The Philip B. Petersen Collection Broadcast October 31, 1990

     On April 28, 1789, while the HMS Bounty was sailing in the South Pacific, Fletcher Christian, the first mate, and some of the crew mutinied because of the harsh treatment by the captain, William Bligh.  Bligh and some sailors loyal to him were set adrift in a small boat that eventually made its way to the Dutch East Indies.
     Meanwhile, the mutineers returned to Tahiti but, fearing discovery, set sail for tiny Pitcairn Island because they knew it was uninhabited and far away from any other land.
     After landing, they burned the Bounty and were not discovered until 20 years later.  By that time they were living a happy, peaceful life sharing most everything they had with each other.
     The present day islanders are all descended from the only remaining mutineer, John Adams and his Tahitian family.  Many of their last names are those of the original mutineers.
     They get most of the food from the land and sea.  They do not pay taxes, and obtain income from the sale of special postage stamps, handcrafts and woodcarvings they sell to visiting yachtsmen and cruise passengers.
     The island's population reached a peak in the mid-1930s of 233, but since then many have immigrated, mostly to New Zealand.  By 1990, the population dwindled to 56 descendants.  There is concern if they can survive on the island if the decline continues.
     Except for a ship that makes the eight-day trip from New Zealand about four times a year and an occasional cruise ship, they have little person-to-person contact with the outside world.  This probably accounts for the fact that seven of their total population of 56 are licensed radio amateurs.  Tom Christian, whose call letters are VR6TC, is the great-great-great-great-grandson of Fletcher Christian, the leader of the Bounty mutineers.
     During the year 1990, they used the special amateur radio call sign VP6200/PI that signified they held their 200th anniversary and wanted to share it with their amateur radio friends who contacted them with congratulations and good wishes.  Many sent their personal QSL cards confirming this important milestone in the life of the descendants of the Bounty mutineers as they entered their third century together on tiny Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific.

October 31, 1990

** Broadcasts recordings preserved and presented here by Mr. Robert Buss and Mr. Bernie Ricciardi, Phil's friends and fellow Marconi Chapter 138 QCWA members **

Page updated January 22, 2004  page created June 11, 2001