Death of Mrs. Ada M.

Christian

THE death occurred, on Pitcairn Island, on August 5, of Mrs. Ada M. Christian, widow of the late Richard Edgar Christian, who was Chief Magistrate of the Colony. Mrs. Christian was a leading figure on the island, wield ing a strong influence in the little com munity. She was the daughter of James Russell McCoy, who was Chief Magis trate for several years.

Mrs. Christian’s grandfather was Matthew McCoy (grandson of William McCoy, of the “Bounty”). It was Matthew who, while Chief Magistrate, met with a fatal accident in 1853, at the visit of the “Virago,” the first steamship

that the Pitcairn Islanders had seen. As the vessel was about to leave, a salute from the “Bounty’s” ancient gun was to be tired. Unknown to those who loaded the gun, an old nail was in the ramrod, which had at one time been used in building. This nail caused a spark, which ignited the charge prematurely, and Matthew McCoy was killed.

There now is no one named McCoy residing on Pitcairn Island, but the name •continues at Norfolk Island.

Besides five grandchildren, Mrs. Chris tian leaves two married sons and a daughter, Mrs. Robert Young. One sister lives in Brisbane and another is a nurse in America.

The late Mrs. Christian, standing beside the ancient gravestone of John Adams, last survivor of the “Bounty” mutineers. She was his

great-great-granddaughter.