New-York tribune., 1906-07-14
LIFE ON REDONDA.
Ho7o Maine Girl Passes Her Time
on an Isolated Island.

Mss Elizabeth K Harding. a resident Of the
Island of Rodonda, g desert spot in the Caribbean
s-a, s here. on her way 20 visit friends in her
native city of Portland. re. Miss Harding has
lived with her father and mother on this island
f0r the last elegen years. her father being the
ulznsssr of the phosphate mines there In an IN
ts-visw with a Tribune reporter az the Hotel
FaElingtOn Miss Harding gave the following ae-
count OF the drawbacks incidental 20 life on tiny
volcanic island. cut on from the wo.ld:
The island Of Redonda Is a mere heap OF cinders.
& mile IL length. which rises sheer out OF tne
carib5ean Sea o the height Of Loo feet ne qty
sind OF praciy PEAR while the Wild animals con-
sst mainly OF rats mice. iguanas centlpedes' scoI
kind- have however, managed 70 live on the
island for eleven years. end have occupied ogFins
se-se ~ tvo sInre5 % men me White portion
q the population consists o. my parents. one Other
American a native os California. and myself. all
ssTyins IN color from BALE orange 10 JET biack
From the sea the island looks 50 precipitous that
you wonder how anything but goat could gain a
-oothOld the slopes, but o. nearer approach you
g such that, While end OF or house rests on
hssrr T pss s asoGt s tSeSe 41sS fees high on
There e no har6oT properly speaking; but on on
anchOrage. which IS protected from the prevailing
sesfher landing is easily efieeted but during the
winter months it Sc often impossible 70 get even
terrific ground seas which frequently occur. None
o ls ever leave the place during the winter season.
The only signs Of vegetation are varieties %
eeeti; wild tobaceo and coarse kind Of grass; on
All our provisions. such as fresh meat. fruit and
gegsta6!ss have 70 be brought By boat from the
which are respectively thirty and fifteen miles dis
FEAST OR FAMINE
aof course. re have TO keep supply Of canned
goods IN stock. which, well as groceries. We
get direct from America IN sufficient quantities TO
Sect eqv XII the New York
housewife would say Il she had TO order butter and
cheese By the hundredWeight. and tea by the chest
IN spite OF such large consignments. however our
Btore7oOm is usually at pretty low ebb for some
weeks before the arrival OF fresh supply Of goods
u sometimes happens that. even with the greatest
foTesigh the Only articles In stock may be corned
beef and blackiEg. while at another We may have
nothing 10 depend on but tripe and champagne
on turtle soup and roast kid followed By pine
apples, mangoes. sapodillos and other luscious
fruits Of the tropics but on the other hand i Is no
unusual thing for US 10 set up in the morning not
knowing what We are & ng 70 have Tor breakfast
"At such times i Is customary 70 send out a
hunting party headed by our cook, TO capture
campaign is 10 stand afar of and. having spotted
the most likely looking animal, they surround the
o IN finally @ Penng z n5,b It IN GSp % gs the toS so0S Of
f 1eck cO ooPi = he aRnels Is not satisfac q
tory method, because II they are not killed by the
first shOt they make their escape to- some inacces-
:FOF oHr water supply We depend entirely on the
rainfall: and this amounts only 10 something like
nineteen inches year IN seasons Of drouth our
osshs consist OF GIy f FHn VIE y, SANG; SANG; ,..
on0us living il such a place, but occasionally
set a hurricane or earthquake 20 relieve the
fefiuEn OF the hour; besides which the fauna OF
the island Of kind 70 distract ones thoughts
''-he cockroaches for example. which attain 10 a
very high state Of physical Development destroy
the bindings OF favorite books. eat the black
sng OF our shoes in patches. Till they look IL
they were afflicted with eDrosy, and consider the
plano the most suitable place to rear their young
Centipedes and scorpions you may expect 10 tread
on you cross the veranda, while crabs have 20
be picked out OF the barhtub before you can take
your bath in comfort.
But, IN spite og the many drawbacks life IN
Redonda Is endurable. the whole especially
when know that IN due time we shall return
20 Portland 10 live permanently