The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-07-28
an ISLAND GRABBER.
England Annexing Islands in the
Hawaiian Group.
The Cruise Of the British Mar-of-War Cham.
pion and What 1t Means-Johnston Isl.
and Seized Few Days Ago.

According to the latest advices from
Honolulu the British Government, follow
ing its traditional policy, Is actively en-
gagged in anneXing such stray islands in the
Pacific Ocean as its gunboats may find un-
occupied. On July Is the British man. Of
war Champion left Honolulu and steamed
away to the southwest. II was reported
that the object of her cruise was to seize
Johnston Island, which lies 40 miles south
west of Oahu.
Johnston Island, according to the various
charts. does not seem to belong to any ma
ton. The officials of the United States
photographic Office in this city are of the
opinion that about six months ago the
Americans In possession applied to the
State Department to have it taken under
the jurisdiction of the United States. Mr..
Mckinley, the Hawaiian Consul in this
city, says he never heard OF this island and
il is no part Of the Hawaiian group. He
had no intimation that this Government had
made any claim to the island. About four
years ago the Hawaiian Government had
dispatched vessel to take possession of an
island about 600 or 700 miles from Honolulu,
but whether or NOT il was Johnston Island
could not be said.
Johnston or CORVALLIS Island consists of
O number OF rocky isets on a coral bot
tom. Very little vegetation Is to be found
half mile in diameter. The Pacific Guano
Company raised the American flag here
some time ago.
Another explanation of the cruise OF the
Champion Is that the British Government is
surveying a route for telegraph cable
from New ZEALAND to Honolulu. A Gov
eminent official in this city says that about
two and a half years ago the British gun
boats were working through the Samoan
group and seized several small islands de-
siTable as stations. One of the islands had
been taken POSSESSION OF by an American,
who had hOisted the stars and stripes over
the place. At first he refused to allow the
men from the British vessel to land. but
finally consented with the understanding that
they might have station. There was no
British occupation of his domain. The
gentleman who gave this information says
that in all probability the Americans on
Johnston Island have exhausted the guano
there and moved away, and that the Eng
lish desire the place for one of their stations
as il is the nearest island TO Honolulu, on
the route of the proposed cable
NOlney Ashford, who has long resided IN
Honolulu, was seen at the Occidental Hotel
last night and questioned regarding the
wholesale seizure of stray islands by the
British Government; Mr. Ashford said he
had never heari of Johnston or Corn
wallis Island. He appealed 10 several other
gentlemen lately from Honolulu, and they
agreed with him in not knowing OF
the existence of such an island. Mr.
Ashford said there was an island
called Lysam, lying between zoo and
500 miles west of Honolulu. 1t belongs TO
the Hawaiian group and is the field of opera
tioDs of the Pacific Guano Company of
Honolulu. Tanning Island, about 1900
south by west OF Honolulu, he remembered,
was visited by Captain Clarke of the British
gunbOat ESpiegle about three years age
and the British flag bCis'ed over Il as a sign
of occupation and annexation. MIR. Ashford
said he rad ueyer heard that any dispute
he1 arisen upon which the question Of iuris-
dlction could be raised. Another island
which might be- the particular one upon
which the British man-of-war Champion
has designs is Palmyra, fther east and
west OF flaming. Palmyra was crescent
shaped and at low tide CONNECTED with sew
eTal smaller Islands. 1t Was 4 considerable
cocOanut plantation.