The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1856-12-11

From the Washington Union, Sept. 9
Having seen in o nr:mber of our exchanges con-
Ascting reports concerning the discovery Of a valuable
guano island called New Nantucket, We have asked
and obtained leave to make the Following extract from
despatch of Commodore William Meryine, command
ing Pacific squadron, dated;
U. S. FLAG-SHIr INDEPENDENCE.
Valparaiso, June 80, 1856.
From Honolulu l directed my course to the latitude
and longitude designated by MI. George ". Benson,
agent of the American Guano Company viz
Latitude Is N, long. 176 80 W., and on the evening
oe the 18th of February, having arrived at a position
where it was deemed prudent to lay to q few hours,
the ship was hove to As miles to the eastward OF an
island known on the charts as New Nantucket
believed to be identical with the guano island, as it is
in precisely the same latitude and longitude.
On the following morning we filled away, and
steered a course that was believed would enable us to
sight the island at an early hour during the day. In
the meantime, however, the current had increased,
as determined from an altitude of the sun at elght
O'Clock A. NJ, from thirty miles in the twenty-four
hours, as experienced on the previous day, TO Sixty
miles during the anne period. This created some IN
certainty as to the real position OF the snip anu II
order to avoid getting to the windward OF the island,
the presumed line of bearing. therefore, was crossed
and recrossed in the search, but nothing was seen Of
the island until 3 o'clock 2. NJ, when 1t was discov-
cred on the weather-beam, distant about nine miles.
To regain those few miles to windward, against a
headwind and current of nearly three miles per hour,
was found to be impracticable !; and after three days
and nights of anxiety and f~ruitless efforts, [ was COM
pelled to pursue q retrOgrade course in order to reach
= position north and east that would enable me to
make another trial. On the eleventh day after-all
this time having been spent in accomplishing this OBJ
iect-the island was discovered from the t~opgallant
ward. ahead, bearing west, distant about ten miles.
Intense interest appeared to pervade all minds,
fore and aft, as the ship neared the promised "El
Dorado of the mercantile and agricultural interest
of our country. The deluSlOn, however, was but
transitory a nearer view revealed to our astonishel
vision the whole island covered with a deep greer
mantle of luxuriant vegetation, indicative, certainly,
of the strength of the soil, and heavy rains common
in this locality, as also of the worthlessness of the
deposit thereon as an article of commerce.
The value of guano is, 1 believe, determined by the
amount of ammonia which it contains, which is gen.
Grated by successive deposits of bird lime in rain-leSs
districts. That there is a large deposit of bird lime
on the island In a state of decomposition, the yegeta-
ton and great number of birds lowering over it
abundantly attest. The latter circumstance, and the
location of the island, are the only facts in the whole
statement, as sworn to by Baker and Lucas, that cor
respond with our observations, so far as it was prac-
ticable to ascertain the same.
The island is surrounded by Il dangerous reef, on
which the sea breaks very heavily, and extends all
the way to the shore. The ship ran along the reef
from the northeast end to the southwest or lee side,
rs close to the breakers as it was prudent to APP
proach-Within about two ships length, where it was
represented anchorage would be found. No bottom,
however, was found with fifty fathoms of line, and it
is believed there is not any outside of the reef or in
side sufficient for a vessel of any draught, nor was
there any perceptible passage through or over the
reef, without mourning great hazard to life.
True, there was evidence Of its having been landed
upon and occupied prior to our visit, IN the erection
CT a flagstaff ON the center of the island, and q kind
OF lookout place on the northeast end, but no visible
signs of any person were discovered, and those by
whom these were erected, must have effected a land
ing under more favorable auspices than when visited
by us.
In order that I might not be deceived by appear
ances, Lieut.. James. b. McCauley was sent in q boat.
with instructions TO approach us near to the breakers
as prudence would dictate, for the purpose of sound
ing and discovering a passage. His report is here
with enclosed, marked 8 A, > which confirms my OWL
observations.
The company sent out a frame building to be put
up for the accommodation of its agents, who were t.
maintain the possession it follows, as a matter O
course, as neither was there, that the enterprise had
been abandoned in consequence of the worthlessnes
of the deposits, and, indeed, of the non-existence o
any guano.
On the passage to the island, the agent of the com
pany expressed to me his desire that | should frs
visit another island claimed by it, on which it wa
said there was a deposit Of guano. l assured hin
that 1t would be my pleasure, as 1T was my duty, t
promote the commercial interests of our country bu
as this island was out of the direct route of that t
which my orders referred, my first duty would b
devoted to it. On taking my departure from tn
island of New Nantucket I stood to the northwary
and eastward to get into the easterly current, said t
extend across the Pacific ocean, in order to- aid me il
working far enough to windward to fetch anothe
island, situated near the equator, in longitude w.
being the same as referred to by the agent. | pre-
sumo that the statements in relation to this island
being situated IN the same latitude as the Other, bu
further east, arc as devoid of truth as those in rela
.tion to s. New Nantucket which is one of a grou
CT four islands, the most distant of which, Nel
Markets. one hundred and seyenty-two miles; tn
two nearest WORTH and "Sand'' islands-re
s~pectiyely distant 81 and 65 FIVE miles, instead of tw
hundred, as sworn to by Captains Lucas and Baker
Being disappointed in finding the easterly curren
after reaching the limits assigned to it, and bein
convinced of the utter inpossbility of beating t
windward against a trade wind and strong current
or of reaching it without pursuing u circuitous north
erly route. L abandoned further pursuit. with the in
tention of returning to Valparaiso through the South
ern Polynesian Island, touching at such as wer
accessible to this ship.
UNITED STATES FLAGSHIP, INDEPENDENCE, !
AT SEA, March Is, 1856.
SIR lin obedience to your order, 1 left this shi
in the whale boat while hovc-to close under the lee
Nantucket island, on the afternoon of the 10th inst
for the purpose of finding a practicable anchorage.
pulled as close into the outer ''breakers'' in severa
places between the points forming the lee side of til
island, as was consistent with safety, discovering II
bottom with t~hirty-six fathoms line.
The sand beach appeared to extend about ten G
twelve feet above the sea, rising abruptly, perhaps
an angle of f~orty-fve degrees. Above the sand theI
is about ten feet of vegetation, apparently shor
coarse grass and low bushes.
The breakers were not only heavy, but e%xceedingl
irregular, owing, doubtless, to the strong westerl
cuYppOt