The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-05-24

R~ am impelled to relate it
HGs@@ as protest against the
1921 prevalent idea that the ex-
1890 istence of castaway on a
tropic island is one of COM
1@6o parative comfort and ease.
In my younger days was
in the employ of a firm Of merchants at Apia,
Samoa, who had established in business in the
Ellice Islands young man of the name Of
Symonds, son of wellknown missionary. His
headquarters were at Funafuti, and after sew
eral successful years he had purchased from
the King" of Vaitupu the small, deserted
island of Nuulakita-"Little Land" 1t lies
some one hundred and fifty miles southeast Of
Funafuti alone amidst extensive shoals. Sy-
monds ambition was to people and plant it.,
but not native could he induce to make his
home there, for the Elice Islanders firmly be-
lieved the place was haunted by evil spirits.
Not long after this, Symonds died suddenly,
and I was sent to Funafuti in the company's
schooner to install a new manager, with In
structions to stop at Nuulakita on the home
ward voyage, inspect the little island and set
a value it as an asset of Symonds estate
We left Funafuti with a southeast trade
wind that soon died away and for days we
drifted over CLASSY sea in intolerable heat
Finally, on the last day of February, we
reached Nuuakita and sailed slowly along its
coast, searching for anchorage and landing.
In a short time we came to anchor in seven
sathoms Of water, in convenient place on the
west side Of the island where we could see an
opening through the reef. Four of the ships
crew and made an easy landing, but, finding
strong shore current running, We CON-
PEELED to haul our boat up on the sands, for
intended to take at least two hours to inspect
the place.
The captain advised me to examine the
place hastily. for his barometer warned him
of change that imminent, and this was
the dangerous season in these ATTITUDES.
Above the sand beach, where had formerly
been a settlement, few jackfruit trees were
deterorating. being overgrown with clinging
vines and other parasites. Here discovered
some native sepulchers which, beside we'll
that I found later on, were the only actual
signs Of mans handiwork upon the island
Pandanus, which seems to delight in sterile
soil and in opposition to the elements. now
predominated, stretching forth it's weird
branches and standing upon its singular stilt-
like roots, an omen of desolation. Here and
there penetrated the BUSH observing the ma
ture Of the soil and noting it in my book
l must have been nearly opposite where our
vessel lay, when I came to beautiful Ia
COON, with charming vistas and lovely gades
leading in various directions.
was about to return to the beach and con-
tinue my circuit around the island, when I
heard musket shot-a signal for my return,
for the sky had darkened and l felt sure that
the glass had gone lower. started directly
for the boat-landing
Towards the center of the island the trees
grew less vigorously, and were fewer in num-
Der, and many old trunks lay prone on the
earth The walking became exceedingly diff
cult, for 1t was hard to penetrate this broad
leafed stout-stemmed winery.
I had already had several nasty falls but
had escaped actual injury, until at last I
stepped on what appeared a sound tree-trunk
crossing a vine-covered chasm and felt myself
swiftly descending into space, clutching wildly
at the vines as I passed through them.
My head having come into violent contact
with jutting coral, lay huddled and sense
less at the bottom Of a deep pit which in for
mer years had been used as a well and now
was partly filled by the action of the elements.
When revived all Darkness and rain
was falling in torrents. In fact, it must have
been the cool drenching I had had which
brought me to my senses.
l tried to raise my arms and found them
fortunately uninjured but one knee had been
severely bruised and my back was badly
wrenched. while my head ached as If it were
about to split in two, and great lump ex-
planned why I had wasted hours in this situa-
tion
Though it was very dark with occasional
flashes of lightning, I found no great difficulty.
except from my own INJURIES in getting up
ward, as these native wells constructed
that the owners may walk down one side to
dip the water with their shells. When I ap-
preached the mouth of the pit and thrust my
head through the sopping vines, it seemed as If
the world were at end I could hear the
screaming wind rush through the now leaf1ess
branches, and great boughs and missiles Of
many sorts were flying through the air. max
Ing 1t hazardous to rise above the level.
l thought Of our brigantine and hoped she had
got away without losing her anchors. At that
moment though the tempest roared I did not
fear for her safety. for from the direction of
The wind I was sure she had not been blown
ashore. Such a gale would inevitably drive
her far away to westward, and her return to
this region Of frequent Gains was quite sure
to be slow and tedious. And here was. all
unprovided for and destined to pass some days
In utter loneliness. In time they would come
back again. and I must contrive to exist till
they turned up. This would be an adventure
to recount to my children as they gathered
round me in the evening
How was l then to know that this raging
cyclone had utterly destroyed our ship, and
that. while sat shvering in my hole, my
brave companions were in their watery graves?
Never word was ever heard from them
again. and no fragment of our poor vessel was
discovered to mark her loss
When the light returned the sun was not
visible. 1t was not safe to make my exit yet,
but, thank God! had my pipe and tobacco
with me, and some matches that were not vet
spoiled. Fool! Fool! Everlasting fool that 7
nY En r.