A Man On An Isle With A

This Month's Silliest Story

Chimpanzee

THE Australian press was in a rash of headlines and convulsions of conjecture from September 11 onwards over the discovery of a “cast away” on remote Henderson Island.

He had with him a bow and some arrows—and a chimpanzee. This latter—failing the usual “beautiful blonde” —created a situation designed by Providence for the whetting of Press appetites.

The Flying Walrus, a 37-ft ketch, owned and sailed by John and Diane Wells, arrived in Tahiti in June from Vancouver, after lengthy wanderings in French Oceania (see June PIM) ; and left again mid- July.

Some weeks later, the yacht called at Henderson Island (about 100 miles north-east of Pitcairn) and landed an American named Tomarchin, with considerable gear (including flippers and a bow and arrows and the chimpanzee).

On Saturday, September 7, the liner Corinthic, after examining tiny Henderson (not an atoll, but palm-clad, about 100 feet high, about 5 miles by 2 miles, uninhabited, but visited regularly by Pitcairners) radioed that there was a man wandering around.

Immediately, of course, the whole Australasian newspaper press erupted.

Where was Henderson? Was it a “desert” island? How did you get there?

The choicest morsel came from the Australian broadcast news; Someone in Fiji said this might be a survivor from the Joyita— although there are thousands of miles and thousands of islands be tween the place where the Joyita lost her crew (northeast of Fiji), and Henderson, which is on the South American side of French Oceania—to say nothing of two years in time.

The Governor of Fiji (responsible for the little group comprising Pit cairn, Henderson, Oeno, and Ducie) asked Pitcairn to send a boat and investigate.

But before the Pitcairners could leave, an American freighter, Pioneer Isle, alerted by radio, called at

Henderson, and found Tomarct and took him into her surf-be with his chimpanzee. When the su boat returned to the Pioneer T however, the captain refused to e bark the chimpanzee aboard.

Tomarchin refused to be separai from his pet, and was put back the island.

The Pitcairners, accompanied SDA Pastor Hawke then m: the whaleboat voyage and t; Tomarchin and his monkey back Pitcairn.

Statements reported to have b made by Tomarchin since he arri at Pitcairn are vague. The c definite thing that has emergec that he is one of these perambu. ing people which the Pao frequently has to endure: they b vide occasional excitement for world’s press—and great expe and trouble for Pacific Island i ernments.

Tomarchin apparently is some of entertainer and has been aroi Fiji, Western Samoa and Tahit:; the last few months. He said t he had been on Henderson foi days (although other staterm. suggested that he was not there long); that he got off the ys because he and his monkey t sea-sick; that the Wells prom to call back for him in four • and take him to Panama —althc he is also reported to have said the ketch was on a voyage to Zealand. With him on Hende; he appears to have had piles; gear, including “a beautifully iJ trated natural science book; microscope and several sc precious stones” —all of which H said to have presented to the sch children on Pitcairn.

Another trans-Pacific yachts has suggested that Toman thought that there was bv treasure on Henderson and thas had previously tried to hitch aj there. This could add up. It is It that after a few days on. treasure island he was as fee: with it as he had been on j ketch voyage, and took the qui»j means off.

Late News:

Rarotonga, Sept. 19: The Wells,.i have arrived here on ketch Walrus” deny that they promised back and pick up Tomarchin. He chai them in Papeete to land him on Hen* which they did on Aug. 6. He planu stay there until next visit there oo cairners and had stores for several mn Ketch visited Pitcairn before goiii Mangareva. Pitcairners were the aware of Tomarchin’s presence on HI son.