SAD NEWS FROM PITCAIRN ISLAND.
By Editor
THROUGH the kindness of Brother Read, of Tahiti, we are able to lay before our readers fuller and more accurate particulars of the terrible visitation at Pitcairn Island. I do not know that we can do better than to present the facts just as they were written to Brother Read in the extract from the letter to him, which follows:— PITCAIRN ISLAND, October 21, 1893.
DEAR BROTHER READ: On the arrival of the schooner of Captain Michelli last night at the beginning of the Sabbath, your mail came, and I had the pleasure of reading your encouraging reports of the progress of the work in the different islands. I was glad also to get the letters written to you by others. It is very seldom we get any mail, and anything that looks like mail is gladly taken. I got your letters that you sent to me by the man-of-war in July, and answered them, though I suppose you have not yet received any of them, as they went by the way12of Valparaiso, S. A. The fact is we have hardly had a bit of mail since we stopped here over a year ago. About a month ago we got some letters and papers by a merchant ship that came from California, which brought the General Conference Bulletin, the first time we have had the privilege of reading them, with the exception of two that came on the man-of-war in July. Since I wrote you last, we have had some very distressing times here. Twelve of our number are in their graves. Last April a large merchant vessel was wrecked at Oeno, 70 miles northwest of here, and the sailors came here in their boats, part of them being compelled to stay here for three months, as they were not able to get away sooner. They were taken away by the man-of-war that brought your letters July 28. One of these men had been sick with some ship fever, which he communicated to some of the members of the Warren family, with whom he stayed. Some of the family were sick when the man-of-war was here, and the disease was pronounced by their doctor (of the man-of-war) la grippe. There was some of that disease on the ship, and after she left nearly every person on the island was sick with it. This finally broke up the school. In the middle of August the disease seemed to change its form, and then showed its true nature, typhus fever of a very malignant form. August 26 Sister McCoy died; the next day, as we were just going to the burial, Willie Christian died, and about a week later Ella McCoy passed away. This was the greatest blow of all, as she was having such a precious Christian experience, and we had been planning to make a worker of her. I never saw such a change come over anyone on the island as came over her as we were laboring to get our people to consecrate themselves to God. She had been in a somewhat backslidden state at the time we came here a year ago, but she came out as clear as I ever saw anyone in my life. At that time we thought that the disease had about spent its force and that others would be spared, though many were sick. But instead of that it gathered force till some of the time we were hard pressed to know how to get enough well people to take care of the sick ones properly. Everything was stopped, and nothing was done but care for the sick. September 11 Martha Christian died, who was another of our best young people; five days later a young child of Francis Christian died, and to cap the whole terrible work "Grandpa" (Simon) Young died the 26th of the same month. On the 29th of the same month Childers Young (a brother of Richard Young) was a corpse, and the next day Elias Christian was dead. Rosa had been working within an inch of her life to take care of the sick, but at this time she was taken down, and came to our house to stay. At her house nearly all were sick and in a critical condition. I saw that the house was being filled with the disease germs, and so plead with them to take the sick ones to Aute Valley, which was done. Our family of seven seemed to have some of the symptoms of the disease, and so we took our tent and went out to the valley to get pure air, and also to look after the sick ones there. Our family got along splendidly, and none of them were sick, though Ida (Sister Gates) and Hattie (Sister Andre) were with the sick every day. Edward Young was sick by this time, but seemed to be getting better, till one day he injudiciously ate some half-ripe watermelon, which set him back. He was given a large dose of peppermint, which ended his life October 11. His wife was not expected to live, but prayer was offered for her and she is nearly well now. The 14th John Young, one of the best young men on the island, died; last Tuesday Reuben Christian died, another fine boy; and finally Claris Christian died day before yesterday. There are a few more who are still very low, but we have hopes that they may get up. Austin Young is one of them, Louisa Christian another. A week ago we could see nothing but death staring Rosa and Arthur in the face, but they have been spared, though Rosa is not entirely above danger. Stanley was about the lowest down, but God heard prayer for him, and also for Dora. It seems nothing but a miracle that the former was raised. You see they died on an average of about two per week. Others I have not mentioned have been on the very verge of the grave, but have been spared. The very ones we had hoped to make something of in the work of the Lord are gone. Since last April I have been trying to get a passage on some passing ship to California, but have not had an opportunity. My plan was to go to the Health Retreat and try to get back my health. I had also planned to take some of the young folks, that they might obtain a better education than they can get here. . . . Rosa had been packed up for some time, but the way does not open. . . . We have decided to all leave here when the Pitcairn comes back. We have been here considerably over a year, which is longer than I intended to stay when we came. I am happy to say that my health is now getting a little better than it was; the change has come since last July; but I am far from well and need a course of treatment at the Retreat. . . . For the last two months I have had to spend a good deal of the time with the sick and dying; this has been a terrible strain on me, for nothing ever takes strength out of me like giving treatment to those who are suffering; my sympathies seem to go out to them to such an extent that my energies are expended; then the terrible depression of having to bury people at the rate of two a week, with nearly everyone on the island sick, and no change, no variety, as would be seen at home, where we could see something to get the mind off these things, at times has nearly taken my life away; at such a time I could do nothing but go out and pray earnestly to God to help me; in that way help would come for a time and I would go back again to save the lives of the sick ones. In fact I have lived on prayer for weeks.