The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-05
UNDER THE UNION JACK.
Islands Recently Seized by Great
Britain.
A Proteetorate Over the Pheaix Group-Get.
ting q Foothold at PRgo Page.
Johnston Island.


of Johnston Island, treeless bit of land in
the South Pacific which, as was stated in
Yesterdays CALL, is claimed by citizens OF
the United States.
But this act of seizure, accomplished by
Csptam Rookie of tile British warShlp
Champion, constitutes only one Of series
of similar aggressive proceedings on the
mari of English naval officers IN those
waters. First came the declaration OF q
British protectorate over Gardner Island,
which lies about 500 miles TO the northeast
from The Fill group; Pukapuka, one OF the
Danger Isles, situate in 10 deg. 49 min south
latitude and 100 deg. 81 min. west Longitude,
and Nassau Island, distant from the last
named isles about 80 or 60 miles. The two
last named are within from 500 TO 400 miles
10 the northeast OF Samoa.
Then on June 20 the Curacao, which had
touched at Samoa for fresh water, etc, left
AHA harbor and proceeded 10 the island OF
1utuila with the Land Commissioner OF
Apia. Mr. Hazard. The Land Commits
sioner went ashore 10 settle aboutsome land
disputes and select place Tor coallng
station. and the snip returned 10 Page Page
harbor. This" says the Auckland Star,
was formerly used by The Americans as
coaling depot, but with the loss of their
ships in Apia in the SO hurricane ii has
been discontinued. England seems 10 IN
tend 10 use IL lOr the same pun puecs 40 tilt
commission has allotted a piece OF land
there With that design, although II may be
some considerable time before the depot IS
ready for use. The place selected Is very
suitable for eoallnE station, as the water
is very deep, and wharf running out 80
feet, the men-of-war could haul alongside
it aad coal. 1t is laBd-lOcked and has every
facility for a good coaling station" 1t is
hardly probable that there will be any in
reference with the rights of the United
States Al Pago Page harboT. as the coaling
station has not only not been abandoned,
but Lieutenant J. II. c. Coffin is on his way
10 Apia TO take charge OF the station.
The statement in the Star that the United
States rad abandoned the Page Page coal
ing station is disprOved by the fact that the
steamer Alameda, which sailed Tor Sydney
via Samoa on July - took an officer II the
United States navy, Lieutenant John Ii. G.
Coffin, on duty at Mare Island, whose deSti-
nation was Apia. His duty was 10 pat the
United States coaing station at Pego Pago
IN order aud appoint officers and men to
take charge of II. Before leaving he stated
that the United States was going to keep a
large supply Of coal there and make regu-
lar naval station Of the place.
10 March, 1872, an agreement was made
by Manga, chief Of Tutuita, and Com
Jpander Meade OF The United States steam
ship Narragansett, by which Pago Pago
was given to the American Government on
condition that a friendly alliance should
exist between that island and the United
States. lH 1915 Samoan envoy made q
visit 10 the United States. and the grant 10
the l nlted States or the exclusive privilege
Of ESTABLISHING a naval station at Pago PagO
was confirmed. In 1876 the c0aliDg station
established there IN 1872 by Commander
Meade was formally inspected by Special
Agent Stein burger. Occupation was not
one Of the conditions of the ceSsion.
The following interesting details of the
cruise of the Curacao. which is doubtless
destined to become memorable in interna-
tIunal annals, are given by the Sydney
Morning Herald of June 80:
After leaving Sydney the Curacao en-
barked hi Excellency Sir J. B. ThurSton,
the High Commissioner, at SuYa, and pro-
ceeded to Iona Iona, where the native
Parliament was about TO assemble. Ii was
SAID that no man-nf-war had been to that
place for 10 years. consequently the recep-
ton given the visitors was an exceedingly
hearty one. Sir J, b. Thurston was landed
at Iona and the Curacao SET out upon her
mission toward Gardner Island in the
p eniX group. Gardner Island is about
500 miles northeast of Fiji and had, it is
sad. been annexed by Great Britain in 1891
through the Governor of Fiji. The deed OF
protection was rad by the captain OF the
Curacao and the union jack h0isted. Tne
island Is situated deg. 81 min. south and
ia deg. 40 min. west approximate, and i:
one 81 group comprising many Islands
EndeTby, Ph9niX, Birneys, Mexican, Hull
and Sydney Islands, the group extending
from deg. Il min. south TO deg 30 min.
south ana from 10 deg. 40 min. west TO ia
deg. 40 min. west
From Gardner Island the Curacao went
TO the Danger Isles, which lie TO the south
east about 800 miles, and with the same
object IN view that she had in reference
10 Gardner. This group comprises three
Islands. situated on coral reef some eight
miles long. Only one of the three, viz:
Pnkapnka, is inhabited, however. THIS
island is low. but we'll wooded, and covered
with cOcoanut palms. Pukapuka boasts oil
King and about 800 other inhabitants
This dIgDifed parsonage made his appear
ance on board, accompanied by London
Mission Soclety'S convert "a Rarotongan
natiye) and few of his principal followers
Tie natives expressed great delight at the
visit of the Ship and were made thoroughly
acquainted With the business; indeed, as
many of them speak fair English, little
parleyiug was required. The London Mis-
Slonary society have two good buildings in
this group both substantially constructed of
corai-the one roomy church and the
other SchOOlh0use. The only manufacture
that the natives produce for sale is hats, OF
which they make large quantities, and
which are fairly well shaped and neatly
plated OF some kind of grass. Before Ieav.
ing Pukapuka both the King and the mis-.
sionary listened to the protection document
and were each presented with flag, and
cheers were given by the natives.
Danger Isles are comprised within the
limits Of 10 deg. Is min. aud 10 deg. 56 min
soDth. and extend 10 miles. Pukapuka, the
Borthernm most island, is about two miles il
length, as is also Koko Island, distant abou
four miles IN sOuth-s0utheast direction
The third and smallest island, Ratoe, liet
about three miles soUth-southwest from the
south end OF Pukapuka and two mile,
northwest from the western extremity Of
Lsf-A feTn IL
say. are connected by submarine cause
way, on the western part of which the ole
bark John Williams was wrecked in 1856
by drift setting westward four miles pei
hour. They produce cocOanuts aud beche
de-mer; also fine pearl oysters. There il
also some large valuable timber. La tn,
fine weather or trade season traders can Sc
cure to the reef 10 the daytime in a blight OIL
the lee side Of the island. Within the lin,
OF reefs is lagoon. and from the west enc
Of Ratoe a ledge of reefs runs west bal
north az miles, marked near its western eX
Iremity by narrow sandDank half mile
long. The northwestern part of Pukapuks
Is in 10 deg. 49 min. south, 165 deg. 81 min
west.
From the Danger Group the warshiv
steamed to Nassau Island. This is q verl
small island, of the same formation as tn
others mentioned, and yields cOcoanuts
Dome eihcers landed IN canoe and saw 81,
men and three women (the total number Of
resldents). These were Samoan natives
who. through their spokesman, informed
The officers that the island was either pur
chased or leased by Samoan resident, and
that they were working for him cutting
copra, etc. No papers being produced ir
support OF such statement, the Instruction.
gwen to the captain of the Curacao wer,
carried out and protection declared Mas
sau lies IN latitude IL deg. 81 min. south
longitude 164 deg. "a min. west. The islant
is about 30 feet high, the shape of an equi
lateral triangle, each side being about on,
and half miles long. There are no outlying
dangers beyond the fringe Of reef Cotton
has been planted and grows well, and larg
numbers of turtle are found. After carry
ing cut these imperial instructions Captain
Gibson feaded the Curacao for Samoa"