history

THE HISTORY

OF SHOPPOLIS ISLANDS

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The Balance of April, 1784

     After intense strategy sessions, the officers and the leaders of the passengers, planned a system of sorties to the high points around them. Armed teams were set up, and their missions defined. A method of communications was established based on Desmond's knowledge of islands and how people communicated. Ten teams were issued on the third day with a three-day plan that would place lookouts and investigators on all nearby high points. If there were more areas to be covered, this would be determined by those high enough to see them. Once these were established, a watch program would be set, and their new island home would have eyes day and night. There were enough men and women to man these watches, and even in the face of probable danger and threat, some of the women wanted to go on the initial missions. Their requests were politely refused. They accepted their disappointments well and waited to be assigned later. In doing so, Captain Shopp set up a target system for the women to learn small arms and blade handling.

     Until the watches were set, and the islands had been investigated, the balance of the crew and passengers could busy themselves washing and cleaning and otherwise preparing to go ashore. In steerage, the animals could sense the lands around them and seemed impatient to go ashore. Obviously they could smell what they wanted. The scientific staff prepared to sample the local growth, the fishermen were already peering over the sides and dropping lines. Those who had trades were breaking out their tools and getting them ready for use. Women played with children who scampered from stem to stern, and the ladies of the forecastle, a bit self-conscious at first, began to mingle with the other women and were slowly accepted into the fold.

     Anisette went so far as to approach one of the women from the passengers and introduce herself as part of the crew and the ship. The woman laughed and pointed out that after almost nine months aboard, it was time to understand that the ship had no passengers anymore, and that they were all either crewmembers or settlers, but there were no longer any distinctions. Anisette eyed the Captain and smiled. He looked off toward the west island and leaned on the rail. His mood was somber; his manner tight. Next to him was a hastily constructed box, and in it, lay the body of a young woman who had died within site of the islands. During any voyage there were numerous close-calls and occasional injuries due to life aboard a sailing ship, but the only great misfortune that befell the Prize Mary took place within miles of the islands. Miss Doreen DuChamp, sparked by Franklin Ogilvie, of the crew, fell from a yardarm on the mainmast and died of her injuries.

     Doreen would be carried ashore soon and buried in her new home, a place she would never see. Ogilvie, normally not permitted on the quarterdeck because of his rank, stood next to the box and kept vigil because he felt he was responsible for the mishap. Once she was ashore, buried and honored, Franklin would remain in solace, apart from the group for a period of time under the personal care of the ship's surgeon. Eventually, he recovered somewhat from his sorrow, retired from the sea and took up residence on SI until his death in 1853 at 90. He placed flowers on Doreen’s grave every week for his entire life even after marrying Tiger Droschool in 1786. He helped raise her two children by a previous marriage, Priam and Keldon, along with their own five children, Gaylen, John, Sara, Schooner and Page. After his death, Tiger continued to place the flowers until her death. Since that gray day, SI officials arranged for a permanent installation of flowers to this day.

     Out of the total of 342 people, the surviving 341 were quite healthy and more than ready to apply their talents and energies. The Prize Mary remained at her position in the middle of the bay, and slowly, life aboard ship moved ashore into the flatlands and new clearings. This temporary sanctuary would eventually be named Shoppolis City, the capitol of Shoppolis Islands. All monies were placed into a central vault for further investment, which proved to be more than profitable for all hands. New life began at last.

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