Thoughtfully curated historical journalism
Life in Moist, Cool Islands Made Harder Than Usual by Frequent Crop Failures of Recent Years.
Large groups of “crofters” or small farmers, emigrating from the Hebrides because they assert the climate there has changed, bringing about crop failures, draw attention to these islands off the west shore of Scotland.
“Life in the Hebrides whether because of climatic or social conditions, has always been rather hard.” says a bulletin in regard to the islands from the headquarters here of the National Geographic Society. “This part of Scotland is bleak, cool, and very moist. Vegetation does not grow luxuriantly, and the annual temperature has only a few degrees to fall in order that the danger point be reached. Turnips and potatoes are the chief standbys among the vegetables, while barley and oats grow fairly well. Pasturage is good, and stock raising is really the industry best adapted to the Islands: but this fact is of small value to the ‘crofters’ or small farmers. The cattle are raised, rather, on large estates.
A letter dated Sidney, New South Wales, March 13, published in the San Francisco Alta of a late date, gives the following account or a terrible shipwreck, and loss of human life in the Pacific Ocean:
A terrible shipwreck has occurred in Torres Straits, attended with fearful loss of life. The Gothenburg, Cap’ain Pearce, sailed from Port Darwin on February 16, having on board eighty-five passengers and a crew of thirty-six. Fine weather was experienced until February 24, when it came on thick and hazy, blowing strong from the northwest, attended with violent squalls, with thunder and lightning. At 7 p. m., during a violent squall, the steamer struck suddenly on the rocks, which proved to be Flinders’ reef. She went steam on, and bored up with such force that when stationary there was only two feet under the forefoot, and five fathoms astern. Captain Pearce ordered all empty casks to be brought aft and filled with water, to bring the ship by the stern, and when this was done the engines were put stern full speed, but without the desired result of backing her off the reef. The tide was at full flood at 11 p. m., and again the engines were worked astern, but with no better result.
Washington, May 12, 1861
There are plenty of spies In the very midst of the federal troops here and elsewhere, but there being no declaration of war made, they cannot be treated as spies, they must be proved to be traitors to their country and dealt with as such.
At a battalion drill yesterday of the Fifth Massachusetts regiment, under command of Lieutenant Colonel Greene, a deep ditch was made in the suburbs of the City, over which the troops were exercised in charging, in order to accustom them to all the emergencies of actual service. Col. Greene and his command won much applause by their excellent and soldierly display.
By Mary S. Freeman (Wellfleet)
Four spring arrivals which precede April 19th by a few days, all arriving about the same time, include mayflowers, “peewinks”, (elsewhere I note they are called “peepers”), herring and dried apple pies! All are welcome additions to spring, barring the dried apple pies, which only fill in, so to speak, between time when winter apples lose in quantity and flavor and new ones are in the market.