Mutiny of the Bounty and story of Pitcairn Island, 1790-1894Young, Rosalind Amelia
History
Mutiny of the Bounty and story of Pitcairn Island, 1790-1894
Young, Rosalind Amelia
Bounty Mutiny, 1789; Pitcairn Island
Several trips were made to and from the wreck by the islanders, and
even several of the women accompanied their husbands and brothers in
their last trip in open boats to Oeno. All returned in safety, no
accident having occurred either going or returning, as the weather
continued fine. This was in June, the month of vacation. The month
following H. M. S. _Hyacinth_ came, and during her short stay several
cases of sickness were attended by the doctor, who pronounced the
disease to be a form of _la grippe_. Some of the persons who were
suffering at that time had their lives despaired of, but all of them
eventually recovered.
That the awful fever that attacked the people was introduced with
the shipwrecked crew was evident. When the _Hyacinth_ left, a slight
attack of influenza spread among the people, aggravating the more
serious disease. Everything that was possible to be done under the
circumstances was accomplished, the missionaries exerting themselves
to the utmost to help the stricken people, who one by one rapidly fell
victims to the dread sickness. On the 26th of August the first death
occurred, opening the way for many others, and before the terrible work
of death was ended, twelve persons were taken away, the last death
occurring on the 19th of October. So urgent were the calls for help
from those who were helpless that there was scarcely time to weep for
the dead, and the few who passed unstricken through the fiery ordeal
were constant in their attendance, night and day, until nature itself
nearly gave up the struggle.
[Illustration: ROSA YOUNG’S CLASS.]
Some of the most valued workers and prominent members of the church and
Sabbath school, as well as two in civil office, fell, and four of the
most promising young people were taken away by death. Simon Young, the
loved and respected pastor of the church, who for twenty-nine years
had labored among the people, fell at his post. His daughter, Mrs. J.
R. McCoy, who was the first to die, and two sons, Edward and John
Young, the former leaving a widow and four children, all perished in
the plague. Ella McCoy, a girl of brightest promise, died a week after
her mother. By the deaths, the school lost five of its students, John
Young, Reuben Christian, Ella McCoy, and Martha and Clarice Christian.
Little Willie Christian was the only one from the younger department
who died. The three others who succumbed to the dread malady were Elias
Christian, father of little Willie, Childers Young, and a two-year-old
baby, Emma Christian.
The present writing witnesses the visit of the _Pitcairn_ on her
second return trip to San Francisco. When she leaves, Elder Gates and
family will leave too, also three young persons from the island will
take passage on her for California, to attend school there. Miss Andre
remains with us until duty calls elsewhere. With the _Pitcairn_ came
letters of sympathy and cheer from friends in Australia, where the news
of his wife’s death met Mr. McCoy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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