The morning call., 1894-03-10
One Man Lost and AnSther
Badly Crippled.
A VERY INSECURE ANCHORAGE.
It Caused All the Manager
Rick Returns Together With
Five Men.

under charter TO the Oceanic Phosphate
Company, a local institution, which was
organized for the purpose of bringing
gusno to this port from CliDperton.
The voyage of the Volant has been
failure. She returned yesterday forenoon
with only thirty tons of guano, minus
both of her anchors, all OF her anchor
chains and several hundred fathoms of
hawser.
The failure of the Voant to bring val
liable cargo Of guano back to San Fran
cisco is by no means the fault of Captain
Erratt, nor is the Oceanic Phosphate
Company crippled at all by the unsuccess-
full venture.
The misfortune which befell the Volant
was entirely due to unIooked-for circum-
stances.
Great interest has been evinced in the
development of the Clipperton guano
beds, and the island now has a world wide
repu tation owing TO the number of strange
stories that have recently been published
concerning il.
When the Volant arrived at the coral
reef, in the early part of February. prepa-
ratiOns were Immediately made TO tak9 on
full cargo of guapo.
Captain Erratt let 90 his port anchor,
but found that it required nearly all the
chain attached thereto to reach bottom.
At this insecure anchorage the schooner
f0ated until lighters could be imDToyised
on which to ferry guanO to the vessel.
Owing to a continuous heavy swell, that
increased with the slightest provocstion of
the wind, ii was almost impossible to work
the lighters successfully.
During a squall that came suddenly out
OF perfectly clear sky Seaman Tillotson
was thrown from lighter on February 10
and drowned. The lighter was upset and
/ its cargo lost.
From that date until the 14th squalls
were the rule rather than the exception.
With a taut aDchor-chain il was almost
| impossible to hold the schooner of the
reef. and after desperate battle with the
elements IL was thought advisable to clear
the VOlant of the dangerous coral beach
and put out TO sea.
Manager Rich. who had spent several
months on tho island together with Charles
Wilson. the cook of the Clipperton Colony,
and four seamen left there by the Viking
| several months ago, had determined To
come 10 San Francisco with Captain Erratt.
| The passengers were brought on board in
boats, and scarcely had they been safely
! landed when a terrific hurricane spraDg
Both of The Volant's anchors were
dropped, but owing to the great depsh of
| the water at the anchorage hawsers had
TO be made fast to the end of the chain to
give them additional length. The wind
shore to nearly opposite roint OF the
| compass.
Sail was set before any attempt was
made to heave short on the anchors.
Captain Errat twas afraid to take in his
| anchors until he had sufficient canvas
spread TO carry his vessel swiftly clear of
| the outlying coral reefs.
When the order was given to heaVe up
the anchor 1t became apparent that they
could not be raised quickly enough, so both
were cut away together, with all the ships
chain and several hundred fathoms OF
! hawser.
This act settled the fate of the expedi-
ton. The schooner was obliged to shape
without further delay for San Francisco.
The CALL Is not indeb ed to Captain
Erratt for any particulars of his trip. The
skipper acted with marked dscourtesy
when questioned by a reporter, but his
friends apologize. Tor his action by saying
that the commander does not desire ot0-
riety, AID Is an extremely simple-mlnded
man, who really does not know how to act
In the presence of strangers.
The crew of the Volant and Mr.. Charles
Wilson gave some interesting accounts of
the strange little isle which is $50 far from
nowhere"
Mr.. Wilson says that the phosphate com
pany has erected three comfortable houses
on the island and stocked the storehou>e
with large supply of good provisions.
The climate at Clipperton," said he,
lis delightful, though at times it is per-
haps little too warm.
There is no doubt but that the Oceanic
Phosphate Company is deserving of auc-
cess, for ii is San Francisco concern
which has shown more than ordinary
enterprise in pushing its scheme ahead
Mr.. Wilson said that the island will
eventually prove bonanza 10 its owners.
and that there remains but one step to be
taken to insure wealth to those interested
in IT,
Like all coral islands the place is circu-
lar In shape, with fresh water lagoon in
the center. At one side of the island is an
outlet from the lagoon which empties into
the ocean. There Is sometimes consider
able water over this outlet at high tide.
All that remains TO be done TO provide
perfectly land-locked harbor is to blast a
channel through the coral from the lagoon
to the sea. This can be done at a small
expense.
One of the most important features in
connection with the claims of the Oceanic
Phosphate Company to legal possession of
CHpperton Is statement made by the
English Government that the territory
rightfnliy belongs to England.
Loro CHpperton was az English naval
officer who visited the place in the early
iorties. He raised the British flag and
took possession OF the island in the name
OF the British Government. Shortly af en-
ward he was court-martia led for breach
OF discipline, and according TO tradition
Clipperton was next heard of as a pirate.
ravagl2g the Mexican and Central Ameri-
can coast.
1t was only a few months ago that an
English company hearing of the San Fran
CISCO company's venture agitated the
question of the legality of the title Of the
American concern To the island The
matter Is still in statu quo.
The celebrated crabs of Clipperton have
apparently made way for civilization.
Ihere were nine men on the island
when the Voiant arrived and all testified
that the crabs had been kept at a respect
full distance ever since the three company
buildings were erected.
Three men rema aimed at Clipperton. The
crew OF the Nolant say that these men
have provisions in plenty, lots of fresh
water and eggs galore. They get plenty
of outdoor exercise.
Mr. Wilson further said that during the
stay of Manager Rich and assistants on
the reef time passed quickly and pleas
antly.