Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-05-10

L
TN #St distressing and humiiiatiHs
- 81 experience In my life. But
kTR 81 am impelled to relate II
tbAr& az q protest against the
prevalent idea that the ex-
- istence Of castaway on
- 1890 tropic island Is one Of com
parative comfort and ease.
In my younger days was
in the employ Of q firm Of merchants at Apia.
Samoa, who had established In business In the
Ellice Islands a young man Of the name OF
symonds. son of a well-known 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" II Hes
some one hundred and fifty miles southeast OF
Funafuti alone amidst extensive shoals. Sy-
monds' ambition was to people and plant II,
but not native could he induce to make his
home there, for the Ellice islanders firmly be-
lieved the place was haunted by evil spirits.
Not long after this, Symonds died suddenly,
and / 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 on II as an asset OF Symonds estate.
We left Funafuti with a southeast trade
wind that soon died away. and for days we
drifted over q CLASSY sea in intolerable heat
FINALLY, on the last day Of February, we
reached Nuulakita and sailed slowly along Its
poast searching for an anchorage and landing
In q short time We came to anchor In seven
hEthoms Of water, in a convenient place on the
nest side Of the island where we could see an
bpeuing through the reef. Four Of the ships
crew and made an easy landing but. finding
4 strong shore current running we were COM
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 was imminent, and this was
the dangerous season in these ATTITUDES.
Above the sand beach, where had formerly
been settlement, few jackfruit trees were
deteriorating, being overgrown with ciinging
vines and other parasites. Here ! discovered
some native sepulchers which, beside we'll
that 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 its weird
branches and standing upon its singular silt
like roots, an omen Of desolation- Here and
there penetrated the bush, observing the ma
ture Of the soil and noting II in my book.
must have been nearly opposite where our
vessel lay, when came to a beautiful la
COON, with charming vistas and lovely glades
loading In various directions.
was about to return to the beach and con-
tinue my circuit around the island. when
heard q musket shot-a signal for my return,
for the sky had darkened and felt sure that
the glass had gone lower. I 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 DIM
cult. for It was hard to penetrate this broad
leafed, stout-stemmed winery
had already had several nasty falls, but
had escaped actual injury, until at last !
stepped on what appeared q sound tree-trunk
crossing q uncovered chasm and felt myself
swiftly descending into space. clutching wildly
at the vines as passed through them
NY head having come into violent contact
with a jutting coral, lay huddled and sense
less at the bottom Of deep pit which in for
mer years had been used as well and now
was partly filled by the action OF the elements
When revived all was darkness, and rain
was falling in torrents. In fact. It must have
been the cool drenching had had which
brought me to my senses.
tried to raise my arms and found them
fortunately uninjured. but one knee had beer
severely bruised and my back was badly
wrenched, while my head ached as II It were
about to split In two. and great lump ex
planned why had wasted hours in this situa
ton
Though II was very dark. with occasional
hashes of lightning found no great dificulty
except from my own injuries. In getting up
ward as these native wells are 50 constructed
that the owners may walk down one side t
dip the water with their shells, When ap
preached the mouth of the pit and thrust M
head through the sopping vines, 1t seemed as !
the world were at an end I could hear thu
screaming wind rush through the now leahesi
branches, and great boughs and missiles o
many sorts were flying through the air, max
ing It hazardous to rise above the level.
I thought Of our brigantine and hoped she hat
got away without losing her anchors. At tina
moment, though the tempest reared did no
fear for her safety. for from the direction o
the wind was sure she had not been blown
ashore. Such gale would inevitably drive
her far away to westward. and her return t.
this region of frequent Gains was quite sur'
to be slow and tedious. And here was. al
unprovided for. and destined TO pass some day
IN utter loneliness. In time they would come
back again, and must contrive to exist til
they turned up This would be an adventure
20 recount to my children as they gathered
round me IN the evening.
How was l then to know that this raginl
cyclone had utterly destroyed our ship. ant
that. while sat shivering in my hole. m,
brave companions were in their watery graves
again. and no fragment of our poor vessel wa
discovered TO mark her loss.
When the light returned the sun was no
visible. II was not safe to make my exit yet
but, thank Godl I had my pipe and tobacc
= n.