The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1917-02-26
= CAPTAIN Gives Interesting
l6osInation About Little
Dot in Pacific.
~ TOUCHED BY SHIPS
q Ahandanee Of Food 10 Raised on
- Island, but Nothing From
MhIeh Clothes Can ee Made
peepls Speak English, Are
honest and Religious.


= MADISON square, who really and
~ lad nothing to wear, was in
- In sad plight, but her plight
- not nearly SO sad as is that of the
1lfenin island ladies, according to the
rneet brought to this city by the
5 - Port Hardy, which arrived via
Ion1o0 q few days ago.
n Port Hardy plies between New
Ysek and Australia. returning by
~ Of London, and Is commanded
- Captain Griffiths. He had visited
flteairn island in 1891 and, having q
Aeglrs to revisit it, touched there on
~ last voyage out, in June of this
yunr. The island, mere speck in
~ vast expanse Of the Pacific ocean.
- about half way between the west
- extremity of the Panama canal
"a New Zealand.
The island is a rocky promontory
Ring from 1000 to 1000 feet above
the sea level. 1t is about two and
1ak miles long and one mile wide.
i II well wooded and covered with
3xuriant tropical vegetation. The
ildes are sheer rock cliffs and there is
- harbOr or anchorage for ships,
though blight in the coast line is
1nown as Bounty bay. The Port
Hardy, though nOminally touching, did
not anchor, but merely "lay to- off
more. That was a sufficient invita-
don to number of the islanders. men.
nd oh
me inhabitants, 100 in round numbers,
we're amply supplied with food, but
BADLY In need of clothing, especially
me women, who have nothing with
which to make dresses. Their sisters
1t Murray Hill will recognize that as
Z really trying situation. The fact is
that an abundance of food is raised
on the island, but nothing from which
clothing may be made. AS the island
mas no trade with anywhere and ships
seldom touch there. the Pitcairn wom-
q have been reduced to the pitiful
necessity of fashioning their dresses
nom the cast-Off garments of men. SO
they have sent moving appeal by
Captain GriffithS to their more fortu-
nate sisters of New York for service
able dressmaking material. They
also need thread, needles and some
Z ether articles such as writing paper,
pencils, states for school children,
which the captain has promised to
take back to them If they are given
to him.
Speak Good English.
Concerning the people of Pitcairn,
Captain Griffiths said that the women
were dusky-hued, like their Tahitian
maternal ancestors, but the men have
more of the European coloring. They
peak no other language than Eng
IN, and excellent English, too. They
were strictly honest and exceedingly
religious. In religion they are Sew
0fh Day Adventists. Their religious
deas appear to have been derived
nom Alexander Smith, one Of the orig
nal settlers, who afterward changed
10 name to John Adams and endeav-
oeed to atone for his mutinOus con-
ouet by educating and civiliZing the
nang generation. There is one church
ana one schOOlhouse on the island and
~ children seem to be we'll instructed.
30 Tar as Captain Griffiths knows,
me only animals on the island are
Soets, though pigs are mentioned by
earlier visitors. Fruits. especially
oranges of large size and excellent
quality, are abundant. Breadfruit.
Jams, potatoes and sugar cane are
also grown. About the only industry
oeooes agriculture is the manufacture
u straw hats from native straw.
The only vessel regularly visiting
me island is q seaman'S missionary
schooner from San Francisco, which
soucnes there about once in six
months. The islanders are now, how
eveF, trying to build a schooner them
seives for trading purposes and to
nat end were helped by Captain Crit
nths with 200 pounds of nails and a
oaie OF oakum, which he happened to
oe able to spare. He says the island
GIG nave q great admiration for Amer
ica.
Inc story of Pitcairn island is one OF
ae strangeSt in history. The island
"as discovered by Carteret in 1867
eoo named by him after one of his
ets. but 1t was not again visited
" europeans until it was taken pos
a0n of by some Of the Bounty mu-
uacefs. William Bligh. an English
..ve1 omcer, who had made the cir
mnavigating voyage under Captain
~, was sent out in December, 1877
1Anld, In command of the ship
onty. to collect breadfruit trees for
planting in the West Indies. The
V arrived at Tahiti in October
500 and remained there six months
aeeting the plants. With more than
4ooo plants aboard she set sail fol