90 ST. HELENA 



In 1875 a barque, the Elizabeth, was fitted as a whaler 

 and manned chiefly by island men, but the whaling industry 

 has slackened much in these waters since that date. In 

 1878 another heavy flood occurred, and, bringing huge 

 boulders before it, rushed through the culvert and over- 

 flowed, spreading destruction in its course. It broke 

 through the churchyard into the streets of Jamestown, 

 ruining much house property as well as the stores of the 

 merchants. Two lives were lost. The water, after rush- 

 ing through the main street, spread on the lower parade, 

 rising to a great height before it could make its way through 

 the line gate, in the pillars of wliich a stone is placed mark- 

 ing the height to which the water rose. 



In 1879 came the terrible news of the disaster at 

 Isandhlwana, and the troops from the garrison were im- 

 mediately embarked on H.M.S. Shah for Natal on Feb- 

 mary 12. 



In 1880 the Empress Eugenie called here on her way 

 from her visit to tiic grave of her son in South Africa. She 

 was entertained by the Governor at the Castle, but no 

 festivities marked her call, out of respect to her deep 

 mourning. She visited the tomb and Long\vood, and then 

 re-embarked on the Trojan. 



In this year too, his Royal Highness Prince Albert 

 Heinrich of Prussia (grandson of Her Majesty Queen 

 Victoria) arrived in the German frigate Prinz Adalbert. 



1881 saw the arrival of Sir Frederick Roberts. He was 

 on his way to the Cape, but landed to distribute the South 

 African war-medals to tiie detachment of 91st Highlanders 

 who had lately returned from Zululand. The new road 

 leading from the upper part of Jamestown direct to Ladder 

 Hill was cut in 1882, and the poorhouse, with a lunatic 

 asylum attached, was built in the town. On Governor 

 Janisch's death Colonel Blunt, then commanding the 

 Royal Engineers, was appointed ; and during his term of 

 governorship the Hon. W. Grey Wilson was Colonial 

 Secretary'. Wlien Colonel Blunt returned to England, 

 Grcv Wilson was appointed Acting Governor, and under 

 his able administration the island was relieved of its burden 

 of debt. In this year, 1887, a serious outbreak of measles 

 took place. As it was forty years since the last visitation. 



