The article from which the foregoing extract was taken, concludes with a very pleasing description of the writer’s feelings on awaking in the morning and hearing the voice of praise and prayer ascending from more than one family altar, a custom begun by John Adams, the converted mutineer, and which continues still.
The visit of the Cormorant will always be among the bright and pleasant remembrances of the island, although she stayed only two days. On the first day every youth and child, as well as many adults, underwent the light operation of being vaccinated. The act was in itself simple enough, but the virus used was so powerful that many of those who had for the first time been inoculated, were for several days utterly prostrated with severe headaches and shooting pains throughout the whole body. In many cases the wounds showed a strong disinclination to heal, and so great was the flow of pus that it necessitated the constant use of bandages until the lengthy process of healing was accomplished.
Captain Nicolls gave an invitation to all who so wished to visit his ship and enjoy a pleasant entertainment on board. The after part of the deck had been prepared for the entertainment, and from side to side of the ship was a great display of bunting, prettily festooned to form a partition. The captain presided at a large piano, while at his side stood one of his officers, accompanying on the violin, which instrument contributed largely to the music, two or three more being skillfully played by as many of the ship’s company. The loud cheers that greeted every fresh performance were heard on shore, and when the first star of evening appeared, the islanders sang for their closing piece, “Twilight Is Stealing over the Sea.” Then all rose to finish the evening’s enjoyment by singing “God Save the Queen,” after which the island boats, with their human freight, started homewards, and the Cormorant steamed away to her destination, bidding good-by with her siren whistle.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE MISSIONARY SHIP PITCAIRN
IN January of 1889 one of the saddest accidents that ever happened on the island occurred. A young man twenty-four years of age went out one day to search amongst the rocks for young sea birds. He was accompanied by two of his younger brothers, who held a rope, while he descended to a very dangerous place in the rocks. His brothers urged him in vain not to go, but no amount of persuasion would avail, and he pursued his purpose. He had taken a few birds and was about to try to get another a few feet above him in a small hollow in the rock, when he lost his footing and fell several hundred feet into the pitiless sea below. Breathless with haste and pale with horror, the two other boys came back to tell the awful story of what had taken place. The horror felt by everyone was great, and the piercing cries of the mother and the wife of the young man rent the air as they ran toward the scene of the fearful accident. In as short a time as possible a boat was manned and pulled by arms nerved to their utmost strength to the spot where the young man’s body fell into the water. But nothing came of the search, although it was kept up for days. All that was ever found was a hat belonging to him, and which had floated a long distance from the place where he fell.
Toward the middle of the same year an excitement of a different character was experienced. When the Cormorant visited the island in 1887, which was the year of the Queen’s Jubilee, the captain and officers inquired whether the little community had contributed anything toward a celebration of the event. When the answer was given in the negative, they said that the Queen would acknowledge a gift, however small. Being thus encouraged, a box containing some specimens of the people’s handiwork was put up as soon as possible, and sent to their sovereign.
Her Majesty was graciously pleased to receive the humble token of loyalty and love, and sent an acknowledgment, accompanied by a gift of the coins struck on the occasion of her Jubilee, varying in value from a sixpenny piece to four shilling pieces. These were to be distributed among the women and girls, and Captain Nicolls, of the Cormorant, on his second visit, had the pleasant duty of distributing the gift, which the receivers were proud to get and keep in remembrance of their beloved Queen. The ceremony over the Cormorant left, but before the return voyage was half accomplished, Captain Nicolls, at Rio Janeiro, took the yellow fever and died. He was buried at sea.