We owe almost all of the objects on this page to Marc English, a grandson of Joe English who was rescued from Christmas Island in 1919, having been marooned on that island for almost 2 years.
He gave us a PDF-copy of his grandfather's photobook from his time in the islands. I placed all photos here on this page. They come from Christmas Island, Fanning Island and Hawaii.
At the moment (Mid-March 2023) Marc visits Kiritimati - Christmas Island, the Island where his grandfather was marooned.
postmark in the photo album
Christmas Island postmark in Joe's photo album
The schooner Ysabel May and images from Christmas Island
Some crew members of the ship. Images thanks to Marc English, credit to the photo album of Joe English at Hawaii, Christmas & Fanning Island in 1916-19.
Ysabel May
Ysabel May
Ysabel May
built: Lunenberg, Nova Scotia, 1910
registered: Halifax, Nova Scotia
schooner: 1910
motorship: 1911
construction: wood
length: 98' 5"
beam: 25' 3"
depth of hold: 10'
net tonnage: 80
gross tonnage: 123
Father Emmanuel Rougier purchased the Ysabel May in 1916 from A. J. Bechtel of Victoria, B.C. She was at first equipped with a gas
engine but this was found to be too small. In San Francisco she has undergone a complete overhauling with the installation of an 80 hp
Union engine.The rig was changed to a two mast schooner.
Crew #1
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #2
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #3
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #4
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #5
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #6
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #7
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #8
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #9
Crewman Ysabel May
Crew #10
Crewman Ysabel May
All images thanks to Marc English, credit to the photo album of Joe English at Christmas Island in 1916-19. I used the captions from Joe English in his album on the big images.
However, there are some pictures here for which I can't decide whether they belong to Christmas Island or Fanning Island.
Boat House near Paris Station
"Boat house among coconut palms at Paris Station Christmas Island"
The famous dock
"The famous dock at Christmas Island"
Motu Manu Settlement
"Motu Manu Settlement and Flag Pole. All are Coconut Palms"
Sail Boat
"One of our small sail boats for work and pleasure"
Towing Copra
"Ready to tow a load of Copra to ...... (unreadable)"
Overseer Anderson
"Anderson was an overseer, he never left the wads, afraid of the natives"
Wild Plant
" ..... the only wild growth on Christmas Islnd"
Entrance to Lagoon
"Point of Cook Island entrance to Lagoon on Christmas Island"
Canoe in the lagoon
"Native canoe under sail in the lagoon - 14 knots"
Racing Canoe
"A racing canoe, hndled under sail by the native capable of making 20 knots."
Kites
hard to read: "Their chief afoot is to fly enormous kites ....."
Path & Cocos
"Path through Cocos"
Pandanus
"Pandanus"
Young Bird
"A young ..... numerous birds on CHristmas Island"
Polonia Station
"Polonia Station Lagoon Side"
Coconut Tree
"What the South Seas are noted for: Coconuts. This tree is showing the result of cultivation and will bear
between 700 and 800 cocnuts a year. Anderson under the tree."
Overseer Anderson
"Anderson was an overseer, he never left the wads, afraid of the natives"
Manager Malinowski
"Charles Malinowski, manager, governor of the island, a former soldier, who arrived in New Caledonia in 1913
to work at the Society for Makatea phosphates (which will be convened soon after in Papeete for the review board and locally engaged as Acting Police Commissioner!"
(Source: Chrstian Beslu)
Joe is fishing
"(I my-)Self fishing in bay at south-west-pont of Christmas Island)"
Cocos Palms
No text - Cocos palms
Bridge over Lagoon
"Bridge over entrance to one of the small lagoon bays"
From Christmas Island Joe English came to Fanning Island, where he stayed some time and tried to get some money from Rougier in San Francisco.
There are lots of Fanning Island photos in his album too. Many of these were made by the "official" P.C.B. photographer W.R. Peters, stationed at Fanning island from 1914 to 1920.
After the German visit in 1914:
Operating Room
""After German Visit: Operating Room
Power House
""After German Visit: Power House
Power House
""After German Visit: Power House
Power House
""After German Visit: Power House
Cable Co. Staff
"Pacific Cable Company Staff at Fanning Island"
Cable Co. Staff
"Off Duty and Taking Things Soft"
Celebrating end of war
"Celebrating the termiantion of the World War. Fanning Island
Co. Officers and some cable People."
Fanning Island Co.
"Capt. Sail and First Officer Donahue with Whitelaw of the P.B.C., Hugh Greig, Willie Greig and Al Brown of
Fanning Island Company and chief Machinist Christian Knight(?)"
S.S. Kestrel
"S.S: Kestrel of the Fanning Island Company. This Company controls the island and is not connected with the P.C.B."
Kestrel was first chartered after the German attack in 1914."
Fanning Island Co.
"Head of Fanning Island Copra Company with staff and British Commissioner also Hertalet (?) G?.P.C.P."
Some people
"Corte(?) - Christian - Dr. Hutchinson - Blakely - Mrs. Dr. - Same
Tea before the start
"Tea before the start of the tournament"
Tea before the start
"Serving tea before the game starts"
Cable Operators
"Cable Operators watching tennis tournament wit their wifes"
Watching the Game
"Watching the game"
Watching the Game
"Watching the game"
Watching the Game
"Never tired of wathing tennis"
Watching the Game
"Watching the game"
The Court
"View on the Court"
Bundle serving
"Bundle serving - he lost"
Halstead serv.
"Halstead serving - winner of tournament"
Finals
"Watching the final singles"
Finalss
"Watching the final singles"
Holiday
"Holiday at Fanning - Cable operators and wifes"
Tuna caught
"Tuna caught at Fanning Island"
Felix Hill
"Felix Hill Up a Tree" - cable operator for Pacific Cable Board P.C.B."
Walt Peters
"Walt Peters likewise" - Walt R. Peters was P.C.B. engineer and inofficial "chief photographer" on Fanning.
George Whitelaw P.C.B.
"George Whitelaw P.C.B."
Whitelaw
"George Whitelaw P.C.B."
Jimmy (who?)
"Jimmy Gettuce(??) one of the superiors of the (Board?)"
On sentry
"On sentry duty at Fanning Island 145 miles north of CHristmas Island"
Cargo Crane
"Dock and Cargo Crane at Fanning Island"
Outrigger Canoe
"Outrigger Canoe"
unknown
unknown
Coconut Crab
"Coconut Crab"
Young Bird
"Young Booby Bird - Sula Piscator"
Felix Hill
"Felix Hill, wireless man at Fanning Island H.M.R.N. (.... Royal Navy"
Man & Fish
"Two Fish (?)"
Halstead
"Halstead of Fanning Island with Sea Brass"
Joe English was quite wrong with "H.M.S.": - this 259grt schooner belonged to the Pacific Cable Board.
Source: Ships Nostalgia
Tangaroa Pacific Cable Board
"Pacific Cable Board owned the newly built (1917 Morrison and Sinclair) TANGAROA, Captain Menmuir, 259grt. Sold in 1924
Nobel Explosives Co. and renamed PIRI: Scuttled in 1975 in Asia.
Boatsman
Tangaroa
Mr. Robuck boatsman on the Tangaroa
King Joe on board
"King Joe of Christmas Island has just been put on board H.M.S. Tangaroa Dec 6, 1919.
King Joe on board
"Three cheers and farwell to King of Christmas Island by Dr. Hutchins and cable operators.
Dec 6, 1919, 3.30 P-M. depart for Honolulu."
On rthe way back from Christmas Island to the U.S. Joe was in Hawaii for a couple of days. Here are his pictures from there.
(I hope I recognised all the Hawaii images correctly.) ("Cuptal Heights" is unknown everywhere - maybe it should mean Capital Heights)
Moana Hotel
Closer View of the Moana Hotel at Waikiki Beach ....
Moana Hotel
Closer View of the Moana Hotel at Waikiki Beach ....(optimised with computer)
King Joe Store
Palace of King Joe Store and store rooms in rear. Observation tower on right for wind, rain and approaching heavy surfs.
King Joe Store
Palace of King Joe Store and store rooms in rear. Observation tower on right for wind, rain and
approaching heavy surfs ....(optimised with computer)
Diamond Head
Diamond Head from Sea Side Hotel, Waikiki Beach
Diamond Head
Diamond Head from Sea Side Hotel, Waikiki Beach.....(optimised with computer)
Diamond Head
Diamond Head and Part of Wakiki Beach, Honolulu
Diamond Head
Diamond Head and Part of Wakiki Beach, Honolulu.....(optimised with computer)
Moana Hotel
Moana Hotel Waikiki Beach Distant View.....
Moana Hotel
Moana Hotel Waikiki Beach Distant View.....(optimised with computer)
Cuptal Heights
On the way to Cuptal Heights and Hairpin Curve.
Cuptal Heights
On the way to Cuptal Heights and Hairpin Curve ..... (optimised with computer)
Cuptal Heights
Cuptal Heights and the Hairpin Curve - Honolulu lies in the valley below
Cuptal Heights
Cuptal Heights and the Hairpin Curve - Honolulu lies in the valley below ..... (optimised with computer)
Close to Tarantula
Close to the summit of Tarantula, Honolulu I.H.
Close to Tarantula
Close to the summit of Tarantula, Honolulu I.H. ..... (optimised with computer)
In his photo album Joe English says "Tarantula Summit, highest point on the Island of Oahu"
but this is the Mount Kaala, Oahu's tallest peak, sits 4,010 feet above sea level on the northern most end of the island. I think Joe
mixed this up with the expression "Mount Tantalus" which is about 2000 feet high and the famous "Tantalus Trail". I don't know what
he means with "Cuptal Heights". Tantalus Drive together with Round top Drive is well known scenic loop way.
Tarantula
Tarantula Summit, highest point on the Island of Oahu
Tarantula
Tarantula Summit, highest point on the Island of Oahu...... (optimised with computer)
Round Top Mountain
Self - Paesch - Chriatian on Round Top Mountain Honolulu
Round Top Mountain
Self - Paesch - Chriatian on Round Top Mountain Honolulu...... (optimised with computer)
Return from Round Top
Chatman - Self - Paesch eating Guavas on return from Round Top
Return from Round Top
Chatman - Self - Paesch eating Guavas on return from Round Top...... (optimised with computer)
In Joe English's photo album were a lot of photos showing natives from the surrounding islands, I think mainly gilbertese, who were "hired" by "labour traders"
for a spedified time for work on Christmas or Fanning Island. As the photos are very interesting and Joe kept them in his album I show them here too. I cannot
decide which photos were taken at Christmas Island and which on Fanning. Somtimes I think I had a good guess ans wrote so.
Mixed Group
Mixed group of people
Mixed Group
Mixed group of people
Mixed Group
Native girls and English cable operators at Fanning Island. The chain of flowers signifies that the boys are in love - native customs.
Mixed Group
Jennings - Marshall - Anderson - Maliniowski paid mor attention to the girls than to the work. (more unreadable)
Mixed Group
One of my first white overseers Mr. Anderson and his servants Patuti and Mati.
Self Mixed Group
"Self and ring tails".
Self Mixed Group
"Some of my darlings and self".
Another mixed Group
Another Group - no comment from Joe English here.
Another mixed Group
Another Group - no comment from Joe English here.
Five Teens
"The oldes is 18!" Gilbertese Teenagers.
Large Group
"Would you like them tochase you - I bet you wouldn't!"
Group of four
"Pouaana - Tutu - Tauarii - Tuitui"
Native women
No comment from Joe English. Native women, a child
Terii Na - Mahana - Poiri
"Terii Na - Mahana - Poiri"
Four Women
"Harameia - Papio - Tuan - Ava"
Four Girls
"Ready for the hierninic(??) - a sacred song"
Man & 2 Women
No comment in Joes album. A man and two women"
No shoes..
"All dressed but alas no shoes for such feet"
Gilbert Islanders
"A family of Gilbert Islanders"
Five Women
"Tian - Neirei - Patisii - Neirei - Schiera (?)"
Two Natives
"Two Natives building a racing canoe. They make their lumber and boards from the Tanna tree as seen in the photo."
Female Natives
"Female Natives"
Wife and Kid
"Wife and kid: Afa and Pieantapu(??)"
Three women
"Mona - Roti - Inaane (?)"
Policeman Family
"Native Policeman and Family"
Two men
"Pakoi and Parkeram(?) - two Rogues."
Ianishini
"Ianishini"
Policeman
"Policeman and family"
Proud Native
Joe wrote: "Raatiraa Hitoti Taalukuaa - Kiua (?)"
One Girl
Joe wrote: "Neinei Patirii This is the ..... native .... dress...."
One Girl
Joe wrote: "Tiotofoo ready for the Hulahula"
Two Girls
Joe wrote: "Partners in Hulhul and Deviltry"
Play after Work
"After work comes play - Hula Hula dancers about to start."
Two young Girls
Two young girls"
A young Man
A young man"
Two Men
"unreadable - the right one : Terii."
A Woman
?? "Hakon says: Aita peapea marahei na on ahu omono" "Oh she does not care for the high cost of dresses?".
A Woman
?? "Ratiraa Pomari - Queen of ....."
A Woman
?? "Class to Tagara(??)"
A Man
?? "Class to Tagara(??)"
A Man
A Man
A Man
A Man