The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-12
THE BONN ISLANDS S!
Death Of Governor Nathaniel savory, the Patri
arch o. the Community-The Deed of Com
modore Perry's Possessions in the Har-
Dor Of Port Lloyd-An Excellent
Site for q Naval Station.
WASHINGTON, June 10, 1874.

Site for Naval Citation.
WASHINGTON, June TO- 1874
Since the receipt OF Commander George r.
Belknap's report of the deep sea soundings for .
cable route between the Hawaiian Islands and
Japan and hts remarkable discovery OF range OF
submarine volcanic mountains l have obtained
access to another document forwarded BY the
same ofiicer which gives a detailed account OF the
condition IN which he found the islands OF the
BONN group, their natural advan tages as station
for naval vessels, and the action OF Com mOdOres
Perry and Rodgers toward securing and taxing
possession OF this group as United States naval
station.
DEATH OF AN ISLAND PATRIARCH.
Commander BeKnap states that upon his arrtvu4
at Port Lloyd situated on Peel Island he found that
Nathaniel Savory, the patriarch OF the islanaa.
had died April 10, 1874 only six days previously.
Nathaniel Savory was born at Bradford, Mass,
In June. 1894, and had lived on Peel island Tor
forty-four years. having emigrated from Honolulu
In 1880.
For many years the people living In the group
had no form Of government or laws whatever. In
1854, however, simple form OF goyernm ent was
adopted and Sayory was elected caief magistrate
OF the little Republic, with the title OF Governor.
This government was in force In 1856, when the
japanese expedition visited the group.
THE HARBOR PURCHASE MADE BY COMMODORE
PERRY.
Commodore Perry believed strongly in the ncces-
slty OF owning ana occupying some or the many
groups Of lslands Ia the Western Ocean as q sta
ton for naval supplies aud point OF rendezvous,
and, with this object IN view, purchased OF the
"Republic OF Bonin," through It's Governor, a part
OF the harbor OF Port Lloyd possession or the
United States He believed that the United States
woald take possession OF aud annex the group,
ana to that the Inhabitants were Iully agreed.
the American squadron, and lett IN his possession
the deed ior the purchase OF the land above mem
should only be delivered ut some future time TO
such person or persons Us saould be duly author
lied to receive it on the part OF and in behalf OF the
government OF The United states.
Sav0ry retained the deed as agreed upon. and at
his death recently conveyed hts trust to his sous,
with instructions to deliver 1t should 1t ever be
demanded This deed commander Bclknap saw.
conveyed Is amply suitable In everything for Q
The BONN Islands form the western group OF tho
Magellan archipelago, and extend from north to
IS deg. north and from 500 to eco miles southeast
OF Yokohama, Japan, IN longitude l43 deg east OK
ama oI ae wac huMoee ao sra @ large
On the largest OF these, Peel Island. Port Lloyd -
situated, which has fine harbor, with good an
chOrage for the accommodation or large neet.
The Inhabitants on Peel Island now number
sixty-fve persons OF various nationalites two or
whom are Americana, who support themselves by
turtling ana the cultivation OF the small patches
OF arabic land found in the contracted valleys be-
tween and ut the base OF the rocky Inns which
constitute the principal feature OF the Islands.
Tae entire population Of the group IS about 200.
form OF government in 1854, Savory was elected
Governor; he held the ONCE for i've years, ana
person on the islands capable OF flIing the ONCE,
and as Commander Belknap expresses the matter,
,.rhe ere restraints s and usases OF government soon
Some years since party OF Japanese established
themselves at Port LLOYD, but remained less than
w
been no laws since 1859 to regulate the aalrs and
relations Of the people, except such as the mutual
dispositions have dictated
A LAwLEsS UsURPER.
just now this independent goyernment-acking
republic is In great trouble from interloper
VINO has come among them, one Captain Pease, an
his lawess acts OF violence, and Captain Beisnap
thinks, perhaps with good reason, and says
while attached to the United States steamer Resaca.
| on the Pacific station about two years since, that
and arrest II possible Captain Pease, whom it
was supposed had been guilty Of lawess conduct
Thls Captain Peas e. rom ali r that Could be
gathered, IS probably the same person; and II so,
Is , believed the complaints made against him
fully inquired into. Commander Beknap did not
see the lawless Pease as that worthy was absent
PRODUCTS OF THE ISLANDS.
When Commodore Perry visited these islands be
landed a number OF cattle and sheep. Com
mander Bel8nap endeavored TO procure fresh
sioe. the beasts landed By the Commodore had
been killed within few months alter he left, but
as the much complained OF Captain Pease
brought seventeen head OF cattle with MIN and .
Frenchlnan has SIX more aud lew sheep on
aSas viii Ss ss q a new bse cattle n
Fresh meat is easily DRAINED, however. Tor Peel
Island is full OF goats, and StapIeton Island is said
to be fairly overrun with deer.
gentleman here, who was on board one OF the
vessels OF the Rodgers surveying expedition or
1856. states that the turtle at that time were SO
plentiful that they were decided nuisance in the
harbors yet Commodore .BelKnap writes that the
turtle-whlcn the islanders kill for It's oil, which
Is used tor cooklng-is getting scarcer every year,
owing to the indiscriminate slaughter.
days in Port Lloyd the supply caught was ample
Tor the whole ships company
Sweet potatoes pumpkins and onions can be oo-
tanned in moderate supply all the year round, and
green corn, melons, bananas and pineapples are
plenty in the summer ana fall months.
small patches OF sugar cane were seen. which
seemed to thrive, and the belief Is expressed that
the soil and climate are well adapted to that pro-
duct.
COMMUNICATION WITH THE GREAT WORLD
Seven American whalers visited che Islands dur
ing the past year, and 1t is by this class OF ner~
with the outside world Is carried on. Merchant
vessels seldom touched there OF late years and IL Ii
from the whaers that the people obtain all their
supplies or clothing. groceries and hardware. All
OF these isauds, large well as small heavily
wooded and well watered. so that ships have no
difficulty In watering at Port Lloyd.
GOVERNOR sAyoRY's DYING INJUNCTION.
When Governor Savory died, In April last, he
called his family about him during his last mo
deed spoken OF, and whenever American ships
came there TO ask them to take possession of the
islands He told them that they had number or
relatives in Massachusetts, and enjoined upon his
family that they should endeavor to have his death
published In the Boston papers 1T the earliest OPP
Belknap, 'let. considerable fortune In hard
money! as well as In other property.