New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-03
SEIZED BY Il BRITISH WARSHIP
HOW TIE GILBERT ISLANDS WERE PLACED
UNDER A PROTECTORATE.
THE CAPTAIN ASSERTED THAT BRITISH SUBJECTS
COULD NOT GET JUSTICE THERE. AND
ORDERED THE KING PERSONALLY TO
PAY DEBTS DUE THE TRADERS
NATIVES.

ORDERED THE KING PERSONALLY TO
PAY DEBTs DUE THE TRADERS
FROM TIE NATIVES.
San Francisco, Sept . (Special).-The steamer
Monowai from Australia, brings the first details
of the seizure by England 81 the Gilbert Islands.
which took place on June l2 The news came in
letter by way Of Sydney as there is no direct
communication with the islands except by the
vessels of the San Francisco companies engaged
in the cocoanut and copra trade From cor
respondent on the islands it is learned that the
British war vessel. Royalist steamed into the
harbor of Bntartaro on Sunday. June IL. She
cast anchor four miles of shore, and her COM
mander Captain Davis, came ashore He went
directly to the Kings house and. after cold
greetings, he read proclamation which declared
that the Queen of England assumed a protectorate
over the islands, and warned all foreigners
against selling liquor or firearms to the natives.
Several hours later conference was held. The
king was present, as we'll as the United States
commercial agent, Mr.. Rich. and representatives
Of the two big American houses and the German
company Of Jaluit.
Captain Davis did most Of the talking He
spoke bitterly of the Kings neglect in making the
natives pay their debts to the traders, and warned
the King that the $4,000 due must be paid at
once. If his people could not pay it, he must pay
it out Of his cwh pocket. Then Captain Davis
declared that the reason for establishing an Eng
lish protectorate was that British subject could
not get justice the islands. He cited the case
Of Wong Sam, a Chinese, who was British sub
ject. Six months ago Wong, who s trader, was
robbed of tobacco and liquors worth S65 lie
complained to the King, but no attention was
paid to his plea. Davis warned the King that
this money must be paid by the latter, as he
should have hunted down the thief Davis paid
no attention to the explanation Of an American
that the thief supposed to be a foreigner and
that the King could not prosecute foreigner
The captain grew more excited as he continued,
and closed by saying:
You are to he the King from this day, and
il you cannot rule l will get a man who can.
You have plenty Of money and you must do some
thing for your salary. Royalty is not an easy
billet. The Queen is tho hardest-worked woman
in England"
While the King sat staring as though he were
in a daze, the captain said: Now, you have
your flag hauled down, and | will give you a
nice one to run up" SO the King sadly ordered
his colors lowered and the British flag hoisted.
When the flag sighted by the Royalist a
ssIlute came booming across the water The
next day the Royalist went to Maxim Island.
where the was read dheT S,d hI
murdered. The King Of the island was forced to
have the murderer tried and convicted, and then
TO shoot him with his own hand. AS the chief
trade of the islands is carried on by Americans,
they are greatly excited over this seizure by
England. They attribute il to the Kings recent
visit TO San Francisco, during which he tried to
secure an American protectorate.
The Gilbert or Kngsmill group comprise sixteen
Islands in the Pacific Ocean, between latitude south,
and 80 north. and longitude 172 and ia 30 east
Tho Islands are OF coral formation, and the chief
products are coooanutS, tar and Ipandsnus. The
bread fruit tree nourishcs on some Of the islands.
The total population is about 200. and most Of
the natives are Protestant Christli1ls. Promising
missions are maintained by Hawaiian and American