Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-09-07
GILBERT ISLANDS SEIZED.
British Warships Grab More Territory
in the South Seas.
valuable Anericaa Interests On the Islands
Threatened With Ruin.

S.> FE,Srtseo. sept s.--Tne Australian
steamer from Cutaritari, Gilbert tsia,His.
h-,ns,s news of The. seizure of fhe islands IN
June bv Great Britain. The story is given
in prisa,e letters under the date of jane ~,
and contains full details of the seizure of
the islands hy the British ship Royalist on
lime II. the reading of proclamation of
annexation, the pulling down of the king 5
tag and the hosting of the British eolors.
This, following on the seizure OF johnson
Islands AMI the purehase.so Niihan Island,
in .jcates that England intends 10 rule IN the
South Seas.
The King of Butaritsri has only rce.ntly
returned from trip IN san franas
undertaken, il WAS thought, to induc,, the
nited States to extend protectorate over
tb, Gilbert Islands. While in San Fran
cisco the King talked of going to Washing
ton but he received no encouragement and
ill-health forced him TO return home.
Before he left he sent letters 10 Washing
ton detailing the situation on his island and
warning the state department that England
would soon grab the whole Gilbert group
anies. the 'nitei States iuterfered. He
called attention 10 the fact tina, several san
Francisco commercial houses had invested
large sums in the islands and that they con-
trolled the trade, but this control would be
.natched from them should England estab-
l.h the protectorate.
The King declared he preferred the
Americans, but he was powerless to resist
should England do what she had done in
other parts of the South Seas. The apathy
of the state department has resulted in the
loss of an important group of islands and
will cause the ruin of rich California firms.
The Butaritari correspondent, who is AN
American and has we'd years on the island,
witnessed the annexation ceremonies.
He sends the following account
June l2-Dn SUNDAY the British man
of-war Royalist appeared in the harhor-
Her captain landed in steam launch. and
with several officers and an interpreter
called on the King. There, in public audi
ence, with all the foreign and native resi-
dent of Butaritari gathered about, he read
this proclamation Her Majesty Victoria,
Queen of the Inited Kingdom of Great
Britain, having this day assumed pro-
tectorate over the Gilbert islands, | would
remind all resident in the group, other than
natives, that it is contrary to law 10 supply
firearms, ammunition or intoxicating
liquors TO any natives. Given under my
hand at Apamama the 18th of May.
''(Signedl 4. ID. II. NJ. DAVIS,
Captain of II, NJ. =. Royalist and dep
uty commissioner.
The reading of this proclamation created
sensation. \ conference WAS appointed
for the afternoon, at which were present
the King, A. Rick, the American CONNER
cial agent, and the agents for the Wight
man Brothers and \. Crawford, of San
Francisco, the two leading American firms
and the representative of the German com
pany of Joluft.
Capt. Davis explained the cause of the
pro,ectorate. lie declared that Wong sam.
British subject. had complained that in
January last he was robbed of liquors and
tobacco worth So, aud though he com
planned to the King he could get no redress.
Davis talked in Il very domneering fashion
to the King, says:
You have taken the 500 license from
this Chinaman, who is British subject, vel
YOU permit him to be robbed and do nothing
To make the thief disgorge You must pay
him out of your own pocket or there will be
trouble.
At this point Capt. I.uttrell, who repre-
SCENTS Wightman & Co, said that white
man stole the Chnamans goods and the
King c"uld not under the law proceed
against white.
The British commander waived aside this
explanation and went on to threaten the
King. He warned him that he must make
the natives pay Immediately their debts to
the traders, which now amount 10 >i0o".
He added:
If you cant do this will see that it i,
dome If you cant rule your island. ! will
get man who can. You must do some
thing for your salary. The Queen is the
hardest worked woman in England
Then Commander Davis stepped forward
ami said in loud tones: IF you will now
have your flag hauled down will give yon
a nice new one to put up
SO the old Ming. who seemed dazed. or
deretl his iIag which has toatcd from the
royal pole for several years, hauled down
and the British flag was run up in its place.
.is soon rs the English colors were shown
the Royaiist fired a salute, but there was
no enthusiasm on shore,
Every one resents the dictatoria manner
of Capt. Davis, and even the Kings enc
mics felt sorry for the shabby way he was
treated.
/ he Americans mere " no attribute thl-
this action of England to the Kings recent
American trip, are furious, but they can 'iU
nothing.
The same night the ship left here for
Maxim. another island, where the procla-
nation was read. The ship returned on
June -, and reported that the native muir
derer of Chinese on the island of Tarawa
had been tried and convicted, and the Kim
shot him.
The chief production of Bntaritari and oi
the Gilbert group is cocoanutS. the trade III
which is very valuable. Lately the King
has permitted seNe:sl ~hploads of natives
to 20 a. iaborers to Queensland and IL
Mexico. 1t was a cargo of these islanders
who went dow with the brig Tahiti III The
Gulf of Mexico.
Capt. Dayi, inspected at Butarltari the
tramp steamer Mont-errat, which was
chartered at San Francisco 10 carry cargo
of Gilbert islanders to Mexico to work Oh
sugar plantations. He found that proper
arrangements hal been made for the con
fort of the islanders. so he had no auibor-
ity to stop this virtual slave trade. The
Montscrrat sailed in June.
BURNING OF Or. BARTLETT'S HOUSE.