Article December 12, 1901 Issue

The Pitcairn Islanders

Boston Herald

The English Colonial Office has recently received a report form one of its naval commanders of a visit paid to Pitcairn Island, where the descendants of the mutineers of the government ship Bounty are still residing. These people are entirely isolated from the world, with the exception that they live sufficiently near one of the great ocean routes to induce the captains of vessels wishing fresh meat or fruit to make a slight deflection from their course, sight the island, land on it with one of the ship's boats, and get their needed supplies. The island has no good harbor or roadstead, hence in stormy weather it is practically unapproachable.

According to the offical report, the islanders are under the government of one of their number, who appears to be a man of ability and determination, and are in a contented, though hardly a progressive, state. The entire community numbers about one hundred and fifty members, with a somewhat disproportionate number of females.

There are no diseases on the island, and absolutely no medical means of treating them if there were. The local authorities when offered medical supplies said that they neither needed nor cared for them. There appears to be an abundance of fruit and vegetables, and a sufficient supply of goats to furnish the comparatively little animal food required in a tropical region.

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