Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-01-15
NO MONEY THERE.
An Isssnd where They Couldn't Use
IL a. They Had IL.

~ Hho
A visit to Tristan dAcunha is an
event that comes within the experience
OF few. Not many seafering men have
ever seen the island. for. lying as il
does midway between Cape Horn and
the Cape OF Good Hope. IN the very
center OF the south Atlantic ocean. It
IS out OF the track OF vessels. More
over. thick atmosphere usually In,
vests IL. and vessels are more likely
than not TO pass 1t unperceived. II Is
now some years since visited IL. but
the impression II made upon me Is one
OF the most vivid recollections of my
life. We had been six weeks at sea
without sight OF land and were many
miles out OF our course when at day.
break. some forty miles ahead. we saw
the dark cone of the island resting like
cloud upon the horizon. with It's
white peak suffused with gold caught
from the morning sun. Drawing near
er. its detail grew clearer. aud we OBJ.
served that ,he mountain. nearly 5000
feet In height. stood upon table land
itself rising 20 a thousand feet.
Some hours elapsed before we hove
10 of the shore. and IL was a brave
sight 10 see the settlers come off In
their two whaleboats. A tremendous
swell was beating up from the south.
west. and the small craft seemed ever
and anon lost in the trough of the sea
The men had hardly cared to come out
In such weather. they told US, but they
had seen no ship for six months and
were greatly i'm want OF stores. They
were we'll set up body of men, some
twenty In all. and dressed. the greater
number. in blue dungaree and home
made shoes OF Unframed skin. Their
governor. Joseph Beetbam. a Yorkshire
man. was Of the type Of the grand old
man." He had spent more than half
his life on the island and had no mind
TO leave IL.
The boats brought Us samples OF the
most acceptable things the place pro-
duced-a quantity OF bluefish. some
wild pigs and merino sheep. very di.
minutive and fed chiefly on grass and
hss, wild geese. crayfsh and potatoes.
we gave them in exchange -four, split
peas and oatmeal, biscuits, cocoa. cof.
Zee and spirits. They bad many curl.
osities with them. too. the skins OF
birds and animals chiefly. and for
these we gave them old clothes and un.
derwear. The one thing they would
not take was money. They had no use
for II. but cake of scented soap or a
packet OF tobacco excited the keenest
competition. One of them hoped TO find
wife among the passengers and was
disappointed to learn that no one was
willing to share his ISOLATION.
Since the time of my visit the in
habitants have suffered many hard
ships. Only a few years ago one of
their whaleboats was overturned. and
number of lives were lost. Since
that time n British war vessel has
made periodical visits. but. at best. life
on such spot IS an exile. The colony
has now petltioned for means to re-
move 60 South Africa. and it's prayer
can scarcely pass UNDECIDED II is just
century since, the island was first
occupied by British troops. who re-
mnined there only so long as It was
feared the place might be occupied by
the Dutch and employed TO our dlshi
vantage. Then II was abandoned. That
II has remained British since Is due to
the few who returned us settlers. and
II Is these men and their descendants
who now ask to he relieved from what
after all. can only be regarded as their
heightened period or service.-PaIl Mall
Gazette.