Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 198, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 September 1917 — In The Far Away Falklands [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In The Far Away Falklands

FAR out in southern seas, a thousand miles from Montevideo and several hundred miles eastward from the “land of Are,” Tierra del Fuego, He the lonely, dreary, barren Falkland Islands. Ceaseless surges from Antarctic wastes dash upon the rocky headlands to the disturbance of only the wild and stately penguin; the mighty roar of the breakers wasting their beauty, far from the haunts of artist or photographer, is lost in the dismal fog. A land far away from the busy world; a land without a tree, without a newspaper, without a cable to the outer world, with few land birds, beyond the course of the average steamer; Indeed, a land ■without sunshine, it might be said, for the sky is usually overcast, producing annually 250 days of cloudy or rainy weather. Despite weather conditions, however, the Falklands present interesting sights and afford the traveler experiences not met with elsewhere, writes William A. Reid in the Los Angeles Times. There live and move and have their being 2,000 hardy and Industrious people, whose remoteness denies them the pleasures Of modern life. They extend the hand of welcome to the visitor and he is entertained with stories of those South Sea islands and the part they play, insignificant though it may be, in the world and its progress. Almost exactly 100 years after Columbus sighted San Salvador, John Davis discovered the Falklands; a century later one Strong visited the islands and gave them their name. From that time onward they have been the scene of conflict and disputed ownership. The French planted their flag there in 1765, and very shortly thereafter the British arrived and established Port Egmond, 100 miles or

so from the French. The latter ceded their claim to the Spaniards, who drove away the English in 1770. Later the islands were abandoned; Buenos Aires founded a colony in 1823, but in consequence of a dispute the colony was destroyed by a United States man-of-war (1831). Shortly afterward the British again gained possession, which contipues to the present time, although' it is said that Argentina claims the Islands as her right- and lawful possession. Two Large Islands in the Group. The Falkland group comprises two large islands, known as East and West Falkland, respectively, and more than a hundred smaller ones, with a total area of nearly 7.00 CT square miles, almost as large as the state of New Jersey. East Falkland is the larger of the two and they are separated by a narrow strait. When we sailed into Port Stanley, the capital of the little colony and the largest of the twenty or more settlemems, the usual cloudy weather prevailed ; several days of ocean-buffeting had been followed by calmer seas and the entrance to the small bay, know'n as Port William inlet, was a pleasant diversion. The low, brownish hills, barren and somber looking, presented little to attract the business traveler; yet, to the lover of nature who delights to wander far from beaten paths there are always sights to please. Comparatively few ships make the port of Stanley; other than the coming of vessels in distress there is not much traffic with the outside world, and as inconsequence the arrival of a passenger ship is a matter of some inter-est-to the people. The day of our coming was not an exception, and both old and young came to meet us, and it might be said that we received a cordial reception. 'Once upon terra flrma the hardy appearance of the inhabitants and the weather-beaten hut clean and neatly kept homes are especially noticeable. The thousand persons composing Stanley’s population have not troubled themselves with street making; it is a kind of go-as-you-please town, very much resembling the French-Canadian settlements along the New Brunswick coast. The people of the Falklands are largely of Scotch descent they have a strong Scotch brogue and a i man’s knack for doing things. The

most prominent buildings In Stanley are the governor’s quarters, the barracks, which shelter a small English garrison, a cathedral, a new school building, a number of warehouses, a few stores and several hotels. The stores and hotels are about the only business ~~ concerns ~~ excepting the houses of the English company, which practically monopolizes the great industry of the islands —that of sheep raising and the industries resulting therefrom. Not Much to See In Stanley. A short time Is sufficient to see all that Stanley has to offer. A visit to the stores, as in other lands, reveals to some extent the needs and occupations of the people; and this fact Is especially emphasized in the town of Stanley. The articles offered for sale are of the most substantial kind, such as coarse clothing, heavy boots, tin and earthenware, ships’ stores, medical supplies, and in fact everything required in a sheep-raising community where the winters are long and severe and the summers short and cool. The average temperature of the islands is 47 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool and constant winds from the southwest send a chill through the stranger and urge him to physical exercise. In fact, the very isolation of one’s surroundings kindles the wanderlust and if he is at all Inclined to pedestrlanism here is an excellent place to- gratify his inclination. An overland tramp is most pleasant and Invigorating. The country rises gradually from the little bay, and after one walks a few miles he looks back upon one of the world’s most Isolated towns. Proceeding, the wanderer is impressed with the awful loneliness. Few people are seen and not a tree breaks the horizon, save

here and there small patches of stunted growth which rise only a few feet above the ground. The brownish appearance of the landscape Is uninviting but when Jhe undulating hills and valleys are reached the traveler's interest quickens and he beholds the “sheep upon a thousand hills.” The animals appear to be in fair order, but how they thrive upon such a meager supply of grass and sprouts is past understanding. Yet there are nearly a million sheep on the islands and each sheep is supposed to require a pasturage of several acres. .Every year-the old animals are slaughtered for the tallow, or, to use the local term “tried down,” the returns from the wool, the tallow and the hides in a recent year amounting to more than $1,000,000. “Stone Rivers" of Quartzite. Farther inland we catch our first glimpses of what appear to be glistening streams, but on closer inspection are found to be quartzite. This substance, the particles somewhat resembling crude diamonds in shape, lies in long rows, to which the natives have given the name of “stone river.” Scientists say that these so-called “rivers” are a kind of glacier and that they are slowly moving toward the sea. • . . “What becomes of your students after they leave school?” I Inquired of the English master of the only place of learning in the islands. “Almost without exception,” he replied, “they go out to become herders of sheep or to some employment in connection with the sheep Industry.” “You see, sir, there is little for our boys to <l° outside of this one calling, yet few ofthem leave their island Lome for the great outer world.” Then the master pointed out from among his brightest pupils one little fellow perhaps fifteen years of age. “That boy”, said he. “has completed the work of the school, but he is so ambitious that for two additional years he has been going over the same course. We have no advanced classes, so this little fellow—and there are several others like him —are denied, the advantages of a training which, to my regret, we are unable to give them.”

Some people can best make their’ presence felt by their absence.

SHIP HOTEL, PORT STANLEY