The morning call., 1894-05-09
Fear That She Is to Raid the
Coral Reef.
INJUNCTION is FILED
To Prevent Her Departure - The
Crabs Will Side With the
Oceanic Phosphate Company.

pectS Oh viewing tDe LTaDSlOImdtlUn VI tHt
lonely but much written-about coral reel
from quiet abode of seabrds and queer
little crabs into CORY battlefield.
War is on at Clipperton. Every crusta.
cean whose claws have been for nearly one
year of time used as means of investi-
eating the paraphernalia of the men OF
the Volante. who were left on the island
as guards, will be on the defensive, and
stretch wide his angry nippers to warn ap-
DR. oaching foes.
The Oceanic Phosphate Company's men,
by reason of prior settlement, have ac-
Quired certain rights to territory which
the crabs were at first inclined to Ques-
ton.
But since the erection of numerous
warehouses, storerooms and dwellings by
the Oceanic Company the shellback in
habitants of Clipperton have accepted the
Inevitable with graceful courtesy, and are
now existing on the most friendly terms
with the guano-hunters.
Now that the compromise between the
early settlers and the crabs has been Off
cially and publicly recognized. it is only
natural TO suppose that both forces will.
combine to defeat the common enemy.
Said enemy is, according to the records
of the courts, T. W.sPermein and William
johnson and others, who are said to be
fitting out a vessel for the purpose of
''seizing Clipperton by force of arms"
The Permein & johnson vessel is the
schooner Star of Freedom that has recently
been spoken of as bound out on a trading
expedition, and whose commander is re-
ported as missing.
For several weeks the Freedom has been
lying off the foot of Third street, loading
with sundry supplies and things that
might be mistaken for great guns and al
Unstable armor plate.
The mystery of the Freedom has hung
over the hay wharf like vapor over a Po-
trero mudflat. People knew that she was
going ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS suits not be-
ing figured upOn-but just what part of
the broad Pacific that Somewhere" desig-
mated. no one had even so much as dreamt.
But the Freedom is going to seize Clip
perton. crabs. msrooned mariners and all,
''by force of arms" so the Oceanic Phos-
phate Company AYERS, and the corporation
has thought it best to overcome its enemy
by strategy ana board him with a United
OtdtcS mdfSBdI III ucCeSSdTy.
When the schooner Volante sailed sew
eral weeks ago she took down enough
men TO increase the population oil
the Clipperton colony to twenty-four
souls. all sturdy sons of the sea with
wiry muscles and sharp eyes for rife
sights.
Should the Freedom elude the meshes oil
the law. sally forth from port and sail
southwark 1t is believed that all the craw-
fish and sailors In the south seas would
not prevent her from attacking the ISL
ands.
According to the agents of the phos-
pha:e company she will meet with warm
reception. 1t will not be "Old Sol" who
will furnish the heat. either. The COM
pany's men are there to protect their en-
players right and they will die game.
Premein and johnson have not made
pu blc their reason for thinking that they
have as much right to Clipperton as any
other free-born Americans. There was,
however. a Bohemian sort of individual
named "Johnstone," of English parent
age, who at a time when Sir Francis Drake
was demoralizing the Spanish Armada
landed at Clipperton and took possession
of the island in the name OF his country
1t may be possible that this explorers 5
cognomen has changed with time TO plain
johnson.
At the phosphate company's office it was
learned that Manager Magee was a little
bit surprised that any one had undertaken
to back the Star of Freedom expedition
financially. That she intended to raid the
company's guano deposit was admitted.
There is no questioning the legality of
the phosphate company's claim to the
island, as all proceedings on its part have
been strictly in accordance with the law.
Several thousands of dollars have been
spent by Mr.. Magee and his association to
test the quality of the Cllpperton guano
and to erect buildings 10 which to store
tools, stores. etc.
The schooner Compeer was the first
vessel sent out, her voyage proving an ex-
ceedingly interesting one to newspaper
readers, but it was not a success fnan-
cially. The Volante's maiden trip was ais o
a failure.
There is no doubt but that the Volante
would have brought away full cargo of
phosphates had it not been for the fact
sIdt sue CUulQ NV SOt CtUSo ouUuRu 10 tile
reef to load. A stiff breeze continually
blew. forcing the vessel out to sea.
After losing all of her anchors and haw-
sers the VolaDte returned to San Francisco.
but with worthy perseverance her charter
ers invested more money and sent her
back for another trial.
The schooner left port provided with
buoys enough to mark all of the necessary
ouDdings in the vicinity OF the reef. She
also took down several tons of dynamite
Other explosives will be used to blast away
the obstruction to the entrance to Clipper
ton Lagoon, an archshaped coral growth
that is the only obstacle which prevents
the lagoon from affording splendid shell
ter for ships.
Nearly S1.o00,0OO worth OF guano is de.
posted on the island. The prize is worth
fighting for.