The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-18
NURSE WILL SAIL
HOME TO Be QUEEN
Left Pitcairn Island Fifteen
Years Ago TO Study I'm
United states.
FATHER Is RULER NOW

B~RrpospoRr. Conn. MAY l7.-M'ss
Emily Mccoy, "A graduate nurse who has
lived In this city eight years. will sta't
within a few weeks for Pitcairn Island.
In the midcast,rn Pacific Ocean. where
she expects In time to be chosen as Queen
to succeed her father, who has been rui. r
OF the little Kingdom Of 1906 souls for
many years.
She is going back to her people will
twentieth century ideas n many plans.
Of which Is the determination 20
practise the avt OF healing among the In
habitants, To whom physicians. nurses
and dentists have never been known
since tho island was colonizcd by mu-
tineers 1875 years ago.
Miss Mccoy left Pitcairn Island fifteen
years ago by a missionary boat follow
ing the death of her mother. who suffered
much because of want OF medical aid.
She promised then that she would not
return until che equipped herself AS "A
physician and nurse In order to be able
to minister to the physical wants Of the
people Of the island on which she was
ptI sht IA ~ anu
dentistry at Samoa, and since she has
been In this country she has thoroughly
equipped herself in the science Of nurs-
ing. She believes that she In qualified
to do a mighty work Of mercy among
those she loves.
Miss Mccoy will take with her Q piano
which she purchased in this city. with
the exception Of an organ which Queen
Victoria eayc to the Pitcairn Islanders
In 1870 the plano. she says. will be the
only musical instrument on the island.
Inasmuch as the Pitcairn women are
IN the majority and women have the vote
- we'll AZ men there doesn't seem to be
any doubt that Miss Mccoy will In time
be called upon to step into her fathers
shoes as the ruler. The ruler Is chosen
by direct election.
Ships seldom 60 to Pitcairn island and
Miss Mccoy has been figuring for eight
years Just how to get home. The open.
Ing of the Panama Canal gives veeeels a
direct route 10 the Samoan Islands and
she II confident that she will be able 10
complete the trip without much difficulty
Pitcairn Island belongs 10 Great Brit.
ain. II lies south Of the Paumotu archi.
pelago and is 100 miles from the near
est member Of this group II has ar
area OF two square miles. Tho island
was settled In 1890 by members Of ths
crew OF the steamship Bounty who hat
inutinied. Headed by Fletcher Chris
tian. who led the m~utineers. eight whit,
men, six Polynesian men and twelv,
T'olynesian women took possession Of tn,
beautiful island and burned the Bounty
Alexander Smith was the only mar
alive by 1900. He later took the M m,
Of Alexander John Adams and trained
b youths who were left In his charge
He was succeeded after his death II
1899 by George Hum hobbs, who VA.
appointed pastor. In 1881 Joshua Hill
an a~dventurer. appeared at Pitcairn ane
making a blum that he wa a Govern.
ment agent tyrannized over the island
ers until a British man-of-war put hin
out of business in 1888.
The islanders are closely intermarriet
md have. It Is said. but nve famii,
names. All speak and write English ant
are Seventh Day Adventists. They has,
no money and intoxication II unknown
Girls over II can vote.
Ships rarely visit Pitcairn except whes
tho crews are in need OF vegetables ant
fruitA The island Is within the jurisdic
ton Of the British High Commisslone
for the Pacific.