to
write letters and mail them.
Glad to See the Flag.
For me there was a different motive 1
saw the flag floating over a neat cottage
The farther one is from home the stronger
is the sentiment felt when the stars and
stripes are seen. 1 went at once to return
the flags greeting and found my hand
gripped by United States Consul Rowen.
who only let go to give me bear-like
hug that nearly broke my ribs
by the Lord Harry, man, I'm mighty
glad to see you,'' he exclaimed How did
you get here?'
The English mail steamer was the only
means of getting around to Montevideo and
Rio Janeiro from the Pacific coast and
as it went out of it's way to make the
stop at the Falklands it's passengers saw
little more of the world than they would
on the direct trip.
Consul Rowen formerly was a state SEN
ator in Iowa. l gave him the latest de-
velopments in Iowa politics, and then,
While enjoying his hospitality before a
homelike crate fire, I made various inqui-
rles about American interests in these far
away parts. 1t was satisfaction to learn
that, while the individual American citi-
zen. except as distressed or shipwrecked
sailor, rarely is seen. the influence of the
United States is maintained and recognized
Ours is the only government which has a
consulate. Whether it was done by chance
or by deliberate design, the establishment
of this Falkland consulate showed a wis
dom that was praiseworthy. It is not a
bad Idea to have a sort of an obserya ton
station, watch tower in the South At
lantic, from which all South America can
be seen. The presence of the United States
in the visible form of it's flag is felt and
respected.
And also there is trade an invisible drop
in the great bucket of international com
merce; yet these drops here and there in
the outposts of civilized communities gath
cred together make a dipperful and after
a While may need bucket of their own
made in the United States"
With this little group of islands the trade
Is growing. 1t covers groceries, canned
goods and notions. all shipped via Liver
pool In spite of the handicap of the extra
freight rates from New York to Liverpool
and the cost of transshippins the Ameri-
can exporters beat their English rivals and
got into this remote market by supplying
better goods at lower prices Consul
Rowen has an idea that some day Ameri-
can enterprise VIII establish supply ware
houses in the F'al<lands and at other points
and send out ships regularly with coal
lumber paraf1ine oil, groceries, notions and
some kinds of dry goods. 1t is a feasible
project.
Business of the Consulate.
Part of the business of the consulate is
looking after the crippled ships which come
limping in from Cape Horn, usually several
OF them every season. Sometimes the
wrecks are not so far off as the Horn. for
the Falkland coasts are dangerous Ship
wrecked sailors are apt to think that the
world is against them They are noted for
their unreasonableness. though they are
not to be blamed. 1 have known people
who became unreasonable at the bare pros
pect OF being shipwrecked. Consul Rowen
has reputation for handling dissatisfied
crews and also complaining ship owners
After couple of hours talk with the con-
SUI L went out to see Port Stanley Five
days In the year are said to be clear and
rr,nc 81 .
tages are substantial English ones and the
CHEEKY interiors are wistful for the wan
derer. making him feel what it is to have a
nome and be far from 1t. Back of each
dwelling Is pile of neatly corded peat
moss, or bog turf, which is the ma tive fuel
The largest building is that of the Falk-
land Islands Company. which controls
pretty nearly everything in the wav ~
business. There are several houses of wor-
ship-Church of England, Dissenters and
Roman Catholic. The established church
rs completing new edifice. This now
lacks only a part of the tower It is so
ugiDthat the ecclesiastical authorities who
are responsible for the architecture have a
grievous offense for which to answer
II seemed to me that for a village the
signs Licensed to retail spirituous liquors.
were pretty numerous. There must he
dozen OF these pubs, or inns The in
herited Scotch thirst of the community
would not wholly account for it. especially
since local temperance society exists tn
combat that thirst. The explanation ts
that a condition exists which Port Stan,ey
recognizes 1t has a floating sailor popula-
ton, ana the sailors ashore in Port Stanley
are ike sailors ashore everywhere GER
tain latitude Is given them. 1ne feuds of
the forecastle which cannot be foupbt out
on shipboard are to be settled on land
Usually when these rows are confined 10
themselves no interference is attemnted
But sometimes the law has to Intervene
The Fort Stanley constabulary numbers
hVe poIeemen. and occasionally it is kept
busy. In emergencies it has power to cali
on the rest of the town for help I'm the
Kings NAME" The pastoral element. the
shepherds. is little slow to respond but
the retired seafarfng element does not hest
tate. A short. swift bout with the disor-
Derry mariners who are breaking the king
peace and the stone Jug" the jail, re-
ceives It's tenants.
Dogs and Children
When the voyagers who go ashore re-
turn to the ship their talk is of the dogs
and the children. Both merit the admira-
ton they excite. The dogs are splendid AMI
e ~