Lone Voyagers At

Pitcairn

By Ada M. Christian

ON Christmas morning the call of “Sail-ho” was sounded, and soon every person on the Island knew that a schooner had been sighted, beat ing its way from the west. As it came nearer it could be plainly seen that it was one-masted—no larger than one of our home-made boats.

Our men were waiting to go off to meet her, when, on her last tack off Bounty Bay, she went right on toward the north and was soon lost to sight. Pleasant excitement turned to bitter disappoint ment, and many opinions were expressed as to her probable business. That she was a pleasure boat was thought to be absurd, under the circumstances.

Her identity was revealed two days later when a twp-masted ketch, the “Karlchris,” arrived, carrying Captain and Mrs. Gessler and Mr. Gene Zabrisky.

They had been in Tahiti prior to the outbreak of the Pacific war,' and had subsequently decided to return to the United States, via Mangareva, and some of the South Pacific islands. They said that the owner of the one-masted boat sighted two days previously, was sailing alone, and that the two boats had left Mangareva together, beating against head winds. The “Karlchris,” setting a course to the south, had taken 11 days to reach Pitcairn. The other boat stood to the north, and arrived a little sooner. The “Karlchris” had to anchor off Pitcairn for 14 days, waiting for a favourable wind.

The crew of the “Karlchris” took turns alternately on watch on the ketch and visiting Islanders’ homes. Captain Gess ler, to the Pitcairners’ interest, made a descent in his diving helmet to the wreck of the “Cornwallis.” When the ketch moved on to USA it was the end of some happy days for the Pitcairners.

Mr. Roy P. Clark has been appointed postmaster, and Mr. Andrew C. Young, Islands Secretary, of Pitcairn Island, for another two years, from January, 1943.