NORFOLK ISLAND NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19806, 29 November 1927, Page 15

NORFOLK ISLAND NOTES.

DEATHS OF TWO SETTLERS.

[rKOAr OCR OWN* CORRESPONDENT. ] NORFOLK ISLAND. Nov. 25.

Of the sturdy baud of settlers who migrated from Pifcciairn Island to Norfolk Island 71 years ago, only 10 remain alive. Mr. Fortesque Buftet, one of the migrants, passed away at his home, Steel's Point, on October 30, aged 85. He had been in failing health for some time. On the previous day he looked in at a local cricket match and then tended bis wife's grave at the cemetery. In the course of the night his malady became worse and be died before morning. He was buried the same day—some 24 hours after his last visit to the cemetery.

A popular Islander, Mr. Tilly Adams, died on November 20. While he was crossing a dairy yard a nail punctured his shoe, and inflicted a skin wound on his foot. The injury appeared iQsicnifi cant, but serious complications developed with great rapidity. Dr Duke ordered his removal to the hospital, where every possible attention was given him, but with little avail. Dr. Robertson, who was visiting the island, gave every assistance, and it was decided as a last resource, to amputate the limb- The patient had shown the utmost fortitude throughout his illness, but the disease had made too much headway and he succumbed during the night. He leaves a widow and grownup family of three. Mr. Adams was an outstanding personality on the island. A man of big stature, nature had endowed him with great strength. It is on record that he once lifted and carried with one hand a blacksmith's anvil. As a wrestler he was an unbeaten champion, and not one of the wild rough whalers who visited the island in the early days could aeTeat him. Ho was a mighty swimmer. Many years ago Mr. Adams was one of the principals in a romantic episode. At that time be, was one of the local constables. A schooner, the Welcome Home, was anchored off Kingston, and one of the crew absconded, and was searched for high and low. One evening Mr. Adams espied the man emerging from under an empty house, and arrested him. The sailor begged hard to be released, and told Adams th&t if he put bim on | board the schooner ho would be responsible for his life, as the vessel was absolutely unse*worthy, and would nev*r reach Sydney. The argument prevailed, snd the sailor was directed to a peach grove and melon patch in a gully, where lie was to hide until the vessel had gone. The Welcome Homo sailed for Sydney, without the absconder, and was never heard of again, hi due time the sailor married the niece of his preserver, and has become one of five most up-to-date and prosperous settlers on the island.