The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-05-28

NoIIu tne American tlect OF battle
ships will no doubt encounter many
new experiences. especially to the
sailor boys
An incident of more than passing
notice occurred after the fleet had
passed through the straits OF Magel.
Ian and was headed to the north
again.
The United States government sent
a message to the commander of the
fleet to send vessel to a lonely
island in the Pacific Ocean in an ef.
fort to rescue a poor seaman which
report said was castaway.
The United States gunboat Yank.
ton was accordingly dispatched and
after a diligent search returned from
the Galapagos islands with full de.
tails Of its fruitless quest on Inde.
fatigable Island for Fred Jeffs. the
American seaman cast away of the
wrecked Norwegian bark Alexandra.
wrecked in the Galapagos in Nav.
1901 or the crew Of seventeen men
and a captain all except Jeffs were
rescued from the barren and unin-
habited isle, five months after their
wreck. In fact ten of the men found
their way TO the ncigbboring Chat
ham island, which is inhabited, while
passing bark picked pp the seven
men on lndefatigable. Jefs had be.
come sick and parted from his com.
panions with the result that he miss.
ed being saved when the remainder
got safely back to civilization.
After close search Of all acces.
sibie portions of the island which
yielded nothing but pitiful traces of
the dcrelict sailor and the conclusion
that he had died alone in this most
forlorn of islands, the Yankton is on
her way north to join the fleet.
The distance to the Galapagos was
covered in four days and Hood island.
the most southern of the group, sight
ed at noon on March 3. Previous to
sighting land great quantities of sea
NE for which the vicinity of these
Islands is noted, and numerous birds
testified to its nearness. Large
schools of porpoises, disturbed in
feeding by the ship, plunged away.
leaping and playing. Turtles asleep
ON the water floated by, many of
them with gulls sitting on their backs,
and the dog-like heads of seals peer.
ed above the water at the strange
monster which had invaded their
domain.
The triangular fins OF the watch
ful sharks were constantly in sight
about the ship; flocks of flying fish
scudded away, while overhead the
frigate and boatswain birds and the
gulls watched for their prey.
In order, if possible, to gain in.
formation about the wreck. Chatham
island was first visited Anchoring
in Wreck bay, a messenger on horse.
back was found waiting on the beach
with the compliments Of the local au.
thority, the administrator" and a
polite inquiry II any assistance could
be furnished. The vessel had been
seen approaching from the town.
which is located high up in the
mountain and five miles from the
landing. The presence OF a ship is
most rare and a hospitabe invita-.
ton to visit the hacienda had to be
declined as time pressed
The inhabitants of this island mum.
Der about $50, all dependents of a
single estate and mostly engaged I'm
the cultivation of sugar, cotton and
tobacco. The estate lies in the hills
and valleys on the southern slope
Of the island in the only place where
water Is obtainable.
Water is the need Of all this group
of islands, and the lack OF It is
the keynote of their barren wastes
and cactus covered slopes. The
shores of all consist of black vol
canic rocks and cliffs, with here and
there in sheltered spot a sandy
beach. The islands. rising in most
cases to 1900 or 1000 fee. have
their slopes covered with a giant
growth of cactus minglng with a
thorn, which made progress back
from the shore impossible without
cutting a way.
4 number Of guides were taken
aboard and start made for Indefat.
igable island, where a whaling boat
with four sailors and the guides
was landed. The Yankton stood off