The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-05-30
NURSE TO BECOME
QUEEN OF island
viii RuIa Small Tribe In The
HiidOaSiOTn Pacific.
KINGDOM HAS 1876 SOULS.

Pitcairn Island, Belonging to Great
Britain, Has an Area Of Two Square
Miles-First Settled In 1890 by Mem
bers Of Ship Crew Who Had Mutnied.
Twenty. six Persons Started Tribe.
Miss Emily Mccoy, graduate nurse,
who has lived in Bridgeport, Conn,
eight years, will start within few
weeks for Pitcairn island, in the mid
eastern Pacific ocean, where she ex-
poets in time to be chosen as queen to
succeed her father, who has been ruler
Of the little kingdom of 195 souls for
many years.
She is going back to her people with
twentieth century ideas and manyplans,
one of which is the determination to
practice the art of healing among the
inhabitants, to whom physicians,
nurses and dentists have never been
known since the island was colonized
by mutlneers 126 years ago.
Miss Mccoy left Pitcairn island fif-
teen years ago by missionary boat
following the death of her mother, who
] suffered much because of want Of med
ical aid. She promised then that she
would not return until she equipped
herself as a physician and nurse in or
der to be able to minister to the phys
ical wants of the people of the island
on which she was born. She studied
medicine and dentistry at Samoa. and
since she has been in this country she
has thoroughly equipped herself in the
science of nursing She believes that
she is qualified to do a mighty work
of mercy among those she loves.
Will Take Piano.
Miss Mccoy will take with her q
piano. With the exception of an organ
which Queen Victoria gave to the Pit.
cairn islanders in 1870 the piano. she
says, will be the only musical instru
ment on the island.
Inasmuch as the Pitcairn women are
7 in the majority and women have the
, vote as we'll as men, there doesn't seen
to be any doubt that Miss Mccoy vii
in time be called upon to step into hel
fathers shoes as the ruler. The rule
is chosen by direct election.
II Ships seldom go to Pitcairn island
y and Miss Mccoy has been figuring fo
e eight years just how to get home. Th
e opening of the Panama canal gives yes
v sells direct route to the Samoan is
lands, and she is confident that sh
will be able to complete the trip with
out much difficulty.
Pitcairn island belongs to Great Brit
q ain. 1t lies south of the Paumotu al
n chipelago and is hundred miles fror
Us the nearest member of this group,
n has an area of two square miles. Th
,s island was settled in 1900 by men
- bers of the crew Of the ship Bount!
who had mutinied Headed by lFletchC
C. Christian, who led the mutineers, eigl
OIL white men. six POlynesian men an
IL twelve Polynesian women took posse
e, sion of the beautiful island and hurR
lg the Bounty. Alexander Smith was Il
tx only man alive by 1900 He later too
n the name of Alexander John Adam
and trained the youths who were lie
- in his charge.
W. He was succeeded after his death
~ 1929 by George Hum Nobbs, who W
mt appointed pastor. In 1881 Joshua Eli
ed an adventurer, appeared at Pitcai
as and, making a bluff that he was &c
u ernment agent, tyrannized over the
IN landers until a British man-of-war 2
- him out of business in 1888.
VI" The islanders are closely intermt
er- ried and have, it is said, but five fam
eh, names. All speak and write Engli
lg, and are Seventh Day Adventists. Th
he have no money, and intoxication is
known. Girls over seventeen can vo
Ships rarely visit Pitcairn exec
when the crews are in need of vege
bles and fruits.