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
Everything that kindness could suggest was done for the sufferers, all
the visitors doing what they could to relieve the distress around them;
nor did they take their final leave of the island until there were
visible signs of improvement. So attached had all the islanders become
to the people on the ship that much real sorrow was felt at parting;
indeed, the leave taking was such that men, as well as women and
children, wept freely, as they looked their last on the faces of the
kind friends who had done so much for them, and who were not ashamed
to mingle their tears with the tears of those they were leaving behind.
The blessings of a grateful people followed their departing visitors.
Reuben Nobbs, who had accompanied his father and sister home from
Valparaiso, remained with his family for a few months; but, on the
arrival of H. M. S. _Dido_, in the following year, he prepared to
return to his duties at Valparaiso on that ship. But his stay was
short, and he was soon home again, as consumption had made rapid
progress. Kind and willing hands carried him from the place where he
was landed, for he was universally beloved, and conveyed him to his
home, where he lingered on until March 2, 1855, when he died.
Two accidents, each fatal in its nature, happened shortly after this.
The first death was the result of a wound in the foot of a lad, caused
by the barbed point of an arrow made of iron. Lockjaw set in, and after
the terrible agonies that followed, he died. The other accident was
sudden, and death was instantaneous. It was on a Saturday, and most
of the men were out in their canoes fishing. A young man named Daniel
McCoy, with his wife, went to the northwest side of the island, at
a place called the Lookout, to fish among the rocks. Several other
young people went in the same direction, but separated themselves into
different parties to fish.
Dan and his wife went alone to a spot to reach which they must either
swim a narrow passage of water, or climb a few steps, and then descend
a steep and very dangerous path among the rocks. They chose the latter,
and in making the descent the young man lost his hold, slipped, and
fell. The fall was not high, scarcely ten feet; but he fell heavily and
broke his back. With one dreadful groan, and a last dying look upon his
wife, he immediately expired. Almost distracted, she went in search
of their companions, who were at some distance from them, fishing.
Grief and horror seemed to lend wings to her speed, as she passed over
the rough stones and jagged rocks that for the most part formed her
pathway. Only a few minutes sufficed for her to reach a spot where she
could see her companions, and make them understand by signs that their
assistance was required. The frantic cries and wild gesticulations at
once convinced them that something dreadful had occurred, and they
instantly started to learn what had happened.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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